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I am jumping up and down with excitement about the photos from our next featured wedding!  This wedding is like a 24 item dessert buffet where every dessert makes you wanting another one. Since I can never choose only one dessert, I couldn't narrow down these gorgeous photos. So, we are going to be doing an extra special post series for this wedding. Check back with us every couple hours and there will be a new addition to this glorious affair!

Harlyn and Seenu had a colorful FIVE day celebration in Los Angeles.  This couple tied the knot twice in June – once with a South Indian ceremony and then again with a Sikh Indian ceremony.   The attention to detail and the use of material is amazing – this is one of those weddings that leave you breathless…

I just L-O-V-E this brides sophisticated sense of style.  She pulls off looking chic AND elegant, without dressing like an old lady.  AND, I love that she choose two entirely different, yet traditional looks for her ceremonies.  I can't decide which one I like better, can you?  

Fun fact about this couple – their wedding announcement ran in the NY Times, which is more selective than the school both of these lovebirds attend – Harvard. Both ceremonies were held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

Stay tuned, more glorious pictures of this wedding on the way shortly!

One of my most fond memories of my wedding was searching for my bridal lengha with my mom.  We roamed the streets of Dehli looking at piece after piece until I found "the one!"  Luckily, now there are fabulous bridal pieces available online at www.sila.com.

Born in 1998, Sila is the brain child of Saman and Tauseef, created to fulfill the needs of those craving for classic south Asian elegance. Since its inception, the presence of Sila has exclusively been online at
www.sila.com, a niche that has carved a dynamic path to provide to clientele
globally.

Sila is "not a boutique…but, the art of attire."

The collections include formal, day to evening, accessories and the bridal trousseau and the focal point has always been immaculate cuts, luxurious fabrics and classic pieces that transcend fashion eras. The Jewel-e-Raj Collection is the exclusive bridal trousseau line that devotes its heritage to Moghul inspired embroidery techniques and handloom woven silks & brocades in regal lehnga, gharara, peshwaz and sari wedding designs.

Every bridal piece is always made to measure to ensure a custom fit for every bride to be. A process pondered upon by many, with Sila being based completely online, but mastered by the team to result in couture quality heirloom pieces for the wedding!

If putting on your sari makes you want to tear your hair out - you are not alone! A lot of the indian brides living in the US don't know how to neatly tie their lengha or sari!  On your wedding day, you will likely have someone to help you out, but for the functions leading up to your wedding...garba, mehndi, etc...I highly recommend that you practice tieing your sari a few times, just in case your sari expert is having trouble parking, stuck in traffic or child is sick.  It will keep you calm and cool, plus it is a good thing for any savvy Desi Girl to know how to do.

Practice with a light cotton or chiffon sari to get the hang of it...I like this lady's clear directions and enthusiasm for saris, and after a few tries, I am sure that you will be all wrapped up and pretty!

In Indian tradition, the bride is prepared for marriage in a few different ceremonies. The Chooda ceremony is an intimate gathering of the bride’s extended family.   It begins with a havan or puja performed by the pandit.  In traditional families the oldest mama and mami will keep fast until the chooda.  The set of 21 cream and red bangles, the chooda, are not shown to the girl until just before the ceremony.  Historically they were made of ivory, however, since it is banned they are now made of plastic. The chooda is then placed onto the brides wrist by her uncle, and everyone at the puja are suppose to touch the chooda in order to offer their good wishes to the bride. Kalira may be tied to the bride’s wrist at this time as well. 

Depending on your family this may be the extent of the chooda ceremony, or the chooda ceremony may be preceded by a mauli ceremony.  The Mauli is when a holy sting is tied by the pandit on the bride's wrist, and four lamps are lit.  She is then seated in front of them.  Oil is constantly added to the diyas providing a beautiful glow to the bride's face.  A paste of tumeric powder and mustard oil is applied to her body and then the bride is given a bath in holy water.

Conventionally, an indian bride dresses in her bridal attire, the bridal lenga or sari.Which  per tradition is given by her maternal uncle. US brides often choose to have the chooda ceremony a few days before the wedding.  Newlywed brides will wear their chooda up to their first anniversary. Since that might not go over well with your work clothes, you can keep them in your temple at home.