Pre-wedding Photo Sessions are in Trend

More and more Indians are now open to the idea of having a pre-wedding photo shoot done. This is viewed as one brilliant way to capture the love moments before tying the knot and uniting for life. Not only people who are having a love marriage, even people settling for an arranged marriage are hiring photographers for a pre-wedding photo session.

In the case of arranged weddings, the bride and the groom usually opt for a photo shoot after their engagement and before their wedding. Nowadays, couples are viewing the pre-wedding photography to be as important as their wedding photography.

Hiring a photographer

The major step in getting a pre-wedding photo shoot done is to hire the right photographer. Now there are many photographers that one can hire, but it is best to choose the one with whom a couple can share a good rapport and be friendly. Unlike wedding photography, pre-wedding photography will be more relaxed, more fun and there will be more freedom as far as the poses and clothes are concerned, so the photographer also should be fun to deal with.

Opt for a photographer who has years of experience and the one you can afford. Do not go for a photographer who charges too much or too less. It is better to discuss how many photographs will be taken, in which format you will be getting it, whether you want an album, etc. before the photo session is agreed upon by both parties.

Deciding the location

It is up to you for choosing a picturesque location for getting your photos taken. At times couples may ask the photographer they hired for suggesting a good location that is not very crowded, is an illuminated area and an ideal choice for photography. You may choose a resort, a garden or a park, some area of historical significance, your home, or any other location.

Ideas

If you are confused and do not have any unique ideas for posing, you may count on your photographer. Photographers have a great eye for the right background, mix of colors, lighting, and other details. They can capture a couple in the best of poses; if you have no experience in posing, blindly follow what your photographer asks you to do, and the outcome will be great pictures.

Photographers can also suggest you props like masks, umbrellas, books, balloons, flowers, etc. to make your photos stand out.

If you can hire a good photographer, half the job is done. You just need to make the most of the time available and capture some great moments of togetherness before wedding. You may use these pictures for creating a customized wedding card or can also splash the photos all over the wedding hall as part of the wedding décor.

The Wedding Ring in Christian Marriages

The wedding ring symbolizes eternal love for Christians. The perfect circle of the wedding ring is deemed to be a circle of love and as a circle does not have any end, so this ring is thought to be the perfect epitome of immortal love, commitment and marital bond.

The make

For Christians, gold is usually the metal chosen for the making of the ring. The wedding ring is traditionally a simple plain band, but there are also rings with designs and engravings.

The finger

The wedding ring is normally worn on the ring finger or fourth finger of the left hand; the reason behind this is that the left finger is not as much used as the right hand for most people and the fourth finger is the second least used finger following the little finger, so wearing the ring on this finger would mean the soft metal (gold) will not face injury. The ring is not worn on the least used (little) finger, because then the ring would have very little surface area to be decorated.

Though there are superstitious beliefs saying that a vein of only the ring finger reaches the heart that is why the wedding ring is worn on that finger. The truth is that all fingers have veins that go right to the heart. It must also be noted that there are some exceptions where the wedding ring is worn on other fingers and not on the fourth finger.

The essence of a Christian wedding is never complete without a ring for many. More than 20 tonnes of gold (white and yellow) is used for the making of wedding rings every year in the United States alone.

Why Mehendi is Important in Indian Marriages?

Mehendi is the name given to the traditional art form of decorating hands and feet with henna paste. Mehendi is a very old and customary marriage tradition for weddings in the Indian subcontinent, and it is even quintessential in Pakistan and Nepal. The application of mehendi on the hands and legs of brides is not only limited to Hindu marriages; today mehendi has been embraced by many regardless of what caste, community or religion they belong to.

What mehendi represents?

Mehendi in Indian marriages is considered to be a good omen/shagun and it represents the love between the couple and their families.
It is believed that the darker the colour of mehendi on the bride’s palms, the deeper the bonding and level of understanding is between the bride and the groom as well as her in-laws.

Other beliefs

There are several beliefs associated with the application of mehendi in Hindu weddings. According to a popular belief, the longer a bride is able to retain the colour of mehendi on her hands and feet post-marriage, the more fortunate it is for the newly-weds.
Some people even say that mehendi represents fertility and so is considered auspicious for the bride.

