Matches are made in heaven but here on earth we need to strive and plan hard to reconnect. Be it the West or the East, rich or poor, wedding is a big day for all, especially in the East where parents save every penny to see their kids wed magnificently. For the daughter they have to arrange the dowry that includes clothes, jewellery, furniture and what not, but the boy’s parents also have to incur a lot of expenses in the shape of gifts to the bride and family members.

Weddings require a lot of prior planning and preparation; our weddings are known to be elaborate and grand. Preparing for a wedding is quite a hassle. And if it’s the first wedding in the family then God help every one. People want to follow all the customs and rituals and sometimes a minor oversight makes things quite complex.

Recently, at a Mehndi the boy’s family started the rasams soon after their arrival and then remembered that they had forgotten the sweetmeats which are a major part of it. Then someone rushed to buy the sweets from a shop nearby; meanwhile the whole ceremony came to a halt.

To avoid such snarls, it is better to plan each event carefully, making a list of everything that has to be bought and making someone in charge of it to avoid a faux pas. Or if you can afford you can hire a wedding planner who adds a personal touch to your wedding.

Good wedding planners add a touch of class and ensure that everything is in place at the right time. They prepare everything according to one’s desire, including catering, venue decoration with flower arrangements, Djs with live music, lighting, video and photography, marquee, wedding cards, giveaways and even bridal makeup.

Food and dining setup, however, remains the key ingredient in the wedding so special attention is given to the three Ts, i.e. taste, texture and time. Many wedding planners work in teams and have different people assigned different tasks; this ensures that nothing is overlooked.

Without professional wedding planners, it’s mostly a one-man show. What mostly happens is that whoever is active in the family is given all the responsibility. Since one person cannot handle so many things, if something is overlooked then that person faces the music. Yet if you think that you can handle the stress alone and have made up your mind to organise the wedding yourself, then take a deep breath and start jotting down the ‘to-do list’.

Once the date has been finalised the most important task is to book the venue, though often the date depends on the availability of the venue. Along with the venue, the décor, the stage, marquee and menu are also to be finalised. If the venue has its own caterers, then it’s perfect, or else align your dates and time with a tried and tested caterer.

In order to avoid any slip-ups in invitation make a list of all the guests who have to be invited and cross check it twice. The cards should be ready a couple of weeks before the event as it takes time to distribute all the cards; get a few extra cards published so you are not short of them in case you recall someone at the last moment.

Similarly for organising a Mehndi function, do align a proper venue, DJ, flower arrangements, stage and food. Decorate the Mehndi thaal on the morning of the function day or the night before and remember to keep the other ingredients of the ritual like Ubtan, Paan leaves, sweets, with a proper small spoon along with tissue paper or wipes. If electricity is an issue, it is always good to have a backup plan such as a generator.

In some families there are certain traditions such as the bride’s sisters asking for money after applying Mehndi to the groom’s palm. Since these rituals are meant for having fun, it is better to come to an agreement with the other party beforehand to avoid creating a fuss.

Often family members or relatives come from abroad or other towns to attend the wedding; space has to be allocated for guests so that they don’t have problems in storing their things and sleeping. Besides, transport is to be arranged for all the guests who will be gathered at your place. It is important to stay calm even if some tense situation arises so that the guests do not have any problem; they are there to share your moments of happiness and need to be treated with respect.

Overall, the rituals and customs vary from culture to culture and people have different kinds of pre-wedding arrangements to mark the beginning of the remarkable phase of marriage. Regardless of what your pocket says, well-planned wedding arrangements will ensure outstanding, hassle-free and satisfying results.