Posts Tagged ‘Divya Chadha’

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

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Bride Talk- My Dream Wedding Venues

May 10, 2010 Destination Weddings, Wedding People & Planners

Divya Chadha, a successful Mumbai-based Wedding Planner has organised Weddings all over India. While the first question most brides (or parents) ask her is about the best Wedding locations in India, her friends often ask her where she would like to get married, when she herself takes the plunge! She presents her list of breath taking locations—for a grand wedding. And some great locations for what could be a ‘different’ wedding.

Breath-taking locations for a truly Royal Wedding-

1. Samode Palace, Jaipur. What could be more romantic than having your wedding in palatial property with huge gardens and a view of the rocky dunes? It’s a perfect venue for outdoor weddings especially between September and March.

2. Devi Garh, Udaipur. A spectacular, restored palace nestled in the Aravali hills and perfect for an intimate wedding affair. The poolside and landscaped gardens make for a stunning mehendi venue during the day; and for a starry cocktail function in the evening.

3. Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer. A palace set amidst Thar desert and if you’re looking for a unique experience– why not have an evening out in the desert under the stars. The combination of a modern hotel teamed with the charm of the desert makes it a paradise location for a wedding.

4. Neemrana Fort Palace, Jaipur. Accessible both via Delhi and Jaipur, Neemrana Fort Palace is a spectacular venue for a small private wedding. The palace is cut into the hillsides and stands
almost 10 levels high!

For those who don’t want the big fat Indian wedding, here’s where you can have a wedding with a ‘Difference’.

1. Park Hyatt Resort & Spa, Goa. The Sea Lawns is a gorgeous wedding space surrounded by tall palm trees; a sea and beach view; and a breeze that sets the mood. Should you have your wedding during the off-season, the open air restaurant The Palms is a perfect space for an afternoon lunch / early evening BBQ.

2. Zeebop, Goa. This is a simply put – a huge shack in South Goa and has one of the friendliest owners I have met! The shack is laid out in such a way that you can book the entire space or just a part of it—and you can organise your pre-wedding cocktails or the main wedding ceremony there.

3. The Zuri Kumarakum, Kerala. If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate wedding Kerala is perfect. A picturesque setting along the banks of a lake, a traditional meal on banana leaves, after which you can go for your honeymoon on the back waters of Allepy in a House Boat J

4. Polo Farm, New Delhi. A gorgeous farmhouse with 4 bedrooms and set across a few acres – this lovely venue allows you to have your dream wedding at a fraction of the cost of a hotel banquet hall!

If you’d like to get in touch with Divya Chadha, please email aklassapart@gmail.com

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The Court adjourned .. but only for the weekend

Dec 23, 2009 Wedding People & Planners

The Park Hyatt Goa played host to the wedding of Moneesha Patwardhan and Essaji Vahanvati, son of Attorney General of India, Goolam Vahanvati. The wedding festivities were just that– a weekend celebration to rejoice for the couple.  There were no pheras, sangeet, mehendi, nikha or any other formality after all it was a Goa wedding.

The bride and groom arrived along with their close friends on 11th December to be welcomed at the Park Hyatt with a High Tea followed by Feni Shots to get into the spirit of being in Goa.  The cocktails were held at the popular Zeebop by The Sea with an exquisite Buddha Bar Lounge theme.  There were some unique performances by a Crystal Juggler and an African Acrobatic Act.

The next day, a BBQ lunch was on the menu alongside an impromptu game of volleyball on the beach amongst the friends until sunset. The reception was a classy affair with the Suburban Jazz Ensemble keeping the crowd on the dance floor throughout the evening.

The wedding was planned and managed by Divya Chadha, Neha Chadha of AKA: A Klass Apart.

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News from Wedding Planners

Dec 1, 2009 Wedding People & Planners

Divya Chadha resigns from 360 Degrees; sets up her own event management company. Neha Arora resigns as Director (Events) of Grand Hyatt.

Divya Chadha worked in the wedding division of 360 Degrees, the event management arm of The Times Group.  She is setting up her own event management company. Neha Seth who worked as the Director (Events) of Grand Hyatt earlier worked as Associate Director (events) at Hyatt Regency.

Divya lived in London before she relocated to India in 2007. She talks about her rich experience at 360 degrees: “One of my very first brides’ in Bombay was an NRI client from Lagos. I spent close to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week for 3 months at my clients’ residence until we flew to Udaipur where the wedding was held.  The week before the wedding I was spending about 14 hours a day at their residence.  It’s not an easy task because one gets involved in the day-to-day family affairs when working in such close proximity with a client”. One of the projects that she holds close to her heart is a merger of two hearts– a New York bride and a Mumbai groom. Divya says: “We had planned an elaborate Sangeet function which would in turn become a Family Awards ceremony similar to that of Filmfare Awards! I recall endless hours going over the MC’s script and collaborating costumes for all the family and friends to wear for their dance sequences.  One of the lighter moments involved hunting around the city for the multi-color skirt that Madhuri Dixit had worn for  her famous ‘ek do teen’ song so we could use it as part of the sangeet!”

Divya is now busy with managing wedding projects in Delhi, Mumbai and Jalandhar: She says: “The first wedding will take place in mid-December in Goa.  The theme of this mixed caste wedding involves a Zen Buddha Lounge for the Cocktails followed by a very contemporary mix for the Reception.  The Mumbai wedding is for a Marwari family and will follow a more traditional décor for the home functions; the engagement & sangeet will have a contemporary design.  The wedding in Jalandhar is for an NRI Sikh Punjabi couple and has a Bollywood theme for the Sangeet and a Royal theme for the main reception.”

For a change, Neha Seth is attending weddings and not organizing weddings. Between Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency Neha has handled over 500 weddings.  She got married to Chetan Arora (the Subway man), last year and after a very hectic year at work in 2009, she decided to quit her plum job at Grand Hyatt to spend time pursuing her leisure pursuits.

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