Weddings in the family and those of close friends call for a good time but can also leave one extremely exhausted, if not done with a plan. I can also say so from experience as my life has been all about weddings for the last 8 months. Two of my younger sisters got married within a gap of 2 odd months. Two big fat Indian weddings in 3 months, you can understand the drill. The second wedding just got done and last night we were reflecting on how everything went, what helped and what did not. We all concluded that it is not some rocket science but actually some basic things and realities of today's time that help just like they do in everyday life and situations. They not only kept us relaxed but also helped us actually enjoy the wedding functions.
1. Lists are always a good idea. An excel even better in today's time. Make an excel for the active participants and jot down every single detail. The wedding functions, the guest list, the food, the shopping, the outfits, the jewelry, the timings, the ceremonies, the rituals, et all. A master list and individual lists. Update all changes and ask people to check daily or weekly to be in loop.
2. Allocate jobs. No point taking all stress on oneself. Moreover, people are mostly happy to help.
3. Shopping - For our big fat indian weddings involving 5 different wedding functions shopping was a stress point. Initial research on pinterest and instagram is something I strongly recommend you do before heading to the stores. When you are clear with what you want and have the outfits somewhat in your head, shopping is a breeze. Also for Indian wear we do not usually check online but I was pleasantly surprised with what we got from the internet. My sisters checked a few wedding wear designers online and were specially besotted by Anita Dongre's designer wedding sarees. It housed bridal sarees, party wear sarees, designer sarees, gotta patti sarees; just about everything. We also found lehngas, suits etc. online and it was this online shopping that saved most of our time and hassle.
4. There is no point stressing on everything turning out to be perfect. Weather might have a different mood, someone might get stuck in traffic, the bride might not be ready on time, etc. It's all possible so don’t have the expectation of it all being perfect, what is perfection anyways? Be happy with whatever best you can make do.
5. Less is always more and quality will always win over quantity. This was our mantra for the weddings and I am super proud that we didn’t let ourselves get carried away by the many lures.
Suggested - How to choose a wedding planner
Do you have a wedding coming up? Hope this post was helpful
Love
Chichi
How to plan a wedding in the family
Weddings in the family and those of close friends call for a good time but can also leave one extremely exhausted, if not done with a plan. I can also say so from experience as my life has been all about weddings for the last 8 months. Two of my younger sisters got married within a gap of 2 odd months. Two big fat Indian weddings in 3 months, you can understand the drill. The second wedding just got done and last night we were reflecting on how everything went, what helped and what did not. We all concluded that it is not some rocket science but actually some basic things and realities of today's time that help just like they do in everyday life and situations. They not only kept us relaxed but also helped us actually enjoy the wedding functions.
1. Lists are always a good idea. An excel even better in today's time. Make an excel for the active participants and jot down every single detail. The wedding functions, the guest list, the food, the shopping, the outfits, the jewelry, the timings, the ceremonies, the rituals, et all. A master list and individual lists. Update all changes and ask people to check daily or weekly to be in loop.
2. Allocate jobs. No point taking all stress on oneself. Moreover, people are mostly happy to help.
3. Shopping - For our big fat indian weddings involving 5 different wedding functions shopping was a stress point. Initial research on pinterest and instagram is something I strongly recommend you do before heading to the stores. When you are clear with what you want and have the outfits somewhat in your head, shopping is a breeze. Also for Indian wear we do not usually check online but I was pleasantly surprised with what we got from the internet. My sisters checked a few wedding wear designers online and were specially besotted by Anita Dongre's designer wedding sarees. It housed bridal sarees, party wear sarees, designer sarees, gotta patti sarees; just about everything. We also found lehngas, suits etc. online and it was this online shopping that saved most of our time and hassle.
4. There is no point stressing on everything turning out to be perfect. Weather might have a different mood, someone might get stuck in traffic, the bride might not be ready on time, etc. It's all possible so don’t have the expectation of it all being perfect, what is perfection anyways? Be happy with whatever best you can make do.
5. Less is always more and quality will always win over quantity. This was our mantra for the weddings and I am super proud that we didn’t let ourselves get carried away by the many lures.
