My Bridal Wish List - wedding bells

Winter 2011 edition

From the EditorWhen our managing director shared his ideaon taking out magazine on wedding, the firstthing that came to my mind is “wow”. this willbe a wonderful opportunity to define a happymoments of people’s life and to explore thebest of the best things.As everyone wants their wedding day to begrand and memorable, the professionals whowork behind the scene and make this dreamcome true, all have the same enthusiasm whilesharing their stories. i met dress designers,event planners, florists, hoteliers andphotographers who are all so passionate abouttheir work hence i can say without exception,that they all have chosen the right careers.they may have to work long hours and a lotof weekends, but the kick they get out ofmaking someone’s biggest day even better is apleasurable accomplishment.As you plan your wedding, we hope you areinspired by the real life local weddings andsome variations we wanted to share with ourreaders. We have included all the resourcesto make your day extra special. From dressesto venue, flowers to honeymoon, we give youideas and information to plan the wedding ofyour dream.the magazine encompasses virtually everythinga bride and the family would want to check out.We look forward to your feedback because thatwill help us incorporate new sections.Marriage is a blissful union of two individualsof different backgrounds. As they say, marriagesare made in heaven, you are very lucky ifyou get to choose your life partner. But yourunion is not complete just by tying the knot.each partner needs to work hard to spice upthe relationship and continuously strive tounderstand each other’s temperament. Hereis wishing the newlyweds and the would-benewlyweds a very happy married life ahead……Happy reading!!Charu Shrestha Malhotra

ContentsIssue 1, Winter 20113180 74631369 From the Editor17 Blast From the Past31 Planning the Wedding52 Bridal Makeup58 The He Perspective onMarriage62 Groom’s Accessories66 Wedding Planners69 The Pre-Wedding Frets & Fun74 My BestFriend’s Wedding80 The Big Fat Wedding96 Lavishness Recorded100 Namrata’s Bridal Wishlist108 Sanyukta’s Wedding Choices110 Ayusha’s Wedding Choices112 Sushma’s Wedding Choices

10334118114 Gift For Her116 Gift For Him119 The Marwari Wedding124 Wedding Dress from the West134 Honeymoon Destinations145 Lingerie: More than just bras and panties150 Best Marriage Movies152 People’s Say on Weddings147

Wedding Bells Magazine, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal (Regd. 263). Tel: 501.1571, 501.1639 Issue No. 1 • Winter 2011Publisher: ECS MEDIA Pvt. Ltd.Managing EditorSunil ShresthaDirector, Editorial & MarketingNripendra KarmacharyaSr. Manager, Editorial & MarketingSudeep ShakyaManager, Editorial & MarketingCHARU Shrestha MALHOTRANeeraj KoiralaManager, Editorial & PromotionsNiladri S. ParialCopy EditorAmar B. ShresthaAssistant EditorUjEEna RanaEditorial Enquiries: editorial@weddingbells.com.npSenior DesignerDivya shresthaOn CoverModel: Namrata ShresthaVenue: Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar MargDress Courtesy: Beatification Boutique,Annapurna Arcade, Durbar MargJewelry Courtesy: Ebisu, Durbar MargPhotographer: Kishore KayasthaMake-up: Lokesh ThapaWedding Bells Magazine is published 2 times ayear. All rights reserved in respect of all articles,illustrations, photography, etc published in WeddingBells Magazine.Assistant Design Executiveman Bahadur SaruSr. PhotographerDash B. MaharjanPhotographersHARI MAHARJAN, SUYESH raj SHRESTHA, Umesh Basnet,rabindra prajapatiAssistant Managers, Sales & Marketingangiras Manandhar, bijendra pradhanSr. Sales ExecutiveVinay RajkarnikarAsst. Sales ExecutiveManish AmatyaSales AssistantsSapana maharjan, sanjay maharjanAd Enquiries: angiras@living.com.npSr. Executive, Subscription & DistributionBikram ShresthaExecutive, Promotions and PRatulya Acharyawww.weddingbells.com.npColor Separation: CTP Nepal Pvt. Ltd, HATTIBAN, 525.0466, 525.0468Printing: Jagadamba Press, Hattiban, 525.0017/18/19Distributor: Kasthamandap Distribution Pvt Ltd, 424.7241Wedding Bells Magazine is published 2 times a year at the address above. All rights reserved inrespect of all articles, illustrations, photography, etc published in Wedding Bells Magazine. Thecontents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without thewritten consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those ofthe publisher, who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. All editorial inquiries andsubmissions to Wedding Bells Magazine must be addressed to editorial@weddingbells.com.npEach Issue: Rs. 200.00 in Nepal.

Gahana GrihaGahana Griha Building, New Road, KathmanduTel: 977-01-4224826, 4224886, Email: gahanagriha@gmail.com

last from the past WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011 17Down the Memory LaneBy Shiwani neupaneMemories are very precious. They bringus closer to our past and reconnect uswith special moments/events/people.When all the fanfare has ended,memories are all that remain and wehold on to them very closely indeed.But, memories too fade away and theonly means that fortify the remembranceof the days gone by are the pictures.of all of life’s events, a weddingis the most precious. And, onecannot afford to lose that part oflife. through wedding albums,the couple revisits those sacredand beautiful moments of theirlives.there are numerous stories,plays and novels written abouttrue love. Literature aboutsoul mates and love are in agenre by themselves, and theyundoubtedly dominate ourtelevision shows, movies andculture. remember “romeo andJuliet”, “Wuthering Heights” orany nora roberts novel? onesuch literary work that deals withthe idea of soul mates is the play“the Symposium”. Accordingto it, when humans became veryarrogant and began to believethemselves to be better thanthe gods, the gods became veryangry. God Zeus then choppedhumans into two pieces makingthem less powerful than before,also leaving them a yearning fortheir other halves. Mind you, thehumans in this story had fourarms, four legs, four eyes and soforth. Since then, the concept ofsoul mates was created, the twothat are essentially one.

18 wedding bells/winter 2011blast from the pastRitu & Suraj VaidyaRituVaidya is noordinary woman.She was 19 yearsold when she wonMiss India in1991, and, fiercelyindependent.Ritu Vaidya is no ordinary woman. She was 19 years old when she wonMiss India in 1991, and, fiercely independent. Today, she is a woman welladmired for her grace and poise, and a well known entrepreneur and wifeof businessman Suraj Vaidya who isn’t ordinary himself. He runs Vaidya’sOrganization of Industries & Trading Houses (VOITH) and is the presidentof FNCCI (Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries).One might now think, how could fate connect an Indian beauty queen anda Nepali businessman, but the answer is quite simple: when you meet yourdestiny, nothing can pull you apart.The beginningsWhen Suraj saw Ritu’s photograph, he was stunned. “She was absolutelybeautiful,” he recalls and somewhere in his heart, he felt a deep connectionthat he didn’t believe he could feel again. “I thought I would never fall inlove again,”says Suraj who had lost his first wife to a fatal plane crash. Thepicture he had in his hand was for a modeling show he had organized inNepal for Bal Mandir. The modeling show was when they first met, andsince, there has been no looking back. “I was so sure that I wouldn’t fall inlove again. When I saw her picture, something changed,” says Suraj.

last from the past wedding bells/winter 2011 19Suraj was shy and quiet; an introvertwho didn’t talk much. When theother young men took the modelsout to see Kathmandu and such,he always took a back seat. Yet,one sight touched him so deeplythat things changed completely.“Something that clicked was whenmy older daughter was holdingRitu’s hand, clinging on to her,like she didn’t want to let go…thememory is still with me,” he smiles.First date“I tricked her into staying an extratwo days when she was on themodeling assignment,” says Suraj. “Isent all of them to Delhi and madean excuse saying there was someticketing problem for her.” With theextra two days at hand, Suraj tookher to Nagarkot where the sparksflew. “A lot times things just click,and you don’t have to make an effortto get along. That’s what happenedto us,” smiles Ritu.The proposal“I knew that I wanted to marry herwhen I saw her!” discloses Suraj. Yet,it took a lot of convincing to getRitu to agree. “I actually proposedto her in many different ways. Wegot engaged after a year of dating,and got married after another yearof convincing,” says Suraj. Yet, ifthere is one special day that heI sent all of them toDelhi and made anexcuse saying therewas some ticketingproblem for heractually remembers, it was a visitto Delhi where he professed hisintentions. “I hadn’t proposed,but I was very serious about her,”he says. The couple went out fordinner in Delhi, where Suraj forthe first time asked Ritu to marryhim. “I actually proposed andshe cried,” says Suraj. Ritu hadreservations because a weddingwould mean leaving behind all thatshe had established and movingto a completely different life. “Itwas a different place, differentcountry, and I was very well settledin my work and everything, sothe decision was obviously verydifficult,” says Ritu. The couplegot married in December 1994.The real thingFive big new Toyota Corollas linedup outside Ritu’s home in Delhi,with Suraj ready to take his brideback home. “Driving to Delhiwas very memorable,” says Suraj.“We spent a night in Bareli, andhad a lot of aunts and uncles andseniors whom we had to take careof. In those days, India did nothave imported cars, so our train ofCorollas was really a new sight tosee,” he recalls.The cars were just the beginning;the wedding was a grander affair.“It was a typical Punjabi stylewedding,” recalls Ritu. “I wasthe first one from my family toget married and had many familymembers visiting from abroad.It was more like a wedding thatwent on for a month.There wassomething happening everydayand the whole month was verymemorable.” The wedding that wasvery Punjabi, also had all Newariwedding elements added to it.“We had an amalgamated wedding,and we kept telling them all thefunctions!” says Ritu. “You knowthe movie Dilwale Dulhania—thatgave us a lot of cues about thecustoms and traditions,” laughsSuraj. “But, aside from that, my bestfriend from Calcutta, Rohan Ghosh,helped a lot!” he adds.

20 wedding bells/winter 2011blast from the pastThe couple did everything that waspossible to do. The Punjabi traditionsincluded the Gharoli, where the bridetakes a bath in temple water broughtby her brothers’ wives, and thefunction of Gana, where the brideand groom look for a ring in milkand water. They also stole Suraj’sshoes and bargained for its return inthe typical Punjabi style! From theNewari side, Suraj’s family sent aSupari and had a huge Newari stylesitting-down feast after they gotmarried. The couple also had a verybig engagement in a farmhouse inDelhi which about 300-400 peopleattended.The never ending list“The Indian wedding list isimpossible,” laughs Ritu as shenarrates how her father keptchecklists and folders to run thingssmoothly. “We did a lot of shopping,but I obviously didn’t get marriedbecause of the shopping!” shesmiles.“We had all those added things—like the thirty pairs of sarees, shoes,jewelry and all that,” she recalls.“I actually left all the preparationsto her, and made sure we were ontime,” says Suraj. “They actuallywere very much on time!” saysRitu. The wedding dress for theman, the achkan, was also orderedby Ritu. On the wedding day, Rituwore a heavy lehenga-also called theRajasthani choli. “I had lost 6 kilo’sin anticipation of the wedding,and that lehenga itself must havebeen 25 kilos!” says Ritu. As forher wedding jewelry, she says, “Iinsisted on not wearing five setstogether or anything of that kind.”She remembers, “On the wedding,Suraj’s father gave me an emeraldand diamond set and a traditionalNewari payal.”The move to Nepal“I knew why this happened-itwas for a reason, but I was stillvery nervous,” recalls Ritu. “Surajhad kids and that was anotheradded concern.” Suraj, who hastwo daughters from his previousmarriage, says with a smile, “Iwas worried about how she wouldhandle the kids too, and abouthow they would take the marriage.But, Ritu did such a wonderful job.She came in and fit perfectly intoour life.” Yet, that wasn’t the onlyconcern. Ritu was leaving behindan excellent career, moving toa new country where she barelyknew anyone. “The move to thenew house wasn’t that difficult,”says Ritu. “I am adaptable to alot of situations and Suraj madeit easy with all his support. I wasalso lucky because I didn’t have tochange as a person. In our case, Iaccept him the way he is and hedoes too,” says Ritu.“I think what was difficult for herwas also the time changes,” saysSuraj. “We sleep here at 10 p.m.and Delhi life begins at 9:30!It was very unsettling for her,”laughs Suraj. “I used to be awaketill 1:00-1:30 p.m. because I justcouldn’t sleep,” says Ritu. “Also, allthe adjustments and things in thepast don’t matter because I live inmy present and it’s amazing,” sheadmits.

last from the past wedding bells/winter 2011 21The funniestpart was whenmy aunt hit meon my back andsaid, “You shouldcry now!”Moments to rememberThe wedding list was really neverending,and Ritu remembersbeing so caught up that her aunthad to come and remind her thatit was time for her to leave, andshe must cry! “The funniest partwas when my aunt hit me on myback, and said, ‘You should crynow!’” laughs Ritu. Suraj, on theother hand, remembers the timewhen his daughter Savannahwho was four-years-old when hegot married, refused to leave hishand. “Savannah just wouldn’tleave my hand throughout thewedding,” he recalls. “ Sheeven wanted to be there for thepheras,” he laughs.The grand wedding day endedthat cold day in December, and16 years later, the couple isstill going strong and are verymuch in love. Perhaps this is themeaning of eternal love—onethat doesn’t diminish with timebut only doubles every moment.

22 wedding bells/winter 2011blast from the pastRajeev Shah & Shivani Singh ShahWho doesn’t dream to have the luxury and glamour of royalty? Every girlwishes to be a princess, and every man a prince. While the grandeur ofroyalty has become a thing less heard of today, we interviewed a real-lifeprince and princess about their magnificent wedding. Rajeev Shah is thegreat-grandson of the king of Jajarkot, Nepal, and Shivani Singh Shah isthe princess of Pooch-Jammu in India. Rajeev is also a CA member of theNepali Congress Party.BeginningsA world traveller, Rajeevwas busy travelling theglobe. It was London,America, France and backand forth. He had metmany women, dated thembut marriage was still faroff his list. Thirty-one,Coming from a very conservative household, Iwas given directions on how you should neverask a guy’s age or pester him with too manyquestions, but I did!

last from the past wedding bells/winter 2011 23and still single, it was only whenhe went to a friend’s wedding inHouston, America, that he realizedit might be time for him too!A budding 20-year-old youngprincess from Pooch (a place inJammu), Shivani had just enteredcollege in Delhi. She had nevergiven marriage a second thought,but knew she would marrywhomsoever her parents wouldchoose for her. When her aunttold her about Rajeev and arrangeda meeting for the two of them,she was told he looked like theIndian cricketer Saurav Ganguly!“He looked nothing like SauravGanguly,” she laughs. “I agree, I ambetter looking!” laughs Rajeev.First dateTheir meeting was arranged in acoffee shop in Maurya Sheraton,Delhi. “She was a breath of freshair,” smiles Rajeev. “There wassomething innocent and simpleabout her, despite her belongingto a royal family.” “I remember,going there and asking him somany questions!” recalls Shivani.“Coming from a very conservativehousehold, I was given directionson how you should never ask aguy’s age or pester him with toomany questions, but I did!” WhenRajeev told her that he was 31, shewas stunned! “I had heard he was27-28, and even that felt like a bigage gap. When he told me he was31, I was simply too stunned to sayanything!”The real thingA year after their first date,December 1999, Rajeev and Shivanisat around the holy fires ready tobe conjoined for life. “What I likedabout our wedding was that it wasboth the Nepali and Indian side,”recalls Rajeev. “We had an elaboratehaldi ceremony, a sangeet and themehendi ceremony, customs thataren’t fervently practiced in Nepal,”noted Shivani. “We also had abig engagement ceremony, whichusually doesn’t happen on the

24 wedding bells/winter 2011blast from the pastRajeev Shah is the great-grandson of the king of Jajarkot,Nepal, and Shivani Singh Shah is the princess of Pooch-Jammu in India.

last from the past wedding bells/winter 2011 25Indian side,” she added. Althoughthe wedding was a confluence oftraditions from both countries,Shivani’s family moved to an aunt’shouse in Chauni, Kathmandu,where the girl’s side of the weddingtook place. “It was going to be verydifficult to have the big weddingfrom two different countries, soall my family and friends came toNepal,” she says. “My friends werealways in Chauni, because that’swhere most of the parties were,”recalls Rajiv. “I remember Rajivcame with all his friends at oursangeet ceremony,” smiles Shivani.Traditionally, only women attendthe sangeet, but customs havechanged and eased over time.The never-ending listWhen we think of weddings, wealso think about the incredibleto-do list that comes with it. It may

