Wedding favours why? Who? What? Where? Explained!

The whole world is aware of the wedding favour and its tradition

This tradition was followed centuries ago to thank the guests who have blessed them during the special occasion. In olden Hindu’s mythology, it is said that guests are considered as God’s who come down to the earth to bless the couple and hence, few auspicious gifts were given to them as a favour for their blessing and the time. Mostly, traditional items like flowers, coconut, turmeric and kumkum were preferred as auspicious return gifts. Later, the concept of return gifts and wedding favours has changed and people started looking for expensive and artistic items for return gifts.

The tradition of wedding favours does not stick only with the Indian Mythology but it has a major role in European culture too.  Guests in France and Italy received Sugar delicacies which represent the symbol of wealth and royalty. The sugar delicacies were placed in trinket boxes which were expensive and made of metal or porcelain and was carved with precious stones. Many centuries ago, sugar was considered as one of the wealth symbols and later, sugar has become less luxury and everyone was able to buy sugar.

Is it just wedding favours / return gifts?

Most of the times the wedding favours are considered as a status symbol and everyone have set a budget that they wish to follow. Once sugar was available at cheaper prices, people switched to give almonds as a return gift. Dry fruits and nuts are quite expensive and it is still followed in many weddings.

The number tradition followed with the wedding favours

Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to wedding favours and return gifts. It depends on the person’s financial support to take care of the return gifts for your guests.  There was a custom followed earlier that when a chocolate or almond is chosen only five pieces of chocolates or candies were distributed. The five chocolates or sweets represent the Long life, good health, good fertility, happiness and complete health of the person.

Do they give return gifts only for weddings? There are no restrictions so, people have started giving return gifts and favours for birthdays, get together and official meetings too. The return gifts prove to be an entertainment for the guest and it also represents a note of thanks for all the guests who have attended the function or get together. The wedding favour and return gifts favour have been practised throughout the world in different culture, traditions and custom.

Return gifts common in birthday parties – Why?

When you call your guests for your children’s birthday, they might bring a lot of gifts and share it which your child who is celebrating his or her birthday. The other kids who have come to participate in the event might feel left out so, the organiser of the event gives small gifts to all the kids who attends the party!

What are theme Wedding favours?

Recently themed wedding have become a fashion and many of them have started celebrating their weddings based on specific themes. They choose dresses, accessories, decoration and arrangements in a specific theme so they also choose wedding favours to represent the theme of their wedding. There are new ideas and innovations used in every special occasion of everyone’s life and wedding favour also have become creative and innovative.

Understanding the importance of Wedding favour

Why is it on priority?

While you are arranging for the wedding ceremony, you make all arrangements but always push the wedding favour and return gifts as the least priority. This is a common practice, but you need to understand that there are a lot of people who have worked along with you to make the event a grand success so you need to give them a small gift that works as a thanks note! When you think of thanking your guests, you understand the importance of wedding favours!

Who should take the wedding favour?

Those who come to your wedding party and who have been supportive in making arrangements throughout the day should be given a gift to make them feel happy and content. There might be many people who might have helped you to have a successful wedding, so you should not miss them at any cost. Remember all of them make a list and make sure your gift reaches them to thank them for all the efforts that they have taken to make your wedding or function, the happiest one ever!

What should you get?

It completely depends on how much you can spend for the event and you need to check on the budget too. Also, look for something that is very useful so that the guests are happy with what they have. There are a lot of options to buy, so fix the budget and plan it well.

What gift is not recommended?

Always look for gifts that are simple and small. Remember you guests don’t want to take something that is huge and heavy. Think of a gift that is easy to hold in the hands or fit inside the pockets or handbag. A small gift is always a better option!

Where to get?

You can get references from your friends and relatives for the return gift ideas. If you are not satisfied, you can also browse online for various options and place the bulk order from websites who can help you with the best one. Always keep the budget in mind and inform the shopkeeper or the shopping assistant to help you with items within your budget.

The tradition of wedding favour was just to say a ‘Thank you’, but now, there are a lot of things that follow the return gift concepts. Few of them consider the happiness of guests, some consider it as a pride, status and few choose it along with their theme and there are many who still follow the customs that existed since ages ago!

Take your wedding preparations to the digital world! Mobile Apps to plan your wedding!

