Lohitha+Karthikeya – A match made in heaven

Do you know those couples whom we look at, and we instantly think “I want what they have!”? Well, for us Lohitha And Karthikeya were exactly that!

11 years of being by each other’s side have finally turned into their forever for this beautiful couple.

The beginning of their forever- their wedding was everything! From being filled with fun, laughter, tears to some of the biggest names in the Telugu industry gracing the event with their presence- the wedding was magnificent! Here we bring you an end-to-end recap of all the things that happened!

The Outfits

Engagement

WE LOVE THE CONTRAST! In the age of matching or complementary outfits- the couple decided to choose the less travelled path and it sure worked!

Lohitha’s ghagra with intricately detailed work, the monotoning of the blouse, dhupatta and skirt paired with bold diamond jewellery gave the entire look a classy, clean and grand feel. The bold make-up look by Sohini (@sohtouchmakeupartistry) was the missing piece for this awe-inspiring look!

What absolutely killed Karthikeya’s look is the small butta embroidery with a touch of pink on the raw silk sherwani. We love the addition of the bold necklace that makes him look like the king he is!

For her second engagement outfit, Lohitha dorns an elegant pink and green Kanjeevaram sare with uncut diamond, ruby and emerald jewellery set. Her style that is so effortlessly elegant is definitely an inspiration for us!

The Mehendi

Simplicity redefined. We see a pattern of Lohitha looking like a queen in pink!

Also, special mention to the statement earrings and maang tikka which scream “Queen!”

The Sangeeth

Bold make-up looks have never looked better! Sohini’s magic hands did wonders on Lohitha’s pretty face and we are obsessed! The shimmer filled lehenga from Origins, Hyderabad screams party and the couple’s Sangeeth was exactly that. It was filled with lots of dance, peppy music, games, kisses and hugs!

Karthikeya wore a sequined royal blue sherwani- again a complete contrast from Lohitha’s outfit- but definitely a welcome contrast.

The Wedding

The bride and groom dressed in Shravan Kummar looked perfect- a couple destined to be together.

Shimmering like a diamond in this luxurious saree, Lohitha personifies a authentic Telugu bride. The fall and the glow on the tissue saree look absoluetely stunning with the heavy embroidered blouse and border.

Dazzling in off-white embossed with gold embroidery Karthikeya looks incredible! We especially love the brooche on the his pagda and elevates the already royal look!

The Vratham

Like we already mentioned, Lohitha’s pattern of looking gorgeous in bright colours continues to her vratham look. This classic combination of pink and purple with heavy embossed work has Lohitha glowing her the last big event!

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Now, remeber how we mentioned that the event was star-studded? We weren’t kidding!
One such big name was Chiranjeevi. A small anecdote that Karthikeya shared was how he told his father when he was a child, that he’d become an actor and Chiranjeevi would attend his wedding, and here is, in the present with blessings from Chiranjeevi on his big day! If this is not a true example of dreams coming true, we do not know what is!

The smile on Karthikeya’s face says it all.

So there you have it guys, a complete rundown of Lohitha’s and Karthikeya’s big fat Telugu wedding!

5 Addigai designs to bring back the Vintage love!!

 

Indian Jewellery is a lot more than just ornamental value. It is a strong representation of culture and a royal reflection to the ancient history.
Every piece of  jewellery is made with skilled craftsmanship and came so sturdy that they have been passed down Generation after Generation to their heirlooms.One such design is the Addiga/ Addiagai. It is very possible that a family would have at least one ancient Addiga as their ancestral memory. Such is the love.

Here are 5 such Addiga designs to make you Nostalgic and makes your heart Crave them all

The Diamond Addiga
This Addiga is the master design which hasn’t altered across generations. This jewel is made by Navrathan Jewellers with the best quality diamonds and using the ancient closed setting technique. If you are an antique lover, we would definitely suggest you to pick this over all the heavy Diamond chokers available in the market today.

The Diamond Addige from Navrathan Jewellers

The Naanthadu Addiga
A huge shout out to Vasundhara Diamond roof to make an effort to revive this long lost design. The craftsmanship is clearly reflected in this delicate piece. The neckline is made using a technique called Kolusu or alternately called Naantadu. However the beauty lies in the bird pendants on the either side and the majestic ruby pendant in the centre.