Scientific truth

Henna leaves are known for their medicinal properties. These leaves when made into a paste have a cooling effect and can relieve a person from headaches, stress and fever. Since stress can be a major issue when preparing for a wedding, the application of mehendi before wedding is beneficial in relieving the bride and the groom from all the wedding stress.

Moreover, mehendi is applied to the hands and feet, as the limbs have the nerve endings in the body. Mehendi for weddings was conceptualized in a bid to keep the bride and the groom healthy before the wedding. So, it actually makes sense to have the mehendi ceremony prior to the wedding.

What do you have to say about mehendi for weddings? Share with us. 

Tips for men to steal the show on their marriage day

Hey all you men nearing your wedding day, it’s time you do something to make people say on your wedding day, Gosh! The bride’s so lucky. It’s good if you are getting a pretty bride and taking pride in it, but wouldn’t it be great if you could make yourself look equally good beside her?

There are ways to achieve the look you want on your D-day. You just have to show some dedication on your part, that’s it.

Start with a clear complexion

Use a good face scrub and get rid of the blackheads, dead skin cells and blocked pores. You must also start to clean your face with a good face wash religiously, so that by the time your wedding day arrives, you have a fresh glow to your face. If you have an oily skin it’s all the more important to clean the face with some cleanser for oily skin 2-3 times a day.

Be essentially careful with the shaving

If you are not too careful when shaving, you may get cuts and might end up carrying those scars on a clean shaven face to the mandap on the wedding day. Also use a gentle after-shave balm to soothe your face each time you get a shave in the couple of months before the wedding day.

Visit the parlor

You may visit a parlor/spa at least thrice in the last two months before the wedding. This will help you attain a striking glow and you yourself can note the difference these sessions make to your face.

Do not neglect your hair

Even if grooms take care of their face, they often tend to ignore their hair. If you do not have naturally beautiful hair that you can run your fingers through, remember that your wife will also not be able to run her fingers through your hair. So, try to do something for that dry hair or oily hair problem. Use the right shampoo and conditioners for your hair type. A beauty care professional could help you in knowing your hair type and suggesting the right hair products for you.

Take care of your hands too

Give your bride something good to hold on the wedding day. If you have very rough hands, she might not feel like holding them. Before the wedding day arrives, keep using a nice hand cream generously to make the smooth and supple. Your hands need to look good when the cameraman focuses on the ring on your finger.

With all the beauty treatments, you should be looking awesome on your wedding day. A wedding is a once in a lifetime moment, so why not give your bride the best of you?

So what say, would-be grooms, would you like to look great on your wedding? Share with us your plans to get a makeover. 

How to Handle an Interfaith Marriage

When you meet a guy or a girl and have a good feeling inside, and start liking the person, you do not know which caste or religion the person belongs to. At first glance, all you may like in the person is his/her looks, mannerisms, personality, attitude or a certain behavior. Note that it’s important to love a person for what he/she is; if you are in love with a person from another faith, do not let the religion factor affect your relationship adversely.

Often people meet on online matrimony sites and even social networking sites and fall in love; it might also happen that at first the difference in caste or religion is negligible, but as the relationship advances or when marriage happens, the differences widen making the marriage fail.

It is important for the couple of different religions to come to a mutual consent on certain factors. They must decide before marriage, whether they will be free to follow their own faiths even after marriage; in what faith they will be bringing up their children in future; in no way should the differences in faith come in the way of marriage.

Marriage is a sacred commitment and it’s a commitment for a lifetime, no matter whether the differences are in opinion, in caste or in religion.

Don’t Use Facebook to the Extent of Ruining Your Marriage

Today, a major chunk of the urban young population use Facebook and other social media sites and a large portion of them are addicted. It is important for married couples to indulge in healthy social networking and not let it be the reason for a divorce.

Recently, a woman in West Bengal was on the verge of a divorce owing to spending a lot of time on Facebook. She had no job and spent the whole day on the social networking site and kept stalking her friends; everything used to bother her and she used to compare her lifestyle with her friends’ lifestyles. What someone cooked, which new dress a girl bought, where a friend went for vacation, how happy her friends are; she followed everything closely and got frustrated with her life which was not so happening.

