Living a healthy lifestyle and weight management is not only important leading up to your wedding, but also after your special day.   One of the top requests we have received from our visitors, is advice on how to lose weight and start eating and living a healthier lifestyle.   For that reason, ChicagoIndianWedding.com is extremely proud to continue our blog series from Dr. Sachin Patel.   Dr. Patel is a leading expert in weight loss and functional medication.   We hope you find this series a helpful way to learn about how you can lead a healthy lifestyle. 

Today, we have some more insight from Dr. Patel.   Enjoy!

I know you all want to look your best for your wedding day. Many of you are taking measures to ensure you are able to squeeze into that outfit you picked out!  You already know the cliche recommendations out there; exercise more, eat healthier, blah blah blah.  Hopefully these next 5 tips are new strategies to make your goals a reality.  Let’s get started.

1. Take the stairs.  I know you have heard this one but I am going to suggest that you at a minimum take the stairs down.  If you are not willing to take the stairs up at least take them down.  Pretty soon you will start taking them up!  This is a big step in the right direction.  I often race the elevator up to my third floor office to prove to others its not only faster but better for you.

2. Eat 3 times as many vegetables as fruits.  Veggies are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals.  Fiber helps to keep you full, keeps the bowels moving and reduce water retention.  A healthy bowel means healthy glowing skin on the day of your wedding. 

3. Be sure to finish dinner three hours before bed time.  The most restful sleep is accomplished between 10pm and 1am.  This means that you would ideally be done eating dinner by 7pm.  Avoid snacks before bed and try to maintain a 12 hour fast between dinner and breakfast.  This maximizes the production of a hormone called Leptin.  Leptin signals the body to burn stored fat. 

4. Avoid sugary drinks.  Nothing spikes your blood sugars and insulin like a sugary drink (alcoholic or not).  Try to reduce or eliminate the intake of soda, fruit juices and sugar added smoothies.  Instead choose unsweetened Iced Tea with a few drops of Stevia.  I personally enjoy sparkling water such as Perrier or order Soda water at restaurants. 

5. Learn to manage stress.  Stress is a major culprit in weight gain in the mid-section, cravings for sugary, fatty or salty foods.  Find a good outlet such as a walk, a phone call with an old friend, exercise, yoga, deep breathing exercises etc.

Well, there you have it.  5 practical tips that you can incorporate into your daily routine to enjoy effortless weight loss and energy.  For healthy, amazing recipes and tips go to my website www.drpatelsdiet.com.   Also, as always, you can contact the CIW staff for more great wedding related tips at info@ChicagoIndianWedding.com.

ChicagoIndianWedding.com wishes you and your family a very Happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year!

The comfort of your guests is always a high priority during the wedding weekend.   With out-of-town guests making a trip to make it to the wedding, a great way to greet them is with a “Welcome Basket”!  A welcome basket waiting at the hotel is a way to give your guests (especially the out-of-town guests) some snacks, water and most importantly more information about your wedding.    Here are some suggested items to include in your welcome basket.  Depending on budget and how fancy you want to get, we have separated the list with some “basic” items and “upgrades”:

The Basics

• A Welcome Letter: Great way to greet your guests and let them know how excited you are they could attend the wedding.
• Schedule Of Events With Directions: Since your wedding cards may not have directions from the hotel, it’s great idea to put a schedule of events and include directions from the hotel to the venues.   This will take a lot of stress off the shoulders of your guests.
• A List Of Things To Do In Chicago: Some guests may stay after the wedding; it’s a nice gesture to give them a book of some local tourist attractions.  You should be able to pick these up for free downtown.
• Bottles Of Water: Not all hotels offer water for free, so we consider this item a must.
• Indian Snacks: This can include anything from “spicy mix” and/or Indian cookies
• Granola Bars: These are filling and easy to buy in bulk at a local warehouse store (Sam’s Club or Costco)
• Candy: Always a hit and very easy to buy in bulk at a local warehouse store

The Upgrades

• Mango Juice or Something Similar:   This is a huge hit, especially if there is a fridge or a way for your guests to cool the drinks.  
• Gum or Mints
• Spiced Peanuts or Cashews:   There are a few stores in Chicago that will mix nuts for you with various indian or non-indian spices.   This is also a great item to have at any event!
• Local Products: Chicago is famous for so many things, so why not include something in your welcome basket.  Maybe some Garrett Popcorn or Frango Mints.
• High End Chocolate: Boxes of Godiva or you can put a local touch and put some chocolate from a local vendor.
• Local Gift Cards: If you have some downtime during the wedding weekend, it’s an opportunity for the out-of-town guests to check out Chicago.  Help them out by giving away some small gift cards to local attractions or restaurants (i.e. Deep Dish Pizza, etc.).