Addige from Vasundhara Diamond roof

The Kempu Addiga
This is a neck piece loved by all. Back in time, women mostly preferred Rubies over emeralds so that it would match to the contrasting red and pink borders of their Kanchipuram sarees and hence this Kemp Addiga had been an Unanimous choice for women across generations. We have found this design from the antique section of Kojewellery who make gold coated silver jewellery. This design is so perfect and if you want to grad a design, this is just perfect for you being priced at less than 20,000.

Kempu Addige from KoJewellery

The Gajje Addiga
This is a beautiful fusion of 2 most renowed jewellery making technique. Combining the Gajje(Gold balls weaved into a Neckline) to the Close setting pendant of Addiga seems an expiremental move , but its so perfect that its a match made in heaven.

The Gajje Addiga

The Three step Addiga.Another stunning 3 step Addiga with Naantadu running through the neckline. The pendants have been extensively crafted out of diamonds, rubies and emeralds using the Close setting technique. Perfect pick for Youngsters who who want newer designs of Addiga.

3 Piece Diamond Addiga

Make sure you have these amazing Legacy jewels!! ft. Surya-Chandra Prabha

A South-Indian Bride’s jewelry consists of so many elements that you could easily get lost just trying to count them. From generations together the legacy had been carried forward by all the new age Brides. However, most of the Jewelry underwent updates and upgrades according to fashion and needs of the Bride. A simple, modest Kanti was replaced by heavy Bridal Daimond  Chokers, Traditional Vanki has been replaced by Baajubandh to enhance the royalty of the bride.

The antque Talai-saman

However, there are few jewels, which almost went out of sight during the whole evolution. As they say ‘Surivival of the fittest’, these precious jewels are now hardly worn by any brides. The most important on top of this list is the majestic Surya Chandra Billa. I still have memories from my childhood when my mom use to pin these on either side of my pig tails (even when my hair could hardly hold up to a braid). Such was the importance given to them. My lil’ set of Surya Chandra was carefully preserved and used for my wedding last year. A precious gift to from my Late Grandpa to my mom when she was just 9. I was happy that I carried on the legacy.

Wearing Surya and Chandra Prabha for my wedding

Surya Chandra, as our ancestors see them, are very mystic and very powerful. In earlier days, they hardly allowed any girl with just wearing Maang Tika. Also a surprising fact is that in olden days, when they start purchasing jewelry for the girl child, since they din’t have a lot of money, they use to buy one piece at a time every year starting with Surya Prabha and Chandra Prabha and then Maang Tika.

Baby designs of Surya-Chandra billa

While they may not be a common sight in weddings now, their place in Indian Classical dance forms can never be overtaken. Usually called as the the Talai-Saman, we cannot think of any classical dance without this pair. As discussed above, there are considered very powerful and are supposed to invoke blessings to the performer.The Surya Praba is always on the right and Chandra -Prabha placed on the left, seven inches above the hairline on either side of the parting.

Baby designs of Surya-Chandra billa

A bride wearing Surya Prabha

All, this said, we would really want to encourage all the Brides to bring back the long lost jewels and to proudly present our legacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple Portrait on your Wedding Kanjivaram is now possible!! Find out how!!

I am always lost on words when I have to think/pen down about Kanjivarams. Divinity is the only synonym I can come up with and that’s the only word which justifies it right. However, sometimes it feels like Kanjivaram Sarees are the most underrated clothing in this world, but that’s only until you explore the weaves with love and respect. Once you have done that we are sure you would develop an unconditional devotion towards those eternal Hand looms.

A Checkered Gold zari Kanchivaram from Kanchi Kamakshi

Bridesessentials’s quest for authentic Kanjivarams had been an never ending process. We try to bring out the hidden gems who deal with Kanjivaram sarees online and one such recent feather in the hat is Kanchi Kamakshi. While the name says it all, it has an interesting story on how we discovered these amazing guys.

Authentic Kolam/Muggu Design Kanjivaram

Recently we came across a upload on social media which actually had a portrait of the bride and the groom on the Pallu of the Saree. Till date, we have only heard of The Bride and Groom’s name on the Pallu as the only customizations possible for a Kanchipuram saree, but having a couple’s portrait was something we felt was out of the world. We also nicknamed it as the “Baap of customizations”. Pretty true to the name, the customization is made of the highest of the quality zari available in the market today. You’ve got to see the reference to admit it.

