How's the wedding planning going?

Hi Blog Buddies

Things are getting real! My Invites are printed, bridal shower planning is underway and I have more lists than Santa during Christmas.  It is crunch time!

With sixty days to go, my fiancé and I are trying to reduce the amount of things we have to do during the week of our wedding. We have developed a rule: if we think about something that needs to be done and it can be done at that time, we do it! This rule has ensured that menial, but necessary tasks get done. Our DIY centerpieces are prepared and ready, our guest list is finalised (will it ever be!) and table seating layouts have begun. (If you get an invite, RSVP. First 100 guests get a cushioned seat …ok first, 200!)

My family home is currently a shambles. In the Indian culture it is part of our rituals to do home improvements sixty days before the wedding.  It is part of the cleansing process. Out with the old, in with the new!

I just made that up!

The truth is that, Indian mothers use the approaching wedding as a tool to get Indian fathers off their butts. It works! A home may not have been renovated for thirty years but once the wedding starts approaching, it is like that TV show in which they do a complete home renovation in 24 hours. I may not have a TV to watch or a bed to sleep on, but things are happening pretty fast at my house.  

I call it wedding excitement. The kind of excitement were the women get so excited that we buy seven different outfits each with a matching pair of shoes, and the men get fooled into spending their money because the women are at their happiest. My fiancé bought me an elaborate headpiece, because I said it was the prettiest from the lot. I was not looking for a headpiece; neither was I planning to wear one. However, it was shown to me while I was doing my final dress fitting. I was so mesmerized by my dress that I would have possibly said yes to anything. On that day, I realised that it is important for me to keep my emotions in check during this wedding process. However, I can cry all I want at the wedding! Let it all out…

Many people have asked how I feel.  I feel elated, on most days. On other days I think about what I would do, if my veil got caught on the aisle carpet and ripped off, off my head while I was walking down the aisle. Almost every second person I meet asks ‘how’s the wedding planning going?’  My standard answer is ‘it’s going well”. My more elaborate answer is, wedding plans and preparations are on track. My fiancé and I are finalising wedding equipment and colours. We are also scheduling final meetings with our suppliers:

·         Décor                                                                  Xclusive events                                                

·         Hair & Make-up                                                Kiss and Make-Up                          

·         Videography and Photography                      The Shank Tank                               

·         Venue                                                                 Meander Manor                             

·         Photo booth                                                      Pixel                                                     

·         Sound and Lighting                                          Disco Odessey

I have started to draw a time-line for the day of wedding. It is to ensure that all suppliers and family members are aware of the plan for the day and prepare themselves according. Time will wait for no man or wife! Things NEED to run smoothly. I have made peace with the fact that somethings are out of my control. People will be late, a few curls may come loose and my veil may fly away, however, I will still aim for perfection and the party will go on!

With love, Soon to be wife!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Adventures

This post is a little late. For some reason I struggled to complete it. This is probably because I have not done any serious wedding duties recently.

The major responsibilities have been finalised. The venue, food, entertainment and wedding attire are secured. There are still many minor responsibilities that require my attention. Accordingly to the wedding checklists, I should have the following in order:  

Seven to Six Months Before (Yes, I have six months before the big day)
1.         Select and purchase invitations.	Done, they are in the design process currently.
2.        Start planning a honeymoon.	Done!
3.        Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses.	Done, we just need our designer to work her magic.
4.       Decide on groomsmen attire.	Done, shopping for men is surprisingly easy.
5.       Meet with the officiant.	I have, many times, weekly actually.
6.       Send save-the-date cards.	The invite will suffice.
7.       Reserve structural and electrical necessities.	Working on it…
8.       Book a florist.	Working on it…
9.       Arrange transportation.	Each man for themselves.
10.     Start composing a day-of timeline.	I can, but I’m Indian. Indian folks do not know how to stick to timelines.  #IndianTime  #NotAtMyWedding  #BeThereEarly

 

My duties are by no means restricted to this list. I am currently on the look-out for an ideal wedding cake.  I want a three tier cake that tastes like something from Woolworths and looks like something from Buddy Valstro’s kitchen. Initially, I wanted a ‘naked’ wedding cake, in keeping with the modern rustic theme. Naked cakes are sponge cakes with minimal or no cream/icing. They are decorated with fresh fruit or flowers. No fondant or marzipan is used. I like naked cakes for this reason. However, fondant covered cakes have an elegant, polished look with the option of adding handcrafted embellishments and decorative patterns, while still being able to enjoy the sponge on the inside. Attention to details and perfection are close to my heart. Based on this you will probably find a fondant covered cake at my wedding. I have just learnt that the price tags on the above beauties are shocking, so do not be surprised if there is no cake at all at my wedding.

