Today's spectacular editorial blog is full of exquisite fashion, magical décor, and a super dazzling Maharani. I relive all of the special moments honoring Katherine and Vinnie in today's uber grand fusion Indian wedding. The spooks and scares are in full effect, Maharanis! Katherine's very own proposal took place in the middle of a corn maze one beautiful Fall day in a romantic pumpkin patch. Definitely my type of jam! Katherine's once in a lifetime fusion Indian wedding called for a one of a kind wedding planner! Diwan by Design created the perfect blueprint for a full week of festivities. The baraat ceremony, led by M4U Events, brought Vinnie to the Water Works that was decked out by Abhishek Decorators to meet his bride. From the décor and walk down the aisle, to the celebration of uniting two souls, Cliff Mautner Photography has secured away all of the memories in our gallery.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Vinnie and I met when we were both working at Macy's Corporate. (My parents also met while working at Macy's but in the store.) Vinnie filled my old position when I moved to a different team. My old boss and good friend because his new boss and we bumped into each other all the time. When that boss left on maternity leave, we planned a baby shower for her together. We ended up shopping for baby clothes on the 7th floor of the store together. It was there while picking out baby clothes with him that I knew Vinnie was the one. Though we had only known each other a few months and weren't dating yet, I realized then that I wanted to marry, have children with him, and grow old together. Funny enough, my parents also met while working at Macy's, though in the stores.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It happened on a beautiful fall day in late October. We were visiting my hometown and Vinnie suggested we stop at a local farm to pick up pumpkins to carve. The farm ended up having all sorts of festive activities and Vinnie convinced me to do the corn maze together. Once we were deep in the maze with no one else around, Vinnie got down on one knee and popped the question. I said yes with no hesitation and he slid the most beautiful ring onto my finger. We left with Vinnie feeling relieved, me ecstatic, and no pumpkins!
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We spend over 1 and a half years planning our fusion wedding. We consider ourselves true New Yorkers and struggled to find a large enough NYC venue that would capture the city vibe but also beautiful scenery and water views that were important to us. We moved our search to Philadelphia as I grew up in its suburbs and Vinnie went to business school there. We fell in love with Water Works immediately. The next biggest struggle was figuring out the Indian celebration and ceremony as we didn't know all of the nuances and details. I found the best wedding planner, Sneh Diwan, through an old coworker. Sneh Diwan was on top of everything from the start and helped us out with everything from menu selections and decor to timelines and music.
Our wedding day was unusually hot and humid. One of the best choices I made was my makeup artist who did airbrush foundation. I looked flawless in every single photo and truly felt like my most beautiful self. Julie did an amazing job and made sure my makeup lasted through the whole day and night (afterparty until 4!)
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I wore 2 wedding dress, a white dress, and an Indian lengha. My white dress was easy to find as I knew I wanted something chic and glamorous with an interesting back. I found it while shopping in NYC with my parents and sister. For my bridal lengha, all I knew was that I needed a bright color in the red or pink family. I did some research and recon work with my friends Robin and Nicole. I was overwhelmed at first but quickly grew to love the infinite options with beautiful beadwork, tassels, and colors. I selected my bridal lengha with Vinnie, our parents, my sister, and Sneh. There were a lot of opinions but we all finally agreed on a beautiful deep magenta lengha that made me feel so special.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved shaping our special weekend with decisions that Vinnie and I were making together. It felt like the first true big step as a one. I also obsessed over every little detail. There is so much to think about! And I wanted everything to be just right and perfect.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think our guests loved the energy. The whole weekend felt like a giant party. There was plenty of celebrating and dancing from the Sangeet to the Baraat to the reception where we danced the night away. I also think that our guests enjoyed the Indian traditions. For many of them, it was their first Indian wedding.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I'll never forget our first dance. We danced to one of my favorite songs, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, sang by Lauryn Hill. The moment I'll always cherish was when Vinnie dipped me just as the rose petal cannon went off and we shared a kiss while surrounded by petals.
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
The Sangeet was new for me and so much fun! Our planner Sneh designed the decor. She used elephants, peacock feathers, monstera leaves, and candles everywhere. The ballroom looked great and really set the mood. We had 4 groups of friends and family do Indian dances for us. Vinnie surprised me by joining in on the dances. I joined the girls' dance too! We had a great time!
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I would advise any bride-to-be to enjoy the process as much as possible. It will feel crazy and overwhelming at times but enjoy it. While you may find that you may need to make compromises with parents and others, this is really your vision with your fiance.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
For the Indian ceremony, the jewelry set (necklace and earrings) that I wore was a family heirloom from Vinnie's father's side. It was so beautiful and really made me like that was my first true moment as part of the family.
For the church ceremony, I wore the earrings my younger sister Ann wore for her wedding. They were a gift from my Aunt Vickie to Ann that I was so happy to borrow.
I can't wait to share all the details of the wedding reception! Before we dash you away, what was your favorite part of Katherine's fusion Indian wedding?
Floral & Decor: Abhishek Decorators |
DJ: M4U Events |
Baraat: M4U Events |
Planning & Design: Diwan by Design |
Photography: Cliff Mautner Photography |
Floral & Decor: Diwan by Design |
Bridal Fashion: Karishma |
Cakes & Treats: Water Works |
Catering: Water Works |
Catering: Tandoor Catering | Sangeet |
Cinematography: Enchanted Celebrations |
DJ: CSE |
Hair and Makeup: Made Ya Blush |
Hair: Blo Out Dry Bar | Wedding |
Mehndi: Arsaat Party Entertainers |
Photobooth: Laceyface Photobooth |
Transportation: Bus Bank |
Tuxedo: Enzo Custom |
Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia | Sangeet |
Venue: Water Works | Wedding & Reception |
Venue: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul | Church Ceremony
Abhishek Decorators,
M4U Events,
Diwan by Design and
Cliff Mautner Photography
are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.
For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen,
click here.
No comments yet.
Please, sign in to leave a comment.