We were dazzled as we entered The Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge venue, and are swooning over every single sparkling part of Aishwarya and Amit’s wedding event. After all, we’re in the wedding business and drooling over wedding lenghas, jewelry sets and gorgeous mandaps are all in a day’s work! Aishwarya and Amit’s love story was brimming with all sorts of sweetness and when the bride gushed about all the details our hearts were overflowing with joy. After the duo’s first date, sparks were flying, and here we are unveiling all the details of their lavish wedding! There’s not a moment to miss, and luckily A&A Photo & Video was there to capture every magical detail. The masterful floral and decor team from Suhaag Garden created a blush mandap and stage set up that was the stuff of fairytale dreams. The bride was a ray of light in a sunny, yellow sari and golden accessories (including a lux, bejeweled belt). Her natural bridal look was the height of chicness. After the palla was pinned in place, it was time for Aishwarya to wow her guests. She floated down the candle and petal strewn aisle under a floral canopy to her elated Raja. We have all the ceremony snaps in our full gallery for your perusal. As a bonus treat the bride reveals all to Maharani Weddings down below.
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Behind the Scenes Scoop From The Bride:
After graduating medical school in 2013, I moved to Charlotte to start my residency training. One night, I went out with my new friends, and someone behind me in line struck up a conversation with me. I turned around and asked “Are you talking to me?” And he was! Amit and I chatted that night about all sorts of things - his love of old vinyl records, my love for books, his Punjabi heritage, his grandpa, etc., and I felt like I was meeting someone I already knew.
The next day, my phone chimed around noon: “Hey Aishwarya, this is Amit. If you’re free tonight, I’d love to take you to dinner.” That night, I went on my very first date in Charlotte. Before we were seated, Amit told me about another place that he wanted to take me to for brunch (my favorite weekend activity). I was so excited that he was already thinking about the next time we would be together.
During the next few years, I realized how lucky I was that my first date in this new city would also be my last one. Amit proposed to me on an autumn evening during my third year of residency.
During my chief year of residency, we began to plan our wedding. My team of planners - event coordination by Ayesha Mian, decoration and design by Suhaag Garden, and our wedding planner at Ballantyne Hotel - were instrumental in making our wedding weekend absolutely perfect.
Our wedding weekend commenced with my mehndi ceremony. This was attended by close friends and family. We had a cool front moving in that April evening, but everyone soon forgot about the weather as we started the celebration. My decor team arranged a beautiful jula for Amit and me to be seated, and this was also the perfect place for us to enjoy our Haldi ceremony the next day. Under a Carolina blue sky, our family and friends anointed us with the turmeric paste which is integral to this ceremony.
That night, the celebration really got underway with the Sangeet. My sister organized the performances for the evening, which included dances by both of our mother and fathers, as well as group dances choreographed by the bridal and groom’s parties. My sister is actually quite shy about public performances, and we had discussed her stage fright months before the wedding weekend. I know I will always remember how her dancing captivated the audience, and how much she loved me to be able to put her fears behind her and head to the dance floor.
The next day, I watched the sun rise while getting ready for my wedding ceremony. We were married during another beautiful, sunny day. I walked down the aisle under a hand-made flower canopy that my aunt and mother had created for me. I wore a gold sari and was escorted by my father and my four closest male relatives. My mother joined us as we walked to the mandap, which was all pale blush, ivory, and roses. It was even more than I had ever imagined.
The wedding festivities concluded with a black tie reception later that evening. Amit and I love to dance, and I will always remember our entrance into the wedding reception to our favorite song by K. Flay. My wedding gagra was embroidered with thousands of Swarovski crystals, and these shone and flashed as Amit twirled me and dipped me on the dance floor. The highlight of the evening was a movie that my sister and my brother-in-law produced to tell our story. My sister ended the evening with a slideshow she had put together with memories from our baby pictures to our engagement photos, so that guests from both sides could truly know us as a couple.
We ended the night as we usually do - last ones standing on the dance floor. It was the happiest weekend of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Hurry back! All of Aishwarya and Amit’s reception deets are up next!