You can put these items in a gift “bag” or a traditional basket.  If you go to your local dollar store, you’ll find nice wicker baskets that would work great, that your guests can take with them.   If a majority of your guests will be flying in though, we suggest gift bags, as those are less expensive, but more importantly, guests feel less guilty about throwing them away once the wedding is over.

As always, if you need any other suggestions or locations to get some of these items, please feel free to contact us (info@ChicagoIndianWedding.com).   As part of our free Bridal Concierge service, we would be more than happy to help out!

We are excited to introduce you to a vendor that is truly differentiated and can provide a one of a kind experience for all of your wedding planning needs.  CIW does not call them wedding planners, in fact, they are more like “wedding architects.”  CIW has teamed up with Oliveaire to bring our readers inside information on what you need to plan the perfect wedding.

At CIW, we know all about you, however we would like our readers to really understand why Oliveaire is a truly different type of service.  Tell us what sets you apart from the traditional wedding planners.

We set ourselves apart in that we partner with the bride and groom to not only enhance their wedding experience but give them a professional that they can talk to about anything related to their wedding.  This customized service builds long lasting relationships and creates a seamless communication network which is so important in creating the wedding of your dreams.

One thing we really love is that you don’t only have to plan the wedding, but you can plan the entire week/weekend and coordinate events for not only the wedding parties but also the visiting guests.  What are some things you have done in the past to make the experience extremely memorable for not only the bridal party, but also the visiting guests?

Making the experience memorable not only for the bridal party but visiting guests is so important in creating a flawless event.  Some things that we have done are arrange for tours for the out of town guests and hand deliver welcome baskets to them upon arrival at the destination or hotel. We often find simply making guests feel welcome makes them feel like they are part of the family. This focus on service, with flawless execution,  are some of our trademarks.

Tell us about your customized service and particular expertise for South Asian weddings.

We offer a tailor made service for our South Asian weddings.  Our staff understands the culture, cuisine and traditions that make these weddings so special.  Our combined nearly 50 years of experience, and relationships with the multiple vendors, create these spectacular events and are what truly set us apart from our competition.  When you hire Oliveaire you not only get a highly seasoned planner but you get the support of our entire team for your special event.  

What is the largest and smallest south Asian wedding you have planned?  Please give us some details about the specificities of how you planned them.

The largest wedding we have planned so far was in October 2008, for 1300 people.  This was a multiple day event that took us from the private residence of the brides parents to the lovely Westin Lombard in the Chicagoland area.  We called upon all of our team members to help execute this elaborate affair.  The multiple day affair consisted of 4 different caterers, 6 different venue locations for specific events and nearly 20 different vendors to make the dreams of this special bride come true.

The smallest wedding we have done was for 80 people. The level of service was the same as if they had 1600 people.  Our staff really believes in a personal experience and totally immerses themselves into the event, regardless of the size.

Based on your experience with wedding planning, please give us a top 5 list of key learnings that every bride should know in the planning process.  Brides, listen up!

Be patient and calm with the process.  No matter how organized you are with your life, wedding planning is very stressful and will affect you as you draw closer to the date.

Be open to suggestions on how you want you wedding to look, especially if budget is an important factor.  Trust your reputable vendors to make suggestions that may make your event flow more smoothly and even save a buck or two.

Make sure to eat on the day of the event.  The worst thing that can happen is you pass out from hunger prior to your bridal party entrance.

Drink tons of fluids on the day of the event as well.  A dehydrated bride is not a happy bride.

Finally and most importantly, enjoy the day!  You will only experience this once in your life so don’t let it pass you by while you are concentrating on non important details. 

You have a very interesting showcase called “Bridal Bliss”.  Please elaborate on this and tell our brides how they can join.

Bridal Bliss is a workshop for brides to learn how to plan their wedding, from a pro. We invite Brides to our design studio to discuss a specific subject related to planning their wedding, in a small group format. They have access to a professional wedding planner, designer and other industry professionals to discuss their unique needs and concerns. Keep an eye on our website for future events. We often offer exclusive rates for our services in conjunction with these workshops.

Why do you love planning south Asian weddings?

We love planning South Asian wedding because they are so culturally rich, colorful and each one is so uniquely different from the next.   We thoroughly enjoy navigating the different religions, cultures and cuisine to create a masterpiece at the end.  Our obligation is to create a unique and memorable experience for each of our bridal couples and our team is dedicated to making this happen.

 Living a healthy lifestyle and weight management is not only important leading up to your wedding, but also after your special day.   One of the top requests we have received from our visitors, is advice on how to lose weight and start eating and living a healthier lifestyle.   For that reason, ChicagoIndianWedding.com is extremely proud to introduce a new blog series from Dr. Sachin Patel.   Dr. Patel is a leading expert in weight loss and functional medication.   We hope you find this series a helpful way to learn about how you can lead a healthy lifestyle. 

