Chelsea’s Fairtale Wedding Cost $3 million. A Big Fat Indian Wedding Costs?

Archive for July, 2010

Chelsea’s Fairtale Wedding Cost $3 million. A Big Fat Indian Wedding Costs?

Jul 29, 2010 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for, Celebrity Wedding Pictures

The New York Daily News reckons the total bill for Chelsea’s nuptials will top $3 million and they’ve given estimates of what could be the break-up of the costs. While some Americans believe the low-profile Chelsea deserves a lavish wedding, some have reacted with shock over what they feel is an ‘outrageous’ spend. We asked Wedding Planners Divya and Neha Chadha of A Klass Apart: AKA to give an indication on how much super-rich families spend on Big Fat Weddings, and how different spends are in India. Explains Divya: “At $3 million (Rs 15 crore), Chelsea’s one day wedding affair, is much more expensive than what a similar wedding would cost in India. My clients wedding in Udaipur had fifteen functions over seven days and the budget was Rs 15 crore. While the Udaipur wedding was a super-grand affair, typically, the budget for a Big Fat Indian wedding (with four elaborate functions) is between Rs 3 to 5 crore.”

Flowers
Chelsea Clinton- Rs 2.32 crore
Big Fat Indian Wedding- Rs 1 crore
“Top florists/ decor expers like Gurlein Puri charge between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh per function, while Dhun Cordo charges no less than Rs 1 crore for entire conceptualisation/ theme design.”

Photographer/ Videographer
Chelsea Clinton- Rs 18.6 lakh
Big Fat Indian Wedding- Rs 12 lakh
“This is the fee of photographers like Badal and Raja Jain, Bankim Jain for 4 functions/ 4 days. This includes costs of editing, digital copies, prints etc.”

Food (Wedding and After Party)
Chelsea Clinton- Rs 13 lakh
Big Fat Indian Wedding- Rs 8 lakh
“A very elaborate spread at a 5 star hotel would be Rs 3000 per head. A function at the Jagmandir Island, Udaipur would be priced upwards of Rs 8000 per head. Some families hire the services of top chefs like Delhi-based Marut Sikka who travels with his entire team to the destination wedding venue.”

Wedding Dress
Chelsea Clinton- Rs 11.6 lakh
Big Fat Indian Wedding- Rs 10 lakh
“The budget for Indian bridal wear varies extensively. An Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor bridal creation starts at Rs 1.5 lacs (for a very light outfit). Typically rich Indian brides buy very elaborate creations for four functions.”

Hair and Makeup
Chelsea Clinton- Rs 9.3 lakh
Big Fat Indian Wedding- Rs 2 lakh
“Top makeup artists like Cory Walia, Kumar Iyer, Kapil Bhalla charge upwards of Rs 20,000 for creating one look (makeup/ hairstyling/ saree draping). Families also hire few or many makeup artists for dressing up the family members and guests”.

Wedding Cake
Chelsea Clinton- Rs 4.6 lakh
Big Fat Indian Wedding- Rs 50,000

Wedding Invitations
“Wedding Invitations vary from Rs 100 to Rs 3000 per card. Delhi’s Entertainment Design Company (EDC) cards start from Rs 2000 upwards. Even the wealthiest families may not spend Rs 2000 per card but they would spend on gift items/trays that go with the wedding invitation.”

Other expenses of Chelsea Clinton’s wedding not mentioned above.
Groom’s tuxedo, Wedding Planner, Music incl Sound system & DJ, Security, Liquor, Wedding bands, Favors, Lighting, Stationery, Tables, Rehearsal Dinner, Media consultant, Priest, Valet Parking, Bride’s Jewellery, Aisle Runner, Tents and Other services.

Source: Chelsea Clinton’s wedding expenses: NY Daily News

Tags: Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor, Badal and Raja Jain, Bankim Jain, Big Fat Indian Wedding Costs, Chelsea Clinton Wedding, Cory Walia, Dhun Cordo, Divya Chadha, EDC, Entertainment Design Company, Gurlein Puri, Kapil Bhalla, Kumar Iyer, Marut Sikka, Neha Chadha

Former First Daughters Fairy Tale Wedding

Jul 29, 2010 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for, Celebrity Wedding Pictures

Tomorrow is Chelsea Clinton’s wedding day. The only child of Hillary and Bill Clinton weds investment banker Marc Mezvinsky who she met at Stanford. The US media has been speculating at length, about what could be the ingredients of the wedding at Rhinebeck, a small town near New York. Speculate they have to, as all details on the wedding are ‘top secret’—all the vendors have signed Non Disclosure Agreements, and there’s huge security around the possible wedding venue ‘Astor Courts’, a French-style private mansion. The guest-list totals 400, but the happiest people are Rhinebecks residents and its traders as every business in Rhinebeck has been engaged in some way or another– flowers, chocolates, dinner reservations. A US newspaper says it’s a Fairy Tale Wedding staged for an American Princess which will leave every nuptial since that of Lady Diana a bit downscale and tawdry. New York Times has referred to it as the Social Event of the Year. Then there are the big questions. Will the wedding actually take place at Astor Courts or at some other secret destination? Will Chelsea wear a Vera Wang or an Oscar de la Renta gown?