Reference image of pallu ft.Ram Charam and Upasana

These Kanjivaram sarees are available on pre order and you could always reach out to them on Facebook or DM them on Instagram too. Not only do they specialize in these wedding Kanjivarams, they are a pioneer in stocking up some beautiful authentic and vintage Kanjivarams directly from weavers from the silk city. Checkered flares,Raising temple borders, Kora silks or Kaddi borders. Name it and they have it. As a Personal note,Trust me guys, as a wedding blogger I myself couldn’t resist buying a couple of Kanjivarams from my wedding from their flag ship store in Hyderabad. Prices were competitive for their amazing designs and quality.

A Regal Ink Blue Kanjivaram

A Majestic Rising Border Kanjivaram

Not just Kanjivarams, you could also shop for Pochampally Ikkats, Designer party wear and some Authentic weaves from Benaras. We are sure they are not going to let you down in any way. So before we sign off today, make sure you give a Thumbsup on their Facebook page  Kanchi Kamakshi and also don’t forget to follow them on Insta from some drool worthy pictures.

Beautiful Korvai saree with Anna Pakshi motifs

The Tradition of Mangalam Snanam.

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The bride and the groom are required to take an mangala snanam using Turmeric and pure oil.  It has scientific reason too, i.e. turmeric is to purify skin as it acts as healing of acne due to its antiseptic & antibacterial properties and to give a youthful radiance to brides skin, and turmeric face mask cleans scars & skin burning sensation, decrease the oil oozing by the sebaceous glands of skin.
Here bride or groom should not use any other soaps or beauty facials.

During this function , all the relatives and the well wishers of the families gather at the bride and groom’s respective houses and smudge them with turmeric paste. This is the starting of the ceremony.
They are given a new set of clothes to wear . After this ceremony the bride is not allowed to go out of the town until the marriage ceremony is finished.

Kaathyayini Maggam Work Blouses

The venue is  decorated  with the attractive designs  floral designs . A peacock shaped décor , so colourful snanam ready!

Designer Jalleda, Designer buckets, coloured water and Fresh flower petals for the groom.

If you are getting married and would like to enjoy your Mangala Snanam , this lovely decor and these  accessories are by Ethics Events. They will help you with lovely and everlasting experience.

Events with efficient output & effective cost. With Ethics Events, they believe in “Enriching Events to Perfection”.
To get services from Ethic Events –
Call 081215 96595 , you can email them – info@ethicsevents.com .
Also you can check their facebook page” EthicsEvents ” for their  amazing work.

Ms Pink Panther

Trend Alert- Oxidised Silver Jewellery .

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Oxidised jewellery is trending and enthusiastically embraced by all age groups. The fun thing about it is you can team it with any outfit and with any kind of look — be it a trendy or a traditional one.

The trend has so much to offer in terms of variety, colour and design.Oxidised jewellery is in vogue again as a classy option with all its charm and fine craftsmanship
A gleaming beauty of black silver is often equated to that of moon’s glowing spark. And the fact that oxidised silver tends to harmonise with any skin tone thereby enhancing the look of the wearer. No wonder it’s back in the vogue as a favorite among jewellery-lovers.

A growing popularity of oxidised silver jewellery has resulted in innovative designs. The designer collection of rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and so forth are infinite!

Oxidised jewellery is the hottest trend now and they can be paired with anarkalis, sarees, other indian ethnic wear to completed your look.Oxidised jewellery is the hottest trend now and they can be paired with anarkalis, sarees, other indian ethnic wear to completed your look.

Showcasing a vast collection of oxidised silver jewellery to add beauty to your jewellery boxes. The collection embrace all designs and patterns of your desire.

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To stand out and shine  with these  lovely pieces of  Ms pink Panther, expressing yourself by choosing a unique piece for all the occasions, as you deserve the best one. These beautiful stones are skill fully set into exclusive designs to create flawless pieces of jewellery. One-of-a-kind pieces, they leave no stone unturned in finding the best.
Check their Facebook page Ms Pink Panther , for enquiries you can get in touch with them on +919585595689 .

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Mix and Match with Raw Silk Bangles.

