Wordless Wednesday

(image via pinterest)

Bridesmaid Style: Taste the Rainbow

I just spotted the cutest bridesmaid idea via pinterest (of course) and I knew I had to share it with you all right away! So, here it is. The bride in the photograph pictured below is wearing a traditional red and gold dress and her bridesmaids are dressed in saris in all the colors of the rainbow. I think this idea  is a cuteness explosion and a step up from the matching bridesmaids dresses that everyone else uses. I think this color palette is a must have if you want your bridesmaids to stand out as opposed to feeling like they are wearing uniforms. Personally, I think this concept would be even more stunning if the bride was wearing a white wedding dress or sari, but this looks great as well. It reminds me of the bridesmaid dress  Isla Fischer wore in 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. And, what would finish off the rainbow theme better than a gradient cake featuring the colors of the rainbow in its layers? Check out the one below! I think it would make a really fun and laid-back wedding cake! Let me know what you think. Are the rainbow colors spot on or are they too elementary? Feel free to leave a comment below!

(images via pinterest)

Wordless Wednesday

(image via pinterest)

Sunday Sweetness

The Desi Knot Loves # 1 Home Edition

Happy Friday Everyone! Here is our first installment of the 'The Desi Knot Loves'. This is just a series of posts that I will do from time to time showing you some of the decor, entertainment, and design ideas that I am loving at the moment. Most of these will be ideas that can be easily recreated, so they may not need to have an entire blog post dedicated to them. Thus, 'The Desi Knot Loves' is a quick little synopsis of these ideas so you can pick up an array of inspiration all in one go. Also, I will try to provide links wherever possible, so you can further research the ideas that appeal to you. I hope you like this and let me know if you have any suggestions on how to improve this post! Have a lovely weekend!

1. This week it is finally getting cold where I live. I haven't decided if this makes me happy or sad yet, but we just got our first snowfall last night and it looks so pretty. Anyways, I have been obsessing over knit bedding lately. It is so darn cute and would be so cozy in the wintertime. So, I am officially on the hunt to find something like this. If anyone wants to knit me a set, I would gladly give you my address :)

2. Something I have been obsessed with ever since I saw it last year at a staged house is chalkboard paint! The home that I was at had chalkboard walls in their child's playroom which I thought was brilliant, but the room also had carpeting and let me tell you (chalk + kids + carpeting = a big fat disaster)! I like that this room has hard wood floors even though it is not a child's room. This wall is not only perfect for leaving little messages and doodles, but also has a very sophisticated aesthetic and makes for a gorgeous statement wall in the bedroom.

3. Don't you just love this idea? It's a collage of polaroids arranged in a heart shape (above a bed in case you cannot see). And, it is adorable. Need I say more?

4. Ok, not only am I going crazy over the bright yellow canvas and hot pink coffee table and pig against the otherwise gray room, but the real attention-grabber for me was the wall of books. It reminds me of the library in Beauty and the Beast. If only all men surprised us with mahusive libraries in our homes. Hmm...a girl can dream right?

5. One word. eclectic. I have a confession to make. I have just discovered this word in terms of decor last week and it has already changed my life. I feel like I have hit the jackpot of interior decor. I did some google searching and I believe that the best and simplest way to explain eclectic style is to say it is the genre of decor that is defined by its exuberant self-confidence. It is a mix of high and low, new and old. Do you you notice that the items in this room are not so attractive on their own. But, the way they have been artfully combined here makes this room brilliant. What do you think? Is it amazing or does it lack structure?

Wordless Wednesday

(image via pinterest)

Bridal Beauty: Brows 101

Today I'd like to share my first post on bridal beauty. Before I start posting about bridal makeup, I thought I would share tips on grooming your face to create a good base for your wedding makeup. If you haven't groomed your facial features, your makeup won't look as good and it definitely will not cover up your laziness ;) That is where close attention to your brows comes in to play. Well groomed brows can completely change the way you look and can balance your features out. So, here's a little tutorial by none other than Lauren Conrad (my favorite) for your viewing pleasure. I hope you like it and make sure to practice a bit so you don't end up looking like a chola on your wedding day. Not that I have anything against cholas, I'm just not a huge fan of their brows (or lack thereof). I swear...google it! Anyways, it may be helpful to get your eyebrows done professionally once, so you have a guide to follow after that. Having a brow kit will also help with brow maintenance as it typically come with a brown powder to fill with, a wax to keep hairs in place, tweezers, and brow scissors. Two of the best brow kits I know of are the Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings which you can get at Sephora and the e.l.f. brow kit which can be found at any drugstore. The Benefit kit costs an arm and a leg more than the e.l.f. one, but they both work equally well. Anyways, here's the tutorial and I hope it helps. Have a browtastic day! Sorry I had to do that :)

TOOLS

Spooly brush or disposable mascara wand, cuticle scissors, angled/slant tweezers, pointed tweezers, brow shadow (taupe for blondes, brown range for everyone else), stiff brow shadow brush, pencil (to line up the angles).

