The second I opened this collection of Indian wedding images by Binita Patel Photography, I fell in love with the bridesmaids.  It’s not every day that we see bridesmaids in lavender saris, so I immediately started swooning over their unique feminine appeal. And, if you have ever smelled a lavender rose, you know just how divine and powerful the color can be.  Topped off with the white rose & peony bouquets,  this blogger is in Indian wedding heaven!

Finale on the way…stay where you are!

From Cleveland, Ohio (my husband’s hometown!) Z Photo Couture brings us this gorgeous Sikh wedding. Usually, I am of the opinion that bouquets should contrast your wedding lengha.  However, this single bloom, red rose bouquet that our lovely bride carries is really spectacular.  Simple and elegant, and it adds a modern dimension to her traditional, red, bridal lengha.

From our bride :

As we began planning our wedding in our hometown of Cleveland, we found the easiest way to approach it was to pick a theme, and then prioritize which aspects of the wedding were most important to us as a couple.  For us that meant decor, food, and photography.  And of course, for me, the dresses and jewelry.  We wanted to appreciate our wedding years from now, so we wanted a look that was modern, but most importantly, timeless.  The reasons we chose the vendors we did was because they understood our style, and used their own creativity to take it to the next level.

The greatest aspect of an Indian wedding are the beautifully embroidered clothes and the dramatic jewelry.  We traveled to India to purchase our wedding clothes.  Shami picked the first outfit he saw, in the first store we went to, a cream sherwani, accented by a red traditional Sikh turban.  Surprisingly, my selection came almost as easy.  For my ceremony dress, I chose a deep red color, and I was inspired by the jewelry made famous by Aishwarya Rai in Jodha Akbar, a film about a sixteeenth century love story.  For the reception, we both wanted East to meet West.  I wanted the glitz of Indian embroidery, with the simplicity of a strapless white wedding dress.  Shami opted to change from a traditonal sherwani into a tuxedo.   For the ceremony decor, we chose to keep it simple.  Red florals to compliment the red traditional Indian wedding dress.

Finale on the way…see you in a bit!

Peonies or Roses? Colorful or Monochromatic? Round or Cascading?

As with any wedding decision there are about a thousand different options for your bridal bouquet, so I stopped by Mandy Scott’s office, in San Francisco, to talk to her about the latest trends .  Bridal bouquets are unique as the Maharani carrying it, so Mandy has a couple tips and a couple hints to help steer you in the right direction :

Tip 1 : Monochromatic flowers for South Asian bridal bouquets.

Indian brides should choose simple, one color combinations, especially creams and whites.  Your bridal lengha will be colorful and full of details, so having a one color statement actually adds the perfect little somethin’ somethin’  to your wedding ensemble, especially in photographs.

Tip 2 : Never go wrong with the classic – Round.

There are a few different shape bouquets you could choose as well.  Round bouquets are always a lovely, classic choice. They add a pop of femininity without going overboard. Overarm and cascading bouquets add a little drama to your outfit, but ask for monochromatic flowers if you go for either of these styles.  These bouquets in multiple colors will be distracting against your lengha, bangles, and kalira.

Hint  1 : Let you blooms reflect your personal style

There is no right or wrong answer to this question!  It is all about you!  Carrying a single flower type or a multitude of textures is completely a personal choice.  Each style looks gorgeous with lenghas, so either way you can’t go wrong!

Hint 2 : It’s all about the architecture

The way your bouquet is assembled will dictate its style. Tight, clean, and simple have a modern feel to them. Vintage bouquets have an Old Hollywood/Deco aura  that is very in at the moment.  Loose and garden-y bouquets have more of a relaxed, charming attitude that have zero attitude.

Here are some of Mandy’s favorite bouquets that she has done over the past year for you to inspire you and get your gears moving…

Feminine & Girly..

Modern & Stylish…

Chic & Unique…

I absolutely loved my bridal bouquet because there was just something “so bridal” about it. I know that your bouquet will become one of your cherished wedding memories too!

Thank a million Mandy!

Some of our readers have asked for more bouquet ideas, so this dedicated to them!  If you have a topic that you need help with, we would love to hear from you.  Simply, send an email to readers@maharaniweddings.com

Some of my favortie bouquets are composed of all one flower.  They have a chic, unfussy look to them that makes you look like you simply ran your hand through the garden on your way down the aisle.  Here are some of my favorites:

Clockwise from the top left:

Large Rose Bouquet – No, this isn't Smurfette's bouquet!  This labor intensive bouquet is hand strung by your florist to make one collossal rose.  A head turner for sure!

Bunch of Peonies – if you are lucky enough to get married in the Spring, peonies are an exclusive choice.  With a very short season (only 8 weeks!) these special flowers will add a one of a kind dimension to your wedding day.

Hand-tied Tulips – This lovely arrangement is perfect for a summery outdoor affair.  I love the way this one is tied with a simply ribbon…

Lily of the Valley – One of my dear friends, Lily, carried her namesake down the aisle with her on her wedding day.  This is bouquet has an "undone" look to it that sets a carefree tone to your attire.  This is perfect if you are wearing chiffon.

Some new twists on bouquets include crystals and feathers.  Talk to your florist about adding this special element to your bridal bouquet only.