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We all agree that bridal bangles are an essential part of every bridal ensemble. They don’t just complete the whole bridal look, they are an integral tradition. With the summer wedding season around  with the bright outfits and vibrant décor  why not go vibrant with your jewellery too!

Bridal bangles come in different shapes, sizes, colours, patterns and materials, just the way you want them to be. You get a gazillion options to choose from when you actually set out to purchase your wedding set.

Client flaunting her bangles

Silk thread bangles are not a very common  and  are very beautiful. The most attractive part is that they can be customised in colours of your choice, design and most important the budget.
Neons, fuscias, peaches and the blues mix and blend to give a cocktail of your choice for the right oomph factor. This can dfinately make an amazing fashion statement.

Ms Pink Panther

Head out to their page “Raw silk Bangles” and give a thumps up to follow all her new creations. You can directly get in touch and place order via whatsapp too on +91 90596 50205 .With no less that 5 rating for all her orders, she would be perfect designer for all your Bangles and jewellery needs.

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A Personal Touch To Your Trousseau And Wedding Favors.

Now, you are all done with your wedding shopping, all your gifts are ready, and you have the best of the things in your trousseau. But, trust me until you wrap those up in gorgeous packing and lovely wrappings it’s incomplete. Really!

Gift wrapping is equally important as the gift. The term ‘Trousseau Packing’ is very much in vogue at every Indian wedding. Nowadays, the trousseau is done in a very classy way to go well with the theme and color scheme of the wedding. One can choose a blend of indo-western style, a platter of trousseau packing in different sizes, colors, and patterns adorned with flowers, brooches and pretty other things. It has a deep traditional roots, both sentimental and prudent ones. Not only fun to look at, but gives you a feeling of it being a superlative gift to yourself.

 

 

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It surely makes a difference, when the gifts of bride or groom are presented in a striking way. However, this can be very time consuming, it requires a lot of effort and patience.

Ms Pink Panther

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Sai Kalyaan Creations helps you in customizing all your trousseau needs, right from the engagement ring platter to aarathi plates, trousseau packing, wedding accessories, plate decoration, return gifts and what not!
Avail the services of Sai Kalyaan  Creations and the best part is they do international shipping too for all their beloved customers and they have an absolute gem of a service.  Order your handy works of cuteness from Sai Kalyaan Creations here. Also you can directly call or whatsapp on 9841695164.
What are you waiting for??! Reach out to them for all your trousseau requirements, and present the perfect gift for all your guests!!!

The Bridal shopping spree at the Iconic Charminar

Around 2 weeks ago my FB feed was filled up with similar posts and it was all about one thing. #Hyderabad. The best Indian city to live in.

Of course yes, owe to the age old heritage and the vibrant lifestyle and not to miss the amazing night life, this city is undoubtedly the first choice for anyone buzzing with energy and enthusiasm.

Well if you are wondering of why this lady is speaking all about Hyderabad today, it’s a humble attempt of mine to portray Hyderabad from a Bride’s perspective. I know you are all getting excited now, yes all about wedding shopping In Hyderabad and what better place to start with other than Charminar.

The city of pearls as we call it, all you need is to got to Charminar to find the best of them. Let me share my experience of shopping at Charminar as it was always on my bucket list of wedding shopping.

Always start with shopping pearls. There are many shops at the entrance of Charminar, few as old as a century and most of them have bright banners claiming special offers and discounted prices of upto 50%. But hey, don’t fall for it right away, go to a couple of them, most of the stores almost stock the same variety and at similar pricing.

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If you are really at sea and if you have the fear of being cheated, There is always Mangatrai jewellers at the corner road of Charminar and this place has been a heritage name not just for the pearls , but for the Jewellery too. I purchased my pearls from a lil’ store called Modi pearls as it was referred by my family friend. They do have some amazing collection and I found the perfect pearl string in the exact shade and color I wanted. This was for my fiancé, as I thought pearls would be great for his engagement outfit. Later I also picked up a knitted 4 line pearl string, which I thought would be great on my trousseau sarees. And now the billing part and trust me it’s a little funny over here. As much as the shopkeepers claim the quality of the pearls you can always bargain it to the exact half price of it (that’s with the normal stores) and yes I closed the deal to the exact half price completing my purchase under less than 5K.

