Honeymoon is the most awaited and most anticipated event in a person’s life. It is a time which you dream about the most in your life time and now since you are getting married you can now turn this dream into one of the most beautiful and most romantic reality.
Honeymoon thus is the most romantic trip a couple takes to begin their new wedded life together. Similarly, like marriage, honeymoon requires meticulous planning and well thought out budget and destination to make this trip into the most memorable and happiest trip of your life that you will cherish for years to come.
To spend your honeymoon time in the most romantic way, you not only need to be creative but also need to chose an apt and ideal destination which along with scenic beauty and other things allows for perfect space for the two of you to come closer and spend quality time with each other.
An ideal and perfect destination doesn’t mean you need to overindulge and go abroad for your honeymoon; there are so many charming and beautiful places in India that offer perfect holiday bliss without making a big hole in your pocket.
While India is adorned with some of the most beautiful places of the world, we are featuring the most astounding and top three exciting places in India that act as perfect honeymoon destinations providing once in a lifetime experience to most newlywed couples.
So depending on your mood, taste and personality, you can easily choose from these three listed places to start your new married life with pleased senses and rejuvenated mind:
1. Kerela
Kerela is undoubtedly one of the best and most sought after honeymoon destinations for newlywed couples not in India but abroad as well. Truly known as ‘God’s own country’ Kerela offers everything one craves to have in a honeymoon destination. From strolling hand in hand on a moonlit night on the sands of kovlam beach to romancing together in the backwaters on the houseboat of Allepy, from enjoying great climate on Munnar Hills to exploring forest life together on a Tree House, Kerela makes for a complete package.
Kerela’s highlights include backwaters, beaches, hill stations, tea plantations, wild life, ayurveda, classical dance and music, forts, museums, spices and herbs.
Hotels in Kerela:
Old Harbour Hotel, Kochi
Kannur Beach House, Kannur
Sajhome, Kochi
Kaiya House, Varkala
Vivanta by Taj – Kumarakom, Kumarakom
Palm Tree Heritage, Varkala
Hotel Arches, Kochi
2. Goa
Goa as the name suggests is the perfect holiday hub for party lovers with a taste for natural beauty and beaches. So if you and your partner are social animals who love the activity and glamour of parties along with scenic beauty, Goa is the perfect place for you to spend good time while partying hard and enjoying your taste for music, dance, feni, food and fashion together.
Goa’s highlights include Arjuna beach, Chapora fort, Trance parties, water sports, music, meuseums, Goa carnival, churches and waterfalls.
Hotels in Goa:
Bougainvillea Guest House Goa
Casa Colvale, Bardez
Pousada Tauma, Calangute
Casa Candolim, Candolim
Taj Exotica Goa, Benaulim
Casa Tres Amigos, Assagao
Oceanic Pearl Studio Apartments, Calangute
3. Manali
Manali has always topped the list for popular honeymoon destinations in India given its wonderful climate, romantic hills, beautiful lakes, gorgeous landscapes, ice-capped peaks, rolling valleys, adventure and mystery and lush meadows of wild flowers and fragrant fruit orchard in full bloom. Manali has an air of its own which automatically sets one into that perfect mood for love and romance.
Manali’s highlights include Hadimba temple, Rohtang Pass, Tibetan monastery, Mountaineering institute, Hot water springs, Club house, Arjuna cave, Nehru kund, jeep safari, trekking, skiing etc.
Hotels in Manali:
Holiday Inn
Snow Valley Resort
Manali Inn
Manali Heights
Manali Resorts

