Who is Onida Cruz?

 

My name is Onida Cruz. I am the quintessential Taurus female! I'm addicted to romance novels {I subscribe to Harrequin and receive 4 each month}, Manhattan's Garment District, winter Caribbean beach vacations, monthly spa days, and celebrity gossip blogs {the YBF and Perez Hilton being my favorites}! I love to spend QT with my baby girl and sisters. I wear dresses 90% of the time-- there is something about just putting on one garment and going that just works for me.

I enjoy the luxuries of life (I swoon for Bottega Veneta, Vivenne Tam, and Max Mara). I’m driven to succeed and never been one to settle for just good enough. I am all about going hard or going home.

Event planning, designing, being a new mommy, I can do it all and not break a sweat. Stress . . . What stress? Nothing a three hour spa appointment can not fix.

This blog is a reflection of all things I love about planning special events. So sit back, sip a glass of sweet tea while scrolling throught the pages of my blog. Happy Planning!

Cheers,
Onida

 

 

 

 

My Sister & Partner: Olesha "O2" Haskett


My sister, Olesha, has always loved photography. She graduated in May 2007 with a BFA in Photography / Computer Imagery and graduated with her MBA with a concentration in Marketing. She is the creative director and owner of a wedding photography business, Oh!Boudoir Photography, based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. She is a regular contributor to my blog.

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    Wedding Planning Must Haves
    • Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget - 9th edition KINDLE VERSION
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    My Reference Library
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      William Yeoward on Entertaining
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      « Charger Etiquette | Main | The Wedding Chuppah »
      Tuesday
      Aug042009

      Indian Wedding Mandap

      One design aspect that I love in the East Indian wedding traditions is the use of a stage or mandap. A wedding mandap  is a mandap (covered structure with pillars) temporarily erected for the purpose of a Hindu or Jain wedding. The main wedding ceremonies take place under the mandap.

                It is traditionally made of wood, although now modern materials are something used. It often comes as a set that includes pillars supporting a frame, royal chairs for the bride and the groom, side chairs for parents and a pedestal for the sacred fire. The bride is often escorted to the mandap by her maternal uncle.

      It is often rented from businesses that specialize in renting items for an Indian wedding. Kanan EnterprisesTraditionally, the wedding mandap is decorated using kalashas (pots filed with water), garlands of mango leaves, coconuts, banana leaves etc.

           Vivah MatrimonialThe Nandini mandap is a combination of traditional features and western trends. The gate and mandap pillars are hand carved and have been restored with a cream and gold paint finish. The western trend i si  ntroduced with the accompanying cream satin drapes that hang between each pillar. See Below.          I love the gold, peach, and pink colors of the design below. The ornate aisle pillars are to died for as well!             

       This wooden hexagonal mandap is made of solid wood. The manufacture is based in Indian, they are Kirti International. This design is very different than the mandap shown above, but none the less impressive.

      Indian wedding decor is by far one of the most colorful and decorative of the cultural I know. I would love to have the opportunity to work on the wedding design for an Indian couple.

       

       Sources:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_mandap

      http://www.jniservices.co.uk/mandaps2.html

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