She started venting her frustrations on her husband to the amount of abusing him verbally as well as physically. Her husband got tired of it all and filed for a divorce.

You see, what happens when you let the virtual world gain control over your life.

Follow certain golden rules

• It is important to set your priorities right. You must remember that your husband/wife is your first priority and the amount of time you spend on Facebook should not come between you and your life partner.
• Often spouses check each other’s profiles to find out the comments made by their partners on people of the opposite sex’s photos and what comments friends of the opposite sex have made on their partner’s status and photos. This often leads to suspicion, jealousy and misunderstandings among couples. 
• If you have your ex-girlfriend/boyfriend on your friend list and your spouse knows about that, it may lead to unnecessary tensions and problems that might result in breaking your bonding with each other. 
• Do not say or do anything on Facebook that you wouldn't want your life partner to know about. 

Ensure that you are spending quality time with your spouse and not being busy on Facebook when your spouse is trying to talk with you. You must make your spouse believe that he/she is most important to you through your actions.

Mangalsutra and Hindu Marriages

Among Hindus, mangalsutra is more than just an ornament. It is the object that stays with the wife since the day she gets married and a woman only ceases to wear it when her husband is no more. For several Hindu communities, a marriage is not complete until the husband ties the mangalsutra around the bride’s neck.

The pendant and the black beads

Just as a necklace with a pendant, the mangalsutra (mangal meaning auspicious and sutra meaning thread) may also come with a pendant. Differing from an ordinary pendant, the mangalsutra’s pendant has certain significance. The pendant might be a peacock design or any other design and is an important component of the mangalsutra. The peacock pendant especially symbolizes the love a wife has for her husband.

The string of black beads is considered to keep away evil from the lives of the wedded couple. The main belief is that when a mangalsutra is worn by the bride, the husband is protected from dangers and mishaps.

Types

Gold pendant mangalsutras are considered to be superior than others owing to the fact that gold as a metal symbolizes prosperity and is believed to increase energy levels in the body. People who cannot afford gold, may have mangalsutras having silver pendants.

Several South Indians will also wear mangalsutras that are usually yellow cotton threads with gold pendant(s). Several North Indians also wear mangalsutras made of plastic thread. The mangalsutra’s type and form differs according to different regions, caste subdivisions and also depends on the amount a couple/the family can afford to spend for the mangalsutra.

Apart from the black bead mangalsutra and the yellow thread one, there is also the full gold mangalsutra.

No matter what the type, the importance of the mangalsutra is same for all married women who wear it. The mangalsutra is the equivalent of the wedding ring in the western world. Some women do not open it even for a second, while there are others who may open it while sleeping at night. All married women wearing the mangalsutra revere it as a holy object that wards off all evils from her married life.

Do you women think that the mangalsutra should be made compulsory for married women? Tell us what you feel.

Say NO to Dowry Demands

All the young girls out there, if your marriage is near, keep your eyes and ears open for any talks/demands of dowry from your would-be in-laws. Remember that expensive gifts like cars, refrigerators, furniture, etc. given by your parents to your in-laws may be seen as dowry, regardless of the fact that your in-laws demanded it or not.

Be strong enough to stop your parents from offering any expensive gift, an apartment/house, property, gold, etc. to your in-laws. If there is any demand for dowry from your in-laws, raise a voice against it. Also report to the police; these people need to be taught a lesson. You definitely do not want to move into a family of rich beggars who see your family as a source of income.

Parents having daughters often think that giving dowry will ensure the well-being of their daughters, but that is a myth. This way the parents only end up making their daughters’ lives miserable, as the in-laws see their daughter’s family as a means of income and keep demanding gift items, gold and money at regular intervals. A time comes when the girl’s family is no longer able to pay for the gifts, and then starts the physical assault of the daughter-in-law. According to a Hindustan Times report, 8391 deaths for dowry were reported all over India in 2010.