Selecting garden and reception hall décor is another task waiting to be struck off my list. We are meeting with a supplier soon and our aim is to achieve an elegant, modern rustic look, incorporating shades of coral, gold and white. I am excited about reviewing the possible décor ideas and choosing the most appropriate pieces for the final look. Our DIY centerpieces have earned the right to appear on the tables. They look good and are fitting with the theme. They just need a few candles and flowers as a final touch. I am a strong believer of ‘less is more’ even when it comes to price tags.

Over the last few months, I have been constantly reminded about how weddings have evolved since our parents were married. My father believes that I can successfully plan a wedding for more than 200 guests for half the price that I am currently paying for 200 guests. He is not entirely incorrect, which he loves to hear. However, previously wedding celebrations consisted of food for the entire neighbourhood and a venue that could fit the entire neighbourhood. Budgets are now blown on boutique venues, extravagant décor, sky-high wedding cakes, fancy photo booths, drone photography, celebrity emcees, pyrotechnics and many more. Business owners and wedding suppliers know that bridal couples are weak when it comes to planning their ‘fairytale’ wedding. They thrive on the fact that weddings are a one-time only event and create the belief that spending copious amounts of money is justifiable, as a result. It is an ironic situation as business owners and wedding suppliers claim to make your planning easier, however your wallet becomes incredibly lighter, which makes your life burdens heavier.

To prevent a hole from forming in my wallet, I have established a step-by-step plan to overcome persuasive wedding salesman:

1.       Thoroughly research and formulate a clear idea of what you want.

2.       Decide on the maximum amount you will pay for a specific item or service.

3.       If you find something you like, compare it with other suppliers or similar items.

4.       Select the best three from the lot. Choose one that best suits your criteria.

5.       If the chosen item or service is above your budget and you are not willing to compromise, the budget WILL HAVE TO BE REDUCED on other items or services that are less significant. (Be Strong!)

Planning a budget for a wedding is no child’s play. It requires good commutation, dedication and sacrifice. Similar qualities are required for marriage.

Love

The Bride-to-be

Bridal gowns & Bridesmaids dresses

Hello Blog Buddies 😊

Yesterday marked nine months to my wedding. Time is flying by and so is my money!

I am currently on the hunt for the perfect wedding dress. My initial idea of a perfect wedding dress was a puffy, glittery, princess ball gown. I blame Cinderella and her friends for this, as I have spent many years (as a kid) watching animated princesses flaunt their perfectly tailored ball gowns. As a little girl, the gowns were so extravagant I could only imagine wearing them to my own wedding. I had been brainwashed since then and it was difficult to shake off the notion.

I started shopping for wedding dresses a few months ago. At the bridal stores I would go straight to the ball gowns. They looked gorgeous however I quickly learned that they were not a true reflection of my style.  A wedding dress must reflect personal style and pay attribute to the brides personality. It must complement the bride in as many ways as possible. It should reflect a timeless beauty as it is a one-time only garment.

After visits to several bridal stores I have a good idea of what I like and what is characteristic of my style and personality. I have familiarised myself with the variety of styles available, I learned about the fabrics I like and what complements my style. I have come to the conclusion that I like a mermaid style dress with straps of some kind as I lack the necessary fatty tissue in the required area for a strapless dress. I like detailed bead work on the dress with a touch of crystals. There is an ongoing debate about an ivory or white dress, but I will let that be a surprise.

The design process for the bridesmaids’ dresses is also underway. We have decided to get the dresses custom-made in order to get the perfect fit and design. Furthermore it allows us to display some of our own creativity in terms of dress design and fabric choices. Our first shopping trip was a successful one; we found an embroidered lace fabric with rhinestones. We all loved the fabric at first glance and decided that it will be used for the bodice of the dress. It is a pale shade of gold with darker rhinestones. We were going to pair the bodice with a coral bottom; however this may change in order to achieve a more elegant look. We have a talented dressmaker/designer, who we are working with to ensure our designs are practical and budget friendly. The design we have chosen is a full length, A-line/princess cut dress with an illusion neckline (see picture below). It is basically a fitted bodice that narrows at the waist with a flowy long length bottom.

The groom and groomsmen’s attire is less complicated. The groomsmen’s suits will be a shade of taupe with white shirts, tan shoes and a matching belt. The plan was to pair this with a coral tie and a matching floral pocket handkerchief, however this is dependent on the bridesmaids’ dresses. The groom is in search of a matt finish cobalt/navy suit. Our many Pinterest and Google searches have shown us that the colour exists, we just need to find it. We have taken into consideration that a navy suit will reflect different shades at different times of the day, depending on the type of light available. We need to make sure that the colours we choose altogether are complementary as we do not want to look like a group of circus moneys.