While we all know stress is the worst enemy of beautiful skin, marriage is a time when you just can’t avoid it with all the shopping, arrangements and planning. Irony is the fact that on no other occasion you desire to look as beautiful as on your wedding.
So at a time when you are all stressed out with errands of shopping trips, unending planning and comprehensive arrangements along with those pre wedding jitters and nervousness, your skin is bound to show all that stress on your face in form of acne, pimples, under eye circles and overall dull complexion.
While you can’t escape these blues, there are ways you can not only deal with the wedding stress and jitters but also acquire that gorgeous bridal glow that is natural and ravishing with the help of the following beauty tips and secrets. If you follow all these tips religiously, trust me, you will not only look good but you will with extraordinary beauty like never before.
1. Drink water and remain positive
Drinking loads of water will not only flush away all the toxins from your body making your skin clear and healthy but will also beat that pre wedding stress and nervousness. Water is the best way to deal with stress and exhaustion.
Another important thing is stay and think positive. Whenever you feel you are getting stressed with all that planning, shopping and nervousness about the new life you are to begin, drink a glass of water and replace all stressful thoughts with positive feelings of love and happiness that are about to come your way.
The positive feelings will release all those feel good hormones in your system which will automatically bring on a glow that is all natural and unique. So girl, sip on the clear liquid and bask in the glory of happiness, love and romance while people compliment you about your stunning looks.
2. Focus on your diet
Beautiful skin is not always healthy while healthy skin is always beautiful! Remember this advice whenever you put something into your mouth. While makeup and cosmetics can hide all the flaws and blemishes nothing can beat the natural beauty and glow that comes from the inside.
So if you want that dewy complexion that radiates with health and beauty focus on your diet. Your skin would thank you a ton if you banish those cravings and indulgence in junk food for a few weeks and replace your usual diet with loads of fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, juices and dairy.
You can even consider taking a multivitamin supplement to battle all the stress in perfect health and beauty. When you feel and look good from inside, you are bound to look great and gorgeous on the outside.
3. Avoid going out in the sun
Sun is the major culprit behind dull complexion, fine lines, blemishes and dark spots. So at a time when your wedding is approaching, try to avoid going out in bright sun light especially in the peak hours of 11:00 am to 3:00 pm when the sun is at its height and sun rays are most harmful to the skin. Try to do most of your shopping after 3:00 pm.
However, given all the shopping, organizing, appointments and other things, sometimes going out in the sun is unavoidable. In such a scenario, always use a sunscreen or a sun block with a high SPF of 30 or more before stepping out in the sun. You can try Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 50 sunscreen or Lotus SPF 60 sun block to prevent your skin from getting tanned and wrinkled in the sun.
4. Catch on that beauty sleep
Our body and skin both need proper eight hours of sleep and rest to regenerate and refresh itself. Most of the repair work in our body takes place in the night. If you do not get enough rest and sleep, it will show on your skin. Not only you will feel tired and exhausted but your skin too will lose its sheen and will appear dull and lifeless.
So girls, it’s high time when you should start getting plenty of sleep to avoid all those dark circles, blemishes and puffy eyes. Catch on that beauty sleep to look radiant and energetic.
5. Sleep with a clean face
Ok, so you have followed the advice and have started taking proper sleep, but just sleeping for eight hours is not enough if you want to have that lustrous and clear glow the next day. Visiting one individual shop to another in search of wedding dresses, arrangements etc. can turn your face into a chimney with all the dust, pollution and smoke outside.
So the best and the simplest skin care treatment you can do for yourself is to wash your face before going to bed in the night. You can cultivate this into a daily habit to follow for the rest of your life for a beautiful skin that will always be flawless and crystal clean.
No matter how tired or exhausted you are never sleep with the make-up on or with an unclean face. Sleeping with a face that is loaded with make-up and debris can clog pores and make you wake up with ugly pimples cursing back at you.
Try Neutrogena deep clean facial cleanser if you have oily to normal skin, cetaphil if you have sensitive skin, and a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin for squeaky clean skin.
6. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Just like your body needs water, your skin too needs moisture to remain young and supple. Always use a good moisturizer meant for your skin type after washing your face. If you have oily skin chose a water based moisturizer while go for an oil based one if you have very dry skin.
Also do not neglect your body and other parts when it comes to moisturizing. Invest in some good body lotion and a hand cream which you should use immediately after shower or washing your hands. This will make the skin all over your body look radiant, soft and shiny for the perfect bride.
7. For your gorgeous tresses
For silky shiny hair use hair packs and hot oil treatments meant for your specific hair type consistently before the d-day. You can do these either at home or seek the services of some good parlor. You can even go in for hair spa treatments to rejuvenate your hair.
For a gorgeous and new look, you can go in for a hair cut or hair treatment. In such a case it is always better to experiment with different hair-cuts and styles to find out which hair style suits you the best. Major beauty parlors and hair stylists have hair design software that helps you “try out” hair styles in the virtual space.
8. Go in for a saloon facial
Get a good saloon facial done along with manicures, pedicures, threading and waxing a few days before wedding to look radiant, smooth and glowing. Depending on your skin type your esthetician will recommend an appropriate facial for radiant dewy complexion.
9. Use good quality make-up and cosmetics
Never compromise on anything when it comes to your skin and health. Always use good quality make-up products to not only look fabulous and radiant but also save the texture of your priceless skin. Next select a type of make-up that matches your skin type and your skin color.
10. Exercise for that perfect hour glass figure
Last but not the least, exercising in any form be it walking, yoga, swimming or aerobics is the best beauty tip or secret. Exercise will not only make you shed those extra pounds but will also bring on a rosy glow to your face along with beating all the stress and tension.
Now, when all is said and done, just relax, dream and enjoy, as you bedazzle the gathering with your ethereal looks and beauty on the most important day of your life. Good Luck!