Suggested - How to choose a wedding planner
Do you have a wedding coming up? Hope this post was helpful
Love
Chichi
I stand super impressed by the street style from London Fashion Week aw18 and the ongoing Milan fashion week aw18. My love for fashion weeks as also mentioned in my trends and street style round up post from ss18 is more for the street style and the vibe in the city than the fashion shows. So a bit off that i have missed out on two successive seasons of fashion weeks because of my sisters weddings but guess thats what life is, different priorities different times!!! Ok anyways i have been all over the internet aka instagram to check my favourite fashion girls and fashion accounts also the #lfw #londonfashionweek #mfw #milanfashionweek and got these kickass street style looks that are super chic and effortless yet super fun and interesting. No unachievable unwearable looks that can neither handle a job nor are weather appropriate, seriously those looks might make good pictures but they never inspire me. Practical fashion made special does and here it is.
The key fashion pieces spotted are 1. the heritage check 2. the pant suit 3. the beige trench 4. the vinyl trench 5. wide leg trousers/ jeans 6. the blazer 7. the hand held bag 8. the dad sneakers 9. the sock boots 10. the white boots 11. the belt on the waist
London fashion week a/w 18 street style
Milan fashion week a/w 18 street style
I see myself wearing so many of the above looks with the pieces already existing in my wardrobe.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
LFW & MFW A/W18 street style
I stand super impressed by the street style from London Fashion Week aw18 and the ongoing Milan fashion week aw18. My love for fashion weeks as also mentioned in my trends and street style round up post from ss18 is more for the street style and the vibe in the city than the fashion shows. So a bit off that i have missed out on two successive seasons of fashion weeks because of my sisters weddings but guess thats what life is, different priorities different times!!! Ok anyways i have been all over the internet aka instagram to check my favourite fashion girls and fashion accounts also the #lfw #londonfashionweek #mfw #milanfashionweek and got these kickass street style looks that are super chic and effortless yet super fun and interesting. No unachievable unwearable looks that can neither handle a job nor are weather appropriate, seriously those looks might make good pictures but they never inspire me. Practical fashion made special does and here it is.
The key fashion pieces spotted are 1. the heritage check 2. the pant suit 3. the beige trench 4. the vinyl trench 5. wide leg trousers/ jeans 6. the blazer 7. the hand held bag 8. the dad sneakers 9. the sock boots 10. the white boots 11. the belt on the waist
London fashion week a/w 18 street style
Milan fashion week a/w 18 street style
I see myself wearing so many of the above looks with the pieces already existing in my wardrobe.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
I am really glad to see the response on my alternative ways to celebrate valentines day post, many have commented they would most probably stay at home and cook for each other!!! `Valentines day is on a weekday so its best to plan in advance which is easier said then done. Deciding what to cook on a bit of a special day can be a real task. You don’t want to do the routine and considering its a weekday can’t be too elaborate. I love meal kits specially for such occasions, you get to cook a fancy dish without having to look for a recipe and go shop for ingredients. Thats like half the battle won!!! Take the stress out of valentines day, like literally!!!
Your staying in on valentines day is matched by 70% of people surveyed by Hello Fresh. Not just that they have some really cool and fun insights into the nations Valentine’s eating habits and modern aphrodisiacs. 66% of us believe that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. 72% believe that date night is more romantic if our other half cooks for us. 35% of British men are planning on cooking for their loved one this Valentine’s day. Steak and Chips are the most popular date night recipe while chocolates are the biggest turn on food. I am going to link their really cool infographic here so you can check all the fun data.
Valentines day in a way marks the beginning of spring and i can’t wait for it to feel like it, lol i love winter but as with everything i get bored and i have got bored of the layers. Every day i imagine myself to be in Bali or Thailand or someplace like that walking on cotton sand and gorging on the fresh sea food and tropical fruits. Some one brought us a dragon fruit the other day, a native of Thailand but it doesn’t really taste the same. What grows in a particular place is meant to be eaten in that place, eat local!!!!