Young women of India should understand that giving dowry cannot stop crimes from happening; on the contrary, it will give rise to a plethora of social evils, like female foeticide, denial of education for the girl child, dowry deaths, and many other wrongs towards women. Women should have the courage to take a stand against the dowry system. Once the giving ends, the taking will also have to end. Marry a man who does not depend on his wife’s riches for living; marry the one who is interested in you and not on your family’s wealth.


Did you or your family face a dowry demand? How did you cope with it? Share with us.

‘Money Talk’ is Important Before Marriage

Most couples do not wish to talk about money matters before tying the knot; they do not see the importance of this dreaded talk. Research shows that money is the primary reason for broken marriages and also one of the most important reasons for quarrels between couples.

It is important to be clear on monetary issues before marriage, so that fights later on can be avoided. To start off, the couple should know about each other’s exact assets and debts before marriage. It is also important to know the income of each other (before and after tax deduction); both partners must know how much money is going to come in the household after marriage. Though it may seem difficult, it is important to talk on these lines. If the debts of your future partner are far more than what you can handle, you can gauge where this relationship will lead you, and can prepare for it or back out from the relationship.

In case one of the partners is a spendthrift while the other is a miserly saver, there might be issues in the marriage later on, if there are no open talks and discussions between the couple. It must be noted that while it is good to save, it also does not harm to indulge and spend for life’s little pleasures sometimes; this helps to keep the charm alive in a marriage.

For all money matters, like loans and investments, it is advisable to seek professional help. Both partners can visit a professional and get advice on investing and taking loans intelligently.

It is important to remember that post-marriage, there is no ‘my money and your money’, it is always ‘our money’. Even if you earn more than your spouse, the money that comes into the family every month should be distributed equally for payment of bills and other purposes.

Couples can come up with plans on how to manage money for the different expenditures in the house. They can demarcate a budget at the beginning of every month and try to stick to that.

Remember, managing money and expenses is a joint venture and couples should be able to talk on this without hesitation. The more the transparency, the better the relationship will be.


Do you discuss money often with your partner? Let us know your experience of the dreaded 'money talk'.

Make Your First Wedding Night Memorable

When the wedding date is fixed, brides and grooms start having a ticklish feeling about the wedding night. Several individuals have several whims and fancies, and everyone hopes to make that special night, a night to remember for a lifetime.

Dress for the night

It is important to dress up in a manner so as to entice your husband/wife on that special night. It will be fun if women can get dressed in sheer satin or lacy nightwear and men can be in well fitted boxers.

Talk a lot

With the wedding party just over, and all the talking with friends and family, you both did not get much time to catch up with each other. Now is the time to talk about how the wedding and the party went, how happy you are to be married at last, and how much you love your partner. There’s a lot of time to jump into bed; it’s better to talk and set the mood, rather than just hop into bed with your partner.

Room décor

Make sure that the bedroom has a good fragrance and is decorated with flowers, or floating candles. The bed sheet and the pillows can also have some fragrance. A sweet smelling room will stimulate your memories and emotions.

Music

Music is an essential element of romanticism. Play some music, which is the favourite of both your partner and you. Romantic numbers will make the special night appear even more romantic.

Games

Many couples will find it interesting to play some romantic games. Individuals can ask their partners to pick from chits, in which they have to sing for their partner, dance or say a poem for their partner. Many couples can also give each other a shoulder rub, foot massage, or a sensual full body massage. Work your brain and think about many other sensual games that will make the night memorable.

Gift

Give something romantic to your sweetheart. A love letter accompanied with the gift will be all the more better.

Celebrate love

There may be several pressures for the virgin who may be full of questions and doubts. There might also be stress on individuals who are not virgins to make the wedding night be of heightened experience. Do not think much and get rid of the stress. On your wedding night, just concentrate on your partner and celebrate love.

What is your idea of a perfect wedding night? Share your views with us

Mistakes That Newly Weds Must Avoid

Well, your wedding day is now over, and the party was so much fun and went just as you had planned. What now? Newlyweds now have a big path to travel ahead together.