1. With a disposable mascara wand or spooly brush, brush the hairs upward to prepare for Step 2.

2. With a pair of scissors, trim any hairs that are longer than your brow shape.

3. With angled tweezers, pluck areas above and below the brows, grabbing a couple at a time.

4. With pointed tweezers, grab stubborn single hairs and shorter ones.

5. To determine where your brow should start, hold a pencil or make-up brush along one side of your nose.  Where it crosses the inner corner of your brow, that’s where it should begin.

6. Now angle the pencil across the iris; that’s where the arch should begin.

7. Angle it to the end of the outer corner of the eye; that’s where the brow should end.

8. With those angles and lengths in mind, fill in the brows using light, feathery strokes as if you were drawing individual hairs.

(images & tutorial via thebeautydepartment.com)

DIY Wedding: Crepe Paper Anyone?

Hi there! I hope everyone is having a productive Monday so far!  Today I wanted to share with you one of the most inexpensive, easy, and colorful ways to create decor accents for your wedding. Crepe Paper! Crepe paper is basically a wrinkly paper that is a bit thicker than tissue paper and can be bought already cut to streamer width on a roll. In the United States, crepe paper can be found at any dollar or party supply store in any color. Amazing right? Yes! Here are ten easy ways you can use crepe paper streamers to take your desi wedding from fine to phenomenal! Enjoy!

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1. The Crepe Paper Backdrop

For this diy project, all you have to do is cut long strips from your crepe paper rolls and attach them to the horizontal pole that you'll be using for your backdrop. Easy enough right? Some ways you can incorporate a crepe paper backdrop into your wedding is to use it behind your alter or stage. It looks amazing in photographs! If you're having a mandap at your wedding ceremony, you could use the hanging paper streamers as the four post posts on your mandap! This backdrop idea also works well as a way to spice up your dessert table or outdoor wedding. Just be careful to store the backdrop carefully before the big day to prevent tearing as the paper is pretty delicate!

2. The Crepe Paper Chandelier

Attach crepe paper to your desired size of hoop and voila! You've got a beautiful crepe paper chandelier! I am loving the way it is used in the idea featured below in the high peaks of the tent at this outdoor wedding. You could also hang these chandeliers from the ceiling and make them come down fairly low as centerpieces for your tables!

3. The Crepe Paper Canopy

This is a great idea for outdoor weddings and will look even more magical when used in conjunction with lights as pictured below. The lights will also work to stabilize the streamers when they are suspended in the air. 

4. The Crepe Paper Lantern

This is a lovely idea for hanging above dessert tables entry ways, or even sprucing up a photo booth set. (Post coming on photo booths soon!) Just blow up a balloon, start gluing, and pop the balloon when everything is dry and just the way you want it!

5. The Crepe Paper Rose Accent for Chairs

This is the cutest idea ever! And, it's great if you weren't able to get your hand on some good-looking chairs. It looks a little intimidating, but follow this tutorial and you'll be dandy :) 

6. The Crepe Paper Woven Tablecloth

The name says it all! Simply weave the crepe paper and use some scotch tape on the bottom to keep everything in place. Have fun with color for this one!

7. The Crepe Paper Fringe Streamers

For this project, use the same paper as before, but a couple inches into the streamers to create a fun fringe effect! It's super easy to do and adds a little something to the traditional paper streamer.

8. The Crepe Paper Accented Wedding Invites

Crepe Paper is a great way to cut out simple embellishments to use on wedding invitations. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to do this as it may take long and you want each one to be perfect. Tip: Make your wedding invitations worthwhile because after all, they are the first impression you get to make about your wedding and you want it to be a good one!

9. The Crepe Paper Candy Twist Wedding Favor

Wow that was a mouthful! These are great as wedding favors and if you don't feel like mass producing them for all of your guests, they are a great way to keep the kids busy. Just twist candy inside the crepe paper and tie it off with some ribbon.

