Deval Parekh and Isha Gandhi are owners of iDev Event Company, LLC., a wedding planning company that specializes in South Asian and Fusion Weddings. They offer services such as wedding and event planning, Month and Day-of coordination, bridal and party henna, Mehndi, and live Bollywood singing and music. iDev specializes in ethnic weddings. Their motto is, “No matter what the event, never compromise on food, alcohol, and music.”

Isha joins us to talk about her journey into becoming the expert in weddings and event planning that she is today and answers burning questions about Indian and Fusion weddings.

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Big Takeaways

Most weddings last from 1-3 days, with 2-5 events involved. In the US, an Indian wedding typically starts 2 days before the ceremony. The first pre-event is a henna event with the bride and the immediate family. The next event is a ceremony where a paste of turmeric, rose water, and sandalwood (or similar) is applied to the bride and groom to make them look prettier on the day of the wedding. The one after that is music, a coming together of the family. It is a day of celebration. There are a lot of dances, food, and sometimes speeches involved. The day after is traditionally the wedding which is ceremony, lunch, and the reception that evening.

In fusion weddings, incorporation of the mandap is a colorful and photogenic addition even if the wedding is light on cultural additions in other areas. The mandap is four pillars, the priest sits down and invites lord Ganesha to come into the ceremony and bless the couple. The fire is a holy fire. Depending on the culture, you might be asked to take rounds around the fire that are promises and vows you give each other in presence of the holy fire.

Conflicts usually arise when the budget is not in place, or the person who is paying for it isn’t communicating fully. iDev gives a realistic breakdown on the price differences (ie, live band vs DJ, real flowers vs fake, etc). The bride and groom need to sit down and figure out what their financial flexibility looks like. Know your non-negotiables.

A wonderful way of dealing with familial/in-law differences (especially in religion, etc) is understanding where they are coming from, and include them in your life. Research on your partner’s culture. Ask questions, be interested!

Links we referenced

iDev Event Company

Website: http://www.ideveventcompany.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ideveventcompany

Instagram: http://instagram.com/iDevEventCompany

Instagram: http://instagram.com/iDevHennaArt

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/idev-event-company

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ideveventcompany

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

 Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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