One of the biggest joys for any bride is setting up her bridal trousseau. I am no exception. As soon as my wedding was fixed last year in March for September the same year, I did not wait a single day to start my search. I searched online for the kind of clothes and jewellery I want. Being the picky control freak that I am, when I look back now, I cannot believe the bridezilla (me :-P) got everything just the way I wanted for my Kerala Hindu Wedding 🙂
Tying the Knot:
This was to happen in front of the famous Guruvayur temple in Thrissur. Being a traditional affair with only a few really close friends and relatives joining, I wanted to wear the quintessential Kerala sari – the kasavu sari.
I didn’t want it to be too plain. I wanted the new trend in kasavu saris – the tissue. It is heavier than your typical kasavu sari because the golden threads are interwoven throughout the body of the sari and not just the border to impart a shine throughout. I first checked the most famous shop for Kasavu – the Kasavukada in Cochin. I didn’t like anything there and moved onto Kalyan saris showroom in Cochin. There I found what I wanted.
Function at Hotel Devaragam immediately after tying the knot:
Since Guruvayur is a very busy temple, we barely get 5 minutes there. So everything else is continued at a hotel or auditorium that you chose nearby. For this function, I had no doubt whatsoever, that a beautiful classic red sari is what I want. It had always been on my mind. We checked the famous Seematti, Jayalakshmi Showrooms in Cochin, but I didn’t like any. Where better to get a beautiful Kanchipuram Silk sari than Kanchipuram itself? So, we all left for Chennai (where we checked Nalli, Pothy’s etc., and I didn’t like any) and from there to Kanchipuram. Babu Sah is the most famous name there, so we checked that out. Average designs and dull reds and maroons – I was thoroughly disappointed. Till that time, I had rejected at least 150 saris! Now you know how choosy I am. I thought I would have to adjust with some mediocre sari from Chennai.
As we were returning, we saw Prakash Silks showroom and decided to give it a shot. The same situation there also – one sari after another – saris pouring in front of me! I had lost my heart. After about 20 saris, I finally saw this one and it was love at first sight!
Not just the saris but even the jewellery hunting was equally daunting for my relatives (poor things!). I wanted temple jewellery only and wouldn’t settle for the usual boring Kerala designs that I just hated. We walked in and out of at least 15 jewellery showrooms and I finally got what I wanted!
Gold:Earrings and 1st necklace-Vummidi Bangaru, Chennai
2nd necklace-NAC Jewellers, Chennai
3rd necklace-Bhima Jewellery, Cochin
4th necklace-Kalyan Jewellers, Cochin
Bangles-GRT Jewellers, Chennai
Non-gold: Kundan Maang Tikka- online.
Kamarbandh, Armlet & Choti-Goodwill collections, Cochin
Hair, Sari draping and jewellery setting-Nimmy Sherif’s La Femme, Thrissur
Makeup-Self
Reception:
Reception dress hunting was a breeze (at least for my relatives) because I had decided to get it tailor made from a boutique called Label M in Cochin instead of settling for a readymade or ready to stitch attire. First I had to select the design. Though the designers at the boutique could design one for you, I wanted to decide the design I want (bridezilla indeed!). I swam through 100s of websites before finally settling on a Manish Malhotra design. It was an anarkali gown. I showed the pictures to them and the work started. Since I was in Mangalore at that time, I could test the progress only once a month and had to resend it many times because I didn’t like what they had done. Finally, it looked at least 95% like I had wanted. *sigh of relief*
The Kundan earrings and necklace are from Goodwill collections, Cochin (that is another long story of checking out online shopping sites and other stores in Cochin, Mangalore & Chennai. Phew!)
Hair- Ambika Pillai Salon, Cochin
Makeup-Self
In spite of all the daunting tasks and hunting, I am extremely happy at everything I collected, to make up by bridal trousseau 🙂
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Seems like you had a perfect fairy tale wedding – i am bowled over by the pics. You look soooooooooo beautiful Anjana and all that gold jewellery – gimme your address, let me have a closer look 😛
Jomol please share your wedding pic too, then. 😀
Anjana, I shopped for my wedding sarees in Ernakulam – Kalyan, seemati and Jayalakshmi. Got my sequinned white saree from Jayalakshmi, the bridal one from seemati, and the other sarees from Kalyan 🙂 Gold jewellery from Malabar gold and joy alukkas and Rajan Jewellers, Tiruvalla 🙂
Yes Jomol. We all want to see your pics !
Hi Jomo, I got all my jewelleries from Rajan Jewellery,some how like their collection,as they have a wide range from delicate to heavy jewellery.