Marriage is not only the most important but also one of the most auspicious and most romantic occasions in a girl’s life. So on a day when you want to look your attractive best for the man of your dreams and at the same time ensure, that you look traditionally appropriate for the auspicious occasion becomes a tricky issue.

It all comes down to the wedding dress you choose to wear on the most momentous day of your life. So all effort and though must go into picking the right wedding attire for yourself that will do justice to both your looks and demand of the occasion. In India, the wedding dress of the bride is regarded as a symbol of auspiciousness, purity and pride for the bride, and therefore a traditional red sari is picked up as a perfect picture of a bride’s wedding dress.

While the traditional red sari has remained the popular bridal wedding dress for the Indian brides since times immemorial, the draping style, pattern, work and fabric varied from culture to culture and region to region. However, with the advent of the new breed fashion designers and influence of the western and bollywood culture, today Indian girls are turning to designer bridal wedding dress as they know that they are the spotlight of the wedding and have to look their best.

So, when there is an array of stylish wedding dresses such as designer bridal lenghas, wedding saris, bridal salwar kameez, bridal western gowns etc. to choose from, the choice for the right wedding dress for oneself becomes both confusing and easy. Of all these designer bridal dresses, the Indian bridal lengha has always remained the popular and preferred choice as a wedding dress for millions of brides in India and countries across the world.

A well crafted designer bridal lengha does the perfect justice to this momentous occasion in all respects of grandeur, auspiciousness and glamour of the occasion. So, if you are going to purchase your bridal wedding dress, keep in mind the following tips to pick the outfit that suits you and the occasion in the best possible manner:

1. 1.       Fabric:

The first thing you must decide is the fabric of your wedding attire. While there are so many luxurious fabrics such as georgette, silk, crepe, organza and net and you should select the fabric based on your body type and season the wedding ceremony is going to take place. If your wedding is in summers, always go for lighter and airy fabrics such as georgette, net, chiffon etc. A silk lengha for a sultry summer wedding would make you feel horrible. However, if it’s a winter wedding, you need not worry much about the fabric.

Similarly, go for fuller fabrics like organza, net and georgette if you have a thinner silhouette, while pick crepe or chiffon if you are slightly on the healthier side to look slim and trim. Silk looks good on both thin and heavy women.

1. 2.       Design:

The next thing that comes to mind is the design of your wedding attire. After all it is the design of the outfit that can either turn you into a glam diva or kill all your natural beauty. With the plethora of new and different designs available in the wedding lenghas today, can lure the mind and heart of any modern girl. However, before giving in to the stylish design of an outfit, you must take into consideration your body type and features. While any design would look great on tall and well shaped girls, thin and petite girls should stay away from anything either too defining or too long and flowing to look full and attractive.

The design of your wedding lengha should be such that it should accentuate your best features while hiding all your negative ones. A classic design that suits and looks good on nearly all women is a mermaid style lengha choli. A heavily embellished corset choli worn over a mermaid style lengha can transform any girl into a glam a diva in matter of minutes.