26 wedding bells/winter 2011blast from the pastbe shopping, arranging venues,themes, the bridal makeup and soon. One would obviously expecta princess to shop to her heart’scontent and buy the best that existsbut Princess Shivani is different!“My mom handled it all,” she says.“I hate shopping. I like to go have agood time!”Rajeev agrees, “My wife is quitesimple in that way. It is always mewho is pushing her, telling her togo to the beauty parlor and allthat. And, I didn’t shop either!My wedding dress was antique.My great grandfather wore it, wejust did the fittings.” Shivani, whodoesn’t care much about materialthings, also did her own makeup!“I did my own makeup for thewedding and the engagement,” saysShivani, who was donned in antiqueheirloom jewelry passed on by herpaternal grandmother.“What I was really excited aboutwas that, everyone would betogether. I had a lot of schoolfriends who came, and there was alot of music, dancing and partiesday and night,” says Shivani, whowent to Mayo Girls’ School inAjmer, India. “I was also the firstone to get married from my batch!”It was the same for Rajiv wholooked forward to his many friendsvisiting from around the world.“I too had my friends come fromabroad—Italy, France, England—and we also had a lot of royaltywho attended our wedding.” Yet,unlike Shivani, most of Rajiv’sfriends were already married!The move to Nepal“I never thought I would getmarried in Nepal,” says Shivani.“I remember when I had come forPrincess Shruti’s wedding, she hadsaid that she had a feeling I wouldend up marrying here, and that’sexactly what happened.” Both theprincesses attended Mayo Girls’School in Ajmer, India. “She was mysenior in school, and she was reallya true princess who was immensely

last from the past wedding bells/winter 2011 27helpful and grounded,” saysShivani.“I always thought I would marrya Nepali girl, and although I wasconstantly travelling, I knew myobligations to my family,” saysRajeev. “It was completely newto me,” says Shivani, noting thatshe had moved not only to anew country, but a new cultureand a new set of practices. “I didof course have plenty of Nepalirelatives; without them mytransition to Nepal would havebeen very difficult!” she admits.When asked about her commandover the Nepali language, shesays, “My grandmother was KingMahendra’s youngest sister. Allof King Mahendra’s sisters weremarried in India. In fact, when Icame to Nepal, I was completelystunned by the number of Nepalirelatives that I have!”“Rajiv’s grandmother was reallysweet,” she reminisces. “She waslike my mother herself, and wasIndian too. She was my biggestsupport after I moved to Nepal. Shepassed away in December 2004.” .“My grandmother was a Pal-Thakuriand belonged to the royal familyof the Kumaun-Almoras. After shewas bought in a doli to Nepal inthe 1930s, she never went back toAlmora,” notes Rajiv. “I think mywife made her feel connected backto her roots, but I also wish she hada chance to meet my father.” Hisfather was a pilot for RNAC andpassed away in 1993 from cancer.“Yes, if it wasn’t for her relatives,and my grandmother, it wouldhave been very difficult for her,”says Rajeev, who too had his ownset of troubles. “I lived a veryselfish life before I got married,”he admits. “I travelled all thetime and had my share of fun,but when I got married, I had anew set of responsibilities. Wehad a huge place, 15 ropanis ofland to ourselves. It was my greatgrandfather’s house, and wasopened 20 years later. We reopenedthe house one month before theI always thoughtI would marry aNepali girl too,and although Iwas constantlytravelling, I knewmy obligations tomy family

28 wedding bells/winter 2011blast from the pastI remember mynose was swollenbecause of the hugenose ring given bymy mother’s sidegrandmotherwedding, and re-doing the wholehouse, organizing water, electricityand so on was a big challengeat first,”says Rajeev. “After I gotmarried, it’s been 12 years now, Ihave barely gone to Europe,” headds.Moments to remember“I remember my nose was swollenbecause of the huge nose ring givenby my mother’s side grandmother,”laughs Shivani. “It was like sindur,I had no other option but to put iton,” she exclaims. “Yes, her nosewas really swollen, you can eventell in some of the pictures,” agreesRajeev who remembers other funnyincidents that made the weddingmore entertaining. “I remember thisone time when her cousin calledme in the middle of the night!” herecalls, and Shivani explains, “Myfriends and brothers were out, andthey had a small accident. Theywere all drunk and called Rajeevbecause they couldn’t figure outwhere they were!” Laughs Rajeev,“I went and found them, butthe cousin who was driving anddrunk was so embarrassed thathe disappeared throughout themarriage!”Rajeev and Shivani are like twovolumes of one book. Perhaps that iswhat it means to find your soul mate.“Marriage is a matter of destiny. Youend up marrying who you are meantto be with,” smiles Shivani as Rajeevnods in unison.

Beatification BoutiqueCater for all occassions:Customized Bridal WearDressesSareesLehengasSalwar KameejAnnapurna Arcade, third Floor, Durbar Marg, tel. 4223482

Share news of engagementwith family and friends Choose wedding theme andstyle decide on a tentative date forthe wedding determine number of gueststo be invited Select and reserve venue forceremony and reception decide on budget and whowill pay for what Confirm trial and deliverydates for your weddingdresses and accessoriesMost of us have an idea of what to do and how to organize a wedding.Yet, even with experience, we tend to miss out on important details due tothe excitement of the occasion. And a checklist to remind us what to dowhen comes in handy and enables us to have ample time on our hands toplan the wedding even better. Finalize guest list Select and order invitations and otherstationery you may need Hire wedding planner or consult expertaccording to your need Book photographer and a videographer Search for the best florist for garland,car and venue decoration reserve musician, live band or dJ forparty Plan for wedding cake Choose caterers if needed Select and order your wedding dressand other accessories like shoes, veil etc Choose brass band for the weddingprocession trial for your wedding dress(bride & groom)planning your big day WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011 31Planning the WeddingWedding dressJewelryCardsVenueFood SelectionCakeShoesMakeupWedding Calendar12months before10months before9months before7months beforeWedding MusicHairstyleMehendiChecklistWeddings are a just a means to adjointhe strings of two hearts that werealways meant to be one and theyserve as one of the biggest occasionsin anyone’s life. But, this significantoccasion in one’s life comes withendless preparations, be it designingclothes, choosing the guests, or findinga location. needless to say that, on thebig “wedding day”, everything has tobe perfect.traditionally, in Asian cultures, weddingis a time well anticipated beforehand,with preparations sometimes beginningat birth! it isn’t uncommon to hear amother boast about how she is collectingjewelry for the daughter’s wedding, orexclaim that she will pass the heirloombangle to her daughter-in-law. it is alsoa time when the definitions of happinessand sadness get muddled, with daughtersleaving one house and entering another.it is also seen as a new beginning to life,and like all new beginnings, they comewith an abundant amount of anticipationand preparation.

32 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011planning your big dayWedding DressGeorgette, silk, velvet, chiffon,tulle, crepe—whatever fabricthe wedding dress is made of, abride will look ‘other worldly’.She will look her best in herwedding dress be it a sari, alehenga, a kurta salwar or agown. Whether a hundredyear-oldheirloom sari or adesigner gown, a bride’s beautywill be reinforced in thesegarments. Kate Middleton’swedding story is famouslargely because of her dress.no wonder, from subjectsto duchesses or princesses,everyone wants a perfectwedding dress. Size, color,hemline, silhouette, texture,length— they make a hugedifference. So, attention todetail is important. no matterif it is Western or easternculture that the ceremonywill follow, the purity andsacredness of the relationshipwill be reflected by the cut,design and mannerism withwhich a wedding dress is worn.Undoubtedly, one’s socialstanding is reflected throughthe choice of the weddingdress—that doesn’t mean thatthe dress should overpowerthe bride. the dress shouldnot be wearing the bride; itshould in fact, complement abride’s natural beauty and herbody type during the weddingceremony. the dress will bethe “talk of the town” and willbe immortalized through thephotographs and home videos,so, pay utmost attention.While rohit Bahl, Sabyasachi,ritu Beri, tarun tahiliani,Vera Wang, Versace and diorare some of the preferreddesigners and design housesinternationally, here at home,almost all the boutiques dowedding dresses.Courtesy: Beatification Boutiqueelegant Wedding dress

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 336Best boutiquein townBeatification BoutiqueAnnapurna Arcade,Durbar Marg, 4223482Neelima’s StudioCity Centre, Kamal Pokhari4011622/4011529Oodni BoutiqueKupondole9841463334Belleza KlothsDurbar Marg2291921Kaavya BoutiquePatan Dokha5540088AakarshanKupondole5547784Gunyo CholoPutali Sadak4248651Chahat BoutiqueDurbar MargFashion MantraDurbar Marg, 4442618Modern Wedding dressDress courtesy: Oodni Boutique, Jewelry: Diamond Gallery Creations

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 35Courtesy: Gahana Griha, New Road, 4224826

36 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayCourtesy: Gahana Griha, New Road, 4224826

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 37

38 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayNecklaceAround the neck, this accessoryaccentuates the wearer’s beauty.Choker, long, short or worn in tiers,the necklace is an integral part of awoman’s jewelry collection.

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 39Courtesy: R.K. Jewelers, New Road, 4259033

40 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayRingPutting a ring on your ring finger asa symbol of not only marriage butalso of love is a recent phenomenon(earlier, only the married womenwore one!) A man on his knees witha ring case (and the ring in it!) is theobvious sign of commitment, loveand togetherness. Only a ring willtell the whole story. Gold, platinum,diamond and other precious stonesembellish the simple concept of the“metal ring”.Courtesy: Ebisu Jewellers Center, Durbar Marg, 4219016Courtesy: R.K. Jewelers, New Road, 4259033EarringsStuds, danglers, clip-ons, hoops—whatever you wish to put on yourears—they need to do justice tothe cut of your face as well as theoccasion. Metal, plastic, glass,precious stone, beads, wood, bone orsome other material—they need to dojustice to your budget and the design.

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 41BanglesThey are what makes a girlmore feminine. The sound ofbangles is an indication to thechildren to stop playing pranks,and the same sound speedsthe heartbeat of your lover-themultipurpose bangles make agirl, a female.Courtesy: Ebisu Jewellers Center, Durbar Marg, 4219016

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 436Jewelry ShopsEbisu Jewellers CenterDurbar Marg4219016Gahana GrihaNew Road4224826R.B DiamondNew Road4253336Asri JewelryNew Road4248317Diamond Gallery CreationsNew road9851124163SwororskiDurbar MargBikash DiamondDurbar Marg4252730DamasDurbar Marg4233308Salimar JewelryNew Road4228672R.K. JewelersNew Road4259033Courtesy: Ebisu Jewelry, Durbar Marg, 4219016Shree Ridhi Siddhi JewelersNew Road4228104Gem HouseNew Road4244717Kathmandu JewelryDev Corner, Naxal4423117Courtesy: Diamond Gallery Creations, New road, 9851124163Vairab Jewelry & GemsIndra Chowk4222186

44 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011planning your big dayCardsSimple lokta or glittery paper,minimal or embossed design, awedding card is an announcement ofthe “private affair made public.” it isto summon the attendees; to inviteyour friends and relatives to be partof your Big day.TRADITIONAL yET STyLISHnepali paper when merged with rich detailincluding Ganapati print on top, tinygemstones, majestic monograms, refinedcalligraphy and sleek ribbons will assure thatthese invites will make a lasting impressionon everyone on your guest list.MODERN yET ELEGANTAre you someone who loves to be differentand stylish? do you delight in the thrill ofthe unexpected? if so, go for imaginativedesigns, cool fonts, splashes of bright color,stylish ribbons and fresh color comboswhich will let your guests know that theyare invited to a fun filled one-of-a-kindcelebration.6Printing Pressin TownJagadmaba Presshattiban, 5250017Variety PrintersKuleshwor, 4278869Format Printing Presshadigaon, 4010116,4010160Hill Side PressSolteemode, 4271755Sewa Printing Pressteku, 4243754Sama PrintersBhaisipati, 5591453u-Turn PressBalkhu, 5551179

planning your big day WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011 45Hotel Shanker, Lazimpatvenuesnow, the selection of the best venue can be a trickysubject. Can you afford to fix a place too close, toofar, spacious, or in a confined hotel banquet hall? thechoice depends on your budget.Soaltee Hotel, Soaltee Mode6Choices of Banquet HallsMegha Malhar Banquet, Soaltee Mode, 4273515Yak and Yeti, Durbarmarg, 4248999Hotel Sangrila, Lainchour, 4412999Hyatt Regency, Boudha, 4441234Hotel Dwarika, gaushala, 4479488/4470770Hotel Annapurna, Durbar Marg, 4423602Hotel Shanker, Lainchaur, 4410152Hotel Himalaya, Kupondole, 5523900Hyatt regency, BoudhaYak and Yeti, durbarmargradisson, Lazimpatdurbar Banquet, Sanepa

46 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayFood selectionContinental, Indian or Nepali—whatever cuisine you choose, makesure it is tasty and clean and smellsfabulously enticing! These days, thetrend is to incorporate “out of thebox” gourmet fare.6Food and BeveragesOutletsMegha Malhar BanquetSoaltee Mode, 4273515Yak and YetiDurbarmarg, 4248999Hotel ShangrilaLainchour, 4412999Hyatt RegencyBoudha, 4441234Hotel Dwarika’sBattisputali, 4479488/4470770Hotel AnnapurnaDurbar Marg, 4423602Hotel ShankerLainchaur, 4410152Hotel HimalayaKupondole, 5523900

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 47CakeNow, a cake is something thathas registered its entryinto our lives, come anyoccasion. Birthdays,anniversaries, pass-outsor distinction inexams—cakesfind their wayinto our homesand into ourlives. Now,one of the mostimportant days ofyour life, the wedding,cannot be complete without amouth-watering, sky-towering beautiful cake.6Best Cake shops in TownSoaltee HotelSoaltee Mode, 4273515Yak and Yeti HotelDurbarmarg, 4248999Hotel ShangrilaLainchour, 4412999Hyatt RegencyBoudha, 4441234Annpurna HotelDurbarmarg, 4223602Herman BakeryPulchowk, 5524900Julies CakeKupondole, 5011689Hotel VaishaliThamel, 4423878

48 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayShoesNow, you have a great outfit andprincess-like makeup but, if theheels are too tall, too short or toouncomfortable, then expect the worst.So, get shoes that fit like gloves.6Shoe ShopsCivil Mall9841240338BentleyDurbar Marg, 4228338EnvyDubar Marg, 4224241Peanuts Pvt. Ltd.New Road, 4221929ANFKumaripati, 5533585Bling ExclusiveKumaripati, 5008594Charles & KeithDurbar Marg, 4227670GlitterBoudha, 4467023

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 49MusicPanche Baaja, or a band of moderndaymusicians commissioned toentertain the guests, plan everythingbeforehand. If possible, list yourfavorite songs and ask the musiciansto play them for you on your specialday to make it extra special!6Music ShopsSuwal MusicLazimpat, 4421522Sur Sudha MusicThamel, 4251934Sony Sound Wave Music CentreThamel, 4415891Saurab MusicThamel, 4424478Nepali Traditional Musical Instrument CentreAshok Galli, Thamel, 9841408243Music.comThamel, 4700599, 4700628

50 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayMehendiMehendi, the application of hennaon the skin for decorative purposes,finds its ultimate objective when puton a bride. The young bride and herrelatives apply henna on the palmrunning through the hand, and alsoon the legs. The intricate designsmake the bride more beautiful.Along with the jewellry, clothesand makeup, guests also carefullycheck the mehendi on the bride.Mehendi may be of different types:Arabic, Indo-Arabic, KohinoorArabic, BarBadhu Mehendi, GoldenMehendi and Kashmiri Mehendi.The terms named after differentdesigns may differ with places.Photos: Mumbai Mehendi Training Center, Dillibazar, Charkhal Mode6ContactsNew Mumbai MehendiBagbazar426978Mumbai MehendiDilli bazaar9841520273

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 51HairstyleSure, your head will be covered by a veil, but that doesn’t mean you ignoreit! Care should be taken of the hair-do. Will you make a bun, or braid it, orleave it loose is for you to decide. Whatever style you adopt, has to go withthe makeup and the dress and primarily you have to be comfortable sinceyou need to do a lot of work that day. All in all, a bride needs to look neatand polished with her hairstyle—that is all that counts. There will be peoplegiving points on your hairstyle, so be prepared!6Beauty ParloursSiam Beauty ParlourKupondole, 5523647Dolly’s Exquisite CreationKamaladi, 4445080Sindoor Beauty ParlourNaxal, 4431089Radisson Beauty ParlourLazimpat, 411818Arden Beauty ParlourKupondolBeauty ClubsPatan, 5008605