Today, we start with our first entry from Dr. Patel, introducing his services and easy steps that can start at home.  

Statistically America is the most obese country on the planet.  Over 60% of us are now considered overweight.  Your health is your greatest asset and often taken for granted.  Many people struggle to find a balance in life that leads to a healthy lifestyle, and even fewer really know where to start.  The best place to start is by creating a healthy home.

My name is Dr. Sachin Patel DC, I am a certified Functional Medicine Provider and Weight Loss Specialist.  By working with thousands of patients I have concluded that without a healthy home environment it is impossible to maintain an optimal weight, the two are very closely connected.  As you transition into your new life together as a couple, staying healthy becomes a team effort. 

 “Your home is your most important and most controllable environment, you are in charge!”

The biggest gap in your success is knowledge and know-how.  You want to be healthy and you deserve to be healthy but often lack the appropriate guidance.  It’s not your fault!  No one has ever taught you how, until now!

I have created a weight loss and wellness program that helps you reach your goals by addressing all aspects of your health, including how to create a healthy home environment.  With a small investment in your home and some know-how (provided by me) you will reap the rewards of health and vitality for a lifetime.

The following are the most common questions that I get from patients.

Q: What are the essential tools to creating a healthy kitchen?

A: There are several essential tools that make food preparation much easier and healthier, here are my top 5:

1. Good blender
2. Steamer pot
3. Skillet/pan
4. Salad spinner
5. Juicer

Q: I can’t make it to the gym, I don’t have the time, what can I do at home?

A: Time is your most limited resource.  I will help you develop an exercise program that can be done from the comfort of your home in less than 20 minutes and help you burn fat all day long!  By engaging you in exercise that targets all the major muscle groups,  you workout less and get maximum results.  This is important for your busy schedule.  Here are 3 essential pieces of equipment for your home gym:

1. Exercise ball
2. Yoga Mat
3. Exercise bands

Q: What do you eat everyday Doc?

A: I get that question all the time.  In fact I share my daily diet on my website, www.drpatelsdiet.com.  My goal is to provide you with quick and healthy recipes to prepare for your family.  Once you subscribe, there are over 100 recipes at your finger tips.  Now go make dinner!

Q: What makes your approach so different than other programs?

A: My weight loss and wellness program is unique because it addresses the root cause of weight gain; diet, exercise and hormone inbalances.  I start by teaching you how to optimize your diet based on a comprehensive food intolerance panel.  You get exercise guidance based on your needs and goals.  A  functional assessment of your hormonal imbalances (such as thyroid hormone and stress hormones) is done to uncover hidden weight gain triggers.  I set you up with your own wellness coach to guide you through the length of your program. 

 “When I make your overall health and lifestyle my primary focus, your weight loss is automatic and life long!”

Q: How can I get started immediately?

A: If you are wondering how to start the process and take control of your health and weight,  I invite you to follow my blog and posts on www.chicagoindianwedding.com For additional tips on stocking your pantry, kitchen essentials and over 100 healthy recipes subscribe to www.drpatelsdiet.com for FREE!

I look forward to helping you and your family get as healthy as possible, whether it be before or after the wedding. Together we can change your life and regain your health and vitality.

Visit us as Facebook www.facebook.com/drsachinpatel

When people walk into a wedding venue, one of the first items their eyes are drawn to is the gorgeous flowers that are used to decorate the hall and mandap.   Flowers have the potential to “wow” your guests, incorporate colors, and add elegance to your event.   With that said though, flowers are also one of the most expensive items you can spend money on when preparing your wedding budget.    Be sure to budget anywhere from $35 – $100 per arrangement, obviously depending on the size of the piece.    If you’re spending that much money on flowers though, don’t you feel like they should be showcased for more than just one event?   We do!   A great tip is to re-use your wedding flowers at the reception.   The trick is lay them out differently or place them in different locations to still provide a “fresh” look for the reception compared to the wedding.   For example, the flowers that you use on the mandap to help decorate it would look great at your gift table during the reception.    Here is a great example of re-using flowers from a wedding to the reception

Carnation ball on top of vase used for Mandap aisle (Estimated cost ~$85/piece): 

Use that same Carnation ball as an elegant, yet simple center piece for your reception (No additional cost, since you already paid for it at the wedding)

Instead of paying another $50 – $100 for a reception centerpiece, you have now been able to re-use your wedding flowers in a creative way for the reception.    If you are looking for more great flower tips like this one, please contact us and we’ll come up with some great ideas for you (for FREE as always)!