You can do almost everything with the mobile devices, why not plan and make arrangements for your wedding using mobile apps? The developers have come up with exciting applications that help you to plan your wedding in a digital way! Wedding preparations, planning the budget can be one of the hardest tasks ever but if you have an application that works as a guide with every step, it will be easy for you to plan and make changes as and when needed.

Every girl’s dream wedding is possible with the wedding application that is available in apple stores and play stores. There are different applications that have different features and all the applications help you to simplify the wedding preparations. There are also mobile games related to the wedding that you can play and enjoy which will help you to stay relaxed during the busy preparation.

Here are few android apps that will help you to plan your wedding the digital way!

Our wedding planner

This is a simple application that will help you to plan the wedding. You can manage the vendor list, guest list, budget and also the to-do-list. This application allows you to import the contact list from your phone memory and manage the invitation. You can also assign tables for your guest based on the invitation you have sent. This application will allow you to invite your friends and relatives and you can take their suggestions and ideas to make a perfect plan. Tracking the vendors and making them do the right thing at the right time is also simple with this app.

Wedding checklist

In a hurry burry, you will definitely miss out a lot of things during wedding preparations but this checklist app will help you to keep everything in track and there are no ways of forgetting anything. Vendor list, budget, schedule and lot of customised options of available that will help you in planning the wedding in a smart way.

LadyMary Wedding Planner

This is another beautiful wedding planner app that has a checklist for Do it yourself wedding and it allows you to share the information with your partner, invite friends for your wedding party and you can also add few people to your wedding planning team who can help you with the preparations and update it on the app.

Wedding decoration ideas

There are numbers wedding decoration ideas that you can get from this simple application. It has ideas for traditional wedding, Christian wedding, beach wedding, theme wedding, fairytale wedding and more. You can choose your favourite wedding style and plan it accordingly

Design your wedding day

This is a wonderful app that helps you to design how you want your wedding state to look like and you can share the clipping with your friends and family for suggestions. It will help you to see how the state will actually look like. This is also an easy way to show the vendors about your decoration choices and preferences

Wedding count down widget

What would you say when your friends ask you ‘when is your wedding?’. How about saying it with the number of hours, minutes and seconds left? Yes, install this app and it will tell the exact duration of your wedding. This is a funny application that you can have to start the countdown.

Wedding Salon

This is not a planning app, but a game that you can play when you feel stressed. You can dress up the beautiful bride with accessories, dress, and hairstyle and makeup of your choice and stay relaxed amidst the preparation schedule.

This is not the end; there are many applications available for android phones and I-phones that help you to plan the wedding in a digital way. Don’t you think, using the apps cuts down your preparation time and makes communication easy? In the world of technology, you can definitely start using the applications that make your work simple.

If you have missed using apps for planning your wedding, suggest your friend to do it! In a busy schedule, plan your wedding without any confusion! Happy planning!

Why should you take bath after attending a funeral? Revealing the myth and the truth!

During summer vacations, I used to visit my grandparents who lived in a small village near Tirunelveli. My grandfather’s house is well ventilated with a big garden where fruits and vegetables are grown and it also has a cowshed and a hen shelter. Most of the vegetables were grown at home and the milk is fetched from our own cow!

The kitchen was isolated from the bedrooms and the bathroom and toilet were located at the rear end of the house which had two separate entrances, one from inside the house and the other from the road. So, one need not come inside the house to access the bathrooms! I often asked my granny about the kitchen and she used to say that the smoke shouldn’t get into the bedroom and that’s why it is isolated! She had a point! I understood! When I asked about the double entry for the bathroom she said “Grandpa uses the separate entrance after attending a funeral”. She always says that the spirit of the dead comes along with the person who attends their funeral and that’s why they aren’t allowed inside the home before taking a bath! That was just to shut my mouth!

Though it is a myth, there is a scientific reason behind the story. The dead body is a place for active germs and those who touch the body or attend the funeral should take a bath immediately with their clothes on to gets rid of the germs. Keeping this in mind, our ancestors have built their houses in such a way that they can access the bathroom without entering the home.

In recent times, we prefer attached bathrooms and have our kitchen close to our bedrooms! We call it as convenience and luxury failing to remember what our ancestors followed!

Packing My Bag with a Stranger's Dress

  

"Do you want this suitcase?" My dad asked, pointing at a suitcase displayed at the store. I nodded in acceptance! A brown Safari suitcase, huge enough to carry dresses for a month, easy to pull, drag, and roll. It comes with 5 years of warranty! Though the fear of moving to a new location kept me haunting, the fun of shopping didn't let my energy level drop!

