Light Lehenga's

I know the blogs becoming more like a marketing tool for the brand, but I really want to show you guys what I am working on! I feel like I get more honest replies via blog than any where else.

Promise will be back to normal blogging soon!

Lehenga's for your sangeet, mehendi and the sister's of the bride and groom!

They are all in the range of 12k-20k

MC13L02

MC13L01

MC13W14

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For all Art Lovers, Presenting Noopur Anita Balia!!

I have a little treat for all you Art Lovers out there, Crazy Indian Brides's Bestest friend is out with her art exhibition soon! And her work is beyond extraordinary!
 ( I never knew she could paint like this! was quite a shock when I first found out! so just had to HAD to put it up for you to see!)

Crazy Indian Wedding Presents :

Noopur Anita Balia

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born and brought up in Ahmedabad. Graduated as a design student of NIFT in 2010 from Mumbai she immediately left for her hometown Ahmedabad where she came across her mother's paintings and the impact of direct contact with abstract art was such that she began to simplify it in my own way. That's when the journey began...

To my chubbier friends

Our counterparts across the world to some extend do not have an issue finding a plus size gown while we, we are looked down upon when we enter a bridal store. "Ap kay size may nahi hai" " Ye he design miley ga", "Aur nahi hai" 

It isn't the bigger shops that cause us this pain, its the smaller vendors. While I fit into most Frontier Raaz size the ones that I didn't or the fellow chubbier brides beside me didn't they would happily and quietly fit it on with a belt.

 It was at shops like Chhabra 555 where I got quiet a shock. I had gone with my friend to get her lehenga for my wedding and she is a bit like me, probably a little heavier but a normal chubbish girl. It was there where we heard "Ma'am hum ap k size mein nahi banatey" then they started showing us old styles which our mothers used to wear claiming "yahi aaye ga". We decided to chuck lehenga and started looking at this beautiful chiffon Saree "Ma'am ye ap k upar teek nahi lagay gi ap koi crepe ya silk ki lelo" I felt like slapping that sales man. As I approached the manager to complain I found out he was saying something similar to another girl!!

These stupid salesman and idiotic people who idealize the perfect Bride image are @!#$@#!!##!

So my dear Chubby friends don't worry because these people will still be sitting and spending their life in their shops while your out there getting married to the man of your dreams, to the man who loves you no matter what, to the man who loves you because your not all sticks and bones.

Crazy Indian Bride

Fighting Fat Since 1988

Sunday = Movie and dinner.....Nah! we are not like that.

Its always good to keep up 'dating' post marriage keep the fun alive. So what do you do? movie and dinner every single week?? Quick get away 2 days trips?

Quick getaway trips are best reserved for a long weekend and movie and dinner became quite boring in a while.

We call our Sundays 'Random Sunday' where we dress up, take our car and just drive. Its in route to no where when we decide what to do.

Here is how it begin...

We were on our way to CP for just loitering around and dinner when we saw this on the road :

We then did the only logical step possible...followed it :P

And we found our self in the middle of an old car exhibition!

We had so much fun looking at old cars and deciding which ones we want, we decided that 'Random Sundays' would became our ritual.

Other Random Sundays :

- Went to the planetarium.

Although the show timing were over, we walked around and saw these amazing parks which had sooo many peacocks!! and the chotu sa canteen that they have has amazing samosa's! There are cats and peacocks that roam around inside the canteen area as well!

- Watched a Play @ kamani , while out driving we saw a poster that said Theater festival! and we knew we had to go!

- National Science Centre

We watched an animated 3D movie (really bakwas but very funny) plus we played a LOT of 'scientific' games @ the museum

- Punjabi Organisation Baisakhi Festival @ Siri Fort 

Found this function online while driving and we had to go! there were a lot of famous punjabi singers out of which I remember Miss Pooja as one of the names.

So its easy to get in if your punjabi coz you are pre-informed and you get to be a member of the society. But since we weren't members or Punjabi's we sweet talked out way into the event :D

-Mika Concert

This wasn't entirely random, we saw the posters a couple of days ago and boy got me tickets as a surprise to celebrate our 1yr 1 month engagement anniversary :)

Unfortunately the last minute ticket rush  got us tickets in the very last barrier no seating. We bribed our self to VIP and then everyone just broke down the barriers to get to the VVIP section. Watched the concert standing on top of chairs and danced the night away :)


-This Sunday we visited the Delhi Ridding Club (yes there is one) and Delhi Gymkhana (no we are not members and no we didn't pay)



WHAT ELSE TO DO??

There are a list of things! Delhi has unusual surprises if your willing to explore!

If I list out number of things for you to do then it won't be random, so next time instead of just movie and a dinner drive around and find something new.

Here's a little help for you, check these sites when your out :

1. http://www.buzzintown.com/delhi/home.html
2. http://bpbweekend.com/delhi-3
3. http://www.delhievents.com/  (CIB highly recommends this one! easy to read!)
4. http://timescity.com/delhi/events
5. http://delhi.burrp.com/events
6. http://in.bookmyshow.com/plays-events/


Go and explore on your own now!!

