There is only one phrase I can use to describe today’s Virginia Indian wedding – delightfully charming.  What’s else would you expect when you have a wedding that is loaded with DIY details from start to finish.  This Maharanis’ hand was in everything…from the “Music and Masti” party to the reception.  Infusing your own DIY wedding projects is a foolproof way to make your Indian wedding adorable and give it that personal finishing touch. 


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Images by Parsons Photography


From the Maharani of the day, Anjali :



I'm from Kenya, born and raised. I came here when I turned 18 to go to college in PA. I always thought that when I got married, it would be on the Kenyan coastline. Unfortunately, due to logistical concerns we had all the weddings In the US instead. So I wanted to bring in my Kenyan aesthetic to the wedding.


I love pretty things, but I am a bit of a tomboy. I like the rustic outdoors and choose that as my overarching theme. I wanted our wedding to be a true reflection of my fiancee and I as well as my family's amazing journey, and to be a reflection of my extended "chosen" family as well. I wanted a personal wedding, one where everyone present fely included and involved. Basically, the feeling I wanted to conjure up is summed up well in the wording of my invite where people were invited to "celebrate love, laughter, family and friendship."

Our Grahashanti, Pithi and Mhendi were held at my parents house in Maryland. The house was decorated by a family friend, with items borrowed from all our incredible friends, and it was amazing. She transformed the spaces completely. She also helped orchestrate an incredibly touching moment: when my inlaws arrived she had everyone put a hand over their head and she had her mom sing a Sikh prayer to honor their heritage. 


The party then moved our venue in Leesburg VA, where we had a night of "music and masti" aka the garba and sangeet. Our caterer, Pankaj of Bollywood Bistro, had sent his chef to my mom's house earlier in the week to learn how to make a very particular Kenyan-Indian dish that we all dearly miss. Other Kenyan elements we incorporated included having my uncle who has a music group in Kenya, sing for us, and the night even ended as all the Kenyans in the crowd got together and sang the national anthem, the full version, not just one verse!!


The wedding itself was a dream. Prabha Bhambhri of Nivanjoli created my dream mandap from scratch, and it was stunning. Although initially we had intended for the wedding and cocktail hour to be outside on the property's stunning patio, 98 degree weather coupled with 90% humidity forced a game-time decision to move the festivities indoors. Since we we were trying to keep the budget down, my friends and family pitched in to do all the decorating other than the mandap and dancefloor seating.


If you are in search of that perfect, modern mandap, you are going to LOVE what we have coming up next.  Stay tuned!