52 wedding bells/winter 2011planning your big dayMakeupMakeup either makes or breaks the wedding day. Dripping foundation,smeared mascara—is that what you want? Of course not! So, visit a finebeautician and enjoy the day without anything foul happening.6147283 59Bridal Makeup1. Deep cleanse your face.2. Apply dots of pan-stick foundation allover your face with your ring finger thenblend it using a wet sponge.(Note: Use a headband to prevent the foundationfrom getting over the hairline)3. Apply concealer to cover up theremaining dark circle around your eyesand blemishes if you have any.4. Water spray on your face.5. Apply a light layer of pancake foundation(waterproof)instead of compact powderfor special glow that lasts for 7-8 hours(type of foundation to use: matt forsummer and mineral for winter).6. Apply loose powder.7. Apply eye base to hide dark areas onthe eyelid (color to use: white or anycolor that is close to your skin).8. Apply eye-shadow on the whole uppereyelid (for fair complexion: golden/pink, for dark complexion: brown/copper) and blend it in such a way thatyour eyelid has a darker shade than thebrow bone.9. Apply kohl (waterproof) and then usean ear bud to outline the kohl withblack eye-shadow to prevent it fromsmudging.10. To give contrast on the eye: use thecombination of black and brown eyeshadowon the lid-outage.11. Apply golden eye-shadow only on theeyeballs. It gives extra shine.12. Apply cake eye-liner with the helpof a liner brush for long lastingeffect. (Note: clear thin line on theupper eye-lid if the eyes are big,

planning your big day wedding bells/winter 2011 5310 11 121314and for smaller eyes, create an illusionby drawing thick lines). For bridaleyes, extend the eye-liner on theupper eyelid to the outer corner for adramatic effect.13. Mascara: move the brush from upwardto downward direction and vice versaon the upper lashes. On the lowerlash, use the tip of the mascara brushand tend to each lash in a downwarddirection.14. Blush: use a darker shade of blushon the lower jaw/jaw line to create aslender cheek illusion and use a lightershade on the apple of your cheek.15. Lips: Apply foundation withmoisturizer. Apply compact powderover your lips (this helps to give off theactual color of the lipstick and keep iton lips for a longer duration).16. Outline the lips with a darker shadeof lip pencil and use the same colorbut a lighter shade on the whole lips(for big lips: inward outline of yourlips, for thin lips: outward outline ofyour lips).17. Use a brush to put on the lipstick.Move the brush up and downinstead of sideways and later moveit sideways.18. Apply golden torch on the appleof your cheek, nose and chin. Thenblend it.6Beauty ParloursBeauty Spa for Hair & BodyManbhawan, 9849640888Omni Beauty and spa therapyMid baneswor, 4480721Jhamsikhel 5521454Heritage SpaSanepa, 5524442Cutting EdgeSherpa mall, Durbar Marg,4225574FacesBabarmahal, 4230369Make up Artist: Kamala Shrestha, Siam Beauty Parlour, Kupondole, 5523647

54 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011planning your big dayWedding CalendarMost of us have an idea of what to do and how to organize a wedding.Yet, even with experience, we tend to miss out on important details due tothe excitement of the occasion. And a checklist to remind us what to dowhen comes in handy and enables us to have ample time on our hands toplan the wedding even better.129months before Share news of engagementwith family and friends Choose wedding theme andstyle decide on a tentative date forthe wedding determine number of gueststo be invited Select and reserve venue forceremony and reception decide on budget and whowill pay for whatmonths before Confirm trial and deliverydates for your weddingdresses and accessories Market survey for the bestdesign jewelers in townaccording to your budget Select the music to be playedat the reception and arrangefor panche baja well in advance if there’s going to be out-oftownguests, then reservationof hotel accommodationsand car rentals need tobe done well in advanceas negotiation takes placeeverywhere.107months before Finalize guest list Select and order invitations and otherstationery you may need Hire wedding planner or consult expertaccording to your need Book photographer and a videographer Search for the best florist for garland,car and venue decoration reserve musician, live band or dJ forparty Plan for wedding cake Choose caterers if needed Select and order your wedding dressand other accessories like shoes, veil etc Choose brass band for the weddingprocessionmonths before trial for your wedding dress(bride & groom) detail work on venue forceremony and reception discuss honeymoon options,consult travel agent fordetailed information Assign a duty to one personon the day of the function incase of emergency Select and order weddingrings, jewelry and all essentialelements Final decisions on receptionmenu and bar selection5months before Finalize the guest list Hire transportation forwedding day and other days ifrequired Meet florist and plan outdesign for garland and otherdecorations. Food tasting is essential Make honeymoonarrangement, apply forpassport if needed

planning your big day WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011 553months before invitations needs to go outfor guests who are abroad Buy gifts for attendants andparents if it’s a custom Seating plan for theceremony and reception,discuss with organizer4weeks before Call anyone who has not responded to invitation Have a rehearsal done for correct distribution of specialprogram if any organized determine seating arrangement for the guests Confirm musical program and dJ Final fitting for wedding dressfor both bride and groom ensure transportation forwedding party to ceremonyand reception thank you notes for the giftsreceived in advance Confirm with florist for car decoration, venue, garland Confirm with photographer Final confirmation of guest number with caterers & banquethall Purchase clothing, luggage and accessories for honeymoon Wedding dress needs to be ready Have a bachelor/bachelorette party1month before Send out invitations toguests in town design wedding programand who is responsible forwhat Confirm accommodationfor guests from out of town Purchase bride/groom’sgifts7days before Create a schedule of the day, make copies and give one toeach person responsible Have haircut or colored, facial, waxing, pedicure,manicure Pick up your wedding dress Pack emergency kit with safety pin, make up etc Set up display area for gifts Schedule pre-wedding hair& makeup appointments,book stylist for the weddingday Book spa appointment forthe bride & groom a weekbefore the function order for wedding cake Attend food tasting withsome food expertTHE DAy Have hair and makeup done Give rings and necessary things to person in charge eat a good breakfast relax and allow plenty of time to yourself to get ready take a moment with family and friends take a moment alone to relax and enjoy the day

58 wedding bells/winter 2011the perfect groomThe He Perspectiveon MarriageBy Nimma Adhikari“Is this tie allright? I mean, ifI wear this tie today, I’ll never,ever be able to wear another tieagain. You do understand thatI am not talking about the tiethough, right…right?” says anoveranxious Barney Stinson, theself-proclaimed “awesome dude”from the sitcom How I Met YourMother, right before his weddingprocession. The sitcom is hilariousbut seriously, I find the contextof men getting jitters right beforea huge commitment so clichéd.Now whoever said that men arecommitment phobic was so…sounsentimental.Rumor has it that men and womenare both commitment phobicand the only difference betweentheir phobia lies in the question“when”. Men are reluctant toget into a commitment in theinitial phase of their love affairwhile women get cold feet rightbefore their marriage. One finegentleman, Pradeep Shakya,married for almost seven years,answered why. “Women aresupposed to go to a differenthousehold after marriage andthe thought of adapting tothe environment of a differenthouse is enough to scare her andinitiate second thoughts,” sayshe. No wonder there are movieslike “Runaway Bride” but noneconveying the opposite.Obviously, this does not meanthat men don’t panic beforemarriage. I, for sure, have seen agroom who had to drink can aftercan of beer to soothe himself.Men are reluctant to get intoa commitment in the initialphase of their love affair whilewomen get cold feet right beforetheir marriage (just few daysbefore their marriage wouldsound appropriate).Abhisekh Ranabhat, 28, saysthat a groom getting cold feetduring marriage largely dependson how well the groom knowshis to-be-wife and her family. Ifthe marriage is arranged thenthere are higher chances ofgetting mixed thoughts aboutone’s wedding since he barelyknows his bride. On the otherhand, love before marriage helpsa man know what he can expectfrom his partner. In the lattercase, according to Ranabhat, thegroom is less worried about theconsequences of marriage.Cold feet or not, a weddingalways seems to calm a bride inways inexplicable. It’s like nomatter how much power theelders may have over others, thebride gets to have the final say;no matter how beautiful otherwomen may look on that day, thebride is the only one sought after.What about the groom? I talkedto a few men: married, unmarriedand on the verge of gettingmarried. One common answerfrom all these men came about thegrooming of the groom. No managreed that grooms should havethe slightest touch-up on theirface. On the other hand, a few ofthem said that they would like to“suit up” on their wedding daywhile the others would want theirwedding dress to be as casual astheir wedding (that is if they weregiven the choice).“But no matter how we want ourwedding to be like, we have togo along with the preparationsour parents want it to be like,”says Ranabhat, “If I were giventhe choice, I would love to havea very private wedding ceremonyin a very casual dress, invite onlythe immediate family and a fewclose friends.” Casual or grandeurwedding, the wedding vows arethe ones that matter the most; thevow to be there for each otherin good times and in bad, and tolove each other beyond measure.The wedding that ends with an“I do” in a western marriage endswith a series of circling the holyfire in a Hindu marriage; anyhow,everywhere, it is a ceremony ofpromising to grow old together.And, men actually do believethat it is a promise of growingold together. A groom may notlook like the happiest man onearth, but if you steal glances athim, you will notice that slightblush and those lips about to curlin excitement. And, if you lookcloser still, you will see thoseeyebrows trying to straighten upwhen eyes under those are fixatedon the other anxious eye. You canalmost hear them say “We can.”

the perfect groom wedding bells/winter 2011 59Model: Avash Nirola

60 wedding bells/winter 2011the perfect groomModel: Akaash Jatia

the perfect groom wedding bells/winter 2011 61Model: Anup Bikram Shah

62 wedding bells/winter 2011the perfect groomGroom’s AccessoriesCufflinksBeltsPocket squareModel: Anup Bikram ShahTieTie pin6Contacts for bestSuitings & ShirtingsSrinath CollectionWorld Trade Center, Ground Floor,Tripureswor, 4117040/4470696SuvariWorld Trade Center, Ground Floor,TripuresworShrestha TailoringWorld Trade Center, Ground FloorTripureswor, 4117144Tex WorldNew Baneshwor, 4780395MonalizaUnited World Trade Center,Ground Floor,Shop: 103, 104, 105, 106Tripureshwor, 4117255, 4117245JB TailorsGabahal, Lalitpur, 5005066New Human fit TailorNew road, Kathmandu,4222587Merina ImpexJawlakhel, Lalitpur5538765

the perfect groom wedding bells/winter 2011 63

64 wedding bells/winter 2011the perfect groomShoe-ing thediscomfortMen love their loafers, sandals, sneakersand flip flops but formal events call for dressshoes and one can’t attend special occasionslooking “unprepared”. Sure, men don’t give muchhead to their appearance but “looking good” is asmuch a manly act as lifting dumbbells. Footwear hasto be comfortable, that should be the prime concernof every wearer. Oxfords, Bluchers or Monk-straps,a man looks dashing and appealing in these; hejust needs to add a little dash of attitude and therest will be just fine. “A man is judged by theshoes he wears” is not said for nothing.6Men’s ShoesBentlyDurbar Marg, 4228338A.N.F.Kumaripati, 5533585EnvyDurbar Marg, 4224241Bling ExclusiveKumaripati, 5008594Blue AngelKumaripati, 5008685Charles & KeithDurbar Marg, 4227670DS CollectionSherpa Mall, 4228917

the perfect groom wedding bells/winter 2011 65

66 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding plannerWedding PlannersBy Nimma AdhikariA wedding picture brings back so many memories…memories lost, memories rejoiced, memories prayedto last forever and the list continues. These pictures evoke memories that the picture itself fails to capture;the struggle to find that perfect red, to get that mandap decorated which everyone loved or even theextent they had to go to, to get that banana plant.

wedding planner wedding bells/winter 2011 67Wedding is a bliss and everybodywishes to have it picture perfect.Women wait for this day to looktheir best and men wait to beacknowledged as complete men.While the bride and the groom arelost in their joyous dreams, the restof the family is going haywire withthe preparations for the wedding.Marriage in Nepal is not simplyabout the union of two people,rather two families, and that iswhere the need for perfectionarises. The perfect venue, theperfect bunch of flowers, theperfect dubo mala, the perfect menuand so on requires time for planningand families hardly get to enjoy themoment. Wedding planners comein at this moment of crisis as saviorsand let families taste the bliss ofceremonies.Wedding coordinators that wereseen only in movies before arenow establishing themselves in theNepali market. Nepal WeddingPlanners under the wing of YoungEntrepreneur Services has beencoordinating weddings for almosta year now. It arranges everythingrequired for a wedding—from theselection and recommendation ofvenues—to the responsibility ofpicking great looking flowers forthe bridegroom’s car (or a buggy,if you desire one). But, what aboutthe charges? “Handing us theresponsibilities minimizes one’scosts,” claims Sumit Shrestha, the ITDirector at the company, “since wehave long-term dealings with hotels,florists and the like, we get the jobdone for less.”“I do everything single-handedly;get almost all the stuff from India.Things here are very costly and also,you don’t get all that you want,” saysAnu Lohia, an independent weddingplanner.“Our client is coming to Nepalfrom Canada two weeks prior tothe wedding and they want thedecorations of the wedding to beelegant yet traditional,” say ShristiRimal Khadka and PrekchhyaThakuri Rayamajhi, the proprietors

68 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding plannerof Shubha Bandhan. Further, theysay that their client wants themto add some special details in thewedding to make it more livelyand personal. So, basically thesecoordinators perform the entirejob required for the pre and postwedding ceremonies, be it as largeas searching for venues in limitedtime or appointing a pandit for theceremony.“It saves your time,” says PranavShrestha who had his weddingcoordinated by Nepal WeddingPlanners. Considering timeconstraints or wanting bettercoordination in a limited budgetor just trying-out-the-services, thehanding over of these heavy duties toprofessionals is getting trendy. Now,who would give away the pleasuresof witnessing the ceremony upcloseto the nerve wracking menialpreparations? Let them do what theydo best; you sit back and enjoy!6ContactsAnu Lohia, 9851010414Arpana Mohpal, 9851038255

gift Items WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011 69The Pre-WeddingFrets and FunBy Pallavi DhakalMarriages are said to be made inheaven and so we ceremoniouslyvow to spend lives together askingfor God’s blessing with elaboratewedding rituals. We want ourfamily and friends to come togetherto support and to celebrate. Manytimes it can also be a way for afamily to display their social andfinancial status. However, thiscelebration of love and partnershipcan sometimes be just about signing amarriage license or a document, butusually we, especially women, like toaggrandize.

