Down The Aisle

Top Wedding Decor Trends for 2020

One of the first things people spot when they enter a wedding is the decor. The type of wedding decor you choose sets the aura, theme, and ambiance of your celebration. New trends keep changing every year, and some make their way to social media, generating plenty of buzz. While we saw a lot of fresh pastel colors and white flowers trending in 2019, we wonder what 2020 has in store! Here at DownTheAisle our goal is to bring our clients vision to life, but we also want to showcase our perspective and offer our most creative ideas. Nowadays, every function and minute is personalized, and the motto is to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Below are some upcoming trends and themes to follow for your 2020 wedding, adding charm and elegance to the celebration, making it a surreal experience for you and your guests.

1. Sustainable/ Eco Friendly Decor

More than ever, with the ever-growing carbon footprint, millennial couples are making palpable efforts to lessen the impact that celebrations have on the environment. Couples making a conscious effort to be eco-friendly are opting for a completely sustainable wedding from the food to flowers. Gone are the days when dozens of crates were being shipped to another country, new kitchens being created just for a wedding, and ordering cases of plastic water bottles to keep every worker/guest hydrated. Floral designers are recycling and composting flowers wherever possible, replacing cut blooms with plants potted in pretty planters and eliminating flower foam use. Moreover, plants or saplings as thank you gifts, sourcing locally grown food, and e-invites are proving to be great hits among the guests.

2. Catchy Phrases For A Personalized Touch

Personalized phrases nowadays are all the rage. A fun way to spunk up your wedding is to add a playful and sassy phrase somewhere in the decor. Printing it onto cocktail napkins, adding it on the invitation, creating a geotag on Snapchat, customizing gift bags, or hung as a laser-cut sign on the wall, these make the wedding memorable. The trick to making the phrase catchy is to choose a song lyric, saying, or quote that holds personal meaning to you and your spouse.

3. Extravagant Ceilings

Every bride has the vision to have the perfect fairy tale wedding, and lately, many brides utopian visions translate into breathtaking decor with larger than life ceilings. Be it a spacious ballroom or an awe-inspiring open venue adding a grand chandelier or multiple mini chandeliers gives it a luxurious vibe. This trend can never go wrong because it makes a statement without being too tacky and gives it an ethereal vibe. You can mix this cloudy look with hints of green or flowers hanging from the top to make it seem like soft white clouds have engulfed the ceiling. I know every girl out there, including myself, love this magical, below are some pictures for inspiration!

4. Pop of Colour

White and green, blush pink or neutral colors are all in the past now. Expect the new year to bring in a bold and vibrant pop of colors, statement hues, and print mixing which catch the eyes. New-age brides have started incorporating their personal style in the wedding decorations. Gone are the days of subtle wedding decor, the new year will bring a wide range of shades and tones that have never been highlighted before. Pop your favorite color in unexpected places like- glassware, table napkins, or chairs.

Now that you have read through this blog, I hope you have been provided with some inspiration and creative ideas for your wedding. We at DownTheAisle believe in making your fantasies come true, so please contact us if you would like more information on our work!

With Love,

Krisha Shah

5 Things Every To-Be Bride Should Know Before The Wedding

Anyone who ever plans an event says, "I wish I had known that before my event," we here at DownTheAisle want to change it to "I am so glad someone told me that!". Every bride is looking forward to the d-day eagerly, and we are here to make it as smooth as possible. So, without wasting more time, check out the top 5 tips we think will be extremely helpful for you!

1. Do a trial round for hair & makeup

I am sure you have a Pinterest board out there with all your favorite wedding hairstyles and makeup that you want for your big day. Nothing is more disheartening than not being able to live our vision. It is crucial that one week before the wedding, you go an have a trial run for your hair and makeup. Also, booking yourself a professional can guarantee that nothing will go wrong on the big day, even though it might be a bit over your budget. Professional MUA's know how to work with nervous and frantic brides and carry an array of right quality makeup and techniques.

2. Buy wedding outfits and accessories in advance

No one wants to be panicking one week before the wedding because the wedding outfit does not fit, or the products you ordered online did not come in on time. Having all the outfits and accessories bought one month before the wedding relieves the stress if alterations are required, or the jewelry does not match your outfit. Especially with cultural weddings such as Hindu weddings there are 4 to 5 days of celebrations and would be chaotic if you started shopping for one month in advance. Being prepared can allow you to focus on other significant aspects of the wedding, such as guest lists and the food menu.

3. Hire a good Videographer/Photographer

You can have the most beautiful venue, decorations, cake, and outfit, but if it is not captured correctly, it will feel worthless! One of the primary goals at the end of your wedding is to have some fantastic memories clicked so you can cherish and relive the moment over again. A professional photographer can capture the heart-warming and emotional shots that you may have missed or forgotten. It is their job to capture every part of your wedding, which you may miss because you are busy greeting guests, touching up makeup, or breaking it down on the dance floor. Also, these tangible pictures can make for a great display in your home or a quality album that can be passed down for generations. Below I have linked one of my favorite wedding videographers, be sure to check them out!