Handy tips to go right all the way

• It is best to accept your life partner as he/she is. If you have not liked a trait or manner of your partner before marriage, do not expect he/she to change after marriage; learn to live with it. We all have our imperfections. Trying to change your partner forcibly will result in damaging your marriage or you will end up distancing yourself from your partner.
• The first fight often follows soon after the wedding. Try to remain as logical and calm as you can in a heated argument. Shouting and yelling never helps. If you feel the urge to be violent very strongly, consult a therapist.

• It is your responsibility to start off on the right foot with your in laws. Make the extra effort, even if the in-laws are not very friendly people. Remember when you are into a hostile relationship with your in-laws, it is your partner who is caught up in the middle and suffers the most. You definitely do not want the person you love to be hurt.
• Never be jealous on your partner’s friends from the opposite sex. Remember your partner has chosen you above all of them, so if you are not trusting him/her, you are ruining your relationship. Never compare your partner with any friend of yours who belongs to the same sex as that of your partner.
• Spend more time with your life partner. Friends are important, but you have to realize that late night parties and hanging out with friends at clubs till late hours is not the right thing to do for married people. You have someone waiting and worrying for you at home, so act mature. Care for your partner’s feelings.
• Do not rush into having a child. There has to be a proper planning before you make any such important decision.

Do you have some other tips to share from your experience? Share them here.

A festive Offer to Let You find a Partner For Your Heart Faster

VivahaBandhan, India’s favourite matrimonial service provider has once again brought for you an offer that is simply irresistible. For the ones who are looking for a life partner, the festive season may make you long for a soul mate to share your happiness with, so here’s VivahaBandhan.com with its OFFER.

The paid membership/subscription rates have been slashed down only for you. 

-  Pay Rs. 1700 and get upgraded to the Gold Plus membership plan for FREE

- Pay Rs. 2500 and get upgraded to the Diamond Plus membership plan for FREE

-  Pay Rs. 4500 and get upgraded to the Platinum Plus membership plan for FREE

Note that originally the rate for Gold Plus membership was Rs. 2490 for a period of 3 months; the rate for Diamond Plus membership was Rs. 3490 for a period of 6 months; and the rate for Platinum Plus membership was Rs. 5490 for a period of 12 months. This means that you are getting a Gold Plus membership, Diamond Plus membership, or a Platinum Plus membership and all of the added features at the lowest possible prices.

This is your best bet at getting the maximum responses from suitable matches, and personally contacting the best matches without having to wait. You can get so many added benefits like initiating chat with matches, sending them personalized messages, knowing them better by calling them, etc. If you are becoming a paid member with VivahaBandhan now by availing this offer, you can find your match much sooner than you expect. In all probability, you might have your life partner by your side the next festive season.

Hunt is on for the Perfect Match Through Matrimonial Sites

The hype around matrimonial service providers in India keeps increasing everyday; thanks to the demands of the marriage market in the country. Previously the notion among the masses was that matrimonial sites exist only for the ones who cannot get a bride, groom to marry, but the truth is different. People register with the online matrimony websites in India only to get a partner who best matches their preferences.

When you register with an online matrimony service, the platform gives you the opportunity to choose from a plethora of options and make the right selection. The range of options is limited when you start searching for a life partner through relatives and acquaintances. Besides, when you are searching for your partner online, you do not require divulging all your personal details; you may search actively without disclosing your real name, phone number and contact details. Therefore, your friends and relatives cannot find out that you are seeking a partner, if you prefer things to be that way.

Online matrimonial service providers make you fill up simple forms while registering; you must cooperate at this time. The information you provide will be used later for finding you your most suitable match so that you can proceed further. So spare some time to fill up the forms even if you hate to do so; it will reap the rewards for you later. Some matrimonial websites make the process of registering smooth and easy for users, so that the process completes faster and the users can start the search for a life partner sooner. It is recommended that the users upload their photos when they register, as this increases their chances of getting more responses from other profiles. However, if you are uncomfortable with having a profile picture, you can carry on your search without it, but in that case the number of responses might not be too impressive.

So, if you want to get married, start creating profiles on matrimony websites today. Narrow your search by preferring brides/grooms from specific communities, age groups, nationalities, and other categories. You will be amazed at how fast you can reach the “one” partner you had been looking for. Good luck on that!