How to make most of wedding season this year

Shubh Muhurat (Auspicious Times) for Wedding Season This Year

Wedding, a special occasion, as we all know is conducted on special dates in India. These are also called Marriage Muhurats. It is recommended by pundits that marriage should be conducted during these special days only. Not only this, you will be quite surprised to know, that there are days recommended for doing shopping, settling the caterer, arranging the music band party for barat (a ceremony in which the groom rides the horse along with relatives to reach the brides house on wedding day) and whole lot of other things. To make most out of wedding season it is therefore necessary to strictly follow recommended time and dates.

Shaadi Mubarak - Happy Wedding Season

Here are Muhurat dates for wedding season of 2014 which you can note down if you are planning to get married this year -

Wedding Season Dates Timetable

Start Time	End Time	Nakshatra
Sun, Jan 19, 2014, 12:00 AM	Sun, Jan 19, 2014, 04:26 AM	Magha
Sun, Jan 26, 2014, 04:12 AM	Sun, Jan 26, 2014, 08:51 AM	Anuradha
Sun, Jan 26, 2014, 07:52 PM	Mon, Jan 27, 2014, 02:54 AM	Anuradha
Mon, Feb 3, 2014, 02:34 PM	Mon, Feb 3, 2014, 11:59 PM	Uttara Bhadrapada
Mon, Feb 10, 2014, 05:51 AM	Mon, Feb 10, 2014, 06:23 AM	Mrigashirsha
Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 05:48 AM	Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 09:46 PM	Uttara Phalguni
Thu, Feb 20, 2014, 10:23 AM	Thu, Feb 20, 2014, 11:54 AM	Swati
Mon, Feb 24, 2014, 09:20 AM	Mon, Feb 24, 2014, 07:06 PM	Moola
Wed, Feb 26, 2014, 03:40 PM	Wed, Feb 26, 2014, 11:44 PM	Uttara Ashadha
Sun, Mar 2, 2014, 04:49 PM	Mon, Mar 3, 2014, 11:59 PM	Uttara Bhadrapada
Fri, Mar 7, 2014, 03:54 PM	Fri, Mar 7, 2014, 11:59 PM	Rohini
Wed, Apr 16, 2014, 12:40 PM	Wed, Apr 16, 2014, 11:06 PM	Swati
Mon, Apr 21, 2014, 06:08 PM	Mon, Apr 21, 2014, 11:59 PM	Uttara Ashadha
Thu, May 1, 2014, 10:00 AM	Fri, May 2, 2014, 03:32 AM	Rohini
Fri, May 9, 2014, 12:03 AM	Fri, May 9, 2014, 02:38 AM	Magha
Sun, May 11, 2014, 02:54 AM	Mon, May 12, 2014, 07:34 AM	Uttara Phalguni
Thu, May 15, 2014, 10:47 PM	Fri, May 16, 2014, 05:26 AM	Anuradha
Mon, May 19, 2014, 12:04 AM	Mon, May 19, 2014, 12:32 PM	Uttara Ashadha
Sun, May 25, 2014, 12:00 AM	Sun, May 25, 2014, 04:13 PM	Revathi
Fri, May 30, 2014, 01:00 AM	Fri, May 30, 2014, 11:56 AM	Mrigashirsha
Wed, Jun 4, 2014, 03:15 P	Thu, Jun 5, 2014, 10:43 AM	Magha
Sun, Jun 8, 2014, 04:26 PM	Sun, Jun 8, 2014, 04:48 PM	Hastha
Sun, Jun 15, 2014, 08:01 AM	Sun, Jun 15, 2014, 01:32 PM	Uttara Ashadha
Wed, Jul 2, 2014, 12:00 AM	Wed, Jul 2, 2014, 05:52 PM	Magha
Fri, Jul 4, 2014, 03:01 AM	Fri, Jul 4, 2014, 11:59 PM	Uttara Phalguni
Mon, Jul 7, 2014, 06:23 AM	Mon, Jul 7, 2014, 11:59 PM	Swati
Wed, Jul 9, 2014, 04:40 AM	Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 01:10 AM	Anuradha
Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 11:15 PM	Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 11:50 PM	Moola
Sun, Jul 13, 2014, 01:06 PM	Sun, Jul 13, 2014, 03:00 PM	Uttara Ashadha
Mon, Nov 17, 2014, 02:56 PM	Mon, Nov 17, 2014, 11:59 PM	Uttara Phalguni
Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 12:00 AM	Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 11:01 AM	Hastha
Mon, Nov 24, 2014, 11:50 AM	Mon, Nov 24, 2014, 11:59 PM	Moola
Mon, Dec 1, 2014, 02:15 AM	Mon, Dec 1, 2014, 11:59 PM	Uttara Bhadrapada
Sun, Dec 7, 2014, 06:02 PM	Mon, Dec 8, 2014, 12:26 AM	Mrigashirsha

Please note that apart from dates mentioned above the wedding ceremony can be done on holy festival days like Holi, Dussera etc.