Suddenly my dad spoke loud, "Did we come here to buy a suitcase? This is not in our today's list. We can't carry it home in our Two-Wheeler". "The suitcase seems to be perfect for my needs", I told my dad. Finally, we asked the shopkeeper to reserve it for the next day and thankfully he agreed! The next day, I went along with my friend to buy the same brown Safari suitcase!

It was my wedding time, everyone at home was busy with preparations. Dad was busy with distributing the wedding invites, mom was busy with her planning and sister was getting her clothing and accessories but my work was just to pack the things I would take to my new home! The first time, I was packing my bag with so many expectations, fear, and anxiety. The fear of getting married, the fear of relocation and the fear of new family kept interrupting my normal life.

Finally, I packed my bag/suitcase with a few sets of new sarees, a few silk sarees, new salwar sets, night suits, and my daily need accessories. Soon after the nuptial knots were tied, I entered my home holding hands of a stranger who didn't let me get out of his grip! "Bring your suitcase, we need to load it in the car" someone from the crowd shouted. My heart was beating faster and my eyes were filled with tears. I told to myself that I'm not going anywhere leaving my dad, mom, and sister! I wished that my Brown suitcase disappeared somewhere but it didn't!

It was time for me to leave my home and start a new life in a new house with new people. I had to accept reality. At my new home, I proudly opened "my own brown suitcase" pulled out a nice saree showcasing the other beautiful sarees and expensive salwar I have carried with me to the silent spectators. Along with the Suitcase, I have carried the patience my mom has taught, the generosity my dad has shown me and the love my sister has shown me! Every time I looked at the suitcase, I felt the pride of owning it!

The next day, I had to repack my baggage for "OUR" next trip! It hardly took a few minutes for me to repack my things. "4 shirts, 3 pants, 4 vests, and briefs, 4 kerchiefs, and a towel." said, the Stranger in a soft tone! It reminded that I'm not single anymore and packing doesn't end with just my clothes in! I had to keep "The stranger's" dresses in my Brown Suitcase! It was hard in the beginning but changed later!

"The stranger" is not a stranger anymore! He has become a part and parcel of my life whom I love and I trust! Packing "OUR brown suitcase" has become fun!

When should we have a baby? who decides it?

Who decides when a newly married couple should give birth to the baby? Is it decided by the wife's parents? Should it be decided by the husband's parents? Or should the society, relatives and neighbours decide it? Don't you feel it is the decision of the husband and wife?

Ask me, "when I'm going to have a baby?", I'm not writing an examination to tell you the result as 'positive' or 'negative'. The next question goes "Did you check with the doctor?", don't you feel bad to ask someone this question? The problem is in the mindset of people which has to be changed! 

The decision lies with the couple! It's entirely the decision of the husband and wife which should not be interfered by anyone. Parenting is not simple and it is not the same for everyone! 

Let the husband and wife be ready!

When you have a baby, you become responsible! Are you ready to take the responsibility? The responsibility of the husband is not just to earn but he must be ready to handle his wife and the kid. The responsibility of the woman is not just to carry the baby in her womb but, it's more than that.

Give life to a new baby when you are ready!

Few hours of happiness, 10 months of waiting, few visits to doctor, couple of scans, handful of tablets, a lot of advices. Is that it? Having a baby is more than that. You grow along with your baby, you become a parent and you must be ready to grow before you can think of having a baby!

Parenting- the most important phase of life

The meaning of your life changes when you become a parent. There are more responsibilities and sacrifices. Are you ready for it? If you are confident, then go for it!

My rules to decide when I should have a baby?

• Financially stable
• Mentally ready to welcome home a new-born
• Learn about parenting before you begin experimenting
• Yearning to have a 3rd person at home

It may take few weeks, few months or even few years to decide. It is good to leave the couple in peace so that they are ready to decide on their own without others affecting their routine! 

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Why breakup happens in a relationship? Understand the opposite sex better!

Is our life full of drama? Even for a small misunderstanding with our spouse we talking about 'divorce'. Do we know law? Are we lawyers? Divorce is not a joke! Divorce is an end but recently, a lot of young couple talking about breakups and divorce. 

I have seen my aunts and uncles leading a happy life even after a lot of misunderstanding. I haven't heard the word 'divorce' from them even when they are hyper! We, younger generation are prone to talk about breakups and divorce due to the freedom given by our parents. Is our education misleading us? So what causes breakup in a relationship?

