|
Getting started:
BUDGETING
The
next important thing is to plan a budget for your own
convenience. In the Indian context, the bride's parents
do financial planning and spending on the wedding.
How
much to spend-when and where?
This
is a task that requires a lot of planning. It can be
divided into three parts namely
- Pre
wedding ceremonies- These are the functions that are
held before marriage. Functions like mehndi, sangeet
in Punjab and Sumangali Prarthanai in Tamilnadu
are a few examples of pre wedding ceremonies.
- The
Wedding day- The day of the weddings and all the arrangements.
- Post
Wedding Ceremonies-Reception
Depending
on your client’s budget, the number and elaborateness
of the ceremonies can be decided. Ask him where he wants
to spend the maximum and minimum for the wedding. Sit
with him and design the budget. Then chalk out your
budget so that you will know how much to spend and where.
Keep an ideal price for each item in your list but before
doing all this get to know the actual price of the item
in the market. Make two lists-estimated costs and actual
costs and this will help you to go on the right track.
Guest
list
Before
placing the order for invitation cards the main thing
to be done is drawing up the guest list. Make a list
of all the guests who are going to come. Classify them
into relatives, friends of the groom, well wishers,
family friends etc. According to the number print the
invitation cards. Fifteen days before the wedding call
up the guests and ask them whether they would come for
the wedding. This saves money because you would know
the number of people coming for the wedding and the
caterer would know how much to make to avoid wastage.
Invitation
cards
These
days about two to three types of wedding cards are designed
for a wedding. Wedding cards today should have an artistic
look. There are two kinds of invitation cards-traditional
and contemporary. The former one is a card with rice
grains stuck on it and turmeric powder applied on the
corner and the latter one is that which has a classy
look. Tell your client to print extra cards because
he may never know when he might need them. Take a list
of the names and addresses of the guests to post them.
Start doing this about 1-1 ½ months in advance.
Pundit/
Clergy
Normally
this would be taken care of by your client himself.
If you are going to look into it, then what you could
do is to go to a temple/ church or any place where you
would meet them. South Indian weddings need as many
as four to five pundits for a wedding. In case you do
not know about this, ask your client about where you
can find them.
Video
The videographer will be recording a once-in-a-lifetime
event of a person’s life therefore great care must be
taken in selecting one. The selection of events should
be based on his experience, reliability, the length
of raw footage to be taped and the amount of time allowed
for editing. Always make sure that the person has adequate
experience in the profession before finalizing. The
job is a very difficult one since he has to record it
live and especially shooting amidst the chaos, the noise
and the crowd will make it even more difficult.
Photographs
The
most obvious choice in selecting a photographer would
obviously be the one who specializes in wedding photography.
A detailed interview is a must before you finalize them.
It is always advisable to fix up at least two photographers.
What would you do if the person you fix up falls sick
or cannot make it due to unavoidable circumstances?
Also find out the costs in advance. Don’t be fooled
by the ‘wedding packages’ some photographers offer at
a low price. Find out about quantity discounts and who
would keep the proofs? Can the negatives be bought?
Decide on the size. Normally the size of a wedding photograph
is 5" X 7". The total costs would include
the time spent on shooting, the film roll, developing,
proofs and prints. Normally a small booking has to be
done in advance. You will receive the photographs and
negatives only after you make the full payment. It is
best to check and clear all terms, conditions beforehand
especially the cancellation policies to avoid last minute
hassles.
Travel
and Transportation
Arrange for cars/vans/mini buses for the groom’s family
and guests who will be coming for the wedding. Also
book return tickets. If there are important people coming
for the occasion, book rooms in hotels. Always keep
two to three cars ready on the day of the ceremony.
Also book tickets for the newly-weds’s honeymoon and
their travel, boarding, lodging and accommodation. This
must be done four to five months in advance.
|