Wedding Season Shopping Tips

Buying clothes, gifts, and giveaways are important part of any wedding program  in India. Here are some important tips regarding shopping for wedding which will save you much time and from unnecessary headaches, if you follow them.

1. Always try to do shopping from the local market. It makes easy to get a replacement of defective item otherwise, if you had shopped from outer city, you will be required to visit the place personally (since it is a wedding matter).
2. Don't feel shy of asking from neighbors and your relatives about the best places to do shopping. If you know someone who had a marriage function recently at their place - ask for help, and perhaps request him/her to come along with you for buying things from market.
3. Book marriage hall or marriage garden well in advance. It is recommended that you do so at least 6 months before the date of marriage. These days there is a huge problem for finding space to conduct ceremonies. If you don't fix a place in advance you will regret it later as you would be required to book some hotel by paying  times amount (going by the experience).
4. Food items, like sweets (for relatives), should be prepared/ordered as late as possible. The eatables tend to spoil early and as such should not be kept in storage.
5. Just like hotel, book the catering in advance. Fix a single caterer for all ceremonies. There is a good chance that you will get a nice discount and also you will be saved from unnecessary headaches of negotiating with different caterers.
6. Invitation Cards (very important) should be ordered for printing and posted to the invitees at right time. Just check from courier the time it takes for a card to reach your relative living at farthest place. Post all you card on the same day when you post a wedding invitation to farthest located relative.
7. Gold silver items and other ornaments should be kept in safe ( in bank) and should only be bought back at the day of ceremony. These day thefts are common occurrences in wedding houses.
8. Before shopping always prepare a list. Pass the list to all the family member and allow them to add or remove an item. Get it checked again from the senior most member of the family. This will ensure nothing is left out.
9. During weddings season many retailers offer juicy discounts, especially on purchase of clothes. Keep an eye on it. You will save good money.
10. Keep limited cash in pocket while moving around the market place. Rest assured that the best pickpocket is also aware that season of marriage is on and people are coming to market, hopefully with heavy pockets (good cash), and he is ready to pounce on the first opportunity to fled away with the currency notes.

Wedding Season Frauds

There are good people and there are bad people in the world. For some marriage is an auspicious occasion to start a new life while for other it is an opportunity to make some good money, especially in a country like India where tradition of dowry still exists.

During last few years many frauds have been caught who have come with marriage proposals - presented themselves as some successful businessmen or some high profile officer and manage to fix the marriage. These frauds usually ask for big cash, car etc in dowry and then later run away. Usually they like to reach you through impressive matrimonial and advertisements. Many of them are NRI (Non Resident Indians) Many cases of cheating, especially a man selling woman to another man has been reported. You need to be really beware of such frauds. These are quite active during wedding times.

Steal Away Limelight From Bide Groom in Wedding Season

There would be many people who will tie their knots this season. The bride and groom are obviously going to be the most important persons during the season of marriage. But you can still steal away the limelight. But how? Read these points -

1. Dance well during the functions. There are many functions and ceremonies that complete a wedding in India. People dance and sing in most of these ceremonies. If you can dance well you can be the one who finds a space, apart from bride and groom, in the hearts of people. Remember everyone like a men jumping in joy, spreading love, and who has a smile on the face.
2. Interact and involve with everyone. Ask about the health of elderly persons. Giveaway gifts and toffees to the kids. Become popular by doing these great acts.
3. Participate in marriage tasks like doing arrangements, calling people. Act as if it is your own function and see that everything is in order. Help the hosts conduct the function. They will remember you forever. 
4. Don't do anything silly. Don't fight or create a bad environment. There are always problems during the weddings and on occasions they might frustrate you as an invitee. But don't create any scene. Keep your calm and tell yourself that everything will be over in couple of days. You calmness will make stand you in a league of your own. You will be able to make a long lasting good impression on hosts of marriage and other wedding guests. You will be seen as a powerful (mentally) person among the family members and someone who could be entrusted with making important decision related to family.
5. Dress well and conduct well. Remember you are here for couple of days only. So don't spoil people's impression about you in just couple of days. Do all the right things.

I'm sure if you can follow some of the things mentioned above you can attract many people towards you and bring yourself into limelight, just like bride and groom, during the wedding season this year.