Why should I adjust with you?

The ego plays a vital role. Couples deny to adjust with thier partner and startup silly fights. Fights are good for strengthening your relationship as long as you know to get back to normal at the earliest. Couples start the fight for silly reason and involve their family and hence create a big damage to their relationship and finally look for 'divorce' as their only solution!

Who is better? You or me?

A relationship is killed due to ego. When you commit a mistake, your ego stops you from apologising which finally turns the relationship upside down. Ego is accepted to an extent but you must never be carried by your ego. Husband and wife is the best relationship which can be strengthned only when men and women let go their ego off. You won't lose anything when you say 'sorry' to your spouse.

He is mine and only mine!

Ofcourse, we are possesive about our husbands and wife but do we relaise that our "over possessiveness" creats a gap in our relationship? In the name of possessiveness we blindly start taking control over our spouse. We tell them what to wear, what to eat, where to go and whom to talk and finally end up with a fight when our spouse doesn't follow it as per your order! Be possessive but don't lose the relationship.

Her husband is good. His wife is beautiful! 

Why do you compare your life with others. Do you know what they are going through? No two persons are same and you cannot copy their life! Live your life as per your choice and adjust with yoru spouse to fulfill their needs rather than comparing it with your friends and family.

Unlike yesteryears, most of the couple are education with more than one degree. They earn irrespective of their gender and lead an independent life. Our education should never play a game wiht our relationship. Think about the realationship our dad and mom holds. Don't they set an example for us?

Forget about break-up! We all have a beautiful life and it depends on how we take it further!

Having a successful life after marriage is never difficult! It depends on how you deal with your spouse!

When I was ready for marriage, I heard shouts and cries from my married friends regarding their 'life after marriage'. One friend complained about losing her freedom where other friend complained about losing her own self after marriage! The stories from my friends gave me a nightmare but my wedding was not too far. I had to accept the reality and get married to someone before the society starts looking down on me. I married at the right age (though I feel it's a bit early)

The day one, after my wedding, was entirely new. I felt I was born again with the same name, same place, to the same parents with the same figure but with a different "character"! I had to lower down my volume (voice). Secondly, I had to eat whatever was served to me on my plate. Thirdly, I had to smile at strangers though they din't respond to me with a smile. I had to sleep only after evenone slept (though I was dying to sleep). I had to wake up early in the morning before anyone could see me with a tired, sleepy face. I had to change my dress-sense and stick to sarees just to impress others. I had to cook and it had to be tasty (God knows,how a first time cook can cook to perfection!) 

My looks got changed. I had to wear a brighter bindi, walk slowly, put my heads down while I walk and look homely! I heard advices from nook and corner to follow these rules (Who set the rules by the way?) so that I can win the heart of my inlaws. 

I followed it blindly! Having heard about the ill-treatment by in-laws in other families, I dint want to be a prey! Never! Now, I realise, my in-laws are not like the ones they show in tele serials. My mother in law and father in law are real. They are friendly, caring and great!

So, what happens after marriage? Do we accept the change, just to impress someone? 

A new life begins after marriage and it depends on every individual to handle the relationship. It is never hard. You just have to be a bit careful as you are dealing with hearts and not machines. Our life after marriage doesn't depend on the advice we hear or with the in-laws or with us. It entirely depends on our Spouse!

Understand your Spouse

We learn the art of adjustments, sacrifices and understanding only after marriage that helps us lead a happy life.You need to understand your partner’s differences and their likes and dislikes. Those who fail to understand their partner, fail in their life too. Everyone is not same, so first learn about your partner and you will automatically start loving them for what they are.

Adjust with your Spouse

Once you understand your partner as a whole, you start adjusting with them. When you fail to adjust with your partner for simple things, you may lose a big thing in your life. For example, when your partner says he is not comfortable to go out, you need to agree with him or her and plan your outing on another day.

Complement each other

Appreciate what your partner is doing for you. If your husband buys a gift for you, accept it and complement him and if your wife does something for you, thank her for what she is doing. Whenever you get the chance, you need to appreciate their effort.

I would say, Fighting also increase the bonding and your relationship but ensure you fight for silly things and never bring your family into this scenario! 

Leading a happy life depends on tuning your Spouse. If you have been successful in tuning, you are already enjoying the melody of the music of life. If you haven't tuned it yet, it's time to tune and listen to the melodies!