10. The Crepe Paper Surprise Ball

These are also great wedding favors to hand out to to the children at your wedding. Again, these are a bit more time consuming to give to all of your guests. Unless of course, you have a lot of helping hands! The surprise ball basically consists of tiny little favors and candy wrapped inside a crepe paper (surprise) ball. Check out this Christmas version done by Kate Spade to see what I mean! 

(all images via pinterest)

Well, that's the end of the crepe paper goodness. I hope you all enjoyed this and please let me know if you try any of these diy projects. I would love to see how they turn out!

Sunday Sweetness

Winter Weddings: Attend In Style

Do you have an invite to a winter wedding this year? Stuck in a rut for outfit options? Two words: Faiza Samee! This Pakistani fashion designer recently showcased her latest designs at the Pakistan Fashion Extravaganza 2011 held at the Royal Garden Hotel Kensington in London. And yes, her designs are as luxurious as the venue  where she showed them off! This collection featured a variety of earthy tones with muted shades of orange and pink. This color palette is perfect for winter wear. You can look like you are dressed for the season and still wear bright hues. Notice that with such intricate patterns and embellishments, the models have opted for simple hairstyles and makeup, but have gone for brighter shades of lipstick. This look defines winter formal wear yet is warm enough to melt those snowflakes (and hearts) at your next public affair! So, if you want to stand out at a wedding this season, check out Faiza Samee's latest collection. The highlights from her London show are pictured below, but you can click here to view her complete collection!

(images via fashion central)

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Decor Obsessions: Sweetheart Tables

Hello knotty girls! Happy Friday! Today I thought I would just leave you with a quick post about sweetheart table decor ideas. These are some of the ones that stuck out to me as I was perusing the internet (for hours)! For those of you that do not know, a sweetheart table is a place setting (usually near the stage) where the bride and groom eat their dinner at the wedding reception. It is mainly a western idea, but many desi couples have adopted it as it is much more comfortable than eating on the stage and having everyone look at you while you munch! My personal favorite is the outdoor table with the lighted gazebo above it. Can you tell that I have an obsession for outdoor weddings yet? :) Hope you all have a relaxing and safe weekend! If you have any posts you would like me to do, let me know! I love suggestions!

(images via pinterest)

Wedding Planning: Outdoor Extravaganza

Some of the most memorable parties I remember going to and thoroughly enjoying have been outdoor affairs. The whole atmosphere can be exhilarating. And, outdoor weddings epitomize the splendor of outdoor events. There is nothing like enjoying warm weather, good food, and music while celebrating the union of two people that love each other. And, do you want to know a little secret? Planning an outdoor wedding can be fairly simple and more budget-friendly than renting out an indoor venue. So, why not give it a shot? If you're planning on tying the knot during the warmer months, check out the tips and  tricks below and enjoy some major outdoor extravaganza eye candy!

P.S. Check out our favorite part...THE TURBAN CAKE!

Quick Tips & Tricks to Planning and Outdoor Wedding:

• First of all, establish a color scheme and stick to it for all the details of your wedding. Since your event will be outside, the colors of nature will pull attention away from your color scheme, so you will want to follow your color palette pretty closely. 
• Choose colors that will "pop out" against the greens and browns of your outdoor surroundings. For example, the event shown below features a pink, orange, and yellow color palette used with white to create a visual explosion against the plants.
• For inexpensive centerpieces, create pyramids of fruit that matches with your color scheme. Fruit centerpieces are something that cannot be easily executed at indoor affairs, so take advantage of the opportunity and go all out! The fruit will also be a great little treat that the guests can take home with them!
• Use fluted bowls like the ones featured below to hold color coordinated bangles that can act as additional favors for your guests. 
• Have fun with your wedding cake! You are going through the trouble of having a fun outdoor wedding, so get a cake that will match that mood. We are loving the yellow turban cake shown below!
• Use lights to decorate the tress and bushes surrounding your party area. This will get especially breathtaking as the sun sets and the lights become more visible!
• Put out a cute guest book (like the olive green one shown below) for the guests to leave their well wishes for you. Here' a little secret: Guests love being a big part of your day and the more you allow them to really participate on your big day, the bigger success your wedding will be. More fun for them and less work for you. Win Win! 

                                          (images via lonny mag, pinterest, and weheartit)