Tag Archive for: Melbourne

The traditional wedding cake is fast becoming a staple at an Indian wedding. Gone are those days of serving laddoos and gulab jamun. It’s all about the statement cake that sits in the middle of your wedding reception venue.

Young couples tying the knot are bucking the trends and opting to infuse personal touches in every aspect of their wedding. This includes having a wedding cake that translates their love story, allowing guests to celebrate everything special about the couple.

We caught up with our expert Melbourne wedding cake decorator, Narmi of My Cake Studio to weigh in on the debate, making more couples see the value in serving cake at their Indian wedding.

Couture Mantra by Kiran Lally | The Maharani Diaries

Last year we introduced you to a young Melbourne designer by the name of Kiran Lally of Couture Mantra. We can proudly say that in a short time span, Kiran has come a long way.

Couture Mantra has gained a strong following on the fashion circuit with a successful presentation at the 2015 Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. An emerging South Asian fashion designer, Kiran has designed and styled for local and international celebrities. Her wedding and occasion wear has been particularly popular amongst young Australian women.

Couture Mantra by Kiran Lally | The Maharani DiariesAs the name implies, her ensembles are made from the highest quality fabrics and tailored to perfection. Couture Mantra’s elegant, feminine silhouettes are all hand-stitched with fabrics such as raw silk, nets and flat chiffons and they feature traditional casab, zardosi and mirror work.

Kiran’s design ethos is drawn from various experiences, in particular her rich Indian heritage. Her mother has also been a huge influence, inspiring her to create her eponymous label and share her work on social media platforms.

Now in her third successful year, Kiran is embarking on a new journey, presenting her latest contemporary collections at an exclusive runway show taking place this Sunday 5th June in Australia’s fashion capital, Melbourne. From versatile winter/fall fashion to summer/resort collections, we cannot wait to see what ‘The Couture Mantra Runway’ has in store for the upcoming seasons.

Attendees are in for a treat with Bollywood personality Esha Deol gracing the fashion ramp for Couture Mantra. The actress has in the past walked the runway for prominent Indian designers such as, Neeta Lulla and Shyamal & Bhumika. There will also be special performances from the Melbourne City Ballet and Mandy Dance Academy.

Couture Mantra is proudly supporting Melbourne based charity partner, Wear For Success, with funds raised going to provide opportunities for men and women facing barriers to employment, self-sufficiency and financial independence. Wear for Success provides professional clothing and career support training to people looking to re-enter the workforce after a period of unemployment, returning to the community after a period of imprisonment or illness, and people facing hardship and other barriers to success.

A runway show unlike any other, Kiran prides herself in the exceptional service she provides and through this event she wishes to empower other young women to embrace their culture and strive to achieve whatever you want to do in life.

VIP admissions on the night include food and beverage as well as a chance to meet Esha Deol and get your photo taken with her. Online ticket sales will also go into the draw to win an exclusive prize comprising of a Couture Mantra ensemble to the value of $400 along with matching statement jewellery pieces and henna tattoos.

The Couture Mantra Runway promises to be a night to remember with members of parliament, elite business personalities as well as beauty pageant winners all in attendance.

Get your girlfriends together for a fun night out at the magnificent, Regal Ballroom in Northcote, Melbourne. Tickets are priced at $49 per person or $99 for the VIP experience, which includes pre-event canapés and cocktails. For further information visit Couture Mantra’s Facebook page and book your tickets online via Try Booking.

We would like to wish all the very best to Kiran and the team at Couture Mantra. Cannot wait to cover the event. Stay tuned!

For the past four years, movie stars, producers and directors alike from the Indian film fraternity have been converging on Australia’s arts and cultural capital, for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). This bright and colourful annual event, presented by Film Victoria, City Of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government, is the biggest celebration of Indian cinema in the southern hemisphere showcasing a diverse range of films covering different genres and subjects. From record-breaking Bollywood blockbusters to thought provoking documentaries and regional films, this festival is fast becoming a premier event on Melbourne’s burgeoning event calendar.

You could say for us Aussie-Indian brides, we are fairly limited with choice when it comes to high-fashion Indian couture. We either have to turn to online shopping book a flight to India. I suppose you really have to turn to social media sometimes to discover what hidden talents are out there. I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across young designer, Kiran Lally’s Instagram account a few years back. The first thought that sprung into my mind was, “wow, an Indian fashion designer in Australia!”

The mehndi or “henna” party is one of the most important functions for a bride in the lead up to her wedding day. But until only very recently, finding an artist in Australia was a challenge. I caught up with one young and immensely talented artist by the name of Alisa Parveen, who gave me an insight into her amazing work as well as share some common myths and misconceptions about henna.