It was a month ago that I came to know of Tamarind Weddings. One of my closest friends, Deepika, was getting married. She was working in Dubai and had a hectic schedule ahead of the wedding I knew. It was just a week before the wedding that she flew down to actually oversee the works. Over our Facebook conversations, she would mention to me that a wedding planner is taking care of the wedding in Kerala and that she need not worry about anything wedding-related. Distrusting as I was generally about the wedding planners, it took time for me to accept Tamaridn Weddings. In our part of Kerala, the cultural dome of Kerala, Thrissur, wedding planning was not very popular. But I knew that in case of Deepika’s wedding, a wedding planner would be of much help! She required assistance at many levels – to coordinate her shopping, the designing and planning of the entire wedding. Her groom was in the States and his family was in Kochi. They were okay with the idea of hiring a wedding planner and thus, the wedding planning proceeded with Tamarind Weddings. Deepika studied interior design. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why she was so particular about her wedding. She had an in-built theme in her mind – mixing of shades consisting of brown and gold. She liked tradition and wanted as much of it as possible to be incorporated into the wedding décor. I was in the dark about her communication with Tamarind Weddings. Little did I know that what she had planned with the wedding planner would wow me beyond words! As D-Day approaches, she got busier and busier. I knew she was in regular talks with her would-be and the wedding planner. She and her wedding planner would visit the best of wedding boutiques for her wedding shopping. I had gone with the wedding planner once when Deepika couldn’t make it. I was surprised! – The wedding planner knew her tastes well! Hers was a traditional Nair wedding! – The main ceremony was at Guruvayur, followed by Lunch at Joys Palace, Thrissur. The bride was glowing! – Her attire and makeup was just perfect, hiding behind it all her tension. She was welcomed into a well-decorated temple stage with nadaswarams blaring through the hall and seated in a traditional mandap, complete with garlands of mullapoovu and marigold! Diyas and small golden foam sheet cut outs were placed at the front of the stage – adding to the rich ambiance! Hostesses in set mundu lined the hallways, welcoming the guests and ushering them into the venue. I think I saw a couple of guests smile gleefully at them, happy that they were attended to so well. Each guest was given a tastefully designed box of ghee sweets in remembrance of the event! Altogether, I pride my friend to have worked out her wedding so well. More than Deepika, it is Tamarind Weddings I thank! They organized a wonderful and memorable wedding that brought a smile to the faces of everybody at the function!