A Hindu wedding is essentially a string of rites and rituals following each other right from the day of engagement to the final wedding and period following it. One can deduce the importance of ceremonies by the fact that there are specific rituals associated with ! In many cultures all cards are smeared with haldikumkum on the corners. The first is presented to lord Ganesha and thereafter the distribution of invitation cards begin.

As the wedding day draws near, shopping for jewellery figures amongst the topmost priorities. The jewellery for a Hindu bride carries a lot of symbolic importance and one such piece of jewellery is a Mangalsutra. Mangalsutra literally translated means an ‘auspicious thread’. It signifies the marital status of a woman and denotes the respect, dignity and Love bestowed upon the bride by her husband. This ornament is considered a powerful amalgamation of our most revered deities – Lord Shiva and Shakti. Black beads in this ornament represent the former and gold portion the latter. The basic Mangalsutra has two strings of black beads with a gold pendant. However, with changing times diamonds and gold beads are being included in the design to make it more attractive and addingamodern touch.

Mangalsutra is believed to prolong the life of husband and protects the married couple from evil. In South India, the thread of this ornament is smeared in turmeric and has three knots. The first knot represents wife’s devotion to her husband, second to his family and third towards the almighty. Mangalsutra is known by different names; for e.g.Thaly ,Minnu, Mangalyam, Pustelu etc. The groom ties this ornament around his wife’s neck during the main wedding ceremony amidst Vedic chanting.

Just like Mangalsutra affirms the status of a married woman, the wedding card affirms the good intention and promise of the couple to be married to each other. KOC creates a perfect platform in form of its collection of to make a declaration of this commitment. Our cards create invites that are attractive, impressive and unique. Theyset the tune of the wedding to follow and celebrations that mark the holy matrimony- a bond of lifetime and beyond!

So the wedding is done and bride has been welcomed into her new home. But the celebrations do not end here as far as the Indian weddings are concerned. If you missed the wedding then check your and if it includes post wedding ceremonies then here is your chance to be a part of the most entertaining phase of the wedding. Once formality and heavy tone of the main wedding passes by, a lot of fun and frolic sets in as the post-wedding ceremonies ensue. Amongst these rituals, one of the best and most enjoyable is the series of games that are played between Bride and Groom.

The ‘Find the Name’ game has groom finding his name disguised in his Bride’s mehendi amidst hooting, bullying and lot of teasing from the guests present. There is another exciting game where Bride and Groom are required to untie knots on a string. The ease with which the couple unties all of them is believed to signify the smoothness of their marital relationship and bond. ‘Find the ring’ is perhaps the most common game played where a ring is immersed in a vessel of coloured water. Then the bride and groom are asked to find it. This is repeated three times and whoever finds the ring maximum number of times wins. It is said that whoever wins this gamewould be the dominant partner in the relationship! One can also observe the coy and shy bride coming out of her cocoon especially during this game.

One more game that is getting popular these days is ‘Quiz on your spouse’. Here the bride and groom sit back to back and then a volley of questions are thrown to them about their spouse. The question usually relate to their likes and dislikes. Both of them have to answer only by nodding. The game is super fun because until the end they do not come to know how many right answers each of them gave about the other one!

Just the way Indian wedding has its amusing rituals, we at KOC make vibrant and pleasurable. Our cards touch your heart and make wedding invitespecial just like the new relationship in your life! So step into our online store and choose the perfection that you want to in your and we would be happy to deliver it to you!

Just like Indian weddings and our culture is rich, colourful and magnificent. There are so many facets of an Indian wedding that generalisation are simply impossible. Even the way our brides dress up and the symbolic jewellery she wears representing her marital status vary widely through the country. In this section, we will bring out the bride who not onlylooks good but also carries her new name and life with her shringar!

Wearing red Sindoor and bindi are perhaps the most common customs followed by most of the Hindu brides and married women. The himachali and Punjabi brides wear choodha- a sequence of banglesthat are white and red in colour. The custom requires them to wear these bangles for nine, eleven or thirteen months. In olden days, choodha used to be made out of ivory, but not anymore. Coming down to the Northern plains, all married women are supposed to wear red glass bangles and bichiya- the toe ring. They also adorn bright orange sindoor and not the usual maroon one.

