You might want to slip on your stunna shades, Maharanis, because we're about to check out some serious bling! Today we're on the scene with Jashim Jalal Studios as bride Tina fastens on one of the most gorgeous jewelry sets I've ever seen. Honestly, darlings, if you lean in close to your computer screen, you can actually see every glittering, gleaming detail of ruby, emerald, and gold (not to mention the exceptional embroidery on her lengha)! Her tikka is a twinkling sensation, her kalira are a dazzling dream, and that necklace is straight out of a fairy tale fantasy. Stylish Events is busy decking out the ceremony space while this beauty applies a bold red lip to complement her shimmering accessories, and if you want to see even more, head to the gallery!
From the bride: "I went to India to buy all of my outfits. Luckily, my mother-in-law had gone a few months earlier and scoped out the scene for the best designers so I wouldn't have to waste my time going from place to place. I'm so glad she did because, I ended buying all of my dream outfits for my Sangeet, Wedding, and Reception on the same day! I got my Sangeet and Reception lengha from Ritika Bhasin and my Wedding lengha from Kimmi Tej.
I am a planner. I research EVERYTHING. However, I had purposefully not spent any time looking at outfits on the internet, because I knew that when I got to India there was no way to predict my 'love at first sight' outfits, and there was no way to tell if something would look good on me unless I tried it on. So I went with a clean slate and was so glad I did! And I honestly couldn’t ask for a better mother-in-law who has such amazing taste and surprised me with matching jewelry!
Since our wedding was the first big wedding for both sides [of our family] we had to start from scratch! Luckily, I had been planning this day since I emerged from the womb, so I was bursting with ideas. We obviously had a full, 5-day, 420 person-Punjabi wedding which took a LOT of planning. In residency, time is of the essence, so wedding planners were a must for us and I could not have done it without their help.
The festivities began with a traditional puja on Wednesday night at the groom’s house to start off the wedding festivities auspiciously. It was filled with food, drinks, and mingling for all the family members just beginning to arrive from all over the country, and the world.
Thursday night was our Sangeet at Crest Hollow Country club, which featured a pool-side cocktail hour, speeches, dances, and the traditional 'Jago dance,' which was performed by the women of the groom’s family to open up the dance floor (of course we all participated with each of us taking turns carrying the Jago on our head!) After this, of course the bhangra continued all night long.
Friday was my Mehndi ceremony where I sat still in a chair for NINE hours straight but it was well worth it! The evening took place as an indoor/outdoor event at my home and consisted of the groom’s family arriving in a processional carrying decorated, lighted, gorgeous packages containing all my wedding jewelry, outfits, and gifts. Afterwards, led by my grandmother, traditional songs were sung and the dholak was played and all women, young and old danced around me and celebrated.
Saturday night consisted of a cocktail/dinner/dancing party at Akbar Restaurant that the groom’s aunt and uncle threw for us to allow for both families to get to know each other prior to the big day. A surprise performance was done by a group of very talented belly dancers, which the men really did seem to enjoy!
Sunday was the big wedding day. The morning consisted of traditional Haldi ceremonies at both the groom and my house, each held separately. My ceremony also consisted of having my mom’s brothers (cousins in our case) who traveled from Texas, each put a 'Choora' (red bangles) on each of my hands. I wasn’t allowed to see it before and I had to keep my eyes closed as it was being put on (but of course I had to take a peek while it was happening! I had to keep those bangles on for a minimum of 6 weeks after the wedding to signify that I was a newlywed—and boy did that take some getting used to!) After that, I had special hand-picked 'kaleeras' put on as well, which had all been individually blessed by family who could not make it from India. I took turns trying to break them over my bridesmaid’s heads (don’t worry, I had separate crystal ones for the actual wedding!). The person’s head over which I broke it over first would be the next one to get married!
The day was a blur with getting ready multiple times and taking lots of photos with family and my bridal party which then finally culminated in the moments I had been waiting for—our 'first look' and then our marriage!"
Love all the tradition! Stay tuned for the first-look portraits up next!
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