Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Monsoon wedding, anyone?

I collect Indian wedding invitations and cherish them. I think it's lovely to see a couple's and family's creativity and personality through the design, color, texture, etc. Of course we can't attend every Indian wedding as many of them take place in India, but I try to drag my poor husband to as many of them as possible, because when else would I get the chance to wear my sari's? Here are some of my favorite invitations that I've received over the past couple years...


The pretty sari material in the background was a wedding gift from one of Mahesh's cousins. One of the regrets I have about living in NY rather than India is small number of occasions where I could wear my traditional outfits.



This invitation arrived in a padded, silk covered monogrammed box! Can you imagine my excitement?! Uhh, yes. We were very busy at this extravagant wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel of our cousin Ravi to the lovely Monica where my husband and his brother Anil from Hong Kong were also groomsmen. They recently welcomed a darling baby daughter into the world, that, ahem...I still need to meet.
Unfortunately we're invited to more weddings than we are able to attend and this was one of them. Yes, there are loose sequins under a clear plastic covering on the Sangeet invitation....I wonder what the party was like?!


This romantic wedding of our dear cousin Anjali took place in Goa several weeks after our India trip, so consequently and sadly, we were not able to attend. This is our announcement of our secret and low-key wedding last September. The delicate paper is sitting atop a gorgeous lengha that my auntie had made for me. My husband's family have been so warm and welcoming to me. Maybe we'll have our own Indian wedding one day. Shhhhh. Don't tell my husband--I'll have to surprise him.



I finally had the pleasure of attending a wedding in India. In Mumbai, Mohit (another close cousin of my husband and now mine too) married his lovely bride Natasha. Having India as a backdrop for this wedding was truly a magical experience.

Now, this invitation is resting on one of my favorite sari's that one of my aunties had made for me. It looks completely breathtaking on me, (my husband just wrote that, I promise).

My good friend, Jules, who I met at Bhangra class several years ago, recently married her long-time sweetheart, Wakar in Pakistan. I live vicariously through their handsome wedding photos where Jules, the blond princess, looks like she was born to wear a wedding lengha.
This is the invitation of our dear friends and "mad scientists" (they're actually just very smart Phd students with many other interests), Ram and Mary. Like us, they are also a lovely ethnic mix of Indian and American and had their wedding in Dallas. You can view Mary's enjoyable blog here.

This elaborate wedding took place at a castle in, would you believe, New York! During the Barat Nikashi (the welcoming of the groom), the groom rode in on an elaborately adorned white horse. The bride leaned over her half-moon balcony on the top floor of the castle in her wedding lengha, like a longing Juliet reaching down for her dearest. It was all quite over-the-top and dramatic, but extremely enjoyable and elegant.

16 comments:

Elisa Day said...

Lovely wedding invitations! Thanks for sharing

Mary Elizabeth Liberty said...

I have a collection of these too, but nothing so extensive as yours. I realized a bit too late that I should have done my invitations in India. They put our american options to shame. (I am honored to have made the list here!)

Anonymous said...

i feel the same way--about saris. only so many occasions to wear them here! we have a really special Hanuman Temple here in Taos so festivals are that occasion here! those invitations are stunning, and teh 108 temples post really strikes that homesick pang inside. ahhh, India! we want to go back this winter, but we'll see...

Sherri said...

Elisa, Thanks for visiting!

Mary, I think your announcment was lovely - and so wonderfully coloful! We need to meet up soon for dinner...

Jenny, thank you for visiting! Hmm, you have a many occasions to wear sari's? Where are you? I'm coming.

Take care all of you.
Shireena

bhumika said...

Shireena, this is such a lovely collection. Even i have a good collection and will share it on my blog someday. Planning to use one of these designs on my wedding card, whenever that happens :)

Madhu Gopalan said...

Wow! This was such a fun post! You have a lovely collection of wedding cards :)

Anonymous said...

now i know whom to turn for ideas.

Sherri said...

Bhumika,thank you! I'm looking forward to seeing your collection and hopefully your own one day.

Madhumita, thanks for visiting and commenting!

Indian yarn, I love this screen name. I'm on my way to your blog to check out your 'yarn'.

Take care,
Shireena

Chandan said...

Lovely post Shirena, brimming with ideas...

Sherri said...

Thanks Chandan!
Nice to hear from you.

Take care,
S

Vineeta said...

Shireena, what a pleasant surprise to discover you blog! I'm so glad for that comment you left on mine or I'd never have come here. And you love for all things Indian is completely endearing. Havent gone beyond this page, but its a pleasure seeing your step by step instructions on masala Tea & the Kathak pictures & this lovely collection of these beautiful invites. I'm gonna drop by more often :)

Sherri said...

Vineeta, Thank you! Visit anytime. Your art and your light are inspiringly beautiful.

Take care :)

megha puNAter" said...

wow! thats quite a collection of wedding cards,loved the silk covered box.a very interesting blog.

Unknown said...

Reply to your comment on my blog
Hi Shireena,
Very flattered about what you have to say about my art. I do sell my art. This series however is sold. Let me know if you have anything specific in mind and I could do it for you. :)
Kalyani

Unknown said...

I recognize one of those invitations Sherriann!! I'm glad you liked it. I just came across your blog -- I had no idea you did this -- I'm loving it!!! Hope all is well xxxx

Unknown said...

Great post Dear…….keep posting!!
Birthday Invitation Cards