Cricket Carnival @ The Big Fat Indian Wedding
Apr 5, 2011 Wedding People & Planners
The cup of joy is overflowing, so what do shaadi specialists say on Team India’s influence@ Big Fat Indian weddings. Manoj Gopalani, Director of Seventy Seven Events and Var Vadhu, believes the influence will be huge, atleast for the next few months: “In the last few weeks, many corporates arranged for screenings and spent between Rs 2 and Rs 25 lakh per event, but Big Fat Weddings, will see real cricket, pre-wedding events, where families spend a few crores or more on recreating an IPL-style ambience. He adds: “Cricketers will also be much sought-after wedding guests. Film-stars and TV artistes are and will always be in demand, either as entertainers or as guests, but for now, some families will request for cricketers as the celebrity guest, even if it’s at an astronomical fee.”
According to Saurabh Agarwal of Ahmedabad-based Red Events, many more of his high profile families are interested in their signature ‘Cricket Carnival’. “Last year we organised IPL style cricket matches as part of the grand celebrations of different weddings in Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Nagpur. In one of the matches Ajay Jadeja and Vinod Kambli, captained the bride’s and groom’s teams, Harsha Bhogle was the special guest, Mandira Bedi the host, while Veejays Ranvijay and Anushka cheered the crowds; there were team banners, flags and posters, uniforms with logos, and the trophy was named the ‘Cup of Love’, drums and cheerleaders entertained the audience, and there were specially composed team anthems too.”
Wedding Filmmakers like Mumbai’s Vishal Punjabi and Delhi’s Raja and Badal Jain are now getting ready to capture not just the shaadi, reception, mehendi and sangeet, but the cricket carnival too. Says Vishal Punjabi whose next assignment is a destination wedding in Bali: “I’ll be filming a cricket match for the first time, and I’m so looking forward to it.” Raja and Badal Jain talk about their experience of filming the Big Indian family@ cricket matches, where some audience is not in sporty attire, but dripping diamonds and colourful chiffons: “Filming cricket is interesting, but obviously not as exciting or entertaining as Bollywood-inspired wedding moments.”
While ‘Feeling Blue’ acquires a whole new meaning, Uttara Shah, Mumbai’s luxury wedding card designer says two of her clients are considering cricket theme logos, invites and give-aways. She says: “One client is thinking of flags, t-shirts or caps, which the guests can wear or bring along to the match. And for another die-hard cricket fan groom, we’re looking at designing a box in India colors—the invite is a ticket or a certificate, and in the box will be mini bats with a message from the couple.”
We always thought the Big Fat Indian Wedding was one Big Party, whoever thought, it would be one Big Game too!
Pictures courtesy: www.badalraja.com
Tags: Badal Jain, Cricket Carnival, Cricket Matches, Cricket Theme, Decor, Manoj Gopalani, Red Events, Uttara Shah, Var Vadhu, Vishal Punjabi, Weddings
Fun-in-the-sun Weddings, in Goa
Jun 11, 2010 Destination Weddings, Marriage & Wedding Trends
Everyone enjoys holidaying in Goa, and many love to host their life’s most special celebrations there. Says Neha Seth Arora, who heads Var Vadhu, a wedding management firm: “In Goa, there are enough options for those with different wedding budgets—you can host a small and simple function for less than a lakh, arrange an intimate celebration at a posh resort for a few lakhs or organise a big fat wedding at a grand resort. Since many traditional families especially from the Marwari, Sindhi and Gujarati communities are hosting grand destination weddings there, our unique challenge lies in offering special desi food, entertainment and decor, in a very Goan locale”
The choices in the land of fun, sun and sands are many—a church wedding or pheras by the beach, and parties by the pool side or at an old Portugese bunglow. Some of the highly placed Grooms who are marrying in Goa in July this year include the head-honcho of a top gems and jewellery firm, the Editor of a leading business channel and the CEO of a luxury accessories house.
Ace event manager turned restauranteur AD Singh popularised Goa as a wedding destination among the swish set when his team organised his fabulous celebrations there. Actress Ravee Gupta, Models Mark Robinson, Reshma Bombaywalla, Nisha Harale got married in Goa, but many celebrities have preferred a traditional wedding ceremony in Mumbai or Delhi, and a second celebration or post-wedding party in Goa. Jewellery designer Poonam Soni’s daughter Esha Soni married New York based Ketan Setha at a traditional wedding ceremony in Mumbai followed by a family and friends fun celebration in Goa. Raja and Rita Dhody did the same for their daughter Aneesa’s wedding. Few years, ago model turned choreographer Anu Ahuja married in Delhi and the next celebrations were held in Goa– a church wedding and beach side party at the Calamari Party Shack. Bandana Tewari of Vogue and Ravi Krishnan of IMG had a traditional South Indian wedding on the lawns of the Oberoi poolside after which their post-wedding party was held in Deepti Dutt and Ranjeev Mulchandani’s restaurant—Axirvaad located at a 120 year old Portugese mansion.
