Have you ever looked at someone and thought wow and then looked at yourself and thought why aren’t I that beautiful? I think being able to appreciate the value of others without decreasing yours is a tough skill to come by. It comes with acceptance and time and mostly age. Teenage me really struggled with myself. I was never smart enough or pretty enough or good enough compared to my peers. I could do a bit of the blame shuffling and say bullying really tore my spirit down, which it did but I also was never able to look at myself and think I AM ENOUGH TO begin with.
It took me crossing my mid 20’s to be able to look at myself and not flinch. It took me being around calm and mindful women to realize, I didn’t have to tear myself down every time. It took me having a child, seeing my body being stretched to such ends to realize – I OWE it to my body and my mind whose done so much for me to treat them both better. It took me wanting my daughter to look at herself and see she’s enough to take a whole turn on how I look at myself. Remember, the longest relationship you will ever have is the one you’ll have with yourself. So be kind to yourself and try to remind yourself that you are enough. Sometimes it’s important that we remember to treat ourselves with kindness.
Speaking of kindness. Today’s belle is someone who radiates so much of kindness and warmth. I’ve said this many times before but hands down, one of the many reasons that keeps me going to write about weddings is the kind of kinship I’ve seen my way through women I get to meet through this blog. Epo Kalyanam started off with me wanting to help brides-to-be but it has truly helped me more and I’m always going to be sappy vocal about it 😚.
Meet our stunning duo of today, Reethu and Paul who I promise you will leave you breathless. Now if I had a penny for every time I said this, boy o boy, would I be swimming in a pool of money 😄. One word I got to hear repeatedly about our belle was ‘clarity’. I was told she knew exactly what she wanted – from the silhouette, to the color, to the fit. Everything was already designed and ready to go in Reethu’s mind. All she needed was a talented team to bring her vision to life.
Reethu’s beautiful mauve lehenga was custom made at Zueliha, Kochi. Detailed to perfection, was this beautifully embroidered zardosi top and along with it a breathtaking train that stole the show. For a bride who knew exactly what she wanted, the addition of the train was done on pure whim and boy, what a stunning outcome. I think sometimes just trusting your gut and the process is key.
What makes a look come together is always the little details. Whether that’s the intricate detailing on the blouse, flair of the skirt, the addition of a train for your ensemble. All of these details add a personal touch to your attire. Trains are something that you usually see done for wedding outfits. Mostly, people forget about it (I know, I did and boy do I wish I could go back). There’s something truly magical about trains that adds a magical quality to your entrance as you cascade down with your train following in your path.
While long trains can and are extremely beautiful, they can be difficult to function in. So maybe go the route of a medium train (like our belle) rather than perhaps a 75 foot train which might in the long run be a tad difficult. I know, I’d fall flat on my face half way through 🤫 but if elegance is your cup of tea, do not hesitate one bit to go all out if that’s your style.
Once you’ve found your ONE. This applies to both your man and what you want to wear 😉, the next step is to choose your finishing touches and it starts with choosing your accessories. It’s no secret that what you wear is always going to be the star of the show but choosing the right baubles is how you elevate and complete your style. Now repeat after me. The most important rule of thumb with baubles is not to overdo it. Less is more is distinctly true for all things jewellery.
All you need to remember when choosing any accessory is that it should work with what you’re wearing and not against it. If your outfit has an embellished bodice like our belle’s, skip the necklace altogether and instead pair it with statement earring. Remember balance is key and not all outfits need a necklace. Reethu’s stunning choice of statement chandbhali earrings set in tournamaline stones are courtesy of MOD, Kochi who never fail to impress.
Now if you’re a bride-to-be who typically doesn’t like a great deal of accessories on or around your face, I think the idea of choosing a pretty bracelet is something you can get on board with. Unlike earrings and necklaces, with this little beauty you don’t have to fret if it matches or clashes your neckline and you can choose it to be as subtle or statement making as you wish. Need I say more to get you aboard the bracelet train 🤗. If my magical convincing skills haven’t won you over, might I nudge you gently towards a closer look at Reethu’s beautiful kundan bracelet from MOD, Kochi. Not too much but oh so enough, right ❤️?