Shopping for wedding attire is a big deal! I want my wedding retinue to enjoy the experience as much as I do and look good while doing it.

The countdown down has begun! #9months

Love The Bride to be 💕

 

Illusion neckline

 


Sneak peak of embroidered lace with rhinestones

I said Yes!

Dear Blog Buddies.

I have some exciting news!

Exactly a year from today, I will be walking down the aisle in a white dress. Yes! #12 months. The planning has begun and the main game players have been put into place. We have secured a venue, a décor supplier, DJ, videographer and photographer.

Yes I am getting married!

The planning began in September 2016 when my fiancée decided it was time to pop the question. We were in Vietnam with an amazing group of people. Being the Champ that he is, he located one of the highest buildings in Hanoi, Vietnam equipped with a fancy roof top restaurant to go down on one knee. (See pictures attached below).

I said yes! And here we are eight months later…

We decided that our wedding and reception will be an intimate one with 200 of our closest friends and family. In an Indian family this is probably one of the most difficult tasks. If you are Indian, you would know that if we have the same surname or if we grew up in the same area as children, we are considered family or we will find a way to connect you to the family tree. For example, my grandmother’s sister’s secondary school teacher’s daughter who married my grandfather’s cousin’s grandson, (with the same surname as me) now becomes my cousin. We call them 45th cousins. Cousins that become your cousins because your great grandmother knew their great grandfather. So you can imagine the difficulty we face. If I considered all ‘my cousins’ the 200 guests will only be ‘45th cousins’.

I have accepted that planning a wedding will bring about some form of stress and maybe frustration at times. However so far, it has been joyful and exciting, not only for my fiancée and I, but for our parents as well, specifically our mothers.

Considering all the elements of planning a wedding, my fiancée and I are definitely having a great time putting some of our best skills to work. I have a great love for décor, craft and creativity. Thus deciding on a theme, colours and matching decorative items and ideas is bringing me great joy. My fiancée who is equally excited, is a manager in a finance team. His task is to ensure that I, I mean we, do not blow the budget. One of his other tasks is to continuously remind me that I'm not Kim Kardashian and that I cannot get Versace or Balmain to design my wedding gown. Fortunately he draws up excel sheets as we go along, so when the Kardashian tendencies show themselves, he exorcises them with a quick view of the budget. We’re a great team!

We have chosen a modern rustic theme for the wedding and reception. It is a combination of nature and/or natural elements put together to create a nature-like ambience. We are planning a garden wedding with an indoor reception. The venue we have chosen is ideal for this and for the theme we have chosen. It is surrounded by trees; two lawns of green grass, a little garden walk way and a glimpse of the ocean. Shade of coral, gold and white are the selected colours. In keeping with the modern rustic theme, we are going to make use of natural flowers, glass jars and warm lighting. We have collected a variety of glass jars and I have a few DIY ideas up my sleeves. If all goes well, we will be making our own centerpieces.

Our wedding attire has not been selected as we are still gathering ideas and styles. If time permits, my next post will include details about this, our retinue and an update on the planning.

The wedding bells have begun to ring!

Love
Verusha

My Boyfriend has a new lady in his Life...

My Boyfriend has a new lady in his life and we’re battling for position of number one gal! She’s sometimes referred to as the first wife but I can assure you that I’ll be the one with the ring on my finger! She’s mean and beastly, yet seems to attract the attention of all the boys. She’s rowdy and unruly if you get on her bad side and creates an eyeball wherever she goes. We are currently in a love triangle and I do not like it!

She can be identified by the following features:

Name:                  Ford Focus ST

Model:                  2010

Color:                    Orange (with just the right amount of sparkle)

Horse power:       181 kW

Torque:                 320Nm

Registration:        Reinald-ZN

That is about all the information I can give you without confusing myself with the lingo. Decat, downpipe, intercooler, light poles, top end, bust ups and dyno are all familiar words to me. However I cannot use them in a sentence as well as my boyfriend and his friends do. Sometimes, listening to their conversations about cars is like watching a movie dubbed in Mandarin.

I cannot explain the relationship between a man and his beloved car. Neither can I explain the big eyed, zone-out, dumbstruck look when he hears the roar of a performance car ready to show-off her dance moves. If I had to guess I would say that the experience is similar to what women feel when we see an amazing pair of shoes that screams ‘buy me, buy me’!
With all that said, I must admit that I do enjoy having the beastly beauty around. My boyfriend enjoys her just as much… actually a whole more! I have accepted her as part of our relationship, purely because she is now a fancy accessory and her orange glow adds the perfect hue to my selfies .We have shared many exciting times together. Selfies were taken, bust up were done and memories were made. The fiery lady has also been to a few events (Thanks to the Durban ST Crew) and she got to shake what her mama gave her!