70 wedding bells/winter 2011pre-wedding treatmentThere’s something about womenand marriages. Everywhere inevery part of the world, women gocrazy before marriage. Imagine, awoman is so wrapped up about thisparticular day that even as a kid,she role-plays as a beautiful youngbride. It is a special day for womenfor which she dreams and plans sincechildhood. So, though in principleit is an important day for both thecouple, it indisputably has to beextraordinarily imperative for thebride.Personally, I am not a big fan ofweddings, but I do amuse myselfas a silent spectator over all thewedding actions and emotions. Frompreparation stresses to the attentionto minute details, then there arealso the let downs and the eventualrecovery. The entire gamut matchesthe very relationship that thecouples promise to get into.Here are a few wedding kicks andslack that always absorb me.The pre-weddingthrills and sweats“If I am the bride, I will go to anylength to squeeze that extra budgetto look particularly special that day,”says Sangita, 27.No matter the wedding traditions orcustoms or what country it is takingplace in, at each ceremony, the bridewill kill to look her best. To managethis, the bride has a lot of things todecide upon, right from weddingdress and shoes to accessories,handbag and cosmetics, which can

pre-wedding treatment wedding bells/winter 2011 71consume a good deal of time andenergy. Further, to get the “princess”look and feel, it is quite natural forthe bride to pamper herself fromskin care treatments to appointmentswith hair stylists. Even to go foran extensive spa treatment is notunusual especially when she has somany things to jitter her nerves.There are also some brides-to-bewho hit the gym extra hard to shedthe unwanted few kilos. “I have myheart set on this beautiful lehengafor which I am willing to run everymorning,” Kalyani, 28. Some crazyweight-shedding before the weddingseems to be the routine not only forthe brides but also for the grooms. “Ihave to admit I am a lazy guy but myfiancée has warned me to conquerthis belly fat before the weddingand so I hit the gym,” says Rahul,29. Whether for your loved onesor for yourself, you willingly walkthat extra mile to look attractive onthe wedding day. And, why shouldgrooms be any less, they have alsostarted to pay a lot of attention totheir looks and clothes.Cold feet syndromeIt is likely that before the big dayarrives, both men and womenalike tend to wonder whether theyhave made the right decision.Especially for women, they can beso preoccupied with all the detailsof the wedding that sometimes thetensions that surround them makethem nervous. However, mostof the time, the fear is of losingtheir identity as a single girl andembracing a new life as a wife andthe responsibility that comes withit. “I could get no sleep before mywedding because I knew once I tiedthe knot, I would no longer be thesexy young girl that I always relatedwith. I really wanted to run away,”says Gayatri.It is mostly the same with many menbut mainly it is the idea of living andbeing intimate with only one singlewoman for the rest of their livesPampering Packages for theBride-to-beBy Shristi UpretyThe wedding date is just around the corner. You’ve been managing amillion different things, trying to ensure that everything goes just right,just like the fairytale wedding you’ve always wanted. But, that fairytaledidn’t take into account aching shoulders and tired feet and all thepressure that comes with being the bride…so, take some time off torelax. After all, you’re going to want your wedding to be a wonderfulmemory, not merely a stressful one.MassageMassages reduce stress and provide relief. And, with all the stress thatcomes with managing a wedding, especially your own, a massage is amust.FacialA facial combats all the elements that the face is daily subject to—thesun, the wind, the rain, and even pollution—with a deep cleansing,unclogging of your pores, and ridding of blackheads. If you’re optingto wear a strapless gown during the course of your wedding, go onestep further, and get a back facial, combining blemish control withsoothing massage and masks. This complete facial treatment ensuresthat you look your best when you dare to go bare, and throughout thehoneymoon too. For best results, get your facials at least a week beforethe wedding. For younger, smoother looking skin.PedicurePedicures are treatment of the feet. Leg care below the knee is alsocommonly included. Often mistaken for luxury as opposed to necessarytreatment, on the charge of just feeling “great”, pedicures are one ofthe most effective ways to relieve stress. You’ll be standing on your feetall day long—when they feel comfortable, so will you. And, you willdefinitely not want to be in pain on your wedding day! Pamper yourfeet with the treatment they deserve… the polished result looks greattoo!ManicureYour hands are as important as your face, permanently on show. Moreso if you’re a bride-to-be; you’re going to be flaunting that ring foreveryone to see. The entire process of manicuring is relaxing andsoothing into the bargain. And since this is for an occasion, customizeyour nail design to match your dress –the manicures can work as anaccessory to your bridal outfit. For beautiful, chip-free nails, it’s bestto schedule your manicure for the day before or the morning of yourwedding.Hair MassageHair massages, also known as scalp massages, deal not just with thephysical, but also with the conscious, soothing your mind as well as yourbody. Relaxation only takes a matter of minutes, so why not try this out?

72 wedding bells/winter 2011pre-wedding treatmentThis occasionbecomes a nightwhere people try torelive the life of anindependent singleperson with theirclose friends.and losing their independence, iswhat make them apprehensive.Sometimes it is also the fear oftaking financial responsibility forsupporting the wife and possiblechildren that give them cold feet.However, if the fear is significantthen perhaps the couple needs toclosely inspect their relationship.Last night of freedomBecause wedding signifies theend of the singlehood era andbeginning of the new committedmarried life, people want tocelebrate this transition. Thisoccasion becomes a night wherepeople try to relive the life of anindependent single person withtheir close friends.Saroj, 32, says “My friends took meout binge drinking and we got wastedreminiscing about the old days”.Usually, bachelor and bacheloretteparties are notorious for drinking andsex being their chief activities but,these days, it’s more of a casual affair.Men might end up playing sports orcamping whilst women go to a spa ora gourmet dinner.As time has evolved, weddingceremonies have also changed. Nomatter how a wedding is conductedor what work has gone into it,couples should not get wrapped inthe planning process. They needto remember that no matter what,ultimately they will get married andplanning this lifetime together is whatthey need to focus more on.6ContactsChitanaya SpaKupondole, 5547774Tranquility SpaLazimpat, 4420424Shape UpKamaladi, 2002163Healing HandsLazimpat, 4412999Spa PranaDurbar Marg, 4221695Omni Beauty & Spa therapyMin BhawanVLCC Health CareDilli BazaarHeritage SpaSanepa, 5524442

My BestFriend’sWeddingBy Snigdha BhattaWhile it is important to dress up like astar (don’t outshine the bride though), itis equally important to have the time ofyour life because hey! Your “Best FriendForever” is only getting married once!(Hopefully). Read more to find out someof the important wedding do’s and don’tsas an attendee to your best friend’swedding.As kids, most of us rarely enjoyedweddings. Although small childrenare the kind to run aroundscreaming and dancing everytime—weddings don’t appealto them. they sit with their feetdangling off the chair, whining andputting on a “Can we go homenow?” face. it is so easy to hatethe endless shopping, dancing,singing and what-not when we’reyoung, but as a person grows up,he/she starts to enjoy the vibe thatweddings bring with them—thefresh flurry of events, the beautifulchange and the new beginnings.More than any wedding, one’sbest friend’s wedding holds adifferent charm. When your bestfriend decides to marry, youautomatically throw yourself intothe celebrations with gusto. But,it is odd in so many different waystoo. Although your heart brimswith all sorts of congratulationsand good wishes, you somehowfeel detached. Suddenly, yourlives seem to stretch so veryfar away. it is one of the mostheart-wrenching departures. nofighting, no yelling, no anger butthe utter grief lasts for a longtime. But, at the same time, thebeauty of friendship is such that,weddings can’t come in betweenthem. in the end, one’s best friendlooks the most excited and hyperperson in the crowd. the endless

my friend’s wedding wedding bells/winter 2011 75saree, jewelry and shoe shoppingdoesn’t bore them anymore. Infact, they feel upbeat and readyto make the bride look flawlessand remain with the would-bebrideall along—during shopping,selection of “the” wedding dress,making the guest list, checking thevenue, to making sure she had hadthe chance to nibble somethingin between the endless weddingrituals.

76 wedding bells/winter 2011my friend’s weddingHowever, not many peoplegive thought to the bridesmaidand the rest of the attendees.They need to feel fabulous too.As they prance around early inthe morning with toothbrushin mouth, they need to knowthat they’ll look amazing andpeople will not only notice thebride and the groom, but themtoo. Therefore, knowing how todress for a wedding reception isimportant. No one wants to standout like a sore thumb.The sense of style is veryimportant. It needs to be altereddepending on where the weddingis taking place. We’ve all seenpeople who somehow end uplooking too flashy or too dull.Some over-do and catch all thenegative attention while somedon’t catch any attention at all.That’s not the kind of lastingimpression you’d want to leaveon your fellow guests and thehappy couple.

my friend’s wedding wedding bells/winter 2011 77The Rule Book• If it’s indoor, formal attire wouldbe a must. If not, elegant casualswork just fine.• However, just because it’ssummer doesn’t mean one shouldwear shorts or something verycasual. Even a laid-back picnicday needs a degree of decorum.One must refrain from being verycasual.• Nobody said dressing for awedding is easy. And, that isexactly why one ought to thinkabout not just the outfit butalso pick out the “correct” bag,accessories, and shoes.• Not to forget, the bridesmaidshould stray away from wearingred. If she does, she’ll be givinga hard competition to the brideand that is not very classy.• Also, wearing something dark orsequin during daytime is a no-no.Some best friends feel the utmostneed to stand out that they endup dressing in a very overtlyflashy and revealing fashion.Such attire is for parties, the wildparties, the night parties—notweddings. Wearing suchdresses will only earn themnasty comments.There are just so many things aperson needs to keep in mindwhile attending a wedding.Some people think that weddingetiquette only applies to thebride, but that’s not true. Evenwhen one has planned everythingdown to the last detail, things gowrong just because the guests actrowdy. There are certain weddingdo’s and don’ts that all guests areobliged to follow.• Guests need to pay attentionto the deadline on theinvitation. Also, showingup late for the main event isconsidered disgraceful.• Unless it says “and guest” onthe invitation, only the invitedperson should attend. Guestsshouldn’t ask if they can bringtheir date or any other relative.They need to consider thecouple’s budget plans.• Excessive drinking shouldbe avoided at all costs.Some people actually get soembarrassingly drunk that theyruin the entire mood of thewedding. Such drunkards needto stay home!• Guests should make a pointof saying hello to the brideand groom, but keeping theconversation short, so theycan make their rounds and findsome time to grab a bite.• Guests shouldn’t complainhow tough it was to find thevenue or how the weather isthis and that. The bride andgroom couldn’t care less.Nevertheless, a wedding is a timeof joy, a time of celebration. It isthe time when we get to cry likebabies, dance a lot, eat good food,go shopping all the time and comeback resplendent with new things.Why didn’t we like weddings asVenue: Garden of Dreams,Thamelchildren? Weddings rock!Models: Sushila Parajuli, Anisha Karki, Ashma Pradhan & Riviera GorkhaliWardrobe: Chahat Boutique, Make up & Hair: Siam Beauty Parlour, Stylist: Nitesh Sherchan

80 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011most extravagant wedding in NepalTheBig FatWeddingBy ujeena ranaPerfect couple

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 81Hyatt was decorated like a bride duringthe three days long weddingPanchakanyas to welcome the guestsFlower RangoliWeddings are events to be celebrated and treasured. Some like it grand,some like it simple, some like it “over the top”, and some like it “veryminimal”. Everyone has dreams and desires for one’s wedding but herewe talk about the pompous, and the extravagant, the magnanimous andthe ‘Big, Fat Marwari Wedding’.Stage decorated for Varmala

82 wedding bells/winter 2011most extravagant wedding in NepalSneak peak into the weddingGroom: Akaash Jatia, son ofJagdamba Group of Industries CEOAnil Jatia and Neeta Jatia.Bride: Bhoomika Jatia, a resident ofUS. Her father, Chander Kochhar, isan industrialist.The Wedding function:Jan 21–Jan 23, 2011The Venue: Hyatt RegencyThe Wedding Planners: BackstageEvent Management Company, IndiaThe Outfit: Bhoomika’s lehenga wasdone by Rohit Bal. Akaash’s weddingattire by Shantanu & Nikhil.Hair and Makeup: The job wasgiven to the celebrity makeup andhair expert duo—Bharat & DorrisGodambe. The duo also worksmagic on Aishwarya Rai Bachchhan,Susmita Sen, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee.Bhoomika, all shy and beautifulThe Music: Music different oneach day. On the 22nd, a show byMumbai artistes, mehendi also byMumbai artists, instrumental, DJentire day daily. There was also anafter party each day starting 11pmtill 5am at Rox Bar. Dj was calledfrom India.The Attendees: Friends and familyfrom US, India, London had come tobe part of a one-of-a-kind weddingin Nepal.

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 83Bhoomika’s outfit was done by Rohit Bal and Akaash’s was by Shantanu & Nikhil

84 wedding bells/winter 2011most extravagant wedding in NepalThe details on the affairWas it “love” or“arranged” marriage?It was a love-cum-arrangedmarriage.How did you guys meet?Where? Was it “love atfirst sight”?We met at Boston Universitywhere both of us were students.We had started seeing each othersince 2006 and got married on Jan23, 2011.How did he propose?There was no formal proposal. Wehad been seeing each other for quitesome time and understood and lovedeach other.Did the wedding ritualsincorporate both thePunjabi and Marwaricultures?Complete Marwari wedding witha tint of Punjabi flavor. Mehendiwas done in Punjabi style. So itwas Punjabi-cum-Marwari kind ofwedding.Where did you go for yourhoneymoon?We toured the entire Asia Pacific.We especially loved Thailand andSingapore.If you and your husbandcould change a thing aboutthe wedding, what would itbe?

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 85The wedding was so perfect that wewouldn’t change anything.If you could have inviteda “celebrity” on yourwedding, who would it be?Sonia Gandhi, William and Kate,Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.What, according to you,was the most lavish thingabout your wedding? Whatwas the “above/differentfrom th average weddings”element about yourwedding?The sitting arrangement during thephera. The mandap was something“out of the world”. It was morethan what we had expected.The fanfareIt was a wedding Kathmandu hadrarely witnessed before. HyattRegency, became the home for thebride and the groom’s families andtheir guests for three whole days(Jan 21–Jan 23, 2011). The totalnumber of attendees who attendedthe three-day-long wedding was1000 plus. And the hotel wasdecorated as a bride for the entirethree days.

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 87Hyatt Chefs from almost every country visited to create the magic

88 wedding bells/winter 2011most extravagant wedding in Nepal

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 89Every corner of Hyatt got a face-lift

90 wedding bells/winter 2011most extravagant wedding in NepalCocktailCocktail Night was on 21stFriday. The Rox Bar at Hyattwas filled with people who weredancing, chatting, drinking,eating or just being engaged“observing people around”.More so than the young couple,it was the parents who wanted abig, fat, marriage. “It had to begrand,” declares Neeta Jatia, themother of the groom in a matterof-factmanner.The seating arrangement wasskillfully executed

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 91MehendiMehendi was on the 22nd. It took place at the helipad area of thehotel. “It was a perfect weather that day,” beams Bhoomika with thewarmth of the memory. It had a Punjabi theme to it. The decorationwas done so as to give a real Punjabi taste to the guests who also wentback home carrying gift bags with bangles, tika and all that that makesa woman beautiful.Mehendi on the bride

92 wedding bells/winter 2011most extravagant wedding in NepalTikaTika was in the same evening.Akriti Kakkar and Meet Brothers(both from Mumbai) were theentertainers for the Mehendi and themain function. These artistes madethe occasion eventful not only forthe couple but for everyone present.The preparation were done properlyand the job was given to dependablehands so everyone could relaxduring the main events. All thefamily members needed to do was toenjoy the spectacle. Otherwise, whatoften happens is — family membersrunning here and there—makingsure the things are right and thatthe guests are enjoying and that themusic system is not having a badday. With an able team, the Jatiafamily had nothing to worry about.The family members enjoyed asmuch as the attendees. “The wholeevent was well coordinated. Nothingwas out-of-place. It was a perfectBhoomika crowded by her relatives!

most extravagant wedding in Nepal wedding bells/winter 2011 93All very majestic !Spectacle - at its brilliance !

94 wedding bells/winter 2011most extravagant wedding in NepalPlay of colors!The stage set for the eventwedding in its truest sense. Theparty would end very late, butin the morning, you couldn’tsee a trace of yesterday’s event.Every day was a new day—witheverything new—the flowers,the curtains, the lighting, themood. Every day had a theme,therefore every detail was givento make each day different,”comments Neeta Jatia.Since the celebrity makeupartists Bharat & Dorris haddone the bride’s makeup, itwas seamless—highlighting thebride’s attractive features—likethe eyes. Bhoomika lookedgorgeous and the groom wasnot left behind. He too waswell taken care of. Akaash hadhis wedding attire (shoes andclothes) made by the famousdesigner duo Shantanu &Nikhil. He looked every bit aprince with his turban and themannerism with which he wascarrying off himself. Normally,people adorn with flowergarlands, but their “Jai Mala”was an embodiment of preciousstones and was also beautifullycrafted by Shantanu & Nikhil.