Neha of Var Vadhu has received many enquiries for managing a destination wedding at a luxury resort next year and she has just returned from Goa after a quick visit to select properties. She says: “Intercontinental, Park Hyatt, Taj Village Aguada, Zuri and the Alila Diwa would be the best resorts for a large destination wedding. Intercontinental is fairly flexible and cost-effective, Park Hyatt is most classy and their magical forest and sunset beach give it a special touch; for those who’d like a hotel with a boutique-like feel, the newly opened Alila Diwa is a great choice.”
Tags: AD Singh, Alila Diwa, Anu Ahuja, Bandana Tewari, Calamari Party Shack, Deepti Dutt, Destination wedding, Esha Soni, Goa, Gujarati, Ketan Setha, Mark Robinson, Marwari, Neha Seth Arora, Nisha Harale, Park Hyatt, Portugese Bunglow, Raja Dhody, Ranjeev Mulchandani, Ravee Gupta, Ravi Krishnan, Reshma Bombaywalla, Rita Dhody, Sindhi, Taj Village Aguada, Var Vadhu, Weddings, Zuri
Ideas for Wedding Food, at Wedding Experiences 2010
Mar 17, 2010 Bridal Shows & Wedding Exhibitions, Marriage & Wedding Trends, Wedding People & Planners
Var Vadhu, the wedding management company held Wedding Experiences 2010, at Hyatt Regency—to showcase the newest wedding décor trends and a delectable spread in wedding food.
Our favourite pick was from the live station- the cheese, green chilly and coriander stem stuffed pan-fried cottage cheese in phylo pastry. Awesome is the word! We also loved the Tibetan style steamed dim sums and the watermelon pave with spicy tomato salsa and chervil.
Yummy Canapés
Mini grilled gegetable frittata with smoked salmon, sour cream and chives. Tomato and avocado salsa with steamed marinated prawns and fennel. Mini caesar chicken wrap with paprika dressing. Roast chicken, sundry tomato and basil vol-au-vents with parmesan crisps. Mini phylo baskets with chive cream cheese, steamed asparagus and fresh basil. Watermelon pave with spicy tomato salsa and chervil. Grilled eggplant involtini with goats cheese and fresh basil. Pan-seared polenta cakes stuffed with spinach goats cheese and pinenuts
@ the Live Station
Spinach espuma with thyme flavored mushroom alio olio and spicy corn. Four cheese ravioli with Butter and sage sauce. Original sichuan style hand pulled noodles with spicy veg or non veg stock and toppings. Tibetan style steamed dim sums served with flavorful stock and chilly sauce. Cheese, green chilly and coriander stem stuffed pan-fried cottage cheese in phylo pastry. Steamed patrani machchi. Coriander, green chillies and coconut stuffed steamed fish wrapped in banana leaf.
Indian Hot Foods
Paneer anjeer aur chilgoze ke kofte, gucchi wala bharwan aloo dum, Amritsari wadi aur mutter ki subzi, Punjabi chole, subz panchmela, dal makhani, vilayati subzi ki biriyani, steamed rice
Dessert Selection
Strawberry and mint espuma with vanilla pannacotta. Crème brulee caramelized live.
Tags: Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Var Vadhu, Wedding decor trends, Wedding Experiences 2010, Wedding food
Ex Hotelier Neha Seth to head Var Vadhu
Feb 14, 2010 Wedding People & Planners
Neha Seth Arora who earlier worked as Director (Events) at Grand Hyatt, has joined hands with 7ty7 entertainment to form ‘Var Vadhu’ where she will be the CEO and Managing Partner. Says Neha who has close to 10 years experience in different roles in the hotel industry: “At Var Vadhu we will provide clients a complete one-stop shop wedding experience. We will be their concierge and provide a unique and customized experience. Besides offering the regular wedding management services some of our unique offerings will include Legal Assistance (like name changes on the passport/ pan card), Event/ Wedding Insurance, Setting up the Gift Registry and a customized Wedding Website.”
We wish Neha and Var Vadhu all luck in their new, unique endeavor!
Tags: 7ty7 entertainment, Neha, Neha Seth, Neha Seth Arora, Var Vadhu, Wedding Management, Wedding Planners, Wedding Services