This post is dedicated to my dear Boyfriend, who celebrates his birthday today. Considering his attachment to this SECOND love I have included her as part of the celebration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY My Sweet!  I wish you many years of Love, happiness, health (stop drinking all that coke), wealth and amazing sport cars!

Love
Your number one gal

Happy Birthday :)

Her first day.

Out and about with some friends.

ST bond.

ST Breakfast Run.



Looking awesome at the ST Breakfast Run.

ST Charity Run.

Looking awesome at the ST charity Run.





The last time I wrote here was at the beginning of this year. As I like to finish what I’ve started, I though it appropriate to write a piece on Life as a form of reflection for 2014. I’m not really going to discuss my journey through 2014 but rather I’m going to share some of the things that got me through 2014 and Life in general.

Verusha, on Life!

Life…is quite a jam-packed, heavily loaded word. Very often it’s followed by a heavy sigh. Some even says it’s a…

Well, whatever it is we all have to deal with it, try to define it, face it, put up with it and sometimes love it!

Below are a few words that describe the way in which I choose to go about Life:

Control/Balance

EVERYTHING requires balance! I always try to find a balance in everything thing that I do. I strive for emotional, spiritual and financial balance. I also try to eat a balanced diet (I think!). To be clear I’m not the perfect human being with my Ying & Yang perfectly positioned, however I do try. I express my emotions freely but I never allow them to take over. I take full advantage of quiet time to ensure the universe and I are on the same page. Financially, well I think we’re all clowns trying to perform the same balancing act… unless you’re Bill Gates.

Control goes hand-in-hand with balance.

Obedience

I don’t always get what I want and sometimes that’s very difficult to accept. However I do believe that everything happens for a reason, whether I like it or not! Thus I’ve learned to be obedient to the way in which my Life plays out. I always try to give my 110% and learn something from every experience.

Faith/Trust

My mind plays tricks on me sometimes! If it can’t see, hear, smell, taste or touch things it has difficulty excepting that these things exists. As a result it tries to convince me that such things don’t exist and that they will never exist. In response I banish such convictions with my sword of faith and armor of trust.

So those are my wise words of wisdom. You can choose to use or abuse it!

Below I have added a few quotes that I’ve read, liked, adopted and applied to my life. I’ve also included a few of my favourite “Verusha’s Life” pictures and a collage of words that I think guide my Life!

Happy Living Peeps




Winter 2013, China




Great Wall of China, Beijing


Trick Eye Museum, Korea


 

Bloukrans Bungy, South Africa


 

Words, Words, Words!

It's a New Year!

It’s that time again, to make resolutions and start afresh!

To unwrap the new you and show them who’s the best!

It’s 2014, there’s no time to rest!

Yeah! Yeah! I know I’m late but it’s only 15 days into the New Year and I’ve only just found the time to write. 2014 has brought along a few new activities and responsibilities on my side thus threatening my writing time. However I’m not complaining considering the frustratingly excessive amount of time I had on my hands in 2013.

Many of the plans I had had for 2013 sort of found their way out of my hands and eventually fell to the ground, leaving me with very little control over the entire situation. Thus I had a lot of time on my hands but nothing to get my hands on. Fortunately, for myself and the people around me I’m somewhat of a positive thinker (or that’s what I like to believe). I found a little consolation in the phrase ‘your twenties are for self-discovery’ and sometimes welcomed my unplanned plans with opened arms, at other times I punched it in the face and hoped to beat it to death. In the end I won! It was a difficult fight but I won!

I was forced to work with what I had and to adapt as I went along. I learned a lot about myself along the way and spent many hours baking, decorating (cards, gift boxes, book covers) and writing (all served as therapy). During this time I also started my first blog, which I’m very proud of. I learned to drive and got my first car.

I’m quite certain that 2014 has a lot more in store for me and I’m excited! I’m most excited about the fact that I can make a fresh start. It's like getting a crisp, white sheet of paper at the end of your exam to correct all the scratches you've made. It’s a second chance, every year! You gotta love that!

My goal for 2014 is to work harder and give my 110% in everything I do…and maybe read a few classics. Books I’ve read last year include This Way Up by Paige Nick, The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke and Drug Muled by Joanne Joseph.

May 2014 bring all that you've worked for ;)