1. 3.       Color:

While red is the traditional color for an Indian bridal dress, many young girls are now turning away from red and experimenting with other different colors and shades to look hot and stylish. The top favorites are hot pink, baby pink, off-white, green, blue, silver and golden. You can also go in for a combination of different colors for your bridal lengha to add more features to your personality.

When you chose the color for your wedding dress always consider your body type and complexion. Dark colors make one look slim while pastel shades add volume. Similarly, chose a color that brightens your complexion rather than make you look dull. Pastel shades can make fair girls look washed out in photos. If you are still in doubt or confused regarding the right color, go for the traditional red or maroon, it looks great on all women.

1. 4.       Embroidery:

While wedding dresses are always endorsed with rich and heavy embroidery using sequins stones, precious stones and zari and zardozi work, today, more and more girls prefer lighter embroidery for a sophisticated and girlish look.

The key is to go in for intricate and extensive embroidery with smaller patterns and fine prints which looks rich and heavy and at the same time is not so thick and intensive for a look that is royal as well as sophisticated.

1. 5.       Where to buy:

Once you have a clear picture of what kind of attire you want for your wedding, the question that comes to mind is where to buy that most important and most expensive dress for the most important occasion of your life. Indeed, it is one of the most important aspects.

While you can always check out the latest variety in many bridal outlets in your locality, there are now many online shopping stores that offer beautiful and latest design bridal lenghas in most competitive prices. So, if you have failed to find the desired outfit from bridal shops in your locality, you can check out the internet for the variety.

One reliable and trusted place to buy designer ethnic wear is http://www.gravity-fashion.com/.

You can get excellent deals here, well worth the value for your money.

You can also check out the following links for various designs and styles in bridal wedding dresses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKBSRplZrfQ

http://aap-ki-web.com/index.php/2011/10/04/best-styles-of-lehenga-choli-for-girls-pictures?blog=10

http://www.zeenatstyle.com/jacqueline-fernandez-ethnic-lehenga-choli.html

http://www.zeenatstyle.com/indian-bridal-lehenga-choli.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPw9aKqcAiY&NR=1&feature=endscreen

A typical Indian wedding is well known all over the world for its splendor, extravagance, beauty and glamour. Indian wedding unlike other weddings of the world is not just a single day’s affair rather it is spread across a sequence of days with a series of rituals and celebrations to be performed each day before the final wedding takes place.

Haldi ceremony, sangeet ceremony, engagement ceremony, sehrabandi, baraat, vidaai are some of the common traditions of an Indian wedding which are followed in across the country in all Indian weddings despite the diversity and differences in culture and region.

In fact the Indian rituals and ceremonies do not end with the wedding; there are certain rituals and ceremonies that are especially performed after the wedding ceremony. These generally takes place at the groom’s place in the presence of both bride and groom along with all groom’s relatives. All these rituals and ceremonies make Indian wedding an elaborate and cumbersome affair which requires careful planning and a well thought out budget at every stage.

Since an Indian wedding is an expensive and comprehensive affair, it is always advisable to take the help of some professional wedding planner or expert to handle all the elaborate arrangements for you in a perfect and planned manner so that you can enjoy the momentous occasion without the burden of planning, shopping and other arrangements like any other guest.

This is the best part about professional wedding planners that they undertake all your responsibility right from pre wedding planning and preparations such as shopping, fixing a venue, making menu list, hiring décor, catering and music services, making unique invitation cards and sweets to post wedding updates and sweets etc. All you need to do is to provide them with your budget and the rest is their job.

There are some really good wedding planners that can do wonders for you by organizing all your wedding arrangements and help you host the most important occasion of your life in the best possible manner and that too within the budget you allocated for the occasion. Following are the links of some good wedding planners that you can hire to make your wedding a momentous and memorable affair for all:

http://www.shadionline.com

http://www.delhiweddingplanners.com

http://www.funfilms.in

However, if your budget is tight for hiring the services of a professional wedding planner or you want to organize the entire occasion yourself to make it all the more memorable and joyous, here are a list of things that you need to plan and organize once the marriage has been finalized. We have also provided the links of some important services for your ease and convenience:

•    Plan your budget: The first thing you need to do is to plan and allocate a fixed amount of money that you can spend for the occasion and stick to it while spending. A great tip to adjust all unexpected spending would be to prepare a rough estimate of your spending a little less than the actual sum you have in hand.