ChicagoIndianWedding.com is proud is introduce the vendor spotlight.   The Vendor Spotlight is intended to provide you helpful information on select vendors in the Chicago area.   These vendors have been hand-picked by the CIW staff and we consider them some of the best in the area.  

We start the Vendor Spotlight with 101 Entertainment, a premier DJ that is based out of Chicago, but serves the entire country.   

How long have you been a DJ?

I’ve been a DJ for over 19 years.   I’ve been a wedding DJ for 15 years.   I started my career by DJing at clubs and other parties.   I decided to move over to weddings, because to be honest, I like working directly with the client and it’s great to see your work appreciated.  

Do you exclusively do weddings?

I specialize in wedding events, but also DJ for birthday parties and other corporate types of events.  My main focus is on South Asian weddings, but I have also done several culturally mixed weddings.

What are all the services you provide?

I provide DJ services for all types of wedding events, including Sangeets, Garbas, Weddings, and Receptions.   In addition, when requested, I provide Brides & Grooms a live wedding singer, Garba bands, and dhol player (for Bhaarats).   

How many Indian weddings were you a DJ at last summer?

Last summer, I had 23 events.   That’s actually right around where I try to be every summer.   I don’t go over 25 events a year on purpose.   I like to spend a lot of time with the brides and grooms to understand them better and learn more about their musical tastes.  By keeping my events limited, this allows me to really focus on the clients I do have.   My motto has always been quality, rather than quantity.   There is no way I can be the great DJ that is expected of me, if I’m booked every night and never have the time to listen and customize my services to the needs of my clients.  

What do you think makes 101 Entertainment different compared to area DJ’s?

I spend a lot of time understanding my clients.   My focus is to entertain the entire crowd.   Every client is different in my eyes; therefore I spend time learning about my clients, their musical tastes, and their friend’s musical tastes.   A wedding where the Bride & Groom are in their mid-30’s, is very different than an event where the Bride & Groom are in their mid-20’s.  I customize my services to ensure they are in-line with my clients.  Lastly, I take a lot of pride in being dependable and always being available for questions.    

If you can give advice to Brides & Grooms when it comes to DJ’s what would you tell them?

Spend some time knowing what you are getting from your DJ.   There are people out there, who just put some music on a laptop and let it play.   The role of a DJ is extremely important in a wedding; in my opinion, it’s one of the top 3 vendors in a wedding.    It’s more than just music; it’s about high quality playlists, great sound, superior A/V, and dependability.  I’ve been to so many weddings, where the DJ will miss a name, miss an introduction, the sound is off, or they’ll start playing music that the Bride & Groom don’t care for.   It’s important to not focus only on a cheapest DJ, but more importantly a high-quality DJ.   

You can find ChicagoIndianWedding.com on Facebook!   Click on the logo above to find our page and while you’re there please “like” us as well.  This is a great way to stay up to date with all of the latest vendors, wedding tips and applications that are being added to the site on a weekly basis!    

As CIW constantly strives to give you what you want to see, stay tuned for the launch of the Interview Series, with a very special guest!

As you probably already know, gas prices are going through the roof in Chicago and the nation!   Analysts are estimating gas prices to be $5.00 this summer.     Given the high cost of travel expected this summer, why not help your out-of-town guests with discounted travel options?   Many airline carriers will provide you a group discount “code” that would give your guests 5%-10% off airfare to a particular city.    This is great way for your guests to save a little bit of money while they travel to your event.  Most airlines will even print cards (at no charge) for you with the code, so you can include it with your invitation!   An added benefit is that it’ll be easy for you to organize your guests’ arrival and departure times since most of your guests will be traveling the same airline.   

If you need any assistance in finding airlines that offer this type of discount, please contact us (info@ChicagoIndianWedding.com).   For your other travel needs, take a look at our travel category, where you’ll find a great vendor to help you plan your honeymoon or any other trip!   Safe travels!

Brides & Grooms, this is particularly for you!   We are committed to providing you all the tools needed to help you plan your wedding.    With that said, our website will provide a great list of vendors for various categories that are important for your wedding.   We know that the options can still be overwhelming though, so we have designed a specialized service that caters directly to you.    We have reviewed all of the vendors on our site.   If you are in a particular category and need recommendations based on various criteria (i.e. banquet halls capacity, etc.), we are more than happy to help you!   We have a dedicated specialist that will sit down for a consultation with you to discuss vendors who fit your preferences, so you can make an informed discussion on whom to speak with.   While planning a wedding, time is critical, so we are committed to help you save time by providing this service.  The best part about it is that it is absolutely FREE!   

Contact us at info@ChicagoIndianWedding.com to get started today!