After all the shopping for the wedding, we realized that we have 4 suitcases already full for 2 people and we have enough load for another 4 suitcases. There is no way, our minivan can take all this luggage and besides we were concerned that customs may take more time clear us. Our daughter was waiting for us and had to leave that evening, we decided to courier the items. The courier guy cand packed everything himself.
He suggested that we remove the price tags but some were not removed. Now it is 24 days, the packages are sitting for customs clearance. We are very worried whether it would be released in time or do we have to buy everything. We also heard horror stories that customs, while opening the boxes have slashed the sarees inside the boxes and they became worthless. That aspect is worrying us; even if we get the items, do we get them intact! How long should we wait and whom should we approach?
Will let you know, if we are able to get the items back or our kashtams (troubles) with customs continues!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Shopping in India
We needed to get clothes for ourselves and for our friends and relatives. We made a list and realized that we may need about 84 sarees and few kurtas/sherwanis. We did look around in USA and realized that www.utsavfashion.com is a reasonable place to consider. We looked for Nallis silks, but was very far in California.
Being a control freak myself, I wanted to make sure that the stuff we give for the wedding should be handpicked and should be appreciated by those who receive them. Hence, we decided to make a trip to India. I had just 10 days time to shop and invite my close relatives, besides visiting Tirupathi for Lord Venkateswara's blessings. Some of my relatives were in Kurnool and Adoni. It was an uphill task.
Commuting in Hyderabad is like a gist of life. It has ups and downs and frustrations and elations. It is difficult to see many shops in one day. Hence, we needed to make a priority list. Many of our local friends and relatives in Hyderabad helped us with the list. Fortunately, my brother's colleague knew a wholesale shop in Old city. believe it or not, we spent from 12pm to 8pm in just one shop and spent about Rs1 lakh just in one shop alone. He was very reasonable and we saw a huge price difference between major retailers and this shop. Which is that one. Post a comment and I will let you know!
We also purchased the wedding saree for Snigdha and Radha at Sai Kanchi Silks at Ameerpet and Banjara Hills. be prepared to take cash as most of these places do not take credit cards or will give you discounts if you pay by cash. You need to decide if you want half zari or full zari (pure silver threads).
Bangles and kundan jewellery is better purchased in general bazar, secunderabad or Begum bazar in Hyderabad. If you have contacts in old city near Charminar, you could be very lucky to get a variety for a much better price.
We chose Manyawar for Sherwani and kurtas and we were very pleased with designs and the price. You could still get a bettre price ain Old city at Maqdum.
Shawls and wedding favres are very reasonable again in General bazar and Begum Bazar.
We chose one day to visit my uncles and cousins to distribute the cards. I should thank my brother and Sowmya for providing all the help and commuting needs. My sister was a great help as she came with us for shopping and helped us choose a good shop as well as good clothes. She was awesome. My vadina and Bharathi helped in several ways. Basically, you need many particpants and their help for successful completion.
Being a control freak myself, I wanted to make sure that the stuff we give for the wedding should be handpicked and should be appreciated by those who receive them. Hence, we decided to make a trip to India. I had just 10 days time to shop and invite my close relatives, besides visiting Tirupathi for Lord Venkateswara's blessings. Some of my relatives were in Kurnool and Adoni. It was an uphill task.
Commuting in Hyderabad is like a gist of life. It has ups and downs and frustrations and elations. It is difficult to see many shops in one day. Hence, we needed to make a priority list. Many of our local friends and relatives in Hyderabad helped us with the list. Fortunately, my brother's colleague knew a wholesale shop in Old city. believe it or not, we spent from 12pm to 8pm in just one shop and spent about Rs1 lakh just in one shop alone. He was very reasonable and we saw a huge price difference between major retailers and this shop. Which is that one. Post a comment and I will let you know!
We also purchased the wedding saree for Snigdha and Radha at Sai Kanchi Silks at Ameerpet and Banjara Hills. be prepared to take cash as most of these places do not take credit cards or will give you discounts if you pay by cash. You need to decide if you want half zari or full zari (pure silver threads).
Bangles and kundan jewellery is better purchased in general bazar, secunderabad or Begum bazar in Hyderabad. If you have contacts in old city near Charminar, you could be very lucky to get a variety for a much better price.
We chose Manyawar for Sherwani and kurtas and we were very pleased with designs and the price. You could still get a bettre price ain Old city at Maqdum.
Shawls and wedding favres are very reasonable again in General bazar and Begum Bazar.
We chose one day to visit my uncles and cousins to distribute the cards. I should thank my brother and Sowmya for providing all the help and commuting needs. My sister was a great help as she came with us for shopping and helped us choose a good shop as well as good clothes. She was awesome. My vadina and Bharathi helped in several ways. Basically, you need many particpants and their help for successful completion.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Welding Card!
Are you surprised? What is wedding anyway? It is the welding of two hearts and their families. Well! that seemed to be the attitude of my printer too. He cared more for the meaning than for the actual words in the wedding card!
I did not realize his attitude till my "mind reader" best friend pointed it out to me during card distribution. My printer is an ardent Shakespeare fan, it seems as he religiously followed-"What's in a name we call it a rose, rose by other name smell as sweet". Hence, he changed "Princeton" to "Princetion" on the reception card so also Carnegie to Carnegic.
I cannot blame him, as these days spellings have lost their significance. Look at one of the Greek yogurts-"FAGE" is actually pronounced as FAYEH. Why can't you spell it that way anyway! Though my printer does not live in USA, he has - eastern living and western thinking.