96 wedding bells/winter 2011extravagant weddings around the worldLavishnessRecordedEveryone wants the perfect wedding. We’ve seen people spend their lifesavingson ceremonies that they can hardly afford. Weddings seem to be the perfectopportunity to splurge and everyone seems to be trying to outdo each otherin terms of extravagance. So, when everyone is vying with each other forthe best wedding, what do the truly wealthy do for theirs? Here are the mostextravagant weddings on record:Compiled by : Shristi UpretyPrincess Salama to SheikhMohammed bin Zayed binSultan Al Nahyan$100 millionWhen you’re a royal, you don’tstop to calculate. With a net worthof $15 billion, Sheikh Mohammedbin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,crown prince of Abu Dhabi, is oneof the richest royals in the world,and with this prince’s marriage toPrincess Salama, 1981 saw the mostextravagant wedding of all time.Mohammed’s parents built a 20,000-seat stadium to accommodate theirguests, and the festivities lasted aweek, during which time the groomjourneyed to every town in theemirate on horseback, celebratingas he went. Thirty-four privatejets were used to fly in the invitedprinces, ambassadors, emirs andsheiks, and more than 50 Arab andAfrican song-and-dance troupeswere hired to entertain them.The most expensive wedding onrecord, the estimated costs soaredto $100 million (in today’s terms).And not all of this was spent onentertainment; 20 bejeweled camelswere used to deliver wedding giftsto his bride, who according toBedouin tradition, stayed in herroom for this entire period.Charles, Prince of Wales, toDiana Spencer$70 millionAnother 1981 wedding, PrinceCharles’s marriage to Lady DianaSpencer was universally dubbed“the fairy-tale wedding”. The bride’sivory silk gown with its 25-foot train,is believed to have cost more than$15,000 itself. This modern dayCinderella tale included a horse, aglass coach, 27 wedding cakes anda global TV audience of 750 millionfrom 58 countries, not to mentiona million well-wishers who travelledto London to catch a glimpse of thecouple.Vanisha Mittal toAmit Bhatia$60 millionSteel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal isthe world’s richest man, so it wasobvious that he would marry offhis only daughter Vanisha in style.With a reception at the Palace ofVersailles, a wine tab of $1.5 million,wedding jewelry worth a couple ofmillion, and a concluding fireworkdisplay at the Eiffel Tower, this

extravagant weddings around the world wedding bells/winter 2011 97wedding is at number three,costing an estimated $60 million.The wedding took place in Vaux leVicomte, a 17th-century chateauin France, and 12 Boeing jets werehired to transport guests fromall over the world. Forget yourordinary wedding card, the familysent out 20-page invitations,complete with poetry, in silverboxes. Throw in a performance byKylie Minogue and 100 differentdishes prepared by top chefs.The 1,000 guests were invited tostay for five days in five-star Parishotels, with papa Mittal pickingup the tab of course.Priya Sachdev toVikram Chatwal$20 millionManhattan-based hotelierVikram Chatwal married Indianmodel Priya Sachdev in 2006,to the tune of $20 million. The10-day celebrations saw theattendance of Naomi Campbelland P Diddy, with a specialwedding toast from Bill Clinton.Six hundred guests from 26countries attended the nuptials,and entire hotels were booked.A single city wasn’t big enoughfor the celebrations—ten partieswere spread out in three cities(Mumbai, Udaipur, and Delhi)with the 600 guests being flownfrom place to place by threechartered 737s and a small airforce of private jets. Add thecost of 70 hired private cars,exotic tiger lily and tulip-flowerdecorations, and a 10-caratdiamond.Aleksandra Nikolic toAndrew Melnichenko$30 millionThis wedding between Russianbillionaire and founder of MDMBank Andrei Melnichenko andformer Miss Yugoslavia and Serbianmodel Aleksandra Kokotovich inCote D’Azur, France, receivedworldwide media attention, and fora reason. This 2005 wedding thattook place in the French Riviera,featured performances by ChristinaAguilera and Whitney Houston whowere both flown in on private jetsand paid an estimated $3.6 millioneach. The wedding had a price tag tomatch: an estimated $30 million intoday’s dollars.Chelsea Clinton toMarc Mezvinsky$ 4 millionThe Former first daughter wed herlongtime investment banker boyfriendMarc Mezvinsky in a private ceremonyat Astor Courts. Father Bill Clintonhad reportedly lost 15 pounds forthe event. The couple exchangedtheir vows, surrounded by 400 oftheir closest friends. The eveningended with a 5-foot-tall chocolatecake, before the couple left for theirhoneymoon to South Africa.Colleen McLaughlin toWayne Rooney$15 millionEngaged since 2003, televisionpresenter/product endorserColleen McLaughlin andManchester United/Englandfootball star Wayne Rooney had asecret wedding in Villa Durazzo,Italy. Despite being secret, thewedding was one of the most lavishweddings of all time, with a pricetag of $15 million. The couple gotapproximately $4 million back, byselling exclusive coverage rightsto OK magazine. The four-daycelebrations took place on a $120million yacht, and their 64 guestswere flown in from the UK infive private jets. The receptionwas held in a 700-year-old formerabby, La Cervara, concluding witha performance by Westlife. Otherattractions included a maskedball and champagne breakfast.The actual wedding was relativelysimple, with pizza being servedat the reception…but then again,other costs added up.

98 wedding bells/winter 2011extravagant weddings around the worldLiza Minelli & DavidGest$3.5 millionWhen music producer DavidGest married iconic pop star LizaMinnelli, the couple reportedlyspent $700,000 for flowers and$40, 000 for their 6-foot 12-tierwedding cake. The best man wasMichael Jackson, with ElizabethTaylor as the maid of honor. Fivehundred service staff were hiredto serve the 850 guests; a 60-piece orchestra, Tony Bennett,Stevie Wonder, and NatalieCole, were hired to entertainthem. This flamboyant weddingwas certainly one of the strangestweddings of all time, combiningmoonwalking, singing, and awhole lot more.Delphine Arnault andAlessandro VallarinoGancia$ 7 millionWhat does one of the richestwomen in the world plan forher marriage? Daughter ofBernard Arnault, who heads theLouis Vuitton Monet Hennessy(LVMH) empire, DelphineArnault married AlessandroVallarino Gancia, heir of theGancia wine dynasty, in 2005.When two powers meet, it’s gotto be huge: the wedding tookplace in France, with famousguests including Hollywood starElizabeth Hurley in attendance.The venue was decorated with5,000 white roses, and the bride’sgown was made by John Gallianowhich was worth an estimated$50,000.Trista Rehn to RyanSutter$ 4 million“The Bachelorette” stars, TristaRehn and Ryan Sutter, who meton the ABC show itself, marriedin a lavish $4 million wedding.The outdoor wedding wasdecorated with over 30,000 pinkand ivory roses, and the cost ofthe bride’s satin strapless BadgleyMischkagown gown and StuartWeitzman diamond-encrustedshoes came to a whopping$70,000. This televised weddinghad helicopters flying overhead,and the evening ended with a liveperformance by country singerBrad Paisley.

100 wedding bells/winter 2011my bridal wish list

my bridal wish list wedding bells/winter 2011 101Namrata’s BridalWishlistPhotos by Kishore KayasthaNamrata Shrestha, ActorThe ever cheerful Namrata Shresthahasn’t given a thought about whatshe wants her wedding to be like.She has no plans of getting marriedanytime soon either. She says,“As a child, I would make a listof characteristics I’d want in myhusband, but that was then. Now, Idon’t think there is anything suchas “Mr. Right”. When you meet theperson, you will overlook all thethings you once thought you neededin a husband and accept him justthe way he is.” Beautiful Namratafurther adds “When I do getmarried, I would make sure it wouldbe somewhere closer to nature.”A lover of serenity and quietness,Namrata prefers small weddingsfilled with her near and dear ones.She is not a big fan of crowds andwould keep the ceremony verylow-profile. When asked whereshe would spend her honeymoon,she said she had not given a singlethought about it. “I really haven’tthought about that but I would mostdefinitely travel a lot. I would take along vacation with my husband, trekall over Nepal and maybe go for aEuropean trip.”Looking great is just as importantas feeling great on the wedding dayand Namrata feels the same. “I wouldobviously want to look my best in mywedding attire but I don’t think I’dwant to be clad in a very traditionalwedding dress. I would probably gofor a fusion of traditional attire andgowns.” Expecting to be showeredwith their blessings alone, Namratasays she would not want her guests totake the trouble of buying gifts andwould do her level best to ensure thatthey have fun. “I plan to entertain myguests not just by delicious food anddrinks but also by wonderful musicand good hospitality.”Namrata has no intention ofcalling celebrities just to hype upher wedding ceremony. She says“Marriage is a very sacred ceremonyand overhyping it with too muchextravagance doesn’t seem veryappealing to me.” She furtheropines, “Weddings aren’t a must.No one is compelled to do anythingin the world and it’s the same withweddings. When one feels the needto be together with someone for therest of their lives, they will make thechoice of committing themselvesto their other half. When it has tohappen, it happens.”Jewelry: Ebisu Jewellers Center, DurbarmargWardrobe: Beatification Boutique, Durbarmarg

102 wedding bells/winter 2011fashion spread

my bridal wish list wedding bells/winter 2011 103Jewelry: Ebisu Jewellers Center, DurbarmargWardrobe: Beatification Boutique, Durbarmarg

104 wedding bells/winter 2011fashion spreadWardrobe: Oodni Boutique, KupondoleJewelry: Ebisu Jewellers Center, Durbar Marg

fashion spread wedding bells/winter 2011 105Jewelry: Ebisu Jewellers Center, Durbar MargWardrobe: Beatification Boutique, Durbar Marg

106 wedding bells/winter 2011fashion spreadWardrobe: Oodni Boutique, KupondoleJewelry: Ebisu Jewellers Center, Durbar Marg

fashion spread wedding bells/winter 2011 107

108 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011my bridal wish listSanyukta’sWeddingChoicesWardrobe: Ministry of Fashion, durbar MargMakeup & Hair: Siam Beauty ParlourJewelry: diamond Gallery Creations, new road

my bridal wish list wedding bells/winter 2011 109Makeup: Since it is a wedding,the makeup should stand out yet notlook heavy or overdone.Sanyukta TimilsinaRunner up, Miss Nepal 2010Food: Taking Nepalese taste intoconsideration. I would like a lavisharray of Nepali and Indian cuisine.Since I have such a sweet tooth,desserts however would be over thetop. I would want rich varieties ofchocolates served from all over theworld.Jewelry: Preferably kundan polkijewelry. diamonds, pearls, emeraldwould be awesome as well.Wedding Dress: Since I want areally grand wedding, I would wantto wear a very traditional “makhmal kolehenga” with heavy embroidery workon it.Transportation: Elephantswould be amazing if that can bearranged because that woud just addto the whole grandeur otherwisea horse carriage is also fine. Thecarriage has to be decorated withflowers, etc. and ornamented tomake it look outstanding.Music: Traditional panche baaja forall the functions and formalities andeverything.Kind of wedding: Like Ialready mentioned, right fromswayambhar to the janti, it has to liveup to being a truly traditional Hinduwedding.Entertainment: This willprobably be the most fun part ofmy wedding. I would really wantShahrukh Khan or Lady Gaga toperform since I am such a huge fan ofboth. If that can’t be arranged, evenan impersonator would do!Flowers: I am not that fond offlowers. Maybe different varietiesof roses with red ones taking thecenter stage.

110 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011my bridal wish listAyusha’sWeddingChoicesWardrobe: Beatification, durbar MargMakeup & Hair: Kamala ShresthaSiam Beauty Parlour, KupondoleJewelry: nilima’s Studio, City Center,Kamalpokhari

my bridal wish list wedding bells/winter 2011 111What Kind of Marriage:Legendary.Ayusha ShresthaWorld Miss University 2003Theme: Norse.Venue: Nordkapp (North Cape),Norway. A 1000 ft. high cliff—thenorthernmost point of Europe onthe last week of DecemberTransport: A Sun Chariotdrawn by four White Arabthoroughbreds with braided satinreins. Guests arrive on chauffeuredsnowmobiles.Dress: Ivory chorded lace strapless mermaid gown with train studded indiamonds.Food: Heart-warming yetexotic with a special emphasis onpresentation.Flowers: Bleeding dark red rosesMusic/Entertainment: CelticWoman/Enya/BjorkJewelry: Butterfly Tiara Diademain platinum with diamonds.Lighting: Warm, comforting andthe Aurora Borealis for the loveliestsky spectacle the earth has to offer.

112 WEDDIng BELLS/WIntEr 2011my bridal wish listSushma’sWeddingChoicesWardrobe & Jewelry: nilima’s Studio,City Center, KamalpokhariMakeup & Hair: Kamala ShresthaSiam Beauty Parlour, Kupondole

my bridal wish list wedding bells/winter 2011 113Sushma KarkiFilm Actress, ModelEntertainment: I want a verygrand wedding and I would love tohave bollywood stars to entertainthe guests. Also, someone very goodat singing ghazals would be great.Jewelry: Diamond setFlowers: RoseWedding dress: Very classymakhmal ko gown that has intricatesilver work and I want my groomto be dressed in specially designeddaura suruwal that would attract alleyes towards him.Makeup: I want a very lightmakeup but I want my eyes to lookvery special with outward extendedgazal like of the old times.Transportation: A very welldecorated buggy with four horsesat the front.Food: I like Indian and Nepalifood but I would like to includefood that would lure each and everyguest’s tongue. And, among all thefood items, bandel ko masu would bethe special attraction.Wedding: I want the weddingceremony to be in my house andthe party in Gokarna Resort withfull media coverage. In fact, I wouldwant a live telecast of my weddingon TV.Music: I like panche baaja but I would also want the normal weddingbands to perform in turns.

114 wedding bells/winter 2011gifts for him & herFor HerKnow the bride intimately? Not so well? Not at all? Here are afew pointers on what to get for the bride.BagWomen can never haveenough bags or shoes.Getting hold of hershoe size might be abit of a hassle, so gether a bag instead. Ifyou know her wellenough for her totell you what she’lllike, well enough…otherwise youcan just trust yourinstincts.JewelryIf you’re a good friend of thebride or groom, you can’t possiblyget away with giving the couplecrockery or flowers. Make it special,and get the bride jewelry. It doesn’thave to be expensive; opt for beadednecklaces, or earrings embeddedwith her birthstone.Photo frameIf you’re at a loss for time, youcan buy her a photo frame.This gift is convenient andappropriate for all marriages.Just make sure to choose anattractive piece, not somethingthat she’ll want to throw outwith the trash. You can chooseaccording to your budget too;another plus.Coaster setIt might be a good idea toget the couple objects thatthey’ll need around the house.Coaster sets can be found inthe trendiest of designs, in allshapes and sizes. If you’ve beento their house-to-be and knowwhat’ll go with the furniture,this will be the perfect gift;it’ll show her that you care,and spent time searching forsomething that matches.``A spa gift certificatePamper her with a spa gift certificate.Make sure to get at least a monthlongexpiration date—she mighthave a busy schedule. Not only willthis gift stand out in her memory,but she’ll also have a good time.Beauty productsGet her a hamper of beauty products.Add a chocolate or two, tie witha ribbon, and you’re done. Thisthoughtful gift is sure to get hersmiling.

gifts for him & her wedding bells/winter 2011 115PerfumePerfumes were originally used only by royalty. Buyher a bottle of her favorite scent—or if you’re feelingadventurous, get her something completely new. Chancesare, she’ll love it. If not, at least you tried.LingerieIf you’re a close friend of the bride,get daring. Nothing livens up thepulse like lingerie, and she’ll needit to spice up the honeymoon. Thefun that goes with the unwrappingmight be as good a gift as thelingerie itself.Silver itemThese days, you find all kindsof fancy silver items—fromthose having mythologicalbeliefs to flora and fauna. Ifyou know the person better,buy things which mightinterest the receiver’s taste,or else, take a risk and buy anice Ganesha, Lord Krishna,silver candle stand or a pair ofelephants.Decorative pieceThe newly-weds are planning tocreate a home for themselves.You can be a part of it—simplyby gifting them items that will gobest with their décor. If you area close friend of the couple andhave visited the groom’s place,you just know what is missing andgift the same. They will appreciateyour thoughtfulness. Every kindof decorative piece is available inthe market today. Hanging chair,Swarovski chandelier, metal orwooden statues- are nice options.6Contacts for the bestfurnishing shops in townHome MakerMan Bhawan, 5535599, Maiti Ghar,4267264EmporiosKathmandu Business Park, TekuTel: 977 1 4104522, 4104523, 4104524Classic DecorDhapasi, Ring RoadTel: 01-2171282, 9851082325Mac DecorKupondle (opp. Nabil Bank), LalitpurTel: 5010527, 5010532CraftsmanSitapailaTel: 4034696, 4034517Kunal Living DecorJawalakhelTel: 5546386, 55463876Contacts for InteriorProductsMelange, Durbar MargUrban Design, AnamnagarLoft, Sherpa MallSandook, Kupondole

116 wedding bells/winter 2011gifts for him & herFor HimIt’s harder shopping for the groom than for the bride…whataffordable gift would a man want?Cuff linksCuff links are a great gift to give to a man. You can choose from a greatvariety, from the simple to the outrageous, keeping your budget in mind. Togo a step further, order customized ones.WalletGuy’s love their wallet. Even ifsome have no habit of keepingone, they sure will, once they getmarried. All those credit cards,family pictures, cash, small notes,coins, driver’s license, citizenship,etc., go into one wallet. Leather,suede or cotton, take your pick asoptions are endless.WatchIf you’re a good friend of thegroom’s, then splurge on awatch. This might punch ahole in your savings but whatis money after all than a way tobring happiness into the lives ofthose we love? Plus, he’ll thinkof you every time he has it on.TankardIf the groom is fond of beer, youcould get him a special tankard, orperhaps two. This considerate giftwill be useful as well as ornamental.Personalized lighterIf the groom’s a smoker,he would appreciate apersonalized lighter. Youcould get a message, or justhis initials inscribed into thelighter. Just as long as he’s notthe careless kind. If he’s likelyto lose it within a month ortwo, it might be better to makeit less elaborate.

gifts for him & her wedding bells/winter 2011 117Business card holderMany people have their own cardsthese days but not all have cardholders. Get the groom a businesscard holder, for he’ll use it, andtreasure it, for days to come.GadgetThere is no better gift than gadgets.In this age when everyone wants tolead a modern and technologicallysound lifestyle, a gift of a gadgetis the best bet. Go with Appleproducts or Nokia, Sony Ericssoncellphones or LCD, the receiverwill appreciate the thought.TieDon’t go according to trend,rather be a trendsetter and carryoff every kind of color, design,length and knot-kind. Be daringand go with pink or wear printsand different fabric. If you are thekind who wants everyone to bestylish and experimental, gift a tie.You can either be a risk taker andgift metallic ties or be safe and giftmonochromatic old-school ones.ClockProfessionals are likely to spendmore time in their offices than theydo at home. Get him something toadorn his desk at work, like a clock,or a paper holder.Laptop skinA laptop skin will not only provide protection but will also givehis laptop a new look. Alternately, you could get him skins for hisiPod, iPad, or game console.Suit PieceA man looks the most handsome ina suit. Single breasted or double,pinstriped or tuxedo, one shouldhave the knowledge of fabric and cutand get hold of a seasoned tailor andone is sure to be a head turner. Classand personality reflect best on a welltailored suit.

my tribe wedding bells/winter 2011 119TheMarwariWeddingThe Marwari communitycelebrates weddingswith much fervor.The celebration hasfirm roots in age oldtraditions—and bringstogether not only twoindividuals but also twofamilies.Pre-wedding ritualOnce the marriage of two familiesis decided, Chota Neg is practiced.This is when the two families cometogether and the father of the bridegifts four rupees (which can alsobe four ordinary coins, four silvercoins or that of gold—accordingto the financial status of the family)to the father of the groom. Thefemale relatives are likewise givengifts. This is not a one-time practice.Every time the two families meet,this ritual has to be practiced.This is to formalize the relationshipbetween the two families. The NegThe brideand groomin traditionalattire.