If you’re a bride-to-be in the thick of wedding planning, you’re probably very well aware of one very important fact: Weddings can be expensive and that can lead to the multi billon question(ironic, isn’t it 😄) of where to splurge and where to save. As far as saving goes, your makeup is one where I’d say its worth spending to ensure your working with a skilled artist who can make you look your best and most importantly, save you time and stress.
Our stunner’s beautiful skin like makeup is courtesy of Reshma of Shimmer Me who shines through with an exceptional sense of aesthetics. It’s always the simple details that’ll make or break your look. Invest your time on doing solid research, ask questions and most importantly work in a trial session before. Your hair and makeup artist is going to be one of the first vendors you’re going to see on your big day and you’d sleep better knowing they’ll be bringing the right skills and energy to your big day.
Now there’ll come a time in every groom-to-be’s life where he’ll need to carefully choose the one from a crowded field of…suits (my puns can be sometimes quite pun-tastic😉). And the shortest route to the perfect one is knowing that there is no one fits all. While the classic black and white combination will always be in the top dapper category, it doesn’t mean it has to be the one you choose. At the end of the day, what you wear needs to be solely based on what you like. You can choose to wear a suit in rainbow colors if that’s what you want 😎. You can also choose to go with a grey suit like our dapper Paul here that not only compliments a variety of other colors allowing you to dazzle while the bride-to-be shines bright like a diamond (had to slip that lyric in 😄) right beside you.
Be it your engagement or your wedding day, there is always going to be an army of minute details that need to be taken care of when planning your big day. Much of them which you’re aware of and the rest which unsurprisingly pop right in the middle when it shouldn’t. To tackle these mammoth details, hiring a skilled event planner will save you some time and allow you to focus on the bigger details of your day.
While I do admit that hiring an event planner or a event decorator is an additional cost, they can and do definitely save you time and stress which is priceless. The key folks is in finding and hiring the right person. Now if hiring an event planner is in your budget, I think Reethu’s décor done by The Hue Story will have your heart in a melted puddle.
A seasoned event planner will save you the headache of figuring out what to do and how to do it. Our belle had a vision for how she hoped her engagement would look and when the right event planner comes into play, they will hear what you want and use their expertise to bring your vision to life. All Reethu had to do was give a vague sketch on how and what she expected the decorated space to look like and Roshni delivered it to perfection (quote by quote).
Now as a former bride, I can assure you that while planning for your engagement or wedding can take months and years perhaps (hello Corona 👋), the actual day will fly by in an instance. This is why photographers are one of the most important vendors for they capture every moment so you can hold onto the memories which is why photography is such an important investment.
The pictures are the one thing you walk away with from your big day. Well that and a spouse 😄 so choose both wisely. Reethu and Paul’s stunning pictures are courtesy of Ashik Thomas Photography who needs no introduction. There’s something about his photographs that always seem to tell a story. A story tailor made differently and uniquely for every couple.
Now weddings are a magical occasion but they can also be quite mind boggling. No matter if you’re the bride herself or the guest to the event, deciphering what to wear can be a tricky business. However, the sky is the limit when you’re the bride. Every other day there’s a new silhouette, a new trend that’s taken over the wedding market.
Despite the trends, the Indian sari continues to be one of the oldest surviving garments. This classic nine yards of beauty has passed the test of time undergoing a makeover for every generation, but never losing its relevance in the process.
When it comes to wedding inspiration, the first instinct for most brides-to-be is to go through bridal magazines and good old trusty Pinterest and pin pictures onto their Pinterest board. However our meticulously planned had ONLY one picture pinned – her grandmother’s timeless saris. If you think about it, the world of fashion is what inspires us with many new trends and styles that a person inculcates into and as their personal style and sometimes we get that very inspiration from those around us and who better than the ones who’ve have nurtured and watched you grow.
Reethu’s stunning 6 yards of flowing gold was/is an ode to the timelessness of the elegant sari’s worn by her grandmother and mother and the women who’ve paved the way for them. I think one of the beauties of weddings is the way it can bring generations together. Something as simple as what you wear can be a testimony to how significant family relationships are.