A delightful portrait of the bride and her mother by the Vietnamese artist Dao Trong Cuong, presented during Hillary Clinton’s visit to Hanoi last week.

Tags: Astor Courts, Chelsea Clinton, Marc Mezvinsky, Oscar de la Renta, Rhineback, Vera Wang

Manav Gangwani’s Swarovski Bling

Jul 24, 2010 Fashion & Bridal Wear

Manav Gangwani’s line at Delhi Couture Week showcased a variety ranging from western to Indian wear. On display were elegant sarees, anarkali suits, stunning blouses, skirts, lehengas, fitted bodices with layers of fabric giving them a feminine element. The eye-popping collection in hues of red, gold, grey, turquoise blue, royal blue, fuchsia with swarovski elements and signature heavy embroideries made it truly “an affair to remember”.

Tags: delhi couture week, Manav Gangwani, Swarovski

Valaya’s Alika – a bride’s dreams come true

Jul 24, 2010 Fashion & Bridal Wear

Inspired by a fictional character ‘Alika’, Valaya’s line at Delhi Couture Week had elegant saris, lehengas paired with sexy cholis and long jackets, short kurtas with skin-fit chudidars and achakans and angrakhas for men. Valaya also introduced ‘Alika’ jackets – a cross between a jacket and a shirt, kind of inspired by the traditional Garhwali garment “Sadri”. Kangana Ranaut who walked the runway in an exquisite bridal ensemble couldn’t stop gushing about the clothes.

Tags: Alika, Angrakhas, delhi couture week, Elegant Saris, JJ Valaya, Lehengas, Short Kurtas, Skin fit Churidars

Anamika Khanna – Aisha and the bride

Jul 24, 2010 Fashion & Bridal Wear

Anil Kapoor looking dapper in a black sherwani and white chudidar (not to miss the gem-studded brooch by Raj Mahtani pinned to his chest pocket) walked the ramp for Anamika Khanna at Delhi Couture Week. He was joined on stage by three three gorgeous ladies of ‘Aisha’- Ira Dubey, Amrita Puri and Lisa Haydon. Not surprising that Anamika’s official theme statement was, ‘The emotional journey of a bride’. The jewelley by Raj Mahtani was interesting and Anamika’s clothes have a sophistication about them. But did you feel a bit underwhelmed like us?

Tags: Aisha, Anamika Khanna, Anil Kapoor, delhi couture week

The Marwar Mega Wedding Show

Jul 23, 2010 Bridal Shows & Wedding Exhibitions, Fashion & Bridal Wear, Marriage & Wedding Trends

10 years ago, Amishi Dhanuka then Publisher of Marwar magazine launched the first Marwar Mega Wedding Show in association with WeddingSutra.com. In the first years, the exhibitors were mostly home entrepreneurs— talented Marwari housewives who dabbled in designing clothes, jewellery, home decor stuff and accessories. Gradually, a host of exhibitors flocked to participate and on show was not just talent, but stuff rich, expensive and ornate. So you saw bling and more bling, heavy embroidery and lots of it. And the community wedding affair, turned into a big, fat bazaar.

The three-day Mega Wedding Show in Mumbai started on 23rd July at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai. This year too, Marwar (now owned by Spenta Multimedia) has got a host of luxury and fashion labels targeting big budget families and brides. Rosenthal, Lladro, Stefan Hafner, D’damas, Rosato, Morelatto, Just Cavalli, Nina Ricci, Miss Sixty. The participating Indian jewellery designers include Varuna D Jani, Amisha Khanna and Kavita Behl. Many beauty brands are participating too—Power Spa, hairstylist Savio John Pereira and Paul Mitchell.

Marwar informs us that they received a huge number of visitors on Day 1, and while Day 2 is a bit of a disappointment due to the heavy rains, they are expecting many more visitors on Day 3. The exhibitors include designers from Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur and Lucknow. So more than the big brands we already see at most Mumbai malls, we’re looking forward to seeing elegant ethnics and handcrafted traditional jewellery by outstation designers. Mega Wedding Show is also taking place between 24th and 26th September at Hotel Novotel, Hyderabad, and 15th to 17th October at Lalit Ashoka Hotel, Bangalore. To participate call Kamakshi Vyas Fernandes on 022 24811010.