•    Make the Guest list: This should be done as early as possible, as all the rest arrangements such as venue, food, invitation cards etc. depend upon the number of guests invited for the occasion.

•    Fix a venue: After making the guest list chose a venue and make reservations promptly.

•    Select the print services for invitation cards and gift boxes. Also order sweets and other items to be distributed along with invitation cards.

•    Arrange the services of some good priest/pundit for performing the wedding ceremony and rituals.

•    Select the catering services: After selecting the caterer, fix up a menu list in advance

•    Appoint the photographer and discuss your plans for the photos, albums and videos.

•    Select the décor services.

•    Appoint a DJ or music services and select the type of music to be played for cocktails or sangeet ceremony.

•    Select wedding dresses and complete all other wedding shopping. To make your wedding shopping experience fun and easy, there are many good online shopping portals from where you can buy wedding dresses and other formal dresses online thereby saving the time and effort of visiting individual shops. Such an authentic  online saree and lengha shop is

http://www.gravity-fashion.com

•    Make bookings for mehendi and beauty parlor. You can also avail the services of online mehendi artists for your bridal mehendi or seek the help of some talented relative to do the mehendi for you. One good bridal mehndi artist is Reshma Patel. Check out these you tube videos for designs and techniques:

•    Order wedding reception cake.

•    Make arrangements for the guests stay and transportation.

Thus while a wedding ceremony is marked by ultimate joy and celebration, it requires meticulous planning and focused effort to make it a perfect occasion.

Traditional Indian Bridal wear are widely admired all over the world due to their colorful nature and glamorous appearance. A lot of people have become exposed to these gorgeous dresses due to the rise in popularity of Indian Wedding Arrangements, which are fast becoming part of western popular culture due to Hollywood’s tendency to feature them in movies and TV shows.

In terms of color, Indian Bridal wear such as lehangas are preferred to be red in color because red is associated with happiness and good luck. The color of the dress is widely believed to give the married couple good fortune in their married life. The bridal wear is usually accentuated by mehandi tattoos with intricate, yet symbolic patterns intended to bring even more good fortune. These same bridal lehangas are usually color coordinated with the dress of the guests and invitees as well as the wedding decorations, right down to the flower decorations.

These bridal lehngas are traditional dresses that looks great on any size, and usually cheaper than other types of wedding dresses such as saris. They were originally brought to India by the Mongols thousands of years ago, and has developed into a fashionable style of dress that features a skirt and blouse combination. One notable thing about the lehanga is that they are versatile enough to be worn as a wedding dress yet can also function as formal dress for other occasions. These days, the lehanga is being featured on Hollywood films when Indian culture is shown, becoming a noticeable trademark for the country.

When it comes to Indian wedding attire, one of the most popular choices is the Bridal Lehanga – a traditional dress of Indian women from North India, which is worn below the waistline and extends to the toe and the upper torso, covered with a midriff-baring blouse known as choli. While originally intended to be worn on the actual wedding ceremony, bridal lehangas are sometimes worn even before the wedding arrangements are made.

Bridal Lehangas are usually made in bright, pastel colors that match the wedding ceremony’s color theme. They are sometimes made to coordinate with mehandi or henna tattoos that adorn various parts of the bride’s body. While there are no specific rules or traditions against it, black bridal lehangas are virtually unheard of, since the black color would contrast with the atmosphere of the occasions where lehangas are worn.

Wedding decorations may also factor in the design of most bridal lehangas and brides usually try to find out the flower arrangements and colors and the color of curtains to be used. Those who are going to be married in a marriage palace are lucky since they can be sure to have matching elegant lehangas for the venue’s elegant decorations.

Bridal lehangas have become a staple of Indian culture and its influence are probably seen or felt even in the western hemisphere, without them even knowing it. With the recent rise of Bollywood’s popularity, people are starting to take notice and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes the next trendy wedding attire.

Indian wedding arrangements are highly sought after all over the world due to their interesting roots and customs, with rituals and traditions that have not changed since they were first handed down by their long lost ancestors. Wedding arrangements in India have captured the fancy of people from overseas due to their diversity and colorfulness.