Hope you all have a stressless and romantic valentines day and all days of the year ahead.
Suggested post - Alternative ways to celebrate valentines day
Love
Chichi
Fun insights on Valentines day
I am really glad to see the response on my alternative ways to celebrate valentines day post, many have commented they would most probably stay at home and cook for each other!!! `Valentines day is on a weekday so its best to plan in advance which is easier said then done. Deciding what to cook on a bit of a special day can be a real task. You don’t want to do the routine and considering its a weekday can’t be too elaborate. I love meal kits specially for such occasions, you get to cook a fancy dish without having to look for a recipe and go shop for ingredients. Thats like half the battle won!!! Take the stress out of valentines day, like literally!!!
Your staying in on valentines day is matched by 70% of people surveyed by Hello Fresh. Not just that they have some really cool and fun insights into the nations Valentine’s eating habits and modern aphrodisiacs. 66% of us believe that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. 72% believe that date night is more romantic if our other half cooks for us. 35% of British men are planning on cooking for their loved one this Valentine’s day. Steak and Chips are the most popular date night recipe while chocolates are the biggest turn on food. I am going to link their really cool infographic here so you can check all the fun data.
Valentines day in a way marks the beginning of spring and i can’t wait for it to feel like it, lol i love winter but as with everything i get bored and i have got bored of the layers. Every day i imagine myself to be in Bali or Thailand or someplace like that walking on cotton sand and gorging on the fresh sea food and tropical fruits. Some one brought us a dragon fruit the other day, a native of Thailand but it doesn’t really taste the same. What grows in a particular place is meant to be eaten in that place, eat local!!!!
Hope you all have a stressless and romantic valentines day and all days of the year ahead.
Suggested post - Alternative ways to celebrate valentines day
Love
Chichi
I have to be honest, i didn’t know what a flatlay was till i joined Instagram!! From the unknown to giving tips on how to master flat lay photos is quite a stride. Lets begin with what a flatlay is - It is an arrangement of products you want to showcase. Can be your favourite or your new addiction products/ items. Food, makeup, footwear, clothes, utility products, tea or coffee, flowers, books, technology basically everything and anything. You lay them on preferably a flat surface in the most chic / aesthetically pleasing way and take a shot.
The secret to a great flatlay is of course in how the products are arranged and how aesthetic the whole shot stands unintentionally to tell a story but if the picture is taken for social media in other words Instagram in my opinion a great flatlay should also match the vibe of your instagram feed. Some people like to keep them minimal some like to make them bold some focus on colours some on angles some choose a different perspective while some from the top. The arrangement and how you take the shot just depends on your aesthetics and the vibe of your instagram feed. And that brings us to the topic of how to master the art of flatlay.
- First and foremost a flatlay is a photograph so makes sense to adhere to the basic rules of photography. The rule of thirds, of a focal point, symmetry, background, framing etc particularly.
- Natural light is the best light, Period. Make sure you are taking the picture in the day next to a natural light source. I have tried taking at night and have had a hard time with shadows.
- Choose the theme of the flatlay i.e what you want to communicate through it. Can be travel or beauty or food or romantic or fun or anything and then choose the items.
- A good flatlay is purposefully and carefully constructed to tell a story in an effortless way. Every piece is intentionally placed even though might not look so. Can be scattered or unilined , there can be 100 pieces or just 1 or 2 but they all should be adding to the purpose and story of the flatlay.
- If you have a hero piece i.e a particular product that you want to highlight choose the other accessories / props accordingly and arrange them in a way that the attention is drawn to the hero piece.
- Scale and Balance the image. Scale that is if you have a big piece as your hero piece add smaller items as props. Balance by ensuring there is enough space between the objects. It might not be big but make sure its thoughtful to avoid the flatlay from becoming chaotic and confusing.
- Use a step ladder to help you take a great shot from the top. See through your lens if all the key elements are fitting in perfectly add, move and subtract if need be.
- A basic clean surface is a pre requisite. White bed or table work mostly because of their simplicity and versatility. A marble surface or a wooden one or furry one also work great. For Instagram the choice will depend on what elements you have in your feed already and match to that.
