<p>As a continuation to yesterdays punk inspired wedding borne from the launch of the new bridal one stop haven, BHLDN, today I give you part two of the series: From India, with love.

It is the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, married as teens in 1612, whose  love surpassed the confines of death and whose story has evaded the obsolescence of time. After the death of Mumtaz, a forlorn and grieving Shah erected one of the world's most wonderful works of architechture, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal">Taj Mahal</a>, as a monument and mausoleum for his beloved wife. To this day it's curvaceous lines and outstanding beauty continues to wow the world and has made it one of the most recognised buildings of all time.

 <p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:1px solid black;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/Moodboards/FIWL.jpg" alt="From india with love"></p>
<strong>
The bridal elements</strong>

a. <a href="http://www.bhldn.com/the-shop_gowns/greenbow-lace-gown">greenbow lace gown</a> - $600
b. <a href="http://www.bhldn.com/the-shop_hair-adornments/baguette-headband">baguette halo</a> - $140
c. <a href="http://www.bhldn.com/the-shop_shoes/brocade-dorsay-heels">brocade d'orsay heels</a> - $350

<strong>The table setting</strong>s

1. <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=073142&amp;catId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&amp;pushId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&amp;popId=HOME&amp;navAction=top&amp;navCount=42&amp;color=004&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;subCategoryId=HOME-DINNER-PLATES">zinnia thicket plates</a> - $12
2.<a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=083131&amp;catId=HOME-TABLELINENS&amp;pushId=HOME-TABLELINENS&amp;popId=HOME&amp;navAction=top&amp;navCount=156&amp;color=095&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;subCategoryId=HOME-TABLETOP-NAPKINS"> nifty napkins</a> - $32 for six
3. <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=780117&amp;catId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE-EVERYDAY&amp;navCount=228&amp;navAction=middle&amp;isProduct=true&amp;pushId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE-EVERYDAY&amp;popId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;color=grn">opalescent tumbler { in green }</a> -$12
4. <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=974321&amp;catId=HOME-DINNER-BOWLS&amp;pushId=HOME-DINNER-BOWLS&amp;popId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&amp;navAction=middle&amp;navCount=138&amp;color=060&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;templateType=D">whizbang bowl</a> - $32
5.<a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=073413&amp;catId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE-STEM&amp;pushId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE-STEM&amp;popId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE&amp;navAction=middle&amp;navCount=138&amp;color=100&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true"> platinum petals coupe</a> - $14
6. <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=073830&amp;catId=HOME-SERVE&amp;pushId=HOME-SERVE&amp;popId=HOME&amp;navAction=top&amp;navCount=186&amp;color=000&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;isSubcategory=true&amp;subCategoryId=HOME-SERVE-UTENSILS&amp;templateType=subCategory">rediscovered flatware</a> - $36

see also : <a href="http://shopterrain.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&amp;Store_Code=ST&amp;Product_Code=ARTI-DECO-10-001001&amp;Category_Code=ARTI-DECO">glass bottle and basket</a> - $238 and <a href="http://shopterrain.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&amp;Store_Code=ST&amp;Product_Code=GARD-TERR-57-001001&amp;Category_Code=GARD">bell finial cloche</a> - $28

<u><strong>Why it works</strong></u>

This beautiful <a href="http://www.bhldn.com/the-shop_gowns/greenbow-lace-gown">crochet dress</a> has a keyhole in the back, a most elegant 'cooling system' for a wedding in a hot location. The <a href="http://www.bhldn.com/the-shop_hair-adornments/baguette-headband">baguette halo</a> as headpiece and <a href="http://www.bhldn.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/productID/a90c6add-7f15-403a-b56c-f958271bf3d7/categoryID/05352c6a-f7fd-415d-a7d0-42b48975f0ac">brocade d'orsay heels</a> add an element of exoticism and sun capturing glintz.

Translated to table setting this concept brings  a mixture of brightly coloured elements and patterns that are gently restrained by the shapes and facets that give a somewhat colonial feel. The <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=073142&amp;catId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&amp;pushId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&amp;popId=HOME&amp;navAction=top&amp;navCount=42&amp;color=004&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;subCategoryId=HOME-DINNER-PLATES">zinnia plates</a> and <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=974321&amp;catId=HOME-DINNER-BOWLS&amp;pushId=HOME-DINNER-BOWLS&amp;popId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&amp;navAction=middle&amp;navCount=138&amp;color=060&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true&amp;templateType=D">whizbang bowls</a> scream with their highly saturated hues and bold pattern. They made me think of the unabashed joviality of sari colours and patterns.

By way of contrast the rediscovered flatware, inspired by vintage flatware, coupled with the <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=073413&amp;catId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE-STEM&amp;pushId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE-STEM&amp;popId=HOME-TABLETOP-GLASSWARE&amp;navAction=middle&amp;navCount=138&amp;color=100&amp;isProduct=true&amp;fromCategoryPage=true">platinum petals coupe</a> contributes a regal air that feels decidedly English and formal.  The honorable mentions of the <a href="http://shopterrain.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&amp;Store_Code=ST&amp;Product_Code=ARTI-DECO-10-001001&amp;Category_Code=ARTI-DECO">bottle and basket</a> and <a href="http://shopterrain.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&amp;Store_Code=ST&amp;Product_Code=GARD-TERR-57-001001&amp;Category_Code=GARD">finial cloche</a> { via terrain } add an old world feel to the table and make it seem like the table scape is a collection of inherited items that have traveled from back home that have mashed-up with styles newly acquired in ones new more exotic home.

<p style="text-align:right;"><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><em>all images via <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/">anthropologie</a> and <a href="http://bhldn.com">bhldn</a></em></span></p>