Welcome back, Maharanis! We have more insights into Bansari & Michael's wedding festivities, so sit back, relax, and enjoy! It is no secret that we love fusion weddings, and one of the main reasons is because we often get to enjoy two wedding ceremonies. And today is no exception! Both events held at the Holiday Inn Chicago-Elk Grove amazed and captivated everyone. And we are sure you are going to take a lot of inspiring ideas from them. JD Event Design worked their magic to create a dreamy setting for Bansari & Michael's to unite their lives in marriage. Our gorgeous Maharani stole all the looks as she looked like royalty on both ceremonies after being dolled up by Makeup by Sonu Patel. Either on her traditional and fashionable lengha or her beautiful white dress, this Maharani always looked flawless! And we want to make a big shoutout to R.E.M. Video & Photography, for sharing the fantastic shots they captured during these lovely ceremonies. Make sure to check today's gallery if you don't want to miss any detail of these life-changing events; you are going to love it!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Late April 2016, Mike and I met at a bar in Michigan, on a Wednesday night! The very first conversation we had with one another, there was an instant spark. As the night went on, we danced, laughed, and talked all night, it felt like we already knew each other for a long time by the end of the night, Especially since stayed up all night talking! The next day, reality hit - Mike was headed back to New York soon where he was living at the time. We both initially thought the spark would die out considering he lived ~800 miles way. Mike left after that weekend, and I came up my several reasons why it probably won’t work, “He’s not Indian”, “long-distance?”, “It probably won’t work”, “We’re too different” etc. That last till about 2-3 weeks until the next time we saw each other again. As mike got out of his car and ran up to hug me, my heart skip a beat and I knew there was something stronger there. Shortly after, Mike relocated to back home to Michigan, over time we became best friends, each other’s support system, and sometimes each other's worst enemies. From all the ups and downs, one thing we both knew for certain was that we wanted to spend our lives together. That is the story of how it all began, and well, the rest is history!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Location: Mackinac Island, MI
Date: 05.27.2018
Memorial day 2018, Michael & I took a family vacation to Mackinac Island. Our second day at Mackinac Island, we decided to bike the 8-mile outer trail around the island, with breathtaking scenery and views. We stopped at several spots such as the arch rock to take pictures, but one spot, in particular, was the most special moment of our lives. At about 5 mile mark into our bike trail, we stopped at a gorgeous spot overlooking Lake Michigan and the mackinaw bridge. As we posed to take a picture, Michael whispered “I love you”, followed by the most magical proposal. He of course planned for a photographer (family photographer so it remained a definite surprise for me) to be there so our special moment could be captured!
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.
All the vendors I worked with made the wedding stress and planning so much better!
Decor: I worked with JD Event Designs for my decor, Josh went above and beyond in ensuring my day was perfect.
Makeup: I worked with Sonu Patel for my makeup for all the events - she truly listens and caters to her brides, In my search, I came across makeup artists who were more focused on their 'brand' in getting their bride ready vs. truly listening to what the bride wants. Sonu is a sweetheart and she was an absolute pleasure to work with!
Henna: II worked with Henna Moments for my bridal henna - Sheetal truly made the vision of my bridal henna come to reality. She is amazing at her work! There is a back story to me selecting Jasmine & Aladdin characters in my Henna: Growing up Princess Jasmine was Mike's favorite princess, the day we first met he joked and said 'I think I found my princess Jasmine in real life', and that stuck to me! I am so grateful she was able to get my perfect design down for our wedding day!
DJ: DjMixu - he was amazing, there wasn't a moment when the dance floor was empty. He kept the party going all night!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always envisioned myself in a dark maroon wedding dress, I was never inclined to the idea of traditional red wedding dress. This changed the minute I tried on a red vs. maroon wedding gown! I had a picture of my ideal wedding dress saved on Pinterest - Asopalav Ahmedabad was able to pull out an almost identical outfit within an hour of the first day of my wedding shopping. The only difference was the red plum color vs. the maroon, but the minute I tried it on, I knew that was my outfit!
I did not have a vision for my reception outfit, I had to look more to find the style I liked. Surprisingly enough, I was able to find an outfit that had the modern touch to it that I wanted and the color and style made me look princess Jasmine - it matched the overall theme! That's how I knew that one was the one.
All my wedding shopping was done at Asopalav Ahmedabad.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I would say the most enjoyable part for me in the planning process was dress shopping, after years of pinning hypothetical wedding dresses it was very exciting to actually shop for these dresses. I was amazed with how quick and easily I was able to find the outfit I loved!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We did an American Indian Fusion wedding to cater to both our families. Throughout the wedding events, our families were so integrated, the culture difference didn't seem to clash with how perfectly everyone and everything jelled together. I would have to say this was the favorite part for everyone for our wedding.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Absolute special moments for me were the first look before the Hindu Ceremony and his reaction to me walking down the aisle for the first time in the Christian Ceremony. Our first look was more playful, the excitement for seeing each other in the morning whereas the Christian ceremony first look was quite the opposite. He saw me walk down the aisle, it was emotional for the both of us, and watching him tear up made my heart so full!
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.
We went with a more modern look for our Mandap with the drapes and lighter with the reception colors vs. the dark blues that have been more common in the last several years. I was very happy with all the decor work! We loved how involved all our friends and families were in the performances, the American side of our family surprised us with a choreographed dance to Coca-Cola Tu which was amazing!
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
The key things I would recommend is:
1. Be very detailed oriented in what you want and what you like early on so you are not dealing with the stress later on.
2. Don't get hung up on minor details, trust me, I did that and I learned the only person who notices little things that may be off is you! To others, everything will look perfect, so try to relax and just have fun!
3. Make the time to eat during all your events, 1. the food is going to be amazing and you don't want to miss it, and 2. you will get cranky the hungrier you get! Have a designated person make sure you get the chance to eat!
Finally, don't forget to have fun! Stress less and have more fun!
The reception party is just around the corner, so make sure to check it out!
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Sonu Patel |
Mehndi Artists: Henna Moments |
Sangeet Venue: Cascade Banquets |
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Holiday Inn Chicago-Elk Grove |
Floral & Decor: JD Event Design |
DJ: Dj Mixu |
Photography: R.E.M. Video & Photography
Makeup by Sonu Patel and
Henna Moments
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