120 wedding bells/winter 2011my tribeThe groom making his entry to the wedding venueThe bride being ushered to the venuethat the to-be-bride’s father handsover to the to-be-groom’s fathersignifies that his daughter is nowofficially the daughter-in-law of theNeg’s recipient’s family. Neg in away is Sambdhi Bhet—the gift for thedaughter’s in-laws.The date is decided then after. Cardsare thereon distributed amongst therelatives but the first wedding card isgiven to Lord Ganesha to receive hisblessing.Kirtan—Mangal Paath/ Puja is thenconducted at both the families’houses. Moreover, kirtans isan occasional trend in Marwarihouseholds be it wedding or not.Mugdha or Tilak—This is the partygiven by the groom’s side. Thereis an exchange of gifts between thebride and the groom’s side. It is alsocalled Bada Neg.The same evening is the Sangeet.Earlier, there was no such ritual butwith time, this has gained popularity.This is the ritual attended by bothfamilies. There will be dance, foodand fun.Thapa—Back in the house, thewould-be-bride puts her hand’simprint on a piece of wood. Thesame is burnt on the fire during thephera.One of the main events wherein the father of the bride gives away hisdaughter to the groom.Tel Baan—The would-be-bride andthe groom are made to sit on a plankof wood, and the respective familymembers (all elders) smear oil,mehendi and haldi on their bodies.Bhat—This is a special ritual andholds significance in the relationshipshared between the groom and thebride’s mother and her brother.Mamas have a great role in awedding ceremony. The girl’s momand the groom’s mom respectivelygoes to her brother’s house, putstilak on her brother and invites himand his family for the wedding. Itis very important—people are veryemotional about the ritual. This is toinvite relatives on the mother’s side.Also, the invitation is to requesther brother to provide financialhelp during the wedding. Weddingsare expensive affairs and the familyalone cannot afford the expenses,thus the request of help from thebrothers.Then there is mehendi. These days,people have started doing tilak inthe evening and mehendi in themorning or mehendi a day beforethe wedding. Mehendi is also puton the groom. The girl puts themehendi at her own place. Food,and music—it is fun event. It maytake place two–three days beforethe wedding day or the nightbefore the wedding. It is a function

my tribe wedding bells/winter 2011 121only for the females—with theexception of the groom.In the morning of the wedding,there is a puja at the bride’splace. The Mami gives all thejewelry to the bride. Weddinglehenga and jewelry are givenby the Mami’s side. But thesedays, the ritual is not followed.And, in the evening is thewedding.Unlike the Nepali tradition, the sindoor isn’t hidden beneath a piece of clothWedding dayThe wedding takes place in ahotel or a community place likethe Marwadi Sewa Samiti atNew Road. Bar maala/garlandsare exchanged. Then there iskanyadan, phera and sindoor. Thesindoor is not covered as in theHindu ritual. After the pheraand before the bidai, the fatherin-lawgifts a chunni—signifyingthat the bride is now a partof the family. All Marwadibrides wear the same design ofchunni—whatever strata thefamily belongs to. This is thesignificance of the Marwadifamily.Sirguthi—This takes place afterthe chunni ceremony. Herein,the sister-in-law combs thebride’s hair and gives herjewelry and the bride has tochange to the new set.In the evening of the wedding,the bride’s side throws theparty.Phera-promising to be together foreverSajangoth—After the reception,there is Sajangoth. This iswhen the girl’s side makes theguy’s side eat. The bride andthe groom sit with the guestsand the bride’s side feed them.Traditionally, this was practicedto formally introduce relativeson the groom’s side to thebride’s family. In the rush ofthe wedding ceremonies, notmuch introduction of relativescan take place, and Sajangoththus came into play.

122 wedding bells/winter 2011my tribeThe bride and groom play games as part of the post-wedding ritualsThe blushing brideThe bride part takes in an all-female post-wedding ritual in which all thefemales belong to her husbands familyOn the night of the wedding, thenewly wedded couple are supposedto sleep separately. This is to retainthe purity since the next morning;the bride has to visit the temple.Muh Deekhai—After the return fromthe temple, the female relativesfrom the groom’s side view thebride’s face and shower her withgifts.Godh Basai—The young brother-inlawsits on the lap of the newlywedbride. This is a good omen for thenewlywed couple to conceive achild very soon.The father-in-law gifts the bride a chunni symbolising her entry into the familyInformation provided by:Suraj Kiran Agrawal, Vice-President, Marwadi Sewa Samiti,NepalAnu Lohia, Self-employedWedding Planner

124 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding dress from the westWeddingDress fromthe WestPhotos by Kishore KayasthaIn any wedding ceremony, it is the bride who is themost scrutinized. And out of everything, it is thedress that gets maximum attention. It is no normaldress, it is ‘The Dress’. People rate a weddingceremony by the wedding dress. The mostelaborate, interesting, detailed gown is always theprized winner. Coming from the west, these gownshave become popular amongst local crowd as well.You can choose from an array of options: strapless,halter neck, classic or ultra modern, minimalist or‘over the top’ gowns. Our own Sanyukta Shresthais a recognized name in London as a milliner andone who specializes in wedding dresses.

wedding dress from the west wedding bells/winter 2011 125Model: Prakriti BudathokiWardrobe & Accessories: Nilima’s Studio,City Center, KamalpokhariMake up & Hair: Bhawana MaharjanVenue: Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency, Bouddha

126 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding dress from the west

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128 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding dress from the west

wedding dress from the west wedding bells/winter 2011 129Model: Alisha Gurung

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132 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding dress from the west

134 wedding bells/winter 2011honeymoon destinationsHoneymoonDestinationsAfter the wedding and the reception, there is something else other thana post-ceremonial chaos that newlyweds look forward to. Honeymoon,folks! The idea of a perfect honeymoon is a little frightening on the side,what if the decision does not meet pre-conceived expectations? Here aresome honeymoon destinations for you to choose from.KATHMANDU-NAGARKOT-POKHARA-CHITWANHoneymooning in Nepalis a great option, especiallyif you have places likeNagarkot, Chitwan andPokhara, all of whichhave the advantage ofbeing within a reasonableand affordable pricerange. Once you leaveKathmandu with yourbetter half, what awaitsyou in these places is acompletely new discovery.The flexible honeymoonpackages will help youincorporate any kind ofactivity (rafting, hiking,paragliding, jungle safari,etc.) into your schedule.

honeymoon destinations wedding bells/winter 2011 135Nepal and Beyond Travel and ToursHoneymoon PackageBased onHotel Country Villa in Nagarkot, TempleTree Resort and Spa in Pokhara and GreenMansion Resort in ChitwanFort Resort in Nagarkot, Fishtail Lodgein Pokhara and Machan Paradise ViewResort in ChitwanTotal costnPR 27550 nett per personnPR 30600 nett per personIncludesn 1 night twin share accommodation at Nagarkot with breakfast.n 2 night twin share accommodation at Pokhara with breakfast.n 2 nights twin share accommodation at Chitwan on full board basis.n Kathmandu-Nagarkot-Pokhara-Chitwan-Kathmandu private surfacetransfer with our chauffeur by non a/c car.n Sightseeing tours in Pokhara as per the program with a local guide.n One Hour boat ride at Phewa Lake.n Regular jungle activities included in 2 nights/3 day’s package.n Applicable entrance fees (except at museums) in Pokhara.n Chitwan National Park entry fee.

136 wedding bells/winter 2011honeymoon destinationsmalaysiaCapital: Kuala LumpurTime: GMT +8 HoursLanguage: “BahasaMalaysia” is the officialMalaysian language, thoughvarious Chinese, English andIndian languages are also widelyspoken.Currency: MalaysianRinggit (Dollar). Major creditcards are accepted at up markethotels, shops and restaurants.Automated Teller Machinesallows travelers to withdrawmoney from their overseassavings accounts or credit cards.Malaysia is a country in South-East Asia, located partly on apeninsula of the Asian mainlandand partly on the northern thirdof the island of Borneo. Malaysiais a developing nation. Malaysia,for most visitors, presents ahappy mix: there is high-techinfrastructure and things generallywork well and more or less onschedule, prices are reasonable.Peninsular Malaysia occupies allof the Malayan Peninsula betweenThailand and Singapore and is alsoknown as west Malaysia.Langkawi,Penang, Genting Higland,A’famosa (Melacca) are the placesto be visited in MalaysiaLangkawi, officially known asLangkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, isan archipelago of 104 islands in theAndaman Sea, some 30 km off themainland coast of northwesternMalaysia. Langkawi means reddishbrown eagle in colloquial Malay.The islands are a part of the stateof Kedah, which is adjacent to theThai border. Langkawi is also anadministrative district with thetown of Kuah as its largest town.Langkawi is a duty-free island.For the enthusiast in you, you canvisit the rainforests and loghousesand go for diving and spelunkingor just walk around the forest trailsto soothe your mind.

honeymoon destinations wedding bells/winter 2011 137Malla TravelsPackage Cost: USD 510/ person atHoliday Villa, LangkawiIncludes:n Welcome fruit basketn 03 nights’ accommodation inDeluxe room at Holiday VillaBeach Resort & Spa Langkawin Fresh Flowersn 01 box of Chocolatesn 01 bottle of Sparkling Winen 01 x Candlelight dinner at ItalianRestaurantn 01 session of 1.5 hours traditionalMassage for 02 personsn Daily Buffet Breakfastn Return Private Airport HotelTransfers in Langkawi byLimousine

138 wedding bells/winter 2011honeymoon destinationsmauritiusCapital: Port-LouisTime: GMT +4 HoursLanguage: The officiallanguage of Mauritius is Englishbut French and Creole are widelyspoken.Currency:Mauritian rupee(MUR)Nestled off the southeast coastof the African continent in thesouthwest Indian Ocean, Mauritiusis the ultimate honeymoondestination for many. Ask aroundif you will, and eight out of ten willchant Mauritius! Mauritius!From beachfront suites to yourprivate balcony, choices are allyours.From sailing, swimming, snorkeling,quad bike safari and cable rides to aday trip to Ile aux Cerfs, Mauritiusis a land of many opportunitiesespecially for newlyweds lookingforward to bonding through smallinteractive experiences.

honeymoon destinations wedding bells/winter 2011 139President TravelsPackage Cost: NRs. 1,25,000/person on twin sharingIncludes:n Stay for 4 Nights in Mauritiuson Half Board Basis at GoldenBeach Resort 3 star or similarcategoryn Return Airport transfers onSeat in Coach Basisn North Island Tour on Seat inCoach Basis (Ops: Mon / Thu)n South Island Tour on Seat inCoach Basis (Ops: Tue / Fri)n Tour of Ile Aux Cerfs on Seat inCoach Basis (Ops: Wed / Sat)

140 wedding bells/winter 2011honeymoon destinationsThailandCapital: BangkokTime: GMT +7 HoursLanguage: ThaiCurrency: Thai baht (THB)Thailand is all about idyllic islandsand sun baked beaches which iswhy many opt to visit Bangkok forreasons other than shopping. Thebusy metropolis that Bangkok is, itis equally welcoming, especially forcouples who like the juxtapositionof crowded streets and serenebeaches within walking distance.Pattaya and Phuket are the twomost popular tourist attractions inThailand. From diving to visitingNight Bazaar and eating Thai cuisineat MBK Food Court, Thailand offersa wide range of activities to bringnewlyweds together and strengthentheir bond. A visit to the AyutthayaTemple coupled with a river cruiseis the highlight of a Thailand trip.Apart from that, elephant ride daytrip within the periphery of KhaoYai National Park, floating marketsand half-day safari tours within andoutside Phuket are other things acouple might want to try.

142 wedding bells/winter 2011honeymoon destinationsMALDIVESCapital: MaleTime: GMT +05 HoursLanguage: DhivehiCurrency: RufiyaaThe Maldives, officially calledRepublic of Maldives, is alsoreferred to as the Maldive Islands.It is the smallest Asian countryin both population and land areawith an average ground level of1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sealevel and the lowest country on theplanet.Your honeymoon in Maldives will notbe boring, no matter what personalitytrait you possess. For those who likeadventure, Maldives offers cruising,diving, snorkeling, surfing, watersports,island hopping and seaplanetours. For the couples who’d like tojust laze around, beaches and waterbungalows assure complete privacy.

honeymoon destinations wedding bells/winter 2011 143President TravelsPackage Cost: NRs. 88000/person on twin sharingIncludes:n 4 Nights/ 5 Daysaccommodation at BandosIsland Resort 4* (standard) orsimilar categoryn Return airport transfer byspeedboatn All internal transfers and tours.Malla TravelsPackage Cost: USD 1079/ personat Sheraton MaldivesIncludes:n 3 course private dinner at sandcoastn 03 nights’ accommodation inBeach Front Deluxe Rooms atSheraton Maldivesn Welcome bottle of Winen Chocolatesn One Dolphin Cruise for 02guestsn Transfer by Speed boat.

144 wedding bells/winter 2011honeymoon destinationsEuropeThe fact that you can renthoneymoon villas aroundthe countryside is whatmakes choosing Europe for ahoneymoon pleasant. Hiringa car and driving around thehills or just strolling is whatmost newlyweds opt forwhen honeymooning in thelovely European countryside.There is a lot of mountainbiking one can do around theplace as well. Europe beingfull of small towns and a fewbig cities, you can plan youritinerary for a day very easilyincluding short visits to localwineries if you wish.President TravelsPackage Cost: NRs. 2,20,000 /person on twin/ triple sharingItineraryDay 1: London–Paris, FranceDay 2: ParisDay 3: Paris– Lake Lucerne,SwitzerlandDay 4: Lake LucerneDay 5: Lake Lucerne–Lugano–Verona, Italy–VeniceAreaDay 6: Venice AreaDay 7: Venice Area–FlorenceAreaDay 8: Florence Area–Pisa–RomeDay 9: St. Peter’s Square-RomanForum-Colosseum.Day 10: RomeIncludesn Accommodationsn Meals- buffet breakfasts,3 dinnersn Transportation

a must have for honeymoon wedding bells/winter 2011 145LingerieSo, you have come down to thejust two of you, but what haveyou planned for the night—thewedding night? You sure want tomake it a big event, right? A lotof thought and time was investedon the wedding event, and whenall work has been completed, nowis the time to “have fun”; you surecannot negate the importance ofthe “wedding night”. And whatcomes to mind, when we refer tothe “night” is … lingerie. Whatwere you thinking?Are you one of those who callslingerie, lingerie, or do you havea different name for the species:undergarments? underclothing?Or do you call it “the thing-youcannot-pronouncethe name of”?Whichever class you fall under, doyou enjoy sex? Sorry to pop upwith such a question but it’s a veryimportant subject. Sure, you won’tbe only chit-chatting on that night!.Well all we need is a little bit ofpreparation, a little bit of thinking,a little bit of organization. Thereis music, perfume, and add to it,sexy lingerie and your weddingnight would be M-e-m-o-r-a-b-l-e.And why only the wedding night,actually every night with yourpartner in the bed should be “TheNight”. But, nothing can beat the“wedding night”.More than just bras and pantiesBy Sujan GurungCongrats on getting married. Congrats that you survived the whole wedding affair—the preparation,the event, the crowd, chaos, and formalities. There is nobody now; you two are left with yourselves.Make it all fun and interesting inthe bedroom. The fact is, whetheryou’re a modern woman earninga 10 figure salary or an unpaidhousewife, that first night withhim can be a wee bit intimidating.There’s something about that firsttime as husband and wife that hasmost of us doubting ourselves.You sure don’t want to disappointyour newly appointed “better half”and so you want to give a goodpresentation. A good time togetherand to that there is no secondthought.