An Indian Wedding ritual consists of several unique and interesting steps, for starters, the day before the actual wedding ceremony itself, the palm and feet of the bride are decorated with “mehandi” or what is essentially henna tattoo. At the same time, the groom’s party will erect a canopy with flower decorations at the place where the wedding will take place.

The actual wedding day is marked with the bride and the groom performing sacred rituals in their respective homes, while their bodies are anointed with sandalwood paste and oils, which signifies a cleansing of the body, as well as softens and gives the body a fragrant smell. Afterwards, they are bathed while Vedic mantras are being chanted. Come nighttime, the canopy will serve as the wedding stage using flower decorations and a symbolic fire as witnesses while the marriage ceremony is going on.

The traditional wedding dress code for Indian weddings is admired by people due to their elegance and cost. Bridal lehangas that complement the bridal mehandi are usually very expensive, and not as easily bought as traditional western wedding gowns. The exclusivity of the rituals and the elements is what makes Indian weddings desirable to people overseas.

Celebrity Indian Wedding arrangements are getting a lot of attention from the media and pop culture these days, giving India a well deserved new level of international appreciation and popularity. It has been shown that a large number of Hollywood celebrities overseas have chosen to use traditional Indian bridal lehangas with matching mehandi tattoos during their wedding days. Some of them even invite famous Bollywood superstars to make a guest appearance of to perform, which greatly increases the Indian culture’s popularity further. A small number have even required the guests and invitees to adhere to traditional Indian wedding dress codes.

After its rise to popularity, a lot of service providers these days offer wedding tours to India in order to give prospective couples a chance to sample the culture and decide whether they want an Indian marriage or not. Everything from famous hotels to a marriage palace can be visited and flower decorations and wedding decorations with Indian sensibilities are shown to help the couples make up their minds.

While long and elaborate, the ceremonies involved with a traditional Indian wedding are rooted in sacred Hindu and Vedic traditions, which contain symbolic and significant elements that will help the couple enjoy a long, blissful married life.

Wedding tourism has become rampant in India and as such, competition has already developed so most providers are willing to provide discounts or promo offers just to entice couples into trying tours out, and ultimately, getting their service for a traditional Indian marriage.

According to astrology following are is auspicious wedding dates for year 2008:

Jan. 5th 19th 20th 27th

Feb. 1st 3rd 16th 23rd 24th

Mar. 2nd 9th 23rd 29th

Apr. 25th

May. 3rd 25th 30th 31st

Jun. 14th 21st

July. 12th 25th

Aug. 3rd 8th 10th

Sept. 21st 27th

Oct. 4th 19th 24th 26th 31st

Nov. 15th 22nd 23rd 30th

Dec. 7th 20th

Source: www.ourwedding.in

Make-up and Hair: what’s in… what’s out…

Be Colourful Butterfly, girl : It’s the session of colours. Make your self as colourful as a butterfly. Pour yourself with caramel, various pastel shades of browns, mat gold, various beech shades.

Play with the colours like deep crimson bright pink, brilliant burgundy with your hair.

Straight Hair is OUT : Turn yourself as the owner of wavy, bouncy hair with natural curls. But don’t make look fuzzy. Pay a proper attention on your looks to make it look like neat and clean but very natural appearance. Dramatic looks or care free is out and practical and girl-next-door is the mantra today. Leave your soft curls just below your eyebrows (if you have short hair). But you are the true lover of your long hair then get away with high layers.

Be Dazzled As a Star : Toast with the heat of shimmer and glimmer. Tone your skin with it. Don’t use glitter above your make-up. Glitter is out from the fashion. Use shimmer to get a subtle look by simply toning your skin. Get a funky look by highlighting your skin. Enjoy tanning yourself with gold or bronze instead of enlighten with pink.

Be Glossy : Be the ruler with your glossy appearance. If you are with heavy eyes and nude lips wrap it with the gloss. If you prefer normal eyes then add the spark in your lips with vivid pink to brilliant red, almond to rich brown.

Fragrance : Today the mantra is more lighter you will choose more better you will feel. Choose colons or oils like sandalwood, jasmine, soft rose during bath. As perfume use mint or vanilla to get a new touch in your day.