Hint : There is a magic show by PC Sorcar on the 10th.


What is it that you like to do on a Sunday?? Any suggestions for the Crazy Indian Bride??

Honeymoon Destination: GOA!

Post wedding I have been out on a lot of mini-trips, the result of which my bestfriend (who travels almost every 2months) started complaining that I travel a LOT. Ah well, I am not complaining... :P

We recently went to Goa for our Engagement Anniversary.

Here are glimps of that :

Thank you readers for great advice!!

HONEYMOONERS :
If you and your partner want a relaxed chilled out trip then goa is definitely a place to go.
Although we spent most of our time in North Goa a LOT of people advised us to go to South Goa for a more Romantic time.

Since we didn't have a lot of days on our hand and we are more of an adventure couple than a romantic one we stayed in North Goa only and enjoyed in thoroughly.

My personal advice, if your honeymooning and want beaches in India, Kerela is a better option or Andaman and Nicobar. Goa is a place you can go anytime. Infact we mostly saw either college groups or Young couples with little kids.

Climbing down to Vagator beach for Breakfast.
Out of all North Goa Beaches we enjoyed Vagator the most!
It had mostly foreign tourist, so taking a dip in the sea here was way more comfortable than anywhere else.

Anjuna Beach
Rocky Beach, Didn't like it much.

Arpora Market (Every Saturday)
Loved it!
The tiny shops were pretty interesting but the best part was live music at the center of the market and the crowd was fun!
Everyone danced where they could find a place!

Water sports at Calangute!

We walked from Calangute to Baga.
They are inter-connected, but its a 2km walk.

Lunch at Donna Paula @ 4pm :P
Although Donna Paula was a huge dissapointment we were able to have lunch at a resort with a private beach!

Baga Beach Shacks in the morning and at Night
If you are going to Goa make sure to have dinner at the Baga Shacks atleast once!
Awesome feeling of pitch darkness, candle light, sand and the sound of waves and Music.
There isn't a place in Goa which dosen't have Music.

Boat Cruise on Mandovi River
They had a DJ Floor on the boat, but the crowd was really bad so no decent person danced...
Skip it if you can.
There are also a lot of casino boats if you gamble but make sure the boy wears long trousers, shorts not allowed.

Lasagna at Brittos, Baga : loved the food but very little vegetarian options
Various places :Double Chocolate pastry, Strawberry and banana shake, Apple Pie with Cream
And Last Chocolate Tart with Strawberries on the night of our 1st engagement anniversary :D

Wedding File 8 : Honeymoon : South Africa!

I started writing about Goa, when I realized that I haven't yet written about South Africa!!

There is sooo much to tell and so little space, don't want to bore you much so will try to be precise...

We booked our tour via Cox and Kings, rather my then-fiance-now-husband booked it as a surprise!  if you have been following the blog you will know why I wasn't involved in the decision making.

It took us 25 hours to reach South Africa, we switched flights in between. It could have taken us less amount of time to reach, but would have cost us the same amount as the whole 11 day trip.

Since we were going back in time with each flight we ended up being served 3 breakfast!!

Cango Wildlife Ranch
See the left bottom picture, one of the tiger cub is called Shahrukh Khan!

Patted a cheetah!!
He was ok when everyone else patted him, but the minute I did right after this picture it turned towards me, the wildlife range people rushed to my side to move me away.
When I fearlessly went to the next cheetah to pat him he roared at me!! Guess cheetah's dont like me much...

Cango Cave, they were super beautiful!

Ostrich Farm
Below Right picture : Yes I am standing on Ostrich eggs! They are the strongest of all eggs.

Sunset Cruise on Knysna Lagoon
This is the one we had most fun on, best feature of the whole trip :)

Betty's Bay
Penguins!

Pictures with everything yellow, in Cape town

Cape town
Got our pictures clicked with a recently married Christian Couple,
 just like they get clicked with Indian bride and groom when they come to India :P
Best Pizza of the trip! Cheese, Basil and Cherry Tomatoes.
Dance performance @ Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

Diamond Factory!

Seal Island in Atlantic Ocean

Safari

Zimbabwe
Welcomed by African dance
Visit to Victoria Falls
We also took a cruise on the Zambezi River

Some of the yummy food we had!
We are eggitarians, so ofcourse eating the local food was a no-no.
Breakfast was at the hotels and not big of an issue since there was always bread, eggs and really good deserts.
Lunch was tit-bits and dinner was good though out.
 We were provided with Indian dinner every day except in Victoria Falls where we had pizza for dinner instead.
Below Right : Popcorn Chocolate, super yum!!

Like us on Facebook for constant updates! http://www.facebook.com/crazyindianwedding

Wedding File 7 : The Next Day

It seemed unfair to me that I let my readers down. After all once all the brides-to-be had finally become brides and entered the new home as a 'Bahu' this blog became a bit irrelevant for them.