While your wedding ensemble is what transforms you into the beautiful bride, your wedding jewellery is quintessential to complete your look. Reethu’s stunning taste clearly shines onto her jewellery choices as well. Complementing her sari was this stunning closed diamond necklace paired with these gorgeous stud earrings and statement ring from Kiritilals, Kochi. With their demure visual appeal, these beauties are a good choice when you want that simple look and yet need it to complement with your other baubles.
I personally love the addition of the effortless mang tika which really elevates her look. All of these stunning choices are courtesy of Kiritlals, Kochi who judging by the choices of our bride truly is a store worth visiting.
When it comes to weddings, flowers can be found everywhere. From bouquets to boutonnieres to floral decorations. They’re everywhere. Your wedding bouquet is like the cherry on top of your bridal look cake. The chosen blooms are a great way to express your personal style and taste and that is entirely what you see in these beautiful pink lotus buds paired with green fern leaves done to perfection by Roshni from The Hue Story.
Long gone are the days of the groom being exempt from the wedding. When it comes to choosing ourfits for men, there is certainly more than meets the eye. With the multitude of choices, the question is what do you want? Do you go with a choice more attuned to your personality? Do you go with the more favored look? Or do you go with a choice more attuned to your personality? The Indian sherwani is a tried and true option for grooms interested in the traditional attire choices. It is sleek and timeless and for those of you worried that this look might not offer enough personalization, fret not. I’d ask you to go the bespoke outfit route chosen by our dapper Paul. I mean. If looking at Paul doesn’t convince you to go the bespoke route, I believe nothing will 😉. Kudos to Hari Anand for kicking the ball out of the park 😍.
When it comes to weddings, there is always going to be a long list of things to take care of. Question is. Where do wedding invitations fall on the line of importance on this list? If you ask me, they belong right up there with every other detail that holds a place in a wedding.
Your wedding is an especially important day to your family and friends and they’re likely to cherish it for years to come. You wouldn’t throw away family photos, would you? You keep them in a safe space and as the years go by, you cherish them more. A wedding invitation works the same and you’d be astonished at how many will cherish your invitations and how they’ll turn into keepsakes for both you and those who love you.
Reethu and Paul literally took the idea of BETTER HALVES down the aisle and onto their invites as well. Smart love birds, aren’t they? I haven’t stopped grinning since I laid my eyes on their thoughtful and one-of-a-kind invite 😄.
Now, drum rolls please for my favorite part– COUPLE FACT. We all tend to look at relationships and love as the dreamy happily ever after where everything remains constant. Now if you’ve been in a relationship with the same person for a while, you’ll come to realize that, while some things inevitably stay the same (love for momos, love for cake), some things are bound to change over time. I think it’s fair to say that love is a journey and not a destination. The blissful happy ever after where everything and everyone remains the same is rather a satisfying narrative shown in movies. Being able to comprehend that life changes momentarily, the weather changes, love changes are all just one piece in the pie of a relationship ( I do tend to think of everything in terms of food 😄).
People inevitably change over time and so do the stages and being able to understand, appreciate and adapt to those changes are how a relationship stands the test of time.
I always ask my brides what caught their eye when they met their husband-to-be for the first time. And I love how refreshing Reethu’s response was which is what got me thinking how important it is to make peace with changes that come along as you journey life together as a team. I think I’ll leave this little nugget of gold (quote a quote) by Reethu behind for all my newly weds-to-be “He spoke, with easy confidence and care. He had this winning smile and smiling eyes. Someone so refreshingly different, this person. Maybe that. Here some truth: I feel like I live in another world and time compared to when i met Paul. And maybe what I’ve written is not how I see him now. But I thoroughly enjoyed going back in time and seeing how I used to see him. My first impressions about Paul were neither accurate nor untrue. The pandemic really has changed our brains and way we think, the difference is difficult to comprehend even”.
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 Facebook page –@epokalyanam.theblog. And please feel free to drop in a message if you love what you read and see. Psst, by doing so you’ll be absolutely making my day.
❤️,
Elza
Epo Kalyanam 