Rini….me too, I like Rajan Jewellery designs more than anyone else. If I want to shop gold in Kerala, I go to Rajan jewellery 🙂 They have only one store na, in Tiruvalla? I wish they come to Hyd too, they are awesome ppl, I didn’t like a necklace that I had picked up for the wedding and got it exchanged a few days later, no extra charges 😛
Hi Jomo,
Rajan has one new store in Adoor also,here in Baroda we have Kalyan and Joy Alukkas and designs also are not as good as we get in Kerala.
You two make a nice jodi 🙂
Thanks Jomol for all your sweet comments 🙂 You are welcome home anytime to see the jewellery!
i loved loved LOVED this post. i love everything about Kerala..the place, the food..
its a great tale telling and would love to see more of such posts coming up. seems like I am getting a great deal of idea on my wedding shopping (well, i have a lot of time for that :p)
Thanks Shraddha 🙂 when is your wedding?
Woah !!! Superb post Anjana….you look so pretty. I personally loved your 1st necklace….being a Keralite myself I can exactly understand your difficulty regarding the saree selection. Keep rocking & writing !!! 😛
Haha I know right! Thanks Rashmi!
yes…u had a perfect fairy tale wedding…
The pic in red saree in back pose….aaahhh….se*y and supperrr se bhi uppperrr….
Its a tedious task hunting jwellery and dresses for wedding, glad u found exactly u wanted.
happy married lyf ahead…
Actully i want to see Rati & Sanjeevji’s wedding pic to…i know all of us IMBB want to see the wedding pic of one of the most perfect couple ‘Rati & Sanjeevji’….pls show us na….
I am called Anju lovingly :):) Thanks for the compliment Anju!
Wow Anjana. Thank you so much for sharing 😀 . Looking too good. We all know it’s hard to find exactly what we what. So, it’s great to see you manage most off it 😀
I know Jasmine! All the hard work paid off 🙂
Awww I totally fell in love! what a brilliant post an God bless you both!
beautiful happy pics that made my day!
Thanks a loooott Neha :):)
stay blessed both of you…lovely post… *claps*
Thanks Rashmita!
What a beauuuutiful post Anjana! You look perfect together 🙂 There is so much love and warmth in the pics . . . God bless you both!
And what are those green garlands made up of? must be some tradition no?
Monika…..those green garlands are made of tulsi leaves – these are from guruvayoor temple.
Wowwww Jomol!!! I am so much intrigued now 🙂 I have to see Kerala :(, and the temple, and the backwaters, and everything. . . .Oh God!
Your words brought a big smile 🙂 Yes as Jomol said, at the temple we get tulsi garland. At the hotel we exchanged rose garlands (oh there’s no pic of that here).
Hey Anjana you looked really beautiful on all your functions, especially in that red saree. Also, you jewellery is to-kill-for! 😉
And, your pictures with your husband are gorgeous. May god bless your fairy tale love story. Lots of love. <3
I am smiling like a fool ! Thanks Shikha 🙂
Wowwwww, just WOW! everything perfect and the jewellery, awesome yaarrr. That back pose, so professional! you look gorgeous and you have a beautiful smile!!!
ok am typing non-stop now .. i know.. but then such beautiful pics make me oh-so-happy!!!
God bless you both 🙂 lots of wishes and prayers
San
Hehehe your non stop typing has made me very happy San 🙂
You two look so much in love! God bless.
Thanks Jyoti!
Very beautiful write up !!! I would have so much patience to reject 150 sarees ..I would have thrown my hands up and settled for one 😛 I am glad you didnt settle…I loved that red saree and the way you styled it with jewellery .
First time I am seeing a malayali with minimum jewellery hehe.No offence I am a malayalee too hehehee
God bless you both 🙂
Hahaha i know! I hate that decked-head-to-toe-with-gold look.
Lovely post, Anjana 🙂 You’ll make a lovely couple. You look so pretty and you’ve taken so much of effort. Hats off to you 🙂
Thanks a lot Vidya 😀
Nostalgia……u looked super pretty hun…. God bless u both
Thanks Shivani!
I am always excited about Kerala Bride..Thanks for your this Blog..You are looking Awesome….so pretty..
Hehe thanks Roohi 😀
Many many congratulations to you both. You both indeed look good together and you make a pretty bride lady 🙂
Thanks a ton Keshvi!
This was a really interesting read and the pictures are soooo cute
Thanks Lisha 🙂
Anju.. Looking super pretty, nice couple…
Thanks Rini for the compliment and also for calling me Anju hehe 😀
awww anjana, BIGGGGGG Hug to you. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful post with all of us. I am just smiling from ear to ear and it only makes me happy to see you sooo happy. :-* I am dont know what to say, just so out of words. Stay blessed and stay in love always you two. mwwwwaahhh!!
