A celebration to remember

Congratulations!

You and your significant other have managed to tide over the first year of marriage with success! You learned to enjoy each other's differences, be patient with flaws, and prioritised love and understanding above all else.

Marriage is not all glitter and gold as the greeting cards would lead us to believe; seasoned couples who have weathered storms and sunny days with equal amount of grit will tell you that it needs a lot of hard work to thrive. Being married to the love of your life is wonderful in spite of the odds, and whether it is your first or tenth anniversary, it merits a celebration.

We generally love life and like to rejoice at every conceivable chance with much pomp.

Anniversary parties, on the other hand, are usually done on a much smaller scale and comprise of close family and friends.

Celebrating an anniversary gives two people a chance to cherish their marriage, which sometimes takes a back seat in the humdrum of life. And of course, happiness shared is happiness increased, so bringing close friends and family together to re-kindle a union also brings newer meanings to the couple's relationship with them.

It goes without saying that an intimate gathering like this requires a fitting arrangement. Simple, but stunning decor is the way to go. Say no to over the top, garish decor that leaves people confused over the nature of the occasion. Every occasion has its own beauty, and letting it shine in its own light is the best way to go!

Think open space with twinkling lights that glow and sparkle. Fragrant floral arrangements interspersed with interesting elements will enamour and enthral guests. Instead of doing an ornate stage, why not go for an elegant cake table filled with luscious desserts that is just as beautiful?

Instead of covering the entire ceiling with heavy drapes, let it be sparsely illuminated with fairy lights, reminiscent of the starry night he popped the question on?

A sweet photo booth decorated with mementoes from your wedding and pictures of your journey together will surely take your guests on a trip down memory lane and reinforce their pride in the bond between you and your better half.

You can make a real difference with the menu. Choose Pan-Asian, Italian, or Japanese cuisine instead of kacchi biryani, which, although is the quintessential Bengali wedding dish, may not work here!

If biryani melts your heart and soul, going for unusual flavours such as Hyderabadi or Lucknowi could be a game changer. The idea is to throw a party that will highlight the simple yet sublime nature of your time spent together, in the best way possible. After all, you did have a fabulous week-long wedding ceremony complete with holud, a bridal shower, a bachelor's night, rong khela, dala exchange, reception, firani — the whole nine yards, right?

Photo: Prito Reza, Wedding Diary Bangladesh

For that perfect look

Few occasions are as special as one's wedding anniversary. It is the day you said 'I do,' promising to cherish, nurture and care for that person, vowing to be by his side through thick and thin. So it is only natural that this day deserves to be celebrated with much pomp, circumstance and style!

Many a times, women make the fatal mistake of overdoing when it comes to their anniversary party. Trowelled in larger-than-life velvet lehengas/gowns/saris, jewels that can put Cleopatra to shame, and heavy bridal makeup and hair, these women end up creating mass confusion among guests about the nature of the event!

Sure, it is an occasion worth celebrating and getting dressed up for, but recreating one's wedding look is neither necessary nor stylish. The whole idea of an anniversary party is to be able to celebrate with one's close family and friends and let one's hair down.

We are at a very exciting time in fashion when one can play around with many different silhouettes and styles, without compromising in any way. A sequined, slinky sari that hugs your curves and flaunts them in a subtle shade is perfect.

A gorgeous sharara set in a dreamy shade of periwinkle, or rose beige will add sparkle to your party. Choose a lightweight georgette lehenga with floral embroidery and crystals to stun your guests. An ivory silk cape that's embellished with rich zardozi work paired with a full tulle skirt in a jewel tone like emerald, sapphire or ruby will make you the belle of your own ball and how!

Legendary makeup artist Shu Uemura once remarked that your makeup should never precede you, but always walk with you.

Keeping that mantra in mind, choose one area to focus on.

Going for dramatic smoky eyes? Pair it with nude lips that enhance your beautiful pout.

Want to sport a bold mouth? Let your eyes sparkle with just a hint of glitter and some liner, and not much else.

Dewy, glowing skin that is beautifully highlighted will complete your subtle but stunning look! A simple up-do or a voluminous blow dry will go beautifully with it.

That women love their jewels is a fact universally known. One chance to wear our beauties, and we want to go all out. But on your anniversary night, choose one stunning set that perfectly complements your look, not bring out your entire jewellery chest!

You could go for chandelier earrings and skip necklace, or vice versa. Choose something that will not take away from your entire look, but bring harmony to it all. Each element to your look should be beautifully complementing each other, including the finishing touches. So there you have it, the complete guide to anniversary dressing, dissected for you.

Now go on, and stun away-- for it is your day!

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed