The first big step!

I thought this warranted its own post since I bought my bridal outfit yesterday! I wasn't planning on doing so - we went to visit this designer, Bhavana, at the Indian store near my house. Bhavana has made bridal outfits for a few of our family friends and custom designs all her pieces. We got to the store and I just got so inspired by this one beautiful lengha and things just sort of fell into place/spiraled into a fit of excitement and giggles. I don't want to get into the details too much because I know he checks this and I want to surprise him but I LOVE what we designed. It will be an ivory color, the design features the paisley shape (that sort of tear drop)with lots of swarovski crystal work, beading and general bling. It will take until the end of January to get a swatch back of the work/color. From there we make changes, approve the swatch and it goes into production. So I have until end of Jan/beginning of February to try and loose as much weight as possible because that's when we design the blouse as well. That's all I really want to reveal on here but I was just too excited to keep it in!

We also designed a going away/reception outfit that is modern, unique and also gorgeous but since Bhavana requires up front payment and since we are going to India/Sri Lanka in December we held off. I have this feeling though that I won't find anything in India that will beat what I designed, and if I do I can always have Bhavana change the design for the reception outfit. I'm working on convincing my mom to just get it - I have a really good feeling about it and most of the time I think you make the best decisions on gut instinct.

Bridal Outfits

Singhalese brides generally wear white or cream (taken from the British) to the wedding and wear a red outfit when they are leaving the wedding. Indian brides often wear red, although it differs depending on the region. We are still trying to decide if we should combine the ceremonies (so I'd only wear one outfit - the Singhalese sari) or do them seperately.

I am inspired by these lace wedding gowns by Monique Lhuillier. I'd really love to do a cream lace sari with embellished bead work and a scalloped lace cap sleeve blouse to sort of mimick my mom's sari on her wedding day.

I'm not sure if I'll get something designed from scratch or buy off the rack when I go to India and Sri Lanka in December. Here are some designers I like and am thinking about visiting in India:

Maria B:

Manish Malhotra:

Satya Paul:

Tarun Tahilani