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| WEDDING PLANNING:Shopping |
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Wedding
Shopping in Mumbai |
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Despite the multitude of talented British Asian
designers who have opened up ethnic boutiques in the UK,
flying out to India for wedding shopping is still the
preference of many British Asian Brides & Grooms,
not least because of the unbeatable choice of designs
and styles available in the sub continent, all at great
prices.
In our first of three guides to wedding shopping in
India, we start with Mumbai, undoubtedly India's most
glamorous, lively and chic city, and a great destination
for the fashion conscious shopper.
We have put together a list of carefully selected
stores to help those of you who are unfamiliar with
Mumbai. We hope that it saves you precious time in your
search for that dream outfit for your special day. |
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To make the most of your shopping experience, take
note of the following:
- Certain areas of Mumbai, notably Juhu, Bandra, Warden
Road, Pedder Road & Nepean Sea Road are melting pots
for NRI (Non Resident Indian) shoppers. These areas are
home to some of Mumbai's finest boutiques, with fine
prices to match!
If price is no object and only the best will do for
you, these are definitely the areas to shop in. If
however you are a more budget conscious shopper, do
visit these shops to get an idea of the latest styles
and designs and then try and find similar items (which
certainly are available) in the more affordable shops
located in Andheri, Dadar, Malad, Santa Cruz, Marine
Lines and Crawford Market.
- Do some research before your trip, to get an idea of
the colors, styles and designs of outfits that appeal to
you. Browse through the shops in London, flick through
wedding magazines, surf the web and ask your friends and
family for their input. You will save yourself a great
deal of time if you can tell a sales man exactly what
you are looking for rather than him showing you every
piece in the shop (which he certainly will want to do!)
- Do a round of as many shops as possible before you
start buying, this will give you an idea of local prices
and the variety that is available.
- Always ask about refund and exchange policies before
settling your purchase. You may think you have found
your dream outfit.till you go to the next shop, where
you find something even better. Try and make sure that
your purchases are exchangeable if not refundable.
- Whilst shopping in India, it is very easy to get
overwhelmed and confused by the sheer number of items
that are available. If you don't like something,
communicate clearly what you don't like about the
product, so the sales people do not waste your time
showing you similar items. Unless you are an impulse
buyer, make a list of what you like in each shop so that
you can make an overall comparison and shortlist what
you finally want to buy.
- Many shops now claim to be "fixed price"
but if you are buying a number of outfits you are well
within your rights to ask for a discount. Feel free to
bargain in smaller shops and start bargaining at 40%
less than what they are asking for. You should
ultimately aim to knock off at least 25% of the asking
price.
- Most stores now have an in house tailor to ensure
your outfit fits you perfectly. Make sure that all the
adjustments have been done properly. Examine the insides
of any garment for signs of bad stitching and finishing
and if need be, ask for the stitching to be redone. The
last thing you want is seams splitting on your big day!
- When buying Sarees check the WHOLE length of the
material on both sides for any factory soils, "Patching"
or defects. Shops are experts in making sure these
remain concealed until you have made the purchase.
- Many visitors are duped while shopping with a credit
card. Make sure the credit card is swiped right in front
of your eyes. Visitors are known to have been cheated by
unscrupulous shopkeepers who will charge some more items
to the card and forge your signature on the slips later.
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