146 wedding bells/winter 2011a must have for honeymoonOne need not be a sex maniac ortrashy to select sexy, provocative,seducing lingerie. You just wantto offer each other a pleasurableexperience. Enjoy your sexuality,flaunt what you have. You’ll feel sexywearing it, and he’ll enjoy takingit off. All you need to do is get agood collection of those sexy tinygarments and follow certain do’s anddon’ts.Do’s1. Choose flattering bridal lingeriedesigns and colors. Do purchasea couple of honeymoon lingerie,wear something new and sexynot only on your wedding nightbut for the succeeding nights aswell. Choose lingerie that willallow you to move freely, withoutrestricting your movements andmaking you feel uncomfortable.Thus, it is important to choose alingerie you’re comfortable with.2. As with shopping for anythingelse, it’s helpful to make a lingerieshopping list before you go tothe store.3. Try everything on before you buy.Not all lingerie is returnable andthere is nothing worse than goingSexy Lingerie andYour Body TypeTake some hints and you will stop feeling embarrassed about sheddingeverything but your lingerie in front of him.If you have:Model: Phoebe RimalSmall breastsChoose lingerie that shows off your bottom or legs to distract from yourbreast size. If you are thin, try stockings and garters, they do a good jobof lowering the eye to the legs. You want to bring the eyes to the area ofyour body that you feel comfortable with.Large or droopy breastsStyles in plus size lingerie with under wire or halter tops can help lift andenhance cleavage. Spandex and Lycra stretch materials will allow you toadjust your breasts and minimize them somewhat with a smooth look.on your honeymoon only to findthat your new bra is too small andrides up on your back.4. Select at least one indulgence. Ahigh quality long lasting peignoirset, for example, is somethingyou are likely to wear again afteryour wedding night. Choose along silky gown and robe or awell made lacy nightie that youcan wear for a few years after youget married.5. Get some trashy bustiers, high cutbikinis, garter belts and stockingswith high heels. You’re going onyour honeymoon, so make themost of it!

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148 wedding bells/winter 2011a must have for honeymoonThe Don’ts1. Each one of us has her preferredcolor and designs that drawus to purchase an item. Don’tchoose lingerie that won’t beable to compliment your bodyshape and body type. If you’remore on the flats, flat chest andflat bottom, you’ll need somebridal lingerie that will be able toflatter your body shape and giveyou curves at the right spots.2. You also have to care for thequality of the item. Quality is thekey concern next to the designs.Of course, women are knownto purchase items for theirappearance. Women like anythingand everything sexy and adorablebut that shouldn’t be the case.It is important to ensure thatyou’re not just wasting money onsomething you’ll be able to wearonly once or twice.Model: Nilima Sharma, Wardrobe: Stylist owned3. If you plan to buy lingerie foryour wife, then don’t play the“guess the size” game. All youneed to do is check through herlingerie drawer and note downher bra size (band and cup size)and panty size. A woman wouldnever prefer “too small” or “toobig” of any of the bras or panties.

a must have for honeymoon wedding bells/winter 2011 149Large bottom or hipsIf you got plus size boobs, showthem off! A long loose gown witha sheer top would be perfect forthis. Avoid fitted waist styles;go for items that are straightercut. Remember, you want thatfabric to skim, drape or flowgracefully around your hips,not bind, pull or wrinkle in thewrong places. If you do notwant to draw attention to thisarea, consider staying away fromlingerie pieces such as bustiersand waist clinchers because thesegarments are tight fitted andcould accentuate this area.BellyKeep styles loose in the waist.Use fancy thongs, panties or brasto bring eyes to more favorableareas. Remember, you want thatfabric to skim, drape or flow andnot to bind, pull or wrinkle in thewrong places.TallFind styles that are verticallystriped or cut. Tops or skirts thattie around the waist. White is agood color for you. The mainthing to keep in mind about yourheight is to not select somethingthat is supposed to be long butlooks too short. A long, flowingsheer robe that is supposed to beroughly floor length but actuallyhits well above your ankles justdoesn’t work. It’s better to opt forstyles that are cut to be short andhighlight your long, beautiful legs.Body shapeIf your body shape is a “pear” or“triangle”: A pear shape is smalleron top then tapers out. This doesnot mean small busted. This meanswomen who have a small upper bodybuild. Try something a little loosefitting on the top—but not tooloose.Things you shouldnever forgetMake sure your lingerie isn’tworn, ripped or the wrong size.Thongs and G Strings wornunder tight fitting skirts andpants will prevent panty linesfrom showing.Legs look sexy and slimmer inblack nylons.Light colors make your legsappear heavier.A one-piece body suit does agreat job of hiding any bulgesand makes you look slimmer.Always, and this can’t bestressed enough, wear a brathat fits correctly.RobesSheer robes can give you a senseof security in sexy women’slingerie. Robes have the amazingability to make you feel like youhave covered all of your flaws.Get a beautiful, sexy robe and itcould dress up any bra and pantyset and make you look and feellike a million bucks.ShortGowns with slits in the leg areawill give you a taller illusion.Short baby dolls can also giveyou a leggy look. Short is not abad thing. Select styles that areproportioned for your height.Do not choose lingerie thatare too long either in length oron the rise. If your height orproportion is a sizing problem,check out stores for petites. If allelse fails, finding an experiencedseamstress is invaluable.If you are a “pear” or “triangle”with small breasts and aresensitive about this area,choose something that does notemphasize this part of the body.A sexy baby doll may be a goodchoice. If you want to add somecleavage, try something paddedor push-up paddedIf your body shape is an “UpsideDown Pear” or “InvertedTriangle”: This body type haswider shoulders and smaller hips.This usually means a muscular orbigger upper body build. Womentoday work hard to have muscletone and wear it well. If you wantfrills, try to look for somethingto wrap around the hips. Youmay want to add an accessorylike a wrap, robe, kimono, or afeather boa.If your body shape is an “HourGlass”: This body type is equallyproportioned on both the topand bottom with a smaller waist.Almost everything works well forthis body type.

150 wedding bells/winter 2011wedding moviesBest MarriageMoviesBy Shristi UpretyIt’s that time of the year again. Wedding invitations roll out,flowers are bought in plenty, and every day you see flower-deckedcars in the passing. Wedding bells are ringing loud and clear. So,if you’re in the matrimony mood, as a prospective bride, groom, orspectator, check out this list of the 10 best wedding flicks!meeting of the parents and all thatfollows!wedding, only to be snapped up asKimberly’s maid of honor. Enjoywatching the the eccentric Julianne,as she schemes to stop the wedding.Also, keep your ears out for themelodious soundtracks, especiallythe upbeat “I Say a Little Prayer”.The Wedding SingerA few of us might remember thisfrom Bollywood’s adaption “KahinPyar Na Ho Jaaye”. Starring DrewBarrymore and Adam Sandler, thisnostalgic 1980s classic starts withwedding singer Robbie Hart beingditched at the altar. He then meetswaitress Julia at one of his gigs, andthey immediately hit it off, as sherestores his faith in women. TheMy Best Friend’s WeddingStarring Julia Roberts, as JuliannePotter, this 1997 hit is a mashupcomedy. At college, Julianne andher then-boyfriend Michael O’Neil(Dermot Mulroney) make a pactto marry each other if they’re bothsingle by their 28th birthdays. Asthis date approaches, however,Michael falls in love with theyoung and beautiful KimberlyWallace (Cameron Diaz), and getsengaged…even as Julianne discoversthat she’s still in love with him,and flies to Chicago to stop theFather of the BrideThis 1991 movie is a remake ofthe 1950 classic under the samename. Starring Steve Martin andKimberly Williams, this comedy isthe story of a bride who’s alwaysbeen her father George’s little girl.Now she’s about to be married, andGeorge has a hard time letting hergo. Frugal and fearful George alsohas to deal with all the stress thatcomes from planning a modern daywedding…what ensues is a hilariousset of shenanigans! Martin Short,as Franck, the outrageous weddingplanner is good for a couple oflaughs, and don’t forget DianeKeaton’s role as Nina, the wife.Most memorable is the terrible firsthitch? She’s engaged…to someoneelse. After an hour of humorousepisodes, they realize that they’re inlove. Also, Billy Idol does a cameo atthe end, and Robbie’s ballad “GrowOld with You” is a must-listen.Bride WarsBest friends since childhood, EmmaAllen (Anne Hathaway) and LivLerner (Kate Hudson) both getengaged…only to find that Plazahas booked both the weddings onthe same day! With both of themdreaming of a fairytale marriage atthe Plaza, they refuse to changetheir wedding dates. Friendshipturns to rivalry as they turn sabotage–to the extremes of orange tanning

wedding movies wedding bells/winter 2011 151spray and hairdye. Will theirfriendshipsurvive? This2009 release iscertainly one towatch with yourgirls.Runaway BrideAnother Julia Roberts flick, thisone’s about a woman who’s left astring of fiancésat the altar…literally. Areporter(Richard Gere)gets curious,and decides tofind out why.Little does heexpect to fall for her himself. Will hebe left in her wake of jilted suitors?This movie is charmingly endearing,and one to watch with all the family.Wedding CrashersThough not such a fetching ideain real life, onscreen, this idea isportrayed hilariously. Two bestfriends, Owen Wilson and VinceVaughn, are serial wedding crashers,going from one to another, forthe fun and music…and for thewomen they meet. But neitherof them expected what was tocome next—they fall in love withtwo bridesmaids. Watch thesewomanizers discover the truemeaning of love and marriage.Throw in the artistic sibling Todd(Keir O’Donnell) and the cougarmother Kathleen (Jane Seymour),and this movie is a definite YES.Corpse BrideVictoria Everglot’s (Emily Watson)is being forced to marry Victor VanDort (Johnny Depp) by her upperclassparents. Both are apprehensiveabout this arranged marriage, butbegin to become fond of each other.Just as they start to look forwardto the big day, the gentle Victoris whisked away to The Land ofthe Dead by Corpse Bride Emily(Helena Bonham Carter), whoaccidentally believes him to be hertrue love. This gothic interpretationof love and marriage is not yourusual movie, but sure is one to watchout for. Will Victor be forced to stayin the Dead World? There’s been agrave misunderstanding indeed.The ProposalSandra Bullock as the tough editorMargaret finds herself in danger ofbeing deported back to Canada, asher visa expires. To rectify this, sheforces her assistant Andrew (RyanReynolds) to marry her, so that shecan become an American citizen.There is, however, the minor factthat Andrew loathes her …but whenMargaret decides to spend a weekendin Andrew’s hometown in Alaska, hestarts to discover a side of her thathe never knew existed. Somewhatpredictable, but that doesn’t stop thismovie from being a good watch. Notto forget Betty White, in her role asAndrew’s hilarious eccentric 90-yearoldgrandmother!Mamma Mia!Everything’s sunshine and rosesas Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is inlove with her fiancé Sky (DominicCooper). Only Sophie wants herfather to walk her down the aislewith her…but she has no idea whohe is. The one clue left to her is hermother’s diary, and she’s narrowedit down to three men, whom shedecides toinvite to herwedding. Hermother knowsnothing ofthis…Thesinging anddancing, not toforget the eye-catching costumes,are fun and jazzy, especially with alovely Greek island setting, so whatare you waiting for?Monsoon WeddingThis westernized Indian filmis about a massive celebration,with traditional values clashingwith modernbeliefs. Aditi(VasundharaDas) is amodern indianwoman whosefather Lalit(NaseeruddinShah) hasarranged to be married withHermant (Parvin Dabas), anengineer from Houston. The clumsyorganization, the parties and thedrama…all combine to create anirresistible mix of humor.

152 wedding bells/winter 2011views about weddingPeople’s Say onweddingsFor many, weddings are pivotal. Everything changes—lifestyles, priorities,aims, habits. How many of us dream how our weddings will be? And for thealready married, there are reminisces and fond memories. Here are a fewstories: of the past and the future—what has been, and what might be.Pushpa BasnetMother to innocentchildren living withoutparentsI want to get married in about 5years from now. Simplicity is whatI believe in and I would never wantmy wedding to be very lavish. Forme, a typical traditional weddingwith my family, friends and mychildren seems like the perfect wayto get married. My dream weddingwould not have anything extraspecial. I would probably wantmy children to get dressed up inidentical gowns and guys in typicaldhaka topi. Every time I try to thinkof a wedding that impressed me, Ihave no recollection whatsoever—maybe because I have never beena big fan of attending weddings.However, for a party/wedding tobe excellent, I think the organizerhas to be able to address his guestsproperly. Besides that, I thinkdecorations would matter a lot too.Mita HosaliFreelance writerI got married twice—the firstwas in 1989 and then in 1990.The first one took place on theUN premises. We had to getthe permission of the then UNSecretary-General Javier Perez deCuellar as I actually wanted a spotin the UN garden by the EleanorRoosevelt bench and the flameof human rights. We had anotherwedding in Kolkata the followingyear. My mother’s family belongsto the Brahmo Samaj which is areformist branch of Hinduism. So,while this was a traditional wedding,there was no sacred fire to becircled and our vows were drawnfrom the Upanishads and morerecent writings.I love the thought of gettingtogether with friends and familyfor a week and just cooking andeating and hanging out—thatwould be my dream wedding, notjust one day. As for my favoritehoneymoon spot, there are somany locations that could fitthe bill that I don’t know whereto begin. Actually, my husbandand I never had a honeymoonbecause I guess we think it’scheesy—we have travelled a fairamount so one holiday couldnever substitute for the adventureand discovery of all our funtrips by trains, planes, boats andautomobiles to different cornersof the world. And there’s stillmore to discover. But, I do havea penchant for medieval hill-topvillages in the south of France,for a house by the ocean inCape Cod, for a hamlet on theoutskirts of Siena in Italy withviews of cypress trees and rollingcountryside, for a plantationhome perched on a mist-coveredhillside in Darjeeling with clearviews of the Himalayas orunspoilt parts of the Westerncoast of India where the food isso wonderful and the beaches notoverrun.The best parts of my weddinghave to be my former boss inNew York helping to organizethe wedding—we had someoneplay the harp, classical guitar andthen a Jamaican DJ, so lots of

views about wedding wedding bells/winter 2011 153Bob Marley and reggae but otherthings too. A friend made a tripletier wedding cake herself with realorchids hanging off it. And, thebeauty of a giant scrapbook myUN colleagues made for me witheach of them creating a page. Also,for the Indian wedding, I loved thefact that I wore four sarees fromfour different corners of India forthe many different celebrations—a Jamewaar sari for the weddingitself (inspired by Kashmiriweaving), a Paithani saree (fromMaharashtra), a Baluchar saree(woven silk on silk from Bengal)and a heavy Kanjeevaram silk withzari (from Tamil Nadu). And, afterthe wedding, a bunch of us wentfor a midnight boat ride on theGanges. But, above all, the factthat my aunt insisted on a weddingvideo (which I was annoyed by atthe time) and is now so treasured apossession as many older relativeswere captured in that and are nomore.As I try to recall some of the bestweddings I have attended so far, Iremember my cousin’s weddinglast December in Kolkata. It wasso chaotic that it reminded me ofmine. She is half Turkish and halfIndian and her husband is Polish-American so it is that multiculturalmix of traditions that is verymeaningful. It makes me feel goodthat the fundamental values thatwe all share are greater than anyone religion or culture or tradition.But the most carefully thoughtout wedding with personaleffort put in was my niece’s. Shechose to get married in an 11thcentury tithe barn in the Englishcountryside. She made all thewedding invitations herself, thename cards on each table, had aDVD for each guest of the musicplayed at the wedding, set up theflower arrangements on each table,and even baked her own gorgeouswedding cake. Our familyjourneyed from all over; and toaccommodate the gaggle, I founda 16th century house renovatedwith all modern conveniencesbut its antique flavor retained,and which had the most exquisitegardens which only the Brits seemto grow!I think at the end of the day if thecouple is happy, if the family ishappy, if it is not a fussy or formalcelebration, if people are a littlewhacky and happy to do thingsthat are not conventional—ifthere is positive energy in theair and people are enjoying theoccasion to drink and danceand be merry, and dress up intraditional and unique clotheswithout sporting the crown jewels,if there are personal touches,that’s what appeals to me. Toomuch show and ostentation is ahuge turn-off.I don’t understand this new trendof destination weddings—if youhave some connection to a placeit makes sense. But why somefolks choose the beach in Bali ora chateau in France or a palacein Rajasthan without any realsignificance other than to have acool spot, I am unable to fathom.As for the thousands spent onwedding garb (such as Swarovskidiamonds sewn on a lehengacholi) or elephants transportingthe groom like everyonewants to pretend to be a minimaharajah—getover it. Use themoney for some better purposeand boil it down to the basics. Ijust can’t abide weddings whichare an event or do not reflect thepersonalities of the two peoplegetting hitched—the details areleft to everybody else, especiallywedding planners, professional orotherwise. There is beauty andmeaning in simplicity.PrashantRasailyFilmmakerI am not quite sure about gettingmarried. I guess I want to but don’tknow when. I am not particularly afan of weddings, so when the dayfor my marriage comes, I thinkI’ll go with my fiancé’s wish. Formy honeymoon, I would mostdefinitely choose San Francisco,beaches, vineyards, wineries. I wanteverything to be very peaceful yetexotic. As far as I can recall, I reallyenjoyed my best friend’s wedding.Weddings, I guess, should be a timeto share with family, friends andloved ones but that’s never the case.However, everything was perfectlywell-planned during my friend’sbirthday cum wedding.I guess, should be a time toshare with family, friendsand loved ones but that’snever the case.