Bengali women wear Sankha which is a combination of white and red bangles that signify their marital status. For a Maharashtrian bride, green glass bangles are considered auspicious which she adorns during and after the wedding. In Andhra Pradesh, combination of red andgreen glass bangles is prerogative of the bride!Mangalsutra is another neckpiece that is widely worn by women across India. It is usually a combination of gold pendant and black beads. However in South, Mangalsutra has a very unique pendant comprising of two semi-circular bowl shaped plates- One comes from the groom’s side and the other from Bride’s.

Just like your jewellery, the wedding invite for your big day also needs special care and time for selection. We at KOC make your search for wedding cards simple and easy by providing . You can choose from the wide range of cards and order for samples before taking the final call. Our vast collection of is sure to make an impression and give you that one card which makes you go ‘WOW’!

Every Indian wedding follows a trail of pre-wedding rituals and Maharashtrian wedding is no different. Though the wedding itself is a simple affair, the pre-wedding functions carry a lot of importance and are symbolic in nature. One such pre-wedding custom is Rupaya Naral-Sakharpuda, which is actually the engagement ceremony. The word literally means ‘worshipping with Sugar’ and as we take you through this ceremony, you will realise how ‘sweet’ it really gets! Though Sakharpuda is an intimate function yet the rules are changing and families are celebrating it with a lot of pomp and grandeur. Special invitation cards apart from the main are sent across to the guests as invite to Sakharpuda.

On the pre-designated day, bride and groom’s families assemble at the venue to conduct the ceremony of Sakharpuda. The groom’s family presents the bride with sugar and other gifts that may include shagun, jewellery etc. The bride’s family gives coconut and money as gift to the groom. The name of this ceremony has been derived from the gifts presented during the ritual-Rupaya for money, Naral for coconut and Shakhar for Sugar.

This ceremony also solemnises a verbal agreement between the families for getting the couple married on an auspicious date in the future.Sakharpuda is a very happy and joyous occasion. The couple is blessed by elders of both the families and to say congratulations, they put sugar in the couple’s mouth. One can only imagine, how much sugar rush the bride and groom go through by the time this celebration comes to an end. Many couples confess that by the time the engagement gets done with, they do not touch sweets until the wedding day!

It is usually during Sakharpuda, that a wedding date is decided. Thereafter both Bride and Groom’s families begin the hunt for perfect card amongst thousands of . We at KOC make this process simpler, easier and enjoyable with our online portal which has a humongous collection of cards. So visit us from the comfort of your home and click away to find your dream invitation amongst the wide range of available in our online store.

Muslim weddings have varied facets and practices that are typical to the community the families belong to. There is also influence of the countries and states the wedding takes place in. Especially carries heavy influence of the geography and culture. This is why the invites to a Muslim wedding vary widely from each other right from the colours to the patterns. Likewise various ceremonies of the wedding have also undergone a lot of change over the years and across continents. Some weddings are conducted in a complete orthodox set up whereas others may reflect modern ethos. However, one ceremony that is followed to its essence in all Muslim wedding is Mehr that takes place during the Nikah.

On the pre-assigned day families of bride and groom gatherfor solemnising the union of the couple in a holy bond. Nikah is usually presided by Quazi- a cleric who has the authority to conduct Nikah. There is a contract of marriage called Ijab-O-Qubool that is signed by the couple in presence of witnesses. This contract mentions the amount of Mehr- which is actually the sum of dowry that Groom’s side is obliged to present to Bride.

The amount of Mehr is basically the property of Bride. The reason why Mehr is given to the bride is very logical and impressive. The groom has parents who are his responsibility too and he needs to take care of their expenses as well. By giving Mehr to his wife, he keeps the specific amount at her disposal which she can spend the way she wants to!

Muslim weddings epitomise elegance in the way they are conducted. The actual nikah is a very sober and quiet ceremony. reflect the Islamic sensibilities in their design though they do not usually have religious motifs adorning them.Intricate work and patterns are very typical in the . Whatever be your taste or sensibilities, we at KOC make it all possible when it comes to choicest of wedding cards that impress and allure!

Wedding is the union of souls and in a Hindu Wedding the belief is that a man and woman are bound in this relationship to each other beyond their present lifetime. A very romantic idea indeed and the one that is at times mentioned in form of Sanskrit shlokas and verses in as well! There are various rituals and facets of a traditional and Vedic Hindu marriage and one we have chosen this time is – Dowry!

