Sitting and trying to piece back something that is and was such a vital part of my life feels a little surreal. When I started blogging, I spent every minute checking how many readers came in. Slowly, that changed. Life happened, and I stopped even looking at the blog. Not because it didn’t make me happy but because every time I did, it was a reminder of failure. Failure to keep at something I started with so much heart. Failure that made me ache every time someone mentioned ‘Epo Kalyanam’.
Life’s been a whirlwind lately and it took me a long time to realize that it doesn’t have to be crippling sadness that washes over me every time I think about the blog. I don’t have to look at it and define it by the sole word of failure.
Failure generally isn’t a verdict that someone else gives us, it’s a label that we choose to put on what happened or how we feel about it. I realized it’s time I re-label it. One of the hardest things growing up is having to be your own cheerleader.
So, if you’re having a rough day at work or in life, remember, unlike illness or a physical injury, failure is not a hindrance to our survival. It’s like a roadblock where you take a detour to reach where you want to. Do you stop and park your car and say no more, or do you keep driving? I think today I would choose driving or writing in this instance 😉.
Fellow readers of Epo Kalyanam, I present to you a wedding, a big fat Indian wedding that’s been on the burner for a whole good while, and it shouldn’t be for this wedding (as I always say), is a drool-worthy one.
Now, if you’re a bride-to-be who’s all about the details, then you’ll know that selecting an outfit for your engagement is a task. More importantly, selecting an outfit for your engagement that doesn’t overpower your wedding day ensemble is even more tricky. Striking a perfect balance between elegance and glam, Geethu’s beautiful golden beige lehenga is the one to solve this dilemma. Our belle was very particular about getting this particular shade, and it was done to perfection at Paislee’s Studio, Kochi. Judging from the pictures and everything I’ve heard about this design studio and its owner, Teresa from Geethu, RUN. Run towards this store, ladies. Finding a designer who listens and delivers exactly what you want is a dream come true when you’re under the stress of a gazillion things to take care of as the bride-to-be.
If you’re a groom to be fretting over what to wear. Remember, just as brides are presented with tons of options for attires, so are the grooms. You just need to narrow down what sort of outfit you want to wear as a groom or groom-to-be. If you’ve narrowed down an Indian attire, then you’re most probably going to be at a crossroads between a sherwani, perhaps, and a bandh gala and the ever-popular bandi or Nehru jacket. My word of advice would be to try everything out and see what catches your fancy the most. There are so many modern takes on traditional Indian wear available today, and it would be a shame if you didn’t use it to your advantage.
With the plethora of choices at his disposal, our dapper boy sure didn’t disappoint in an elegant navy blue Jodhpuri Indowestern Sherwani. I think it’s fair to say the sherwani is unparalleled to any, or it could be Thomas just looking his dapper fine best that’s doing the magic. One can never tell, but we sure can drool 😏.
Once you’ve picked out your outfits and gotten yourselves ready, what comes next? The décor. Imagine a beautiful and elegant stage and our stunning couple on it. Well, that’s precisely what you’ll see. It’s important to pay attention not only to what you wear but also to other minute details that complete your big day. It’s almost like you pick out a toothbrush but have no toothpaste. Minuscule detail but it means that you essentially thought about your teeth but didn’t think it through entirely and now you have teeth that could go rotten (I sure am dramatic 😏). The point being, paying attention to details is very important.
If you’re Indian, you know we are known for our elaborate and meaningful pre-wedding rituals. The Haldi ceremony is one such. One of the marvels of belonging to a country with wide communities is that celebrations and ceremonies aren’t often encased in religion. Be it Hindus, Muslims, or Christians, Haldi is a pre-wedding ceremony conducted with joy and high spirits. During this ceremony, a rich golden paste (sounds like a food tutorial or not 😎) out of Turmeric is applied onto the bride’s skin, and it ends with elders of the family giving the to-be bride their blessing as she enters a new phase in their lives. And let’s not forget that no event in India is complete without a round of dance and fun with friends and family.
Geethu’s stunning Haldi outfit is courtesy of herself 😄. Well, she and her great taste 😉 This beautiful parrot yellow lehenga was handpicked by our belle from Saroj Fabrics, Bombay, and stitched to perfection, with the end result being a stunning, easy, breezy lightweight lehenga to ring in the festivities.
Now, if you are someone with an eye for details, you’ll notice that our handsome boy was quite the dapper sight in a shade of yellow itself, courtesy of PN RAO, Bangalore. I love that a color theme was incorporated, and my absolute favorite is when the groom-to-be is game to add to the color theme as well. That, folks, is what cooperation looks like. A shade of yellow, to be precise 😆.