4. Book a spa treatment week before wedding.

As the day gets closer and all the planning and preparation are in full swing, you will inevitably be stressed. Between wrapping up last-minute work issues, finalizing seating arrangements, and packing for your honeymoon it is important to find time for yourself! Booking yourself a whole day spa retreat or massage the weekend before can feel very refreshing. Also, the treatment can make you look energized and glowing for your big day, which can shine through your photos!

5. Cut down the guests

Budgeting and guest lists are a major aspect of your wedding. I am here to tell you that you should not feel guilty if you have to cut down your guest list because it goes over your budget, or you do not want to offend anyone. Generally, in Hindu weddings, over 1000 people are invited because parents feel obligated to invite friends of their own, which can be chaotic. From personal experience, I have seen couples attending to wedding guests all night and not getting a chance to enjoy their wedding. Therefore, a more intimate and personal guest list will allow you to relish and create new memories with your loved ones!

I hope these wedding tips before your big day helps! for more inspiration and ideas, check out our website!

Thank you for your time!

Krisha Shah

Ultimate Guide for Bridal Attire in Hindu Weddings

Hinduism is known as one of the world’s oldest cultures, dating back 4000 years ago. In the culture, wedding ceremonies are considered one of the most auspicious and significant days of people’s lives. Hindu weddings are a long process with various rituals that take days to be executed. Every single custom and practice during marriage has deep spiritual significance. All over the world, Hindus abide by these traditions, which are unique and precious to the religion. Since the whole wedding shebang lasts 3 days, brides are expected to have different outfits for each ceremony. In this blog, I will be explaining the significance of each ceremony, and what attire brides are expected to wear.

1. Mehndi

Typically, Mehndi is held 2 days before the wedding day, so the henna has time to develop color. The henna paste is meant to be associated with positive spirits and good luck. Not to mention, the darker the color of the henna, the stronger is the man’s love for his life. This is probably one of the most dun rituals. During this ceremony, I recommend the bride wear something colorful and light. The trend right is now to wear lehenga’s and Indo-Western attire, which are colourful, bright, and adventurous. Bride’s should experiment with their looks and wear something comfortable as both hands and feet will be busy getting the mehndi done.

2. Sangeet

From personal experience, the sangeet ceremony is the most fun part of the wedding. The word sangeet entails music, so this is basically a musical party! During this party, the couple’s family comes together to celebrate the bonding between the families. Lots of dancing, speeches, and festivities take place. In terms of attire, this ceremony has no specific requirements. Usually, brides go for elegant and extravagant clothing pieces that match with the theme they pick. Right now, the latest trend is gorgeous and glimmering shararas, which are sequenced with gota patti or lace. Gota Patti is hand sequenced and intricate work woven onto skirts, which give a mirror effect.

3. Ganesh Puja

This puja is conducted on the morning of the wedding. Lord Ganesh is regarded as the God that removes all obstacles and negativity from a person’s life. Hence why before any wedding ritual, each family worships the Lord for a smooth and obstacle-free wedding. Not to mention, it is believed that worshiping Lord Ganesh before marriage brings prosperity to a couple’s life. Now talking about outfits, the bride traditionally would wear a saree of any colour besides black or white for the ceremony. Bandhni, block print, or brocade sarees are adored by brides and their mother.

4. Haldi

The most vibrant and exciting ceremony is the Haldi ceremony. It is a pre-wedding ritual where both the bride and groom are applied with turmeric and rose water paste. The paste is known to have properties that leave the skin fair and glowing. Also, Haldi holds an important place because it also purifies and cleanses the body and keeps the couple away from “evil eyes”. Not to mention, the yellow color of the turmeric brightens the couple’s life and protects them from all kinds of ailments. Hence why the bride must wear yellow and wear flower jewelry.

5. Hastmilap / Wedding Ceremony

This is the last and most important ceremony for obvious reasons! In a Hindu Wedding ceremony, the couple sits in front of a holy fire as priests recite many mantras from sacred scriptures. Next comes the ritual of mangalfera, where the bride and groom walk around a fire 7 times, praying and exchanging vows of duty, love, and respect. Traditionally, in all Hindu weddings, the bride should wear red because it signifies love, passion, prosperity, and fertility. However, nowadays, brides tend to opt for many pastels, pink, or white shades that still follow the rules but are unique and different. A note, Hinduism has a lot of cultures, and each culture has different traditions for the bride!

I hope all the explanation and tips for each ritual calms down your nervousness before the big day!

For more useful and insider tips please check out our website and the other blogs!

From Love- Krisha Shah