This doesn't seem right, after all you have been following the blog of a while now and no longer can you look at it for help, tips or just for a time-pass read.

So today we re-invent this blog a bit, it will still serve the brides-to-be with ideas and inspirations, shop reviews, discounts, exhibitions, skin care and a LOT more.

It will now also include tips and tricks for the New Bride aka the New Bahu, handling the in-laws, setting up the home and dividing the house hold responsibility. A take on both living with in-laws and living without them.

Let the journey begin where we last left it, post Vidaii, in the wee hours of 25th Nov.

The car arrived at the doorsteps of my new home..

My in-laws love everything filmy and everything serial-y. So ofcourse on the day of the wedding when me and the boy arrived home late night (early morning) we were welcomed in with an arti thali, followed by pushing a Kalash by my right foot so that the rice inside it spilled in the house. Next I steeped into a thali of Alta and was asked to walk into my new home.

We walked to the mandir in the house and post that were taken into the living room to sit among numerous relatives. That was probably the most awkward and uncomfortable moment of all, cause you are just sitting there unaware what to do and there are about 20 people staring at you.

Finally to break the ice my youngest 'Devar' (Brother-in-law) preformed a little dance for me on 'yo yo honey singh!' (lol)

We went off to sleep for 2 hours, rather everyone else went off to sleep and I was left to detangle my enormous hair-do, although my MUA was kind enough to not do a lot of back-combing I still had a lot of wrapped gajara around it to unwrap, so by the time I finished it was time to take a bath and get ready for the morning functions and pooja.

We were taken to a near by mandir first by my mother-in-law and along went my 2 devars. After bowing our heads dutifully to all gods we palyed Santi in the mandir complex. 

Santi is a game played between devar and bhabhi. We were both given neem sticks and asked to hit each other thrice. This is an indication that the bhabhi is like a mother to her devar and can reprimand him henceforth. 

By the time we came back home everyone else had woken up and it was time to play the famous Kangna. 

Remember when we tied the kangna on the day of Haldi well it was time for the boy to open the knots using one hand and I got to open his using two hands.

I had less number of knots and he should have been able to open mine quicker but he twisted and turned it so much that everytime he opened one knot he would end up making two more (hahaha)

Next was 'find-the-ring' 

I had planned to let the boy win this but the whole family said they were on my side, so for them I tried to win, which I did :P but its true the sister responsible for putting in the ring insured it was on my side...so tiny cheating.

Open the Fist: we were suppose to put the ring in our fist and the other person had to try opening it. I was allowed 2 hands while the boy had to use only one hand. (I did break my nails during this!)

Mu Dhikahyi ( See the brides face)

First my hair was Oiled and re-made, I was still wearing my shaadi ki chudiya which were then changed to onces given by my in-laws.

It was time for all the Aunts and other female relatives to gather around and see my face and give gifts. So I did what the Brides used to do in earlier times, put a gungat.

  

Ofcourse we did have fun with it

This was followed by the devars sitting on my lap and not getting up till they received money.

I was then asked to make Halwa, which I did and ended up putting too much ghee! (Oops)

It was almost 3pm by the time we finished all the games and rasams, it was then when we finally sat down for breakfast!

Post Wedding : Trousseau

On popular demand here are few pictures of my trousseau.
I tend to be very simple in my every day wear, don't be fooled by my wedding looks, but my in-laws love bling so my trousseau is a bit of mixture of both!

This is probably the first Saree I brought for my wedding, I had an eye on this from even before the wedding was fixed!
Wore it on Pag-Phera

At home, Starting few weeks

Going out with family, starting few weeks

At a family friends wedding

Family Friends wedding

Extended Family Dinner

At Relatives Engagement

Dinner with Extended Family

At home

Family Friends Wedding

Family Friends wedding

Extended Family Dinner

Out of town, staying at a Family home

Going out with family

Out with family

After putting all the pictures together I have come to realize that I have been wearing the same sweater through out! every where! and the same footwear too! I think I really like these two......must remember to wear something different next time!

That's it for now, I do have a LOT of other things as well. You guys will be updated on it as and when I wear them.

Tiny Tip :

 If your confused what to buy for your trousseau take a mix of stuff. Things you like, things your in-laws would like and things that are in fashion. Even if your adamant that you will wear only what you like because that is the only thing that 'suits' you, think again.

So you HATE what people gifted you, what were they thinking when they gave you such a saree....they were thinking how happy you'll be on receiving it.

You don't have to go out of your way to wear it any where and every where. Wear that saree when you go to visit the saree-gifting-person.

And what if the unliked-saree was given to you by your in-laws, well the first few weeks are the best time to wear them because most of that time you'll be at home away from public eyes and still be expected to be dressed up like a million buck, plus it will make your in-laws super happy to see you wear something they gave and in-directly make your husband happy, and isn't that what we want...