Hello, my beautiful Maharanis! You won't believe the story I am about to share with you. Our enchanting couple, Seema & Rishabh, sure knew how to pamper their guest with a magical wedding celebrated at the Cherry Hill Hotel. The venue provided a lovely ambiance for their ceremony and the intimacy and warmness this special day needed. And the gorgeous Maharani, Seema, didn't delight everyone with just one but two divine lenghas throughout the night. She was magnificent! I am sure Rishabh was utterly fascinated by her! Aren't we all, ladies? Although the newlyweds were the heart of the celebration, I have to admit that the original and elegant decor caught my eye. A Harry Potter-themed, Maharanis! I am so amazed by the cake's artistic work and the carefully personalized details Seema & Rishabh got to combine their magical love with the charm from Harry Potter. Of course, the scenery wasn't the only compelling aspect of this day. Illusion DJs brought some mysticism, too, keeping the guests dancing the whole night. On top of everything, our lovebirds' romance was as radiant as ever, completing the fairytale we all dream of. All magical moments deserve to be framed forever, and the skillful team from Lightyear Studio gave our couple a token of their affection and devotion that not even the most potent of spells could ever erase. Sweethearts, you can see the sparks coming out of every picture. You won't want to miss the stunning photographs I have for you in this gallery, my darlings. So wait no more! It is time to boost your imagination.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met the traditional way (at least for the digital age)- online via Dil Mil. We had 5 in-person dates before March 2020 and then we went virtual for 6 months. We resumed in-person dating in late August. I started to have an idea that he was the real deal when he took me to a library on our 3rd date and then an antique book fair on our 5th date (I love books). As he followed me from vendor to vendor for hours without complaining, I knew we could have a future. He claims he knew that pretty much right away.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I’m not a huge fan of surprises and COVID made it almost impossible to plan the original proposal I had always wanted (either at Harry Potter World in Florida or the library of Congress in Washington, DC … yes, I’ve thought a lot about this) so we improvised. We met on the steps of my favorite place in NYC - the New York Public Library- and he got down on one knee and asked ‘the question’. He also gave me an old edition of my favorite work in classic literature (the scarlet letter) and wrote a love message on the inside cover. That last part was all his idea without prompting on my part (I had always secretly envisioned something like that but never told him).
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 got engaged in May 2021 and set our wedding date for September of that same year. It was a little stressful but I hadn’t wanted a long engagement (I was just ready to move onto the next phase of our lives together). We saw a few venues and found one with the perfect date (Labor Day weekend). The vendors all fell into place through some family connections and luck. The wedding theme colors were shades of pink and mint green. The reception was a mix of a library and Harry Potter theme (yes- he was good enough to go along with it even though he’s not a HP fan). We significantly downscaled the wedding due to COVID concerns. However, on the flip side - this made it more intimate and gave us the ability to do some unique things for the decor (like the place cards where we sorted everyone in the different Harry Potter houses).
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
The wedding outfit was a struggle. I hadn’t wanted a traditional red or white outfit so I opted for pink. I wanted to pair it with another bright color and I always enjoyed the combination of pink and mint green so I went looking for that. Since we couldn’t do wedding shop in India, we did all our shopping in the NY and NJ area. My mom, aunt, and cousins supported me as I went from shop to shop, changing my mind constantly. Finally, we decided to just design it and we found someone who was able to create it in the limited time frame we had. I found the reception outfit at a wholesale place (it just happened to be the same color as Hermione’s Yule ball dress robes) and had it altered from a gown to a lengha.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The food tasting was definitely the most enjoyable part - mainly because we like to eat. I also had fun coming up with Harry Potter-themed decor and collecting all the childhood pics for a background slide show at the reception.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I’ve been told the food was especially amazing (especially the pani puri). My cousins enjoyed the Harry Potter-themed decor (most of my aunts and uncles didn’t understand it).
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our first dance. We had taken a few dance classes just in case but we were both still nervous (neither of us are blessed with coordination or grace). However, once we got onto the dance floor, everyone else faded away and it was just us. The smoke effect made it even more magical.
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 mendhi was a low-key backyard affair but my cousins surprised me with professional decorations and unique homemade treats designed just for the event.
For the wedding, on a table at the entrance, we displayed the wedding pics of our grandmothers, aunts, and mothers. We wanted to show their stories as the beginning of ours.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Communication is key. Talk everything out with your significant other and don’t be afraid to voice your opinions.
Darlings, I hope you enjoyed today’s entry. Keep coming back for more happily ever afters!
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