- Your Instagram vibe in mind, if its minimal choose to have less items and less saturation with colours and so on.
- Keep the colours going on your feed in mind so for e.g i have a lot of reds and blues going in my feed at the moment so for this picture since the products were white and gold i choose the props ( the flowers) in blue and red so the whole picture matches my feed.
- Incorporating the season and time of the year is also an intelligent thing to do. People identify with seasonal things and goes with the mood around. For e.g around spring your props can be fresh flowers or blooms of the season, in autumn / winter you can keep the mood warm and cosy with ferry lights etc.
- Don't be afraid to try out new and fresh ideas. I love to play with geometry and height for my flatlays which are not conventional flat lay concepts but its your creativity and we are in 2018 after all!!!
- Get inspired by following some popular hashtags and accounts on instagram #flatlay #onthebed #flatlaytoday , etc
Hope this post is helpful in letting you master the art of flatlay, to be honest the more flatlays you create the better it gets.
Suggested - Why Instagram obsession needs to stop
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Instagram photo tips - How to master the art of Flat lay
I have to be honest, i didn’t know what a flatlay was till i joined Instagram!! From the unknown to giving tips on how to master flat lay photos is quite a stride. Lets begin with what a flatlay is - It is an arrangement of products you want to showcase. Can be your favourite or your new addiction products/ items. Food, makeup, footwear, clothes, utility products, tea or coffee, flowers, books, technology basically everything and anything. You lay them on preferably a flat surface in the most chic / aesthetically pleasing way and take a shot.
The secret to a great flatlay is of course in how the products are arranged and how aesthetic the whole shot stands unintentionally to tell a story but if the picture is taken for social media in other words Instagram in my opinion a great flatlay should also match the vibe of your instagram feed. Some people like to keep them minimal some like to make them bold some focus on colours some on angles some choose a different perspective while some from the top. The arrangement and how you take the shot just depends on your aesthetics and the vibe of your instagram feed. And that brings us to the topic of how to master the art of flatlay.
- First and foremost a flatlay is a photograph so makes sense to adhere to the basic rules of photography. The rule of thirds, of a focal point, symmetry, background, framing etc particularly.
- Natural light is the best light, Period. Make sure you are taking the picture in the day next to a natural light source. I have tried taking at night and have had a hard time with shadows.
- Choose the theme of the flatlay i.e what you want to communicate through it. Can be travel or beauty or food or romantic or fun or anything and then choose the items.
- A good flatlay is purposefully and carefully constructed to tell a story in an effortless way. Every piece is intentionally placed even though might not look so. Can be scattered or unilined , there can be 100 pieces or just 1 or 2 but they all should be adding to the purpose and story of the flatlay.
- If you have a hero piece i.e a particular product that you want to highlight choose the other accessories / props accordingly and arrange them in a way that the attention is drawn to the hero piece.
- Scale and Balance the image. Scale that is if you have a big piece as your hero piece add smaller items as props. Balance by ensuring there is enough space between the objects. It might not be big but make sure its thoughtful to avoid the flatlay from becoming chaotic and confusing.
- Use a step ladder to help you take a great shot from the top. See through your lens if all the key elements are fitting in perfectly add, move and subtract if need be.
- A basic clean surface is a pre requisite. White bed or table work mostly because of their simplicity and versatility. A marble surface or a wooden one or furry one also work great. For Instagram the choice will depend on what elements you have in your feed already and match to that.
- Your Instagram vibe in mind, if its minimal choose to have less items and less saturation with colours and so on.
- Keep the colours going on your feed in mind so for e.g i have a lot of reds and blues going in my feed at the moment so for this picture since the products were white and gold i choose the props ( the flowers) in blue and red so the whole picture matches my feed.
- Incorporating the season and time of the year is also an intelligent thing to do. People identify with seasonal things and goes with the mood around. For e.g around spring your props can be fresh flowers or blooms of the season, in autumn / winter you can keep the mood warm and cosy with ferry lights etc.
