Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Sweethearts, get ready to relieve Melissa & Akash's wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
In the midst of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak, Akash and I found a rare bright spot. We had been scrolling through dating apps as the world was in lockdown, and let's face it, the dating scene as we know it had changed. Akash stumbled upon my Facebook dating profile and knew he had to take a chance.

Akash and I spoke every day for almost two months before actually meeting in person. I was captivated by Akash's charming words, and I had a feeling there was true genuineness behind them. Akash was impressed by my sense of independence and how accomplished I was. We would go on virtual dates; playing video games together was one of our favorite pastimes. Akash even let me beat him in Mario Kart, but only one time.

We finally went on our first real date on December 8, 2020. Akash took me on a romantic dinner. After that first date, I knew this was the beginning of something special.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
On Akash's first trip to Canada with me, he decided he wanted to propose to me in my favorite country. Unbeknownst to me, Akash and my family were secretly planning the fairytale proposal. On October 10, 2021, Akash took me to Casa Loma, a castle in Toronto, Canada, and said to his princess, "Babe, I know you always wanted to get married in a castle, but since we can't, let's do the next best thing." With our families watching in-person and virtually, Akash dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. Without any hesitation, I said YES!

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 had been planning my wedding for as long as I could remember (long before I found my groom, LOL)

I knew I wanted my Hindu Wedding at Golden Terrace Catering Hall in Queens, NY, because not only could it hold up to 700 guests, but they also catered