Later we went straight to Laad Bazar which is exactly on the right lane of Charminar. This place is pure heaven. The bangle stores have all sparkle in the world. Not to miss the light scheme and the mirror shelves they place these bangles for display. It truly brings out the nawabi style and I could listen to the Qhawali style alaap which A.r Rahman sang in the song Kannanule from the movie Bombay. Charminar feels *wink* *wink*.

So, I did peep into many strores looking for interesting nick knacks which could be used for the wedding and I found one in one such stores. The Jhoomar or the paasa, I know that it is not our tradition to wear it but hey am I not a Hyderabadi since childhood? So why not?

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I found a similar piece in many other stores, but I found the finishing and the color combination of this perfect. So I picked it up and I thought to use it for my Mehendi ceremony. The best part here is you can even customise the color options in case you want to and they would happily do it under 10 mins with no extra charge. I followed the same half price rule for this too and I succeeded!!

For the bangles I just walked into the immediate next store while my Jhoomar was being customised. These guys have a whole lot of an options and you don’t have to struggle choosing your bangles. Just show the picture of the saree and your bangle size, they set them to perfection. You even get silk thread bangles over here (of course not the zardosi ones) and the prices for bangles would start as cheap 10 a dozen to 400 per bangles(if they are lac bangles). Also you can pick up bangles in bundles if needed. A bundle usually comes in 24 dozens and they are much cheaper and it is undoubtedly a great option for gifting purposes or in case you are planning to have a live counter at your sangeet. Don’t forget to give the guy a lil’ tip (usually they call it the ‘katnam’) in case you are there for your wedding bangles.

Also you can get your wedding bangles with your names. They would happily take the order and it may cost you under 1k. But don’t forget to ask for some sample pieces of how they would look like before you order.

Charminar is also pretty famous for maggam works, and the prices there are very reasonable as compared to what you pay at a boutique. You get all the trending designs and they are stitched to perfection. You can definitely try these in case you stay somewhere near to charminar. Even if not, they have a home delivery option.

Additionally you have some very good fabric stores and lace stores. You can pick up materials for arts and crafts or in case you want to design few dresses for yourself.

You have many stores which sell some pretty heavy lehenagas. Stone work, cut work crystal work, you name it and they have a lehanga or a saree in every single style. I being a south-indian and who religiously wear Kanchivarams for any occasion, I could not choose those iconic zardosis and crystal works, but I would definitely recommend if you like all the bling.

Kaathyayini Maggam Work Blouses

Sounds fantastic right? Definitely!! But don’t forget to wind up your shopping spree with the famous Irani chai and Osmania biscuits. May be you can even try those lip-smacking  pani puri and samosa too!!

Finally here are our hacks/tips to survive Charminar shopping.

• Carry some liquid cash to purchase your nick knacks. Most of the store don’t have a swiping machines , so better go prepared.

• Carry a water bottle. Yes, the heat and your shopping may drain you out and hence keep yourself hydrated,

• Bargain to half the price. Always,

• Ask for certificate in case you are buying some precious jewellery.

• Go early. One day is not definitely enough to explore Charminar.

Stay tuned to Brides essentials for some more Wedding shopping Sprees from across the country.

Beauty Of The Lights with Ethics Events.

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One of the most overlooked décor elements when planning a wedding is lighting. Wedding lighting can completely transform your venue from ordinary to spectacular and make everything look even more beautiful on your big day.  Playing with lights is something that can be done for evening weddings. Pretty outdoor or indoor lighting ideas that will make any reception stand out. Here are some amazing evening super glam wedding light ideas !

A great grand entrance that makes and impact on the guests with pictures of bride and the groom, just like the red carpet entry.

Lighting can have a very powerful impact on the overall look and feel of your event space as well as the mood of the guests.

 

Kaathyayini Maggam Work Blouses

A cost effective way to completely transform the look and feel of your venue and create a very festive atmosphere .

The perfect wedding lighting not only enhances the look of the venue, it also highlights the important elements of your décor, like the centre pieces, or makes certain areas of the room more appealing, like the head table.

So , why not make your weddings memorable with efficient output & effective cost. With Ethics Events, they believe in “Enriching Events to Perfection”.
To get services from Ethic Events –
Call 081215 96595 , you can email them – info@ethicsevents.com .
Also you can check their facebook page” EthicsEvents ” for their  amazing work.

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