My brother pointed out that he printed Princeton correctly on the first card (Wedding) and it is just copy and paste for the second card (Reception). What can I say but, he remained sober for the Wedding but turned inebriated for the Reception even though I have eliminated alcohol for the actual reception, I could not prevent my printer getting intoxicated and pronouncing Princetion!!
Those who have already received the cards, just feel the emotion and do not focus on the printer's pareshaan narration.
I did not realize his attitude till my "mind reader" best friend pointed it out to me during card distribution. My printer is an ardent Shakespeare fan, it seems as he religiously followed-"What's in a name we call it a rose, rose by other name smell as sweet". Hence, he changed "Princeton" to "Princetion" on the reception card so also Carnegie to Carnegic.
I cannot blame him, as these days spellings have lost their significance. Look at one of the Greek yogurts-"FAGE" is actually pronounced as FAYEH. Why can't you spell it that way anyway! Though my printer does not live in USA, he has - eastern living and western thinking.
My brother pointed out that he printed Princeton correctly on the first card (Wedding) and it is just copy and paste for the second card (Reception). What can I say but, he remained sober for the Wedding but turned inebriated for the Reception even though I have eliminated alcohol for the actual reception, I could not prevent my printer getting intoxicated and pronouncing Princetion!!
Those who have already received the cards, just feel the emotion and do not focus on the printer's pareshaan narration.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wedding Cards
Wow! Already we are at wedding cards section! Since, I started late the blog bit late in the process, I want to explain some issues that I encountered.
It is a tedious job to select an appealing wedding card online. I think seeing in person is better than imagining on the computer monitor. we looked at quite a few online sites such as http://www.parekhcards.com and http://www.menakacard.in/index.php. They had very good selections, but the main mode of conversing with them is through email. So, what Pradeep! Well!, I could not find a method for sample ordering. I called my brother in Hyderabad and he despite his busy schedule had to go twice to see different cards. Many of the vendors did not allow him to take the pictures to be sent to us for review. They are worried about copying their designs. cannot blame them though.
After we finally narrowed our choice to 2, we made an executive decision to order a new type of card with transparent gold sheet covering the wedding and reception cards.
It is best to include a RSVP card giving the final date to respond. We were told to give at least 6 weeks for the guests to respond as a courtesy after they receive the invitation. But, we received the cards late from India and hence, we are giving our guests 4 weeks. I think that is decent.
Few points to remember: Make sure that the packing does not cause crumpling of the cards during transit. We had that issue.
Make sure the wedding and reception cards are not of same dimensions. The first guests did not realize that they were two cards as they were stuck one behind the other. I bought photo corners from AC Moore and put it on the second card (reception card), so that guests would be able to discern two cards.
We used gold sealing labels and monogrammed them with inkjet printer.
We also used Avery clear self adhesive labels and it preserved the beauty of the cards.
We could have used Vistaprint to print Venue, gift registry and direction information on small business cards, but did not have enough time for the free ones to arrive (1 week). So plan in advance. (Brinda have us lot of useful tips).
I also created a QR code so that those with smartphones could directly access the web without typing the entire URL.
Put stamps on the RSVP card envelopes, if you want to make it convenient for your guests to respond.
That is it for now. I shall explain earlier events and planning later.
It is a tedious job to select an appealing wedding card online. I think seeing in person is better than imagining on the computer monitor. we looked at quite a few online sites such as http://www.parekhcards.com and http://www.menakacard.in/index.php. They had very good selections, but the main mode of conversing with them is through email. So, what Pradeep! Well!, I could not find a method for sample ordering. I called my brother in Hyderabad and he despite his busy schedule had to go twice to see different cards. Many of the vendors did not allow him to take the pictures to be sent to us for review. They are worried about copying their designs. cannot blame them though.
After we finally narrowed our choice to 2, we made an executive decision to order a new type of card with transparent gold sheet covering the wedding and reception cards.
It is best to include a RSVP card giving the final date to respond. We were told to give at least 6 weeks for the guests to respond as a courtesy after they receive the invitation. But, we received the cards late from India and hence, we are giving our guests 4 weeks. I think that is decent.
Few points to remember: Make sure that the packing does not cause crumpling of the cards during transit. We had that issue.
Make sure the wedding and reception cards are not of same dimensions. The first guests did not realize that they were two cards as they were stuck one behind the other. I bought photo corners from AC Moore and put it on the second card (reception card), so that guests would be able to discern two cards.
We used gold sealing labels and monogrammed them with inkjet printer.
We also used Avery clear self adhesive labels and it preserved the beauty of the cards.
We could have used Vistaprint to print Venue, gift registry and direction information on small business cards, but did not have enough time for the free ones to arrive (1 week). So plan in advance. (Brinda have us lot of useful tips).
I also created a QR code so that those with smartphones could directly access the web without typing the entire URL.
Put stamps on the RSVP card envelopes, if you want to make it convenient for your guests to respond.
That is it for now. I shall explain earlier events and planning later.
New Joy And A New Blog!
As a father of a new bride, I am excited to describe my jubilation and tribulations in preparing for the marriage of my dreams. I shall give details of planning, mismanagement and word of caution so that others who are in similar stage will benefit. My friend Lakshmi Pasumarthi inspired me to write this blog for the benefit of others and myself too. Do not expect too much of humor. You will find that on my other blog www.nicutech.blogspot.com
I am hoping that this blog will be informational and inspirational too. Will update this on regular basis.
The event is on April 28th of 2012. It is too long for me to wait! Post your comments and suggestions to make it more helpful for others and myself too. See you frequently
I am hoping that this blog will be informational and inspirational too. Will update this on regular basis.
The event is on April 28th of 2012. It is too long for me to wait! Post your comments and suggestions to make it more helpful for others and myself too. See you frequently
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