For your wedding you are fully empowered. You have decided your partner, your day, your dress, and in many ways your body. You cherished your physique and ate right, toned your muscles, and created curves you are proud to put front and center for your 24 hours in the spotlight. And your figure is more than something to drape pretty fabric on and take pictures. Capture your beauty from head to toe - your natural shape, your luscious skin, your sensuality, and your sexy ass-ets ;) Now is the perfect time to capture all of your magnificence and that is best done via a boudoir shoot.

Wear as much or as little as you like. Many opt for bridal lingerie, maybe some stilettos, a veil. Plan in advance so your photographer will bring the best set up and can share suggestions and ideas. Photographers well-versed in boudoir know how to create a comfortable and empowering experience and show your figure in a way that you are happy with.

Schedule a separate boudoir shoot, or for weddings with a little space in the schedule, estimate 45 minutes of private time in a quiet space with you, your photographer and maybe your best friend who can help straighten your hair.

Memorialize more than your wedding dress, treasure your wedding body too.
It's all about having fun, being yourself, and appreciating all of you!
You look your best - capture it and enjoy it

See you in the boudoir...

For those who think this is not in Indian culture, remember that the Kama Sutra teaches that there are the pleasures of the body along with taking on the responsibilities of marriage and family.
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Special Thanks to Lina Jang Photography for sharing her expertise and imagery.
She will be my first call.

*Pronounced boo-d, war (rhymes with far)

For those on the wedding track, this holiday season may have a bit more responsibility that others. Make the most of them with fun stuff and responsible stuff. Here are a few guidelines to help with the responsible stuff:

• Share the joy. You will be seeing people that you are inviting at your wedding
  • Inject some of the fun into them! Rather than saying it is your 14th meeting with the decorator, tell them you are doing custom décor and I am working on it every week to make it amazing.
  • Tell them that you want them to be there, yes the invitation says that already but personal encouragement will carry the day
  • What is important to you that day, ‘I can’t wait till you see our first dance, we have already been working on it for weeks’
  • What you want from them, ‘I want everyone to be quiet and respectful during the ceremony, and then wild and crazy at the reception, and not the other way around.’‘Our DJ is taking requests from our website so log in and request your favorites.’
• Address wedding questions. With lots of your VIPs around, now is a great time to address questions. You may not feel like clarifying budget questions with your mom, but if you can carve out some quiet time, and tell her in person how much all this means to you, it will be a special moment instead of more of an obligatory one down the line (of course use your best judgement on when)
• Not interested in sharing? Your loved ones want to know how you are and so they ask about your wedding. If you are not interested in answering gracefully redirect them. ‘This holiday I am taking a vacation from talking wedding planning, overall it is going well, how are you?’
• Take a deep breathe. Take a little ‘me time’ This is one of your last holidays before being married. Make it what you want it to be. Enjoy your loved ones.

 
Happy Holidays!
Neha and the Ask Neha Now team

Thanksgiving is a time we all gather around the table...Here are 3 simple tips to prep for this special meal to help make it a success from beginning to end.
 
1. 'To go' containers or ziplock bags to share leftovers with guests or store them in easy 'grab and go' lunch packs

2. Assign a 'Shop Runner' who will pick up that extra stick of butter or bottle of wine

3. Plan pre and post meal activities - naps, movies, games, etc.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pros and Cons of a ‘First Look’
 
A First Look is a created moment, before the ceremony, where the photographer arranges and captures that magic moment of the couple seeing each other for the first time.

A First Look is great to have a personal and private first moment together on the wedding day. It produces amazing photos as it is choreographed, the couple is fresh-faced, and it is an intimate moment captured. The photographer has chosen a scenic location with no obstructions and cameras ready. Having a First Look also gives you more photo options on the wedding day as it allows couple portraits to be taken before the ceremony and not restricted to the time after the ceremony when you may want to take family photos or change outfits.

 
For those who prefer to keep it traditional 'you can't see the bride before the wedding' that first moment of seeing each other will be shared with all of your loved ones, accompanied by beautiful music, and be immediately followed by a gradual walk into the center of the room before you state your commitments before all. This makes your ceremony that much more special and shares your moment with everyone.

Now it is up to you which sounds more like your style. Enjoy your wedding day!

Photo Credit: Mind State Media

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​One way to make your wedding flow smoothly – tell the people what you want!
 
Posting signs for things like where to sit, label food, point out items that are gifts, or items they are to be borrowed and returned, and the latest addition – social media signs, to encourage people to add a hashtag to their photos online.  
 
When signs aren’t the best plan, make notes of what you would like the officiant, MC, or DJ to announce to help set the mood for the wedding.
 
Make announcements like ‘Everyone is welcome to come to the stage’ or ‘Cell phones should now be silenced and everyone please be seated to respect the significant ceremony about to take place.’ Tell guests if all are invited for dinner or the staff will be coming around to release tables.
 
A little information goes a long way, especially with medium to large guest counts. Help your guests help you to have the day you always wanted - put up a sign!

Although this isn't often an issue in wedding attire, having it on hand is still a good idea. Keep veils from acting funny, dresses from riding up. It also makes removing hair and pet fur easy (Spray before using lint roller and it comes off easily).

Just in case you end up getting bumped into something you shouldn't, having something to help get the mess out is key.

If those embellishments are threatening to make a move, super glue will secure them. Have a sparkle coming lose? Or a gem fell out of your earring or necklace? Super glue to the rescue. (and in case you run into trouble with gluing the wrong thing, super glue can be undone with acetone)

In case of emergency a little 'needle pulling thread' can save your day. Re-attach tassles and buttons. Cut a stray thread. Reattach a hook. If you don't know how, chances are someone on the previous generation will - those home economics classes should come in handy sometime!

You always needs safety pins - the bride, the groom, the guests. To look your best keep these little guys handy. There are always pieces of the outfit you want to stay 'just so' - Use a small one to hold a border in place, a big one to secure pleats. Safety pins come in a variety of sizes and colors. The easiest to find are silver and gold. Think ahead and have matching safety pins, that way when you have to use one it is still subtle/ hidden from the naked eye. For very delicate fabrics test to make sure the safety pin is sharp so that it does not create a snag. Happy pinning :)