Dowry though illegal in India happens to be rampant in many cultures and usually frowned upon as well. However, it was started wayback by our ancestors as a form of goodwill and in good intent. Unfortunately the greed took over and spoilt the spirit of this practice in the modern times.

So, what really was the reason that dowry came into being?

In olden days, daughters were not given part of property because they would be married off and take on the name of another family. Since the customs required her to stay at her in-laws only, it anyways did not make sense to give her property that was located at her parent’s place. The solution to this issue was to give her an equivalent portion of money, jewellery and home needs as she moved to her new house. A wonderful way of giving a daughter her rightful inheritance.

However, with time dowry became something that the groom’s side would demand and bride’s side would fulfil. In some cultures there is acustom of “reverse” dowry and it is strangely referred to as the “Bride Price”! In mountains in the far north, the groom’s side would pay the Bride’s parents an agreed amount before the wedding. Again this custom has almost disappeared now.

After giving you this heart touching insight into a custom that has been turned into heinous crime, let us move on to more fun things about the wedding. We at KOC talk like none others! Our online shop lets you choose and order from the comfort of your home. If you are confused which we are sure you will be considering the huge collection of fabulous cards we have, do order for . Make up your mind, call us and place your order. As we always say “We would be Happy to oblige”!

Words like Prince Charming, the knight in shining armour are part of real life for some very lucky ladies. We are referring to Royal weddings that are known for their magnificence, exquisite drapes and ceremonies that are followed to the hilt! Since India is home to numerous Royal families, we would focus on the ones that are supremely pronounced even in the present times- theRajwarhas of Rajasthan.

Following the usual Hindu rituals, there is of course the horoscope matching which comes before the meeting of families. The run up to the wedding starts from choosing right that are handpicked after a painstaking process of selection and elimination. The haldi ceremony called Pithidastoor has a paste of turmeric and sandalwood smeared on bride and groom. Bride usually dresses up in orange or a similar bright coloured poshak for this ceremony. Mehfils form an indispensable part of royal weddings that have singers performing for men. Women perform the traditional ghoomar dance in mehfil of women. The old customs restricted women from royal clan to participate in thedance but well, times have changed now.

On the day of wedding the Bridegroom, all male guests and relatives wear turbans that are accessorised with a broach. Carrying the traditional sword as the part of wedding ensemble is customary. Kohl and tilak are considered indispensable before the baraat departs for the wedding venue. For most of the royal couples, the main wedding poshak is part of the family heirloom. Designers are engaged to recreate the old drapes giving them a modern touch that reflects traditional sensibilities in terms of fabric and work.

The most striking part of a Royal bride is her minimalistic make up and deeply ethnic look during the actual wedding ceremony. She wear rakhri- a circular gold adornment like a mangtika on her upper forehead, a choker around her neck called timniyan and choodha in her arms. The preferred colours of the wedding attire include red, maroon, yellow and gold. The modern touch to the wedding can be witnessed during pre-wedding functions and parties whereas wedding ceremony strictly adheres to time-honoured traditions and customs.

In the olden times, a spread of sweets and gifts would be sent along with the customised well-thought of invitation cards. Today too, the option of ordering exist and it is no longer the exclusive domain of the Royals. The cards available these days also mimic the of yester years that make an impressive style statement by themselves!

Just like its location, the wedding ceremonies of Maharashtra reflect a little bit of North and carry some nuances of a South Indian wedding; the result is joyfully unique. The engagement is referred to as the Sakhar Puda ritual. The bride is gifted a saree and sugar by the groom’s side. This marks the commitment of both the families towards the impending union.

Engagement is followed by selecting an auspicious day for the wedding. A typical Maharashtrian mentions pre-wedding ceremonies, main wedding and reception. The pre-wedding rituals begin with Kelvan- worshipping kuldevta to bless the wedding preparations and families involved. Haldi ceremony is conducted at both brides’ as well as groom’s place and is called Halad Chadavane.

The wedding day begins with an elaborate puja of Lord Ganesha-the Lord of ceremonies who usually adorns all of Hindu weddings. When the groom reaches the bride’s house, her parents wash groom’s feet and present him with Shagun and gifts. This ceremony is called Seemaan puja. In themandap the bride and groom must not look at each other before the auspicious shlokas have been chanted. To ensure this, a wide piece of cloth called Antarpat is placed between the couple. The characteristic rite of every Indian wedding- exchanging the garland is carried out ones antarpat has been removed. Unbroken rice grains smeared with haldi are showered on the couple in a Maharashtrian wedding. This custom bears semblance with South Indian wedding rituals.

