The Motion Picture

In case all the wonderful photos were not enough to convince you of the amazing elements that came together over three days to blend both my Greek Culture and my husbands Indian Culture, here is a highlights video has had put together to share with family and friends.

Although we still opted to have the two hour video of each wedding, we wanted out guests to get a quick snip it of the entire event, without being bored with all the extra bits in-between. This highlights video was put together magically by Studio Memoir - Dale and his team were amazing and capture the full emotion over just 17 minutes!

Be sure to contact Dale at Studio Memoir and discuss your videography needs with him and let him put together a video package to suit your needs!

Enjoy the video!

Gina & Shalin Greek Indian Wedding South African 2012

 

Contact Dale on:
http://studiomemoir.co.za
info@studiomemoir.co.za
084 305 1933

HAPPY PLANNING :)

Wedding Expo

Hey Guys!

For all those new brides out there preparing for the their 2012 weddings don't miss out on a trip to the Wedding Expo. Even if you think you have all you need for you wedding, you can alway get your hands on those last minute goodies to make your day extra special!

My favorite buy last year... "Mr Right & Mrs Alway Right" mugs that I drank my first cup of tea from as a "Mrs" :)

Final tip before you head out - don't blow the budget, know what you need, plan your route to get the best of what their is on offer and see if you have a little room for cute extra's like the mugs in your budget, but most of all - HAVE FUN!

Inspiration to Realisation - The Wedding

The Vision Board

The Invitation

The Main Table

The Food

The Dress

Hair and Make-up

 The Shoes

 Something Blue

 The Rings

 The Tables

 The Cake

 Entertainment

 The Favours

Super Sweet 16 meets Outrageous Kids Parties

Now this is one program I can not get enough of - Mom's blowing the budget on kiddies parties! Somewhere along the line "My Super Sweet 16" got mashed up with Tinkerbell and Disney and we now have "My Super Sweet Crazy Expensive 6th Birthday Parties"!

Needless to say, despite the crazy excesses and with my nieces "Puple and Pink Polka Dot" party just around the corner, there are some great ideas to be had from TLC "Outrageous Kids Parties".

Here are some of the photos from the show that are easy enough to tone down but still make your child feel like a million dollar princess!

The Crowning Moment - "the Stefana"

One of the most romantic moments in a Greek Wedding Ceremony has to be when the priest "crowns" the bride and groom.

For my wedding I wanted something a little different, so with a lot of googling and come help from my sister, I managed to have our crowns made just the way I wanted.

Now, because this is a very symbolic ceremony, I wanted to capture the essence of the "crowning" by engraving the words recited be the priest; 


"The servant of God, Shalin, is crowned unto the handmaiden of God, Gina , in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen".

I felt that by forever encapsulating these words on our crowns, which we are then required to safe keep from that moment on, would always remind us of the worthiness the Church has bestowed upon us for each other. From that moment on I would be his Queen and h
e my King - Love it :)

Tea for Two

"A woman is like a tea bag; only in hot water do you realize how strong she is." Eleanor Roosevelt 

In the interest of my favorite past time, and given that my father bestowed upon me the most amazing Royal Albert Tea Set as a wedding present, I thought it fitting that I should share some tips on how to host a perfect Tea Party.

tea party - noun: An afternoon social gathering at which tea and light refreshments are served. 

What will I need?

• Top of the list - good company. Keep in mind that the tea ritual was designed to be a cozy and intimate gathering so be sure to limit your guest list!
• Send invitations two weeks ahead of time. Written invitations are always elegant, but telephone or email  will do. 
• Gather the following: a teapot, teacups and saucers, a tea strainer and small dish to deposit the tea leaves or tea bag, a pot of milk, lemon slices, jam, sugar and artificial sweetener, small plates, utensils, and napkins.
• On the day of the tea, bring refreshments in on trays or a cart and set the table so that guests may serve themselves. The hostess should always pour the tea and pass it to each guest    

                  

What Kind of Tea Shall It Be?

• Light Tea: this is a simple spread consisting of scones, jam, and cream. It is ideal for girl talk with your closest friends. And it's informal enough to serve right in the kitchen!
• Afternoon Tea or Low tea: is traditionally served between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The menu consists of light finger sandwiches, scones, assorted pastries, and a layer cake or trifle. Hold this elegant tea in a comfortable setting such as a living room or den. In warm weather, move the party to a lawn, deck, or even poolside.
• High tea is a sit-down meal traditionally served after 6:00 p.m, high tea consists of robust meat dishes, bread and cheese, and a dessert of cake or pie.

                                                          

What to Serve?

Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches

½ stick butter

2 tbsp fresh mint leaves

8 slices of bread, crusts removed

½ large cucumber, thinly sliced

Sugar

In small bowl, mix butter and mint until well blended. Spread mixture onto slices of bread. Lay cucumber on 4 slices of bread. Sprinkle a dash of sugar on cucumber. Top with remaining slices of bread. Cut diagonally and serve.

8 servings.

Cranberry Scones 

2 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter, diced

1 cup whipping cream

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 egg white

1 teaspoon orange zest

1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add butter until mixture is course and crumbly. Add whipping cream and stir until mixture is moist. Mix in cranberries, nutmeg, and orange zest.Place on a lightly floured surface and knead 6 or 7 times. Roll until ½ inch thick. Cut with a biscuit cutter and place each scone 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Brush tops of scones with egg white and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

12 servings

Having a tea party is an inexpensive way to entertain your closest friends. The serving is usually light, and easy to pick up with the fingers. Tea time can be a simple pause during the day or a multicourse meal. The tea meal can be as flexible and reflective of mood or theme as you wish.


Happy Planning! :)

A Touch of Mehndi

One of the most exiting parts of having an Indian wedding is the experience of having the mehndi done.

I had my trial done on Monday and I am in awe of the work these talented woman do. The most interesting part of the experience was learning how Nikita came to practice the art of mehndi, "I was doodling at a cousins wedding..." at which point an elder pulled her a side and began to teach her the fine art of painting the elegant designs onto brides hands and feet.

Have a look at some of the photos that were taken by Wesley Poon on my Mehndi Evening, the night before my wedding.

Enjoy!