Erie, PA Indian Fusion Wedding by Jorge Santiago Photography

Good morning, Maharanis! It's Friday again, and we are glad to have you back as we were dying to share this charming wedding celebration with all of you! Today's magical love story follows the romantic journey through Parul & Chetan's fusion wedding. And all we have to say is that this celebration is what all Maharanis dream about. So let's not wait any longer and jump right into it. From the colorful and fun-loving Sangeet celebrated at Quality Inn to the magical ceremonies at the Irie Gurudwara, everything was perfect beyond words! But there is no surprise here as Peacock Creations Event Design was the mastermind behind the fabulous decor that set the mood for this event. And you know that anytime this talented and highly experienced team is present, there is nothing else but perfection delivered, and this time was no exception! For her big day, Parul had the best allies by her side to create the ultimate bridal look. Pittsburgh Makeup Artist took care of her beauty needs, and Designer Dream Collection was in charge of the fashion department. The final result: a beautiful bride that still has us sighing! Luckily for us, the good friends from Jorge Santiago Photography were there to capture all the beauty and amazingness surrounding this wedding affair as words are not enough to describe how breathtaking everything was. If you want to take a closer look at this dazzling wedding celebration, don't miss the full gallery that we have prepared for today. We are sure you will love every bit of it, not to mention that you will take tons of inspiring ideas.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
It was a very casual interaction the first time we met. He stopped by my parents business while I was stopping by on my way to work. He had just moved to the area and didn’t know anyone so he would occasionally stop by to help my parents out, hoping I would be there. His genuine care and respect towards my parents made me realize that he was the one.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Chetan and I had known each other for nearly a year and he said he liked me from the beginning. I had instantly “friend-zoned” him and we hung out casually. He would come over for dinner or we would go out but we weren’t dating. Believe me, my parents and sisters were telling me how crazy I was to not see how much he liked me but I thought we were just friends. Then one day, while we were talking, he asked me to marry him and I shot him down. Things got awkward for a while, but he never made me feel bad or uncomfortable. Some time later, his family in India asked him to come back so they could introduce him to someone else. Reluctantly, he obliged but his heart wasn’t in it. You know what they say, “you don’t know what you have until you don’t.”  After having a heartfelt conversation with my parents, I realized that he is the right person for me and asked him if he still wanted to get married. Well, about 5 months later we got married!

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.
I am truly very lucky that my family took care of all the planning, calls, research, bookings, finding vendors, EVERYTHING for us. My sister found all the vendors either in Ohio or Pittsburgh. She knew what I wanted and what I was looking for. I didn’t have to stress about calling people, getting quotes, comparing with other vendors or negotiating. My parents took care of everything local and all the catering.  Although our wedding was put together on a short time, it all came together so beautifully. Starting with the decorations, the ballroom looked so elegant! Tara was a true professional! She worked with our budget and gave us some amazing choices to pick from. The centerpieces, the backdrop, the bicycle for photo-op were placed so strategically that all eyes went directly to the highlighted points.  The makeup artist was a dream to work with. Ramsha asked for our looks we desired beforehand and everyone looked stunning! Our hair and makeup looked fresh and lasted throughout the event. The DJ was spectacular! DJ Ajay got everyone pumped and dancing through the night. He amazing songs and had everyone on their feet.  The catering was done by Safron Patch in Ohio and the food was delicious! Kadambari made the trip from Pittsburgh to do my henna and it turned out so beautiful. She also did an amazing job for my mom and sisters. She was a pleasure to work with. Most importantly, our outfits,  were designed by Anjali and everyone asked how we got designer outfits made to perfection in such short amount of time. Anjali is a miracle worker and she worked tirelessly to get my wedding sharara, my sisters outfits, mom’s outfits, dad’s & brother in laws sherawani custom made and delivered from India in time for our June wedding!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
My cousin in India had found this beautiful lengha that I loved and was so excited to wear for the wedding. It was this beautiful shade of light purple/pink with this beautiful beaded dupatta. Unfortunately, it got damaged in transit to a point where I could not wear it at all. My mom and I drove to New Jersey few times, hoping I could either get the lengha fixed or find something similar but couldn’t. But you know what they say “everything happens for a reason,”because my sister found Anjali who is the owner of Designer Dream Collection. One call to her was all it took for us to give her the entire order for our family’s outfits. I cannot say enough about her professionalism and creativity! We told her what we wanted and in what colors; she designed our outfits that went above our expectations! She also had the perfect & matching jewelry to go with our looks. Designer Dream Collections is a one stop shop. We couldn’t thank her enough.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
My favorite part of planning was not having to stress about anything! I just showed up and was ready to be glammed and dance the night away. Honestly, not having to worry about vendors and deadlines was a blessing.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests loved the mehendi party! The decorations were so nice and everyone was lined up to take pictures with the bicycle! The food was also delicious and guests raved about the variety and taste. The music was good and everyone was up dancing.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
One of my favorite memory is of my little nieces, who were the flower girls, all dressed in the same outfits throwing petals down the aisle and giggling. My nephew sticking close by me and not leaving my side. I’m so glad I have pictures of these moments to look back on. Another fun memory is when my sisters stole not only my husbands shoes but mine too!!! It was too hilarious to watch as they were asking for Sagan in exchange for the shoes and busted out in an impromptu & synchronized dance while asking for money! I also feel so lucky to have my entire family around during the week. So happy that we all got to spend some time together.

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.
My sister, Heena, and our family friends daughter, Gurpreet, surprised Chetan and I with a beautiful dance performance! They practiced the night before and pulled off a great dance! We had no idea whatsoever about what they were planning but it was a great surprise! Our guests loved it too!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Weddings are stressful but it shouldn’t turn you into a bridezilla! Find someone you trust and knows what you like or dislike. Whether an event planner or someone in the family that you can rely on. Share your vision with them and let them help you find vendors or at least narrow your choices down. Let someone else take charge so you can simply enjoy your day! Enjoy having the family & friends around. Don’t forget to breathe and eat! At the end of the day, something will probably not go how you planned it or wanted but it’s not in your control, so let it go! Everything will go by so quick and it’ll seem like a blur so really stop, breathe, and take it all in. Take mental notes about cute and sweet moments. That’s what you’ll look back and smile about.

That is all for this week, ladies! See you on Monday for more.