Kanyadan followed by Lakshmi Narayan puja and Satapadhi ritual which is the Maharashtrian version of Saat Pheras binds the couple in a lifelong bond of a man and wife. In the end the bride’s father along with the newly married couple seek blessings for a happy and fruitful life. A Maharashtrian bride usually wears green saree and green glass bangles during the wedding ceremony and is not required to cover her head. The end of the ceremony is marked by Varat ritual where emotions run highas the bride leaves her maternal home.

At KOC, we have that can cover the entire wedding program or just parts of it as per your requirement. Just like you go to great lengths to make that wedding perfect, we make every endeavour to create a card that is made out of your dreams!

So, the date is set and Marriage Invitation Card has been selected with painstaking care. All that remains is the frantic preparation for the Day. Times are changing and so is the way our modern bridegroom dresses. If you think it is only bride whose ensemble takes forever to select and buy, then you could not be far removed from reality! These days there are eye popping varieties when it comes to the wedding attire for a man. Besides every event whether pre or post-wedding needs an outfit that sets the limelight right where it has to be- On the Bridegroom!

Have you observed a typical ? Similar Motifs, splash of colour and the richness of these cards can be seen reflected on the traditional wedding wear of the bridegroom. The striking feature of such an Indian wear is the sophistication and refinement they ooze. Usually Sherwanis are popular when it comes to the choice of wedding wear for men. However, they are being teamed up with Pajami, Salwar, Chudidars and Dhotis. Apart from Sherwanis, Bund Galaa and Pathani Suits are also making headway to mandaps these days.

The usual run up to the wedding includes a cocktail party right before the wedding. In fact Marriage Invitation Card mentions this event unless the family wants a separate card to be sent out. But cocktail parties are no longer about boring suits and bow ties. Extensive array of “Indianised” suits that are not only tasteful but also have an element of flamboyance are the flavour of the season. Indian Jackets and Indo-western wear also adds an element of style and finesse to the Bridegroom’s appearance.

A cluster of other important events that usually appear as the part of wedding function in includes Sangeet and Tilak. Lighter fabric with intricate work and detailing adorns the attire for these occasions. Pajama Kurta, Stylised Dhoti Kurta and Silk jackets make for an impressive style statement and they also exude loads of comfort and ease.

With a gorgeously dressed princess by his side on the most important day of his life, the Bridegroom has to go that extra mile tolook like a King himself. After all life partners also need to be partners when it comes to stunning the crowds!

Every Muslim wedding can be divided into three parts- The Engagement, Nikah and the Walima. Now in the real sense of the word, Walima can refer to a celebration or party following major event in one’s life which could range from house warming, start of a new business or even birth of a new born. It basically is a congregation and assembly of people for celebrating an event or occasion. However, it is now mostly associated with post wedding celebration. A usually mentions Walima as a part of wedding Celebration.

So what really is the importance of Walima? Walima can be equated with a wedding reception and just like reception it also takes place a day after the wedding. It is known for its grandeur in scale and lavish banquet that is laid out for the guests. Scholars differ in their opinion on the importance of Walima as such but mostly they all agree that it showcases the happy couple post-wedding. This occasion also presents an opportunity for all relatives to meet the bride. Some families get special Invitation Cards printed just for Walima especially if the nikah is intended to be an intimate ceremony with close relatives only.

A is incomplete without mentioning the date of Walima. It is also the most grand and opulent part of the muslim wedding. In olden days, a Walima would sometimes be spread over two days. There is an interesting observation in words of Messenger of Allah that a Walima spilling over to third day is a “Show off”! However, in today’s busy times and hectic lifestyle, Walima is usually a day’s affair at most.

With time the Muslim Wedding Invitation has also undergone changes. From being completely traditional, these now have splash of contemporary sensibilities. Some people prefer simple but aesthetically done up cards whereas others like them to be rich in appearance. We at KOC are proud to have a wide range of Muslim Wedding invitation which is sure to please everyone’s taste and preference. You want it simple, we give you sophisticated and if you want it luxurious we will add loads of class to it!