South Asian Weddings

Schwartz and Woodward offers complete wedding planning services for indian weddings and south asian weddings.

South Asian Wedding Planning

  • Develop a calendar of events to determine tasks that need to be accomplished with established timelines
  • Determine how many guests will attend each celebration
  • Present a vendor and service list in keeping with the clients’ needs and desires
  • Set and arrange all vendor appointments
  • Negotiate and review all vendor contracts; we pass on referral fees and discounts directly to our clients
  • Maintain a file with all vendor contracts
  • Maintain on-going contact with all vendors that are participating in wedding events
  • Create a schedule for vendor payments
  • Interview and set up trial runs with hair and makeup vendors
  • Secure a Photography team and Videography team
  • Rentals of video screens from hotel / private company
  • Set up photography appointments for engagement photos
  • Set up appointments to select band / music vendors / DJ’s
  • Create and develop a detailed timeline for all wedding celebrations 
  • Review the timeline with the reception site captain and the bandleader / DJ person
  • Discuss entertainment options for each celebration
  • Assist and create menu for all wedding events
  • Attend up to 3 tastings for menu selection
  • Meet with florists, design companies, lighting, dance floors, décor, linens, and ceremony items for all celebrations
  • Assist with the floor plan for all event celebrations
  • Attend the meeting to select save the dates, wedding invitations, other wedding stationary
  • Assist with invitation copy for proper wording, directions, accommodation cards etc.
  • Assist in the creation of the out of town guest bags
  • Present hotel accommodations and negotiate rates for out of town guests (max. 3 hotels) for room blocks
  • Secure security to monitor gift boxes at Ceremony and Reception
  • Contact all vendors 1 week prior to the wedding to review again any last minute details or changes

Pre-Wedding Planning

  • Meet with the bride, groom and parents to discuss their dream day
  • Select an auspicious wedding date and confirm with the Priest
  • Secure the Ceremony Priest
  • Create a budget based on agreed upon amount
  • Create a budget distribution so that the dollars are spent in the areas that are important to the bride, groom and families
  • Develop a calendar of events to determine tasks that need to be accomplished with established timelines

 

Celebration of Events

Mehndi

  • Begin planning at home Mehndi
  • Secure Mehndi artists for bride
  • Select caterer for all home events
  • Choose décor company for in house functions
  • Assist in the selection for any lighting and floral décor

 

Sangeet / Mehndi

  • Secure the venue for Sangeet / Mehndi
  • Design the Sangeet décor 
  • Assist and create a menu with caterer
  • Secure Mehndi artists for guests at Sangeet / Mehndi
  • Discuss entertainment for each celebration: Dhol, dancers, musical options sitar, tabla, etc.
  • Assist in favor selection

 

Wedding Ceremony

  • Secure the venue for the Baraat / Milni / Ceremony / Luncheon
  • Discuss and secure mode of transportation for arrival of the groom at the Baraat
  • Secure vendor to dress bride and family members on the day of the wedding
  • Assist with all décor for ceremony, including Mandap, Ganesha, bride / groom’s gate, etc.
  • Review all the details and items that need to be brought to the ceremony site
  • Meet the florist to supervise all placements of floral arrangements
  • Distribute wedding program
  • Coordinate with the DJ to follow the scheduled ceremony timeline
  • Assist in the selection of ceremony music
  • Attend the wedding rehearsal and assist the Priest
  • Assist the photographer to make sure that all wedding photos are taken in a timely manner
  • Pin flowers on attendants; distribute all wedding flowers to appropriate persons
  • Order garlands for ceremony(3), more depending on region
  • Assist bride and groom during after ceremony photographs

 

Reception

  • Secure the venue for the Reception
  • Coordinate all aspects of reception planning
  • Go to venue to oversee reception site set up
  • Assist with the floor plan for wedding reception
  • Assist with any rentals that are required
  • Set up and attend cake tasting appointments
  • Develop with the couple a must have photo list
  • Review all the details and items that need to be brought to the reception site
  • Assist bride and groom with transportation to the reception site
  • Set up guest book/pen, set up place cards and menu cards, and set up engagement photos and bridal portrait
  • Arrange guest favors display and distribute accordingly
  • Supervise the boxing of the cakes
  • Collect the cake rentals to be returned to the cake designer.
  • Meet at the reception site 4 weeks prior to the wedding to review all the wedding reception details with the site coordinator
  • Decorate the bridal suite with florals, upon request 

What our clients are saying

Dear JoAnn,

We  have returned home early this monday morning at 2.30 am ,after a very exciting and hectic weekend. The Two day event at Houston went off better than we expected. The arrangements were fabulous and there were rave comments made by our guests.I am grateful to Mrs Sue and  JoAnn for their combined effort to make the wedding celebrations of Rushil and Deepthi a memorable one. Thank you again.I regret that in the interest of time i was unable to mention your names in my speech as the main architects of the mega event while the rest of us played a supporting role.

Jayanth Rao

Received via email.

Schwartz & Woodward Real Wedding Photo: Tomas Ramos