I think by now its no secret on how much I adore a well thought out décor. Whether you choose to celebrate your big day under the stars or at home, these moments are what will be preserved in your mind and in your albums for the rest of your life. And the way a venue is decorated has a profound impact on the look and feel of those memories. This is why your decor and the team you choose is such an important part of planning your event. Geethu and Thomas’s haldi décor will you take you down the millions of scenes you’ve seen in movies where the theme is bright and yet is warm. Warm and bright. I think that is exactly how I’d describe this stunning venue and décor and all of the credit goes to a talented man who clearly knows what he’s doing.
I think once you have the outfit and everything else sorted, the next thing you need to be looking at it is makeup. You could go the route of choosing an MUA, and if you happen to live anywhere in Kochi or close to it, there will be no dearth of options, or you could be your own MUA. Well, only if you know what you’re doing like our belle. I love that Geethu did her own makeup and chose to keep it easy and breezy. There’s something about makeup that looks like skin that really amplifies one’s beauty. Makeup is often seen as being one-dimensional. Putting it on as a mask to show others, but it honestly is not how it should be seen. I think we can all agree that one of many reasons makeup is so loved is the confidence boost it provides (when done right, though). I stay away from makeup because it is a skill I still haven’t mastered, but it is a skill worthy of admiration. While I get that you shouldn’t rely on makeup to make you feel confident or beautiful, it sure can help. Especially on those days when you’re just not feeling yourself. It can undoubtedly make you feel confident knowing that you look damn good because you know what suits you and what not to do. Thank you for coming for my TED talk 😆.
Now that I’ve hazed your brain with my TED talk 😆 let’s get down to another marvelous event on Thomas and Geethu’s big day – the madhuramvepu. For the uninitiated, madhuramvepu is a tradition rooted in Kerala. It also happens to be my favorite event. The Madhuram Veppu is a tradition in Kerala. It happens for both the groom and bride where their respective families gather to celebrate and kick-off the wedding festivities as a single family before two are joined to become one.
It’s basically fun in a capsule. Now, if you’re someone who enjoys themed events but likes to keep it low-key, I’d say Geethu’s Madhuramvepu outfit, décor and theme are right up your alley. For her madhuramvepu, our stunner chose this beautiful bright and sunny red kanchipuram sari from Geethanjali, Kochi. Now, if you’re from the South, you will know that South Indian brides are always associated with silk sarees. With no dearth of options for brides and brides-to-be, one cannot deny the fact that the exclusivity and gorgeousness of Kanchipuram silks are truly unmatched. Now the million-dollar question is, is our bride selling the sari with her stunning-ness, or is the sari selling our belle with its stunning-ness ? Honestly, who can tell when you look like a vision?
If you’re somebody who likes to personalize your big day, I’d say choosing a theme or a style is one of the best ways to do so. However, there are no hard and fast rules, so in reality, as a bride, you do not have to stick to a strict theme. What you can do is keep it light if you’re a laid-back bride and involve your guests in the process by letting them know the general theme beforehand, and what you’ll get is seeing a cohesive theme being reflected.
In our belle’s instance, there wasn’t a hard and fast theme but more of a general easy, breezy one. They kept it Kerala-themed (don’t say coconuts. Nobody turned up in those 🙈), so what you’ll see are some cohesive guests who know how to dress to the nines while letting the bride-to-be shine bright while celebrating their roots along with it.
Speaking of the bride shining bright, Geethu’s stunning hair makeup is another reason why, till the end of time, I will always emphasize the importance of MUAs who are skilled AT WHAT THEY DO and know what they are doing.
Now, even if you’re pretty skilled at your day-to-day makeup (clearly, we’ve seen our belle’s skills to agree), an event makeup is a whole different ball game. There are obviously unequivocal skills and know-how techniques that only professional makeup artists know to use that you’ve probably never heard of. Most importantly, they’ll know how to keep your makeup locked in for hours (even sturdy enough for crying 😁), whereas your everyday makeup might be completely melted down by the time you’re ready to say ” I love you” to the mister 😁.
Geethu’s stunning makeup is courtesy of Floria, who I’d like to praise incessantly just based on how stunning our belle looks. Quoting the belle verbatim,‘’ she understands what the bride wants and will do any style you ask her to“. I think one of the key factors in choosing a MUA artist should be based on two things – who knows what she’s doing (because this can go two ways) and the willingness to listen to the client and adapt. Floria does both, so it’s a win-win in this blogger’s book of fame.
What truly cements a South Indian look is the jewellery and how can I not mention and give credit to this exquisite intricate neckpiece and chandbali earrings from Kirthi diamonds. I really do think no trousseau is complete without an exquisite pair of jewellery that you can pair with anything and everything. If you’re on the lookout for how to carry off a 6-yard look to perfection, I’d say taking notes from Geethu will help or from here (excuse me, how can I miss the chance not promote myself 😎). A girl’s gotta be her own biggest cheerleader!
Speaking of cheerleaders. Who better and who celebrates us more than our very own makers? I hope when my daughter is all grown up and chooses a partner to walk the road of life with, I look this ecstatic, celebrating her big day. I mean, c’mon. If there is anyone who looks at these pictures and not melt, I have a question for you – who hurt you 🧐?