It makes me super happy when I hear that others find happiness in the photos 🙂 🙂
hey you look gorgeous dear. me too shopped my bridal jewelry and trousseau from kalyan and then chennai 🙂 .
You guys make a great pair 🙂
Thanks Laks! Cool from where in Chennai?
Tooo cute!! I justtt love Kerala sarees.. Bought one for myself when I visited there last. *__*
You look toooo prettyy!!
I have my share of non malayali friends who just adore the Kerala saree 🙂 Thanks Garvita!
wooooow awesome . .. . speechless
Thanks Nitu *blush*
Thats so awesome… god bless u 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Hi Anjana ,
loved the post. You look so beautiful 🙂 Dont tell me about the daunting shopping session , i still remember when i had to spend my entire day in bhima cochin and another day in jayalakshmi cochin for my brother’s wedding ..! It was so frustrating cuz it’s not my wedding shopping 😛
Thanks Anu 🙂 hehe i can imagine
Wow… Super gorgeous pics… U made a beautiful bride and ur eye to details was just perfect… I loved the pic of you two with the green garland… My fav of the lot… Thank u for sharing this with us… Totally made my day
Thanks Arpita :):):) Yes I love that pic too <3
You two make a cute couple! This is totally a perfect wedding. How stunning are the candid shots. Anjana I’d like to know who was the photographer 🙂
Thanks Disha :):) It is a team called akillereye. You can check out their Facebook page. He was our junior in college ( Ya my husband & I were college mates :D).
Oh my god.. 🙂 this article is just like a recap of my wedding! Anjana, even I ended up buying all my bridal sarrees from Prakash silks, kanchipuram 🙂 🙂
Hi5 Sri 🙂
woooooowwww….ur pics are just awesome and u r looking beautiful Anjana *hugs*
truly soo much patience u have to go thru 150+ sarees….I didn’t shop much for my wedding…my mom did all d shopping fr me since I didn’t get leaves from office 🙁
We have a tradition that the bridal lehenga comes from the groom’s side but my in-laws didn’t have the patience wen they saw me rejecting one piece after the other and I had to settle with the one they liked.. 🙁
But sooo happy to see ur pics…a girl wants everything perfect on her bigggg day and u made urs a perfect fairy tale one. :-* 😀
Thanks Bakul!! aaawww that’s ok
My goodness, Anjana..you look so beautiful!! Pics are really great. You both make a nice couple. Doing wedding makeup on your own is so stressful but you did an awesome job.
Thanks a lot Tanvi. I got my makeup trial done at around 4 places. Makeup made me look like a ghost. Even if my dark circles and acne scars show, that was much better than the madeup look 🙂
After seeing ur pictures for half and hour … I bow to you anjana
Loveliestest post …u look so happy …jus awesome !!!!”
Thanks a lot Neha 🙂 How can I show you a pic now?
Yaa …i wont b possible fr the full pic now i guess …anyways thank u fr d post …
One request ..if possible one complete pic of the red saree pls
Woooow Anjana, you look gorgeous! My god! In awe with the pics ♥ God bless you both! And love the pictures ★_★
Thanks a loottt Princy :):):)
Awesome Anju. u r looking stunning in all the pictures.u both compliment each other.I mainly liked ur garland pics.super awesome.
U really have patience to check 150 Saree in one day.I will totally get faint.
Pls tell me the nailpaint shade nd lipstick shade u r wearing at both the functions.
Thanks a lot Neha 🙂
Wedding – Lakme 9to5 matte in Red Coat and Colorbar Quick finish Beautiful Pink
Reception – Lakme 9to5 matte in Magenta Mind & the same nail colour (didn’t get time to change :D)
Wow Anjana.. A fairytale wedding indeed .. U both make a cute couple..God Bless !!!
Thanks Neha 🙂
Amazing you look Anjana…Many congratulations to you! 🙂 🙂 You did a splendid job at selecting your jewelry and dresses…really! And you did the makeup by yourself *claps* *claps* 😀 😀
You look beautiful Anjana. As my sister is getting married in April in Guruvayoor, I wanted to ask you where you got your Mehendi done. Also, do you know any beauticians/ mehendi designers in Guruvayoor. Coulde u pls share their contact details. Would love to hear from you.
I chose my wedding saree in exactly 7 mins… I m a Bengali and we wear banarasi silk sarees on our wedding day.. 7 mins is exact because my friend who was there with me that day had strtd his stop watch to count the exact time… It was not so tht I was in a hurry… But, its just tht I got what I was looking for in exctly 7mins… I am yet to wear it…. Lets see… 😛