Seen here are pictures from the stalls and workshops at earlier Mega Wedding Shows. Zeba Kohli of Fantasie Fine Chocolates, Etiquette Trainer Chhaya Momaya.

Tags: Amisha Khanna, Amishi Dhanuka, Kavita Behl, Mawar, Mega Wedding Show, Savio John Pereira, Spenta Multimedia, Varuna D Jani

Delhi Couture Week – Rohit Bal Drench’d

Jul 22, 2010 Fashion & Bridal Wear

Rohit Bal’s collection at Delhi Couture Week titled ‘Khakasrtari’—Colours of Ash, is as symbolic as it gets; and what a comeback Bal made after grave illness with a collection that speaks of fashion thats timeless. Celebrating the 2 decades of his impeccable craftsmenship. we got a glimpse of Bal’s characteristic style – intricate zardozi work on velvet jackets paired with voluminous skirts, lots of Taj motifs, delicate mukesh work, layers of chiffon and more. Plenty of eye-candy for Brides-to-be.

The finale was ethereal with Bal and his models floating in a pool in virginal white clothes.

Tags: delhi couture week, Rohit Bal

Delhi Couture Week – Manish’s Spanish Influence

Jul 22, 2010 Fashion & Bridal Wear

When Manish Malhotra showed at the Delhi Couture Week, there were no Bollywood showstoppers. Instead there was Spanish Glamour. We saw what we expected from Manish – long anarkali suits, elaborate lehngas and a few saris with intricate chikankari and dabka work but it was the hues that were different. Manish said he used mostly international autumn colors hence the hues of beiges, off whites, black, burgundy and teal.

Tags: Manish Malhotra

Delhi Couture Week – Sabyasachi goes Khadi

Jul 22, 2010 Fashion & Bridal Wear

Sabyasachi Mukherjee opened the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) organised Delhi Couture Week with his vintage collection called ‘Aparajito’. Talking to media, Mukherjee said “the whole collection had a very vintage, almost heroic period feel to it. It could be something that you straight get out of a museum,” said Mukherjee.

The line incorporated intricate craftsmanship from various parts of India – from block printing to kantha work – and used delicate khadi, natural dyes and a lot of zardosi work.

And of course, Vidya and Rani were there to cheer their favourite designer.

Tags: delhi couture week, rani mukherji, Sabyasachi, vidya balan

Model Anjhula Singh’s Dream Wedding in Deogarh

Jul 20, 2010 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for, Destination Weddings

Model Anjhula Singh Bais (from the Baiswara Thikana, Rajasthan) is tying the knot. The groom Satish Selvanathan from a Singapore/ Colombo based business magnate family works with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The engagement took place on 8th May in the US and the nuptials will be a Royal Rajasthan affair at Deogarh Mahal in Rajasthan. Anjhula tells us more about the wedding to be held between 21st and 24th October: “We wanted our wedding to be a very traditional and elegant affair—and though our guest list is limited to 350, a function which the entire small town witnesses and participates in seemed heart-warming. We chose Deogarh, because Baiswara has limited accommodation options and the Rawats of Deogarh, our close family friends, were only too happy to host our wedding at their splendid palace.”

It’s not just the Royal Wedding family of Deogarh who are helping the couple with wedding arrangements the other vendors are Royal in their own way. The invitations are being done by Delhi’s famed Entertainment Design Company and UK’s star restauranteur Iqbal Wahhab, OBE of Cinnamon Club is the Food consultant. Anjhula and Satish will wear creations by ace designer Raghuvendra Rathore and folk musicians Rajasthan Roots will perform at the wedding dinner mehfil. Their friends will be staying in Khayyams (luxury tents) organised by ‘Nomads in Luxury’ and LA-based videographers Couture Cinema will be filming the wedding. Veteran photographer Akash Das will be doing the couple a special favour by photographing all the wedding events which include an Elephant polo, a Mehendi with pink and yellow decor, a Moghlai opulence theme Sangeet and a specially set-up bazaar displaying the works by artists in and around Deogarh. Adds Anjhula: “Since Satish is Tamilian, we’ll also have South Indian elements at the Rajasthani wedding, with South Indian musicians and South Indian food.”

“I’ve lived all over the world, and Rajasthan is my favorite place because of its people—who are most humble and simple”, says Anjhula who graduated from LSR, Delhi and then pursued her masters in London before she moved to the US. The post-wedding events include a Tiger Safari to Ranthambore, a visit to Taj Mahal and a reception to be hosted by Satish’s family at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.

Anjhula in a Shyamal and Bhumika creation at the engagement