- Don't be afraid to try out new and fresh ideas. I love to play with geometry and height for my flatlays which are not conventional flat lay concepts but its your creativity and we are in 2018 after all!!!
- Get inspired by following some popular hashtags and accounts on instagram #flatlay #onthebed #flatlaytoday , etc
Hope this post is helpful in letting you master the art of flatlay, to be honest the more flatlays you create the better it gets.
Suggested - Why Instagram obsession needs to stop
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
I believe each day is just as special and just as not special having said that valentines day is around the corner and i know most like to celebrate in some way or the other. Valentines day has turned into a major celebration of sorts with couples booking luxurious holidays, hotel stays, fancy activities and dinners on top of luxe gifts for each other. Social media is now full swing into it with messages and events. Most of my friends have made exorbitant plans, also a couple who was complaining about their depleted bank situation and asking me how to get loans for bad credit this weekend. The hype does create pressure on those who do not have the budget or who do not really like to take it over the top. I believe one must do what gives them happiness if going all the way out does please do else i am suggesting in no order some alternative ways to celebrate valentines day.
- Go to the flower market and spend some time there with the loveliest creation of god.
- Make each others favourite food together instead of going out for dinner.
- Pack some snacks and go on a long drive you can also stop at the villages on the way and learn a thing or two about country life.
- Wear your partners favourite colour or their favourite outfit on you.
- We all have those habits our partner complains about, try not to give them a chance to do so.
- If you want to gift, gift something absolutely personal and invaluable. It can be anything from two lines of poetry to a painting to a handmade card with a message written by you, etc
- In todays busy life communication and quality time has become scarce so on valentines day make sure you sit down and talk to each other about how you feel about yourself and also each other, if there is anything new or exciting you want to do alone or as a couple, your emotions, anything that is bothering you, etc, etc you can also go for a walk and do so.
- Give each other a good body massage at home. Everyone loves massage!!!
- Picnics and potlucks with friends are also a good idea. You get to meet and chill with everyone plus have a lavish meal without spending anything.
- Sing or play on an instrument your partners favourite song or favourite new song.
After the festivals valentines day is the most celebrated event. Fancy non fancy whatever you like just don’t let any external element dictate and keep it stressless and meaningful.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
Alternative ways to celebrate Valentines Day
I believe each day is just as special and just as not special having said that valentines day is around the corner and i know most like to celebrate in some way or the other. Valentines day has turned into a major celebration of sorts with couples booking luxurious holidays, hotel stays, fancy activities and dinners on top of luxe gifts for each other. Social media is now full swing into it with messages and events. Most of my friends have made exorbitant plans, also a couple who was complaining about their depleted bank situation and asking me how to get loans for bad credit this weekend. The hype does create pressure on those who do not have the budget or who do not really like to take it over the top. I believe one must do what gives them happiness if going all the way out does please do else i am suggesting in no order some alternative ways to celebrate valentines day.
- Go to the flower market and spend some time there with the loveliest creation of god.
- Make each others favourite food together instead of going out for dinner.
- Pack some snacks and go on a long drive you can also stop at the villages on the way and learn a thing or two about country life.
- Wear your partners favourite colour or their favourite outfit on you.
- We all have those habits our partner complains about, try not to give them a chance to do so.
- If you want to gift, gift something absolutely personal and invaluable. It can be anything from two lines of poetry to a painting to a handmade card with a message written by you, etc
- In todays busy life communication and quality time has become scarce so on valentines day make sure you sit down and talk to each other about how you feel about yourself and also each other, if there is anything new or exciting you want to do alone or as a couple, your emotions, anything that is bothering you, etc, etc you can also go for a walk and do so.
- Give each other a good body massage at home. Everyone loves massage!!!
- Picnics and potlucks with friends are also a good idea. You get to meet and chill with everyone plus have a lavish meal without spending anything.
- Sing or play on an instrument your partners favourite song or favourite new song.
After the festivals valentines day is the most celebrated event. Fancy non fancy whatever you like just don’t let any external element dictate and keep it stressless and meaningful.
Thank you for stopping by, see you with my next.
Love
Chichi
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