154 wedding bells/winter 2011views about weddingUsha KhadgiMiss Nepal 2000I’ve been married for 10 yearsand I hadn’t thought about my“dream wedding” up until now.My wedding was pretty hasty. Wedidn’t get enough time to planthings out. Nonetheless, I treasureall the memories.My favorite honeymoondestination would be Switzerland.Everything about that placestuns me. However, the best partabout my wedding was, and willalways be, my wedding ring. Meand my husband shopped forit together and it holds quite aspecial place in my heart. Outof many, one of the weddingsthat impressed was Ritu Rana’s.Her attire was very attractive.The cream-colored bridal dresslooked immensely good on her. Iguess for a reception to be called“good”, guests need to be takencare of and also, good food playsa major role, this goes withoutsaying. Furthermore, if every guestgets photographed, it will have aunique memory of its own and willmost definitely impress everyone.Out of many, one of theweddings that impressed wasRitu Rana’s. Her attire wasvery attractive.PriyankaKarkiMiss Teen 2005I got married on July 16, 2010.The best part about my weddingis that firstly, I got married herein Nepal— my homeland—although I was away in the Statesfor four years and this is whatmakes it so special.My dream wedding definitelywould be on a cruise. I’ve alwaysthought that getting married byan ocean or sea would be superromantic. When I picture mydream wedding, I see a lot ofwhite and red—white swans, redroses—a lot of flowers, closefriends and family and lovedones. I see a lot of flowers, alot of decorations. Definitelywould love to see all my familymembers (close ones) wearthe same color throughoutthe ceremony. It just feels sobeautiful. Picture perfect as theysay. My honeymoon destinationwould definitely be Hawaii. Thatis one place I have always wantedto go to. The whole idea of beingon an island with your lovedone feels really pure and serene.It would be a honeymoon thatwould definitely never go wrong.With so much beauty around,how can it possibly go wrong!I’ve attended countless weddingsso far and if I was to pick one,I won’t be able to. I think eachcouple has their own vision andperception about the wholeinstitution of marriage and thusthey make it special in their ownways. Everyone does differentthings and that’s the beauty ofweddings. They are all specialin their own little ways. Whatwould make a good receptionis firstly, to see the bride andgroom happy, the atmospherewelcoming and cozy, the foodshould be good and enough foreveryone and everyone attendingshould have a good time.For me, weddings are verysacred. I believe it to be a bondthat you are not born with butdefinitely is something that youwant to die with. My weddingwas amazing. I have memoriesthat will last me a lifetime andevery time I think about mywedding, it brings a smile to myface. Not only did I get marriedto someone I madly love andadore, but I got introduced toan amazing family that treats meno less than a princess. I prettymuch have everything that a girlmy age expects out of a marriageand I hope this feeling staysforever.Saurabh JyotiDirector of SyakarCompanyMarried in the December of 1999,Director of Syakar Company,Saurabh Jyoti recalls his wonderfulmoments of marriage. When weasked what his dream weddingwould be like if he were given achance to marry his wife again,he says “For me my partner ismore important than the weddingfunction itself. If you have yourideal partner whom you love,any wedding would be a dreamwedding and I have already hadmine” His favorite honeymoondestination being Venice, hehappily exclaims that he wouldlove to go to Venice with his

views about wedding wedding bells/winter 2011 155wife for a romantic secondhoneymoon.Saurabh says that the best partof his wedding was the presenceof all his family members andfriends who had come fromall over the world just for thewedding. He loves attendingwedding but doesn’t get to enjoyall of them whole-heartedly as allthe marriage in Nepal happensduring the auspicious marriageseason. “I enjoy any wedding thatdoes not take place in the season.Otherwise it becomes reallyhectic and all I do is hop from onewedding to another”.A very genuine gentleman indeed,he believes that weddings shouldbe special and everyone ought toenjoy every bit of it. “After all it isa once in a lifetime experience”.However, he very interestinglypoints out how weddings thesedays have become more and morelavish with a lot of unnecessaryexpenses and wastages. “We needto be more practical and keep itsimple.”Bhola BikramThapaManaging Director,President Travels andToursWe got married on April 14, 1970.My dream wedding has alwaysbeen a Nepali traditional wedding.The best part about our weddingwas the swayambar. Unfortunately,during our time, there was no suchthing as honeymoon and had wegot a chance, we would have goneto Maldives because it is out ofthe world. The best wedding wehave attended is that of our son’s.What makes a good receptionis the personal attention to theguests and good food. I believemarriage is a beautiful bondingbetween two people to take newchallenges in this world.The best wedding we haveattended is that of ourson’s. What makes a goodreception is the personalattention to the guests andgood food.Aamir AkhtarCricketerYes, I do want to get marriednow. I don’t have a choice, do I?Nevertheless, I think marriage canbe a beautiful thing in one’s lifeInshallah. Ideally, I would like totie the knot when I am mentallyprepared. I look for simple pleasuresin life. Our main function isNikah which is covered legally /traditionally. So I would keep bothaspects and follow Nikah in themosque. The reception can alwaysbe arranged somewhere outside withcolorful thoughts. I love followingthe best part of my Muslim culture/traditions in my wedding. Needlessto mention, I would want my entirefamily and close friends/colleaguesto be there. Our traditional musicwith our lavish cuisine. Yes, I wouldlove to work on a theme event aswell. For honeymoon, it wouldalways be Nepal first. Unfortunately,I have not covered some of the farwestern destinations yet. I can’task for anymore if I can visit anddiscover Nepal more with myspouse.One of the best weddings that Ihave attended has to be my bestfriend’s wedding in Leh-Ladakh thisyear in the summer. It was beautifulas I discovered the real bondingin the family roots / hospitality /willingness of the local communityto support the wedding. It wasamazing. I enjoyed it throughout.However, I guess somewhere weare losing to bind our traditions inweddings. We mustn’t. We mustabide by the good practices thatour forefathers left us. These days,people are confused about westernand oriental adaptations and thusmake a mockery of beliefs. Also, Idon’t like the idea of getting drunkduring the reception and laterignoring the bride completely. It’svery important to give the besthospitality to the guests.

156 wedding bells/winter 2011views about weddingKarishmaManandharActorI got married on July 16, 1991.The best part of my wedding wasthat I decided everything and itwas so quick. I bought everythingand I was the one managing. Inever dreamed about my weddingbecause I got married at a veryearly age and at that time I wasso busy with work. Now, I dreamabout my daughter’s weddingwhich will be the best weedingever! For honeymoon, if I hadto suggest to someone, thenVenice, Italy, would be one of thedestinations because it is simplybeautiful and unique. The bestwedding I have attended wouldbe that of my youngest sister-inlawSangita Manandhar’s.Thoughthey both lived in London, theyplanned to hold the wedding inLudhiana,India, since the groomis a Punjabi. It was huge and theculture was so interesting andamazing and we were dancing fordays. Also, Punjab was so beautifuland I also visited the GoldenTemple. That is why it makes itmore special.Chirag BangdelArtist/RJ/ WriterYes, I do like the idea of marriageand spending my life with someoneand getting old together. I amlooking for someone who canlove me for who I am. I am veryromantic but can also get crankyfor small reasons. So, if I do findsomeone, I will surely let you know.I am very old fashioned and lovecustoms and rituals. So I wouldlove to do it the old fashioned waywith nau mati baaja and the typicalNepali way. I love daura suruwalbut the bride could choose herattire. I know a lot of people butI have been to a lotof wedding partieswhere the venueshave been dirty.Dirty waiters withlong nails are amajor turn off!I would just invite those who arevery close to me. I would wantmy wedding to be simple and yetwell organized. I would want myloved ones to be well taken careof. I am a total foodie so I am sureI would want to be personallyinvolved in choosing the foodvarieties. A good reception meansa reception that is well planned andwell organized. The venue neednot be an expensive hotel but ithas to be clean. The waiters needto be clean, the glasses and plateshave to be clean and dry and thefood served should be fresh. Thehoneymoon destination would bequiet tough to choose. I think Iwould go to Paris maybe and visitall the great galleries there with myloved one. Or maybe Hawaii I alsosee myself by a beach at sunset,strumming my guitar, sipping anexotic cocktail and singing a songto my loved one. I told you I am asucker for romance! I also imaginedoing a series of “her” portraitsduring the honeymoon. Now, thatis an ambitious project!There was a time when weddingswould be at home and the familymembers would be involveddoing everything, starting rightfrom shopping to cooking andinviting people. I think this wasbeautiful because this meant totalinvolvement and this could laterbring great memories. But now,most people opt to go for thesecatering services. This reduces a lotof mental and physical stress on thefamily but there are a lot of timeswhen these catering services doan ugly job. I have been to a lot ofwedding parties where the venueshave been dirty. Dirty waiters withlong nails are a major turn off! Ihave also been to some weddingswhich seemed very extravagant. Alot of things were going to waste.Not only is overspending a vice,but the newlyweds could spendthe money on themselves to getsomething nice.

views about wedding wedding bells/winter 2011 157Vidushi RanaManaging Director ofZentech InternationalWe got married on February8,1996. I was 18 and my husbandwas twenty-four. I had a dreamwedding. I was really youngand hopelessly in love. Myhusband came on an elephantto get me. It was an elaboratethree-day affair and I quiteenjoyed it. We went to Europefor our honeymoon. We went toSwitzerland, Spain,Paris,Romeand Venice for five weeks — itwas amazing. Europe is an utterlyromantic place for a honeymoon.All the attention that I got fromeveryone and for me then it wasthe fact that I was getting marriedto a man I was totally in lovewith was the best part about thewedding. Weddings these dayshave become very elaborate.Each wedding gets better thanthe other. I love weddings andI always wonder what the brideand the groom must be secretlywishing for. I tend to wonderabout their dreams and hopes.Our Nepali weddings are reallylong and tedious and there areso many rituals one needs toremember. At the end of thewedding, the family members areall exhausted. There is too muchof hard work put into the wholeprocess. So I think now we shouldhave wedding planners to takeall the brunt so that the familymembers can relax and have fun.Prerana ShahRanaFounder Principal /Treasurer of D.R.E.A.M.SJuly, 4, 2010: my wedding actuallywas my dream wedding. Believeit or faint. Although my dreamhoneymoon destination wouldbe Santorini,Greece. You knowwhenever I think of holidays,I think of Santorini for itsbreathtaking sunsets, calm watersand the rich Greek food. And,no, I haven’t been there, I havebeen googling it since forever.As cheesy as it sounds, everyGood host and good food;these two things make guestshappy, and happy guestsmake a reception lively.wedding is special. You can’t judgeit by how it’s been celebrated. It’s aspecial day for the bride, her familyand the groom and his family. Allthe little efforts they put in makesthe wedding memorable. Good hostand good food; these two thingsmake guests happy, and happyguests make a reception lively. I havealways believed in the institution ofmarriage. And, marrying has beenone of the loveliest things that hashappened to me.Vinay ShresthaActorWe have the greatest pre-nuptialagreement in the world. It’s calledlove. True love stories never haveendings, so do true weddings.When am I getting married? It’sin the making. I have not reallythought about the wedding plansbut a custom party sounds like anice idea! Jokes apart, I believea wedding should be simple butelegant and a good reception iswhen you don’t miss anyone in theguest list. A perfect honeymoondestination would be Venice. I don’tthink I even need to explain why.

158 wedding bells/winter 2011views about weddingHaushalaThapaFounder/ Vice PresidentChildren and Youth FirstYes, I want to get married and Iassume this will take place probablywhen I am 28–29. Since I am reallyfocused on my work at the moment,so is my other half, and we fully wantto concentrate on our work. We arelucky to have understanding parentsso there’s no pressure!My soon to be fiancé is a born againCatholic so we would have to getmarried in a Catholic church. But,my fantasy dream wedding wouldbe the bride and the groom wearingthe typical white dress and black tux,but my guests, specially my friendsand his, would have to be dressed incartoon characters or at least weart-shirts of cartoons like Sponge Bobor Popeye the sailor man. Since I feelgetting married is the other step inlife where we become more matureand responsible and you are lettinggo off that child inside you, so whynot dress up like one when it’sthe end? ( But I know many of myfriends wouldn’t dress up like that…they will kill me!)I would like to go on a month’s bikeride with my husband around themystic, beautiful hills of Nepal. I’vebeen to treks but I’ve never hadenough and I think Nepal has somereally beautiful places that we areyet to cherish. So, going on a bikeride and camping with my husbandwould be my ultimate honeymoonplan because I love being withnature and I would like to see thegorgeous white Himalayas, riversand the simple beautiful Nepal onthis special moment.So far, I’ve planned my weddingto be at Hattiban Height Resort,because this is my and Zimba’sfavorite place to relax. We havealready imagined how the placewould look like with white and redflowers, metallic balloons, streamersI would like to go on amonth’s bike ride withmy husband around themystic, beautiful hills ofNepal. I’ve been to treksbut I’ve never had enoughand I think Nepal hassome really beautifulplaces that we are yet tocherish.and ribbons! We have promisedour friends we would sing GwenethPaltrow and Huey Lewis’s “Cruisingtogether” so we could sing thisand my friends could slow danceto it.We want our wedding to be indaylight in Hattiban Resort and haveour close friends and family staythe night there with us and enjoythe beautiful night view of the cityfrom one of the highest hills aroundKathmandu. We have also decidedto ask our guests to bring gifts forthe children we support rather thanfor us.So far there has been two weddingsthat impressed me. One was whenone of my sister\s friend Silvi gotmarried: her father and his oldschool band performed for theirdaughter. It was very emotional yetit was so much fun. Everyone starteddancing to the rock songs of the70s and 80s and it felt the wholeatmosphere was just so 70s!Another one was recent when KiranThapa (vocalist for ALTF4 band)and Snehta Moktan got married.They had a heavy metal concert .byBinaash band and it was crazy!I feel a “good reception” is whenthe guests have been well attendedto by family and close friends andwhen the bride and groom can bethemselves and not just sit in thechair all the time!It’s hell of a lot more expensive todo weddings here and especiallywhen we have this concept of“social status”. This, I feel, ruinsthe concept of “love bond” that isso special to the bride and groombut is overshadowed by the heavyexpenses. I feel weddings shouldnot be to show off but should be acelebration of love.

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