Now that they’re all breaking a leg, you’d think they’d be in bed sleeping getting some rest, but heavens no. This family knows how to keep the party started and going 💃🏻. Well, in this case, it’s not exactly a party, but if you think about it, weddings and all events around it are kind of like a big party. We celebrate, eat cake, and have the best time of our lives. It’s the same thing, except in this case, we also happen to say I DO to a person who’ll be your lifelong party accompanier or party starter 😆.
For their D-day, may I say on a loop that Geethu was a true vision in white. And who better than the skilled craftsman at Althea, Kochi, to make our belle’s dream outfit? Wanting to be a bride in white is exactly what our belles’s heart desired and that is exactly what she got.
And who better than the ever-popular Althea to handcraft such a breathtaking outfit? This exquisite hand-worked sari was not the only highlight. What truly steals the show is the wedding veil. This seemingly simple bridal accessory can mean different things to different people. For some, it is part of their religion and culture. For some, it’s the inherent magic of veils that they want. For some, it is a fashion statement, and for some, it is a family heirloom they hope and desire to pass on. If you think about it, you could leave your wedding outfit to your daughter, but they might think it’s outdated or not to their taste. But veils are often timeless and are a one size fits all so this could be your family heirloom to pass down. But most importantly, there’s an inherent magic to the moment when the groom lifts the bride’s veil and sees her for the first time as a bride. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a core memory for the rest of your life, and why miss it when the only ingredient it takes is a gorgeous veil to add to your beauty?
While Geethu was a vision in white, Thomas decided to handsomely suit up in a gorgeous hue of blue customized to perfection from PN Rao, Bangalore. I’d say, of all the standard ‘suit’ colours – blue’s the hue with the most charm. It’s bold and doesn’t casually blend in, but at the same time, you’re demanding casual attention. I think blue is a colour that most grooms gravitate towards for a reason. I also love the pop of colour Thomas bought in with the addition of the yellow tie. When you choose to go classic, after all, it is your wedding. I think there is always a ton of room for you to add a touch of personal flair, and I think a great way to bring that in is in the tie you choose. The blue suit and white shirt combination creates quite a momentous canvas for one to add an accessory to showcase your personality. For me, that means a gorgeous yellow silk tie with funky car patterns 😍.
I think pulling off a well thought out wedding comes in pieces. It starts with obviously piece 1 being the groom and bride liking each other enough to decide lets do this for the rest of our life, piece 2 being piecing the events together (couldn’t resist sneaking in a pun 😇) and piece 3 is in finding what out what you want to wear and how you want to look and finally piece 4 being, how the each event should look like. Décor is often what sets the tone for the entire event and be mindful this is why you need to choose wisely on who does the décor and how it should look.
One of the most iconic wedding decorations is flowers, and they can be used on everything without it being overkill. They lighten up the bride, soften corners, and photograph beautifully. I mean, who doesn’t want dreamy wedding pictures? Speaking of dreamy pictures, lets not overlook the value of a talented photographer – which is priceless.
Over time, many of your other vendors may fade from memory. Perhaps the wrong song was played, or the flowers arrived in a shade of pink different from what you had envisioned which in the scheme of things, is something we can make our peace with but a wedding photographer captures the pictures that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. These are the moments you’ll revisit endlessly to relive your special day.
This is why entrusting your wedding photography to someone who is talented and speaks to your taste is important. Pooja from Pooja Joseph Photography is someone who fits this bill entirely. The pictures you see should do the job of convincing.
Now, lets take a look into what has to be my most favourite part about all things weddings – COUPLE FACT, shall we! I love being able to speak to couples on what and why they choose to spend the rest of their life with this ONE SPECIFIC PERSON. I mean if you stop and think about it – the decision of whom who choose to spend your life with will affect the trajectory of the rest of your life. So how do you know what to look for in a person. I think a great starting point is how the other person makes you feel. I think as individuals we will not always be delighted by the discoveries we make about the person we love, but when it comes to how they make you feel and how they treat you through anger and frustration what really seals the deal. Something Geethu mentioned to me about Thomas stood out to me. I quote verbatim, “ he puts me first”.
How someone treats you says more about them because It finally comes down to choice – an intentional choice. An intentional choice to be kind. Remember, love lasts, but it doesn’t last by itself. It lasts because we keep putting in the work. So choose your partners wisely, choose to see how they treat you through all seasons of emotions, and voila, you’ve cracked marriage in a nutshell (could I be more wise 😇).
And as always, if you have any questions for me regarding this post or otherwise, you know the drill. Don’t forget to show us love on our Instagram handle-@epokalyanam and our Facebook page- @epokalyanam.theblog and please write in, if you love what you read. Psst, by doing so, you’ll be absolutely making my day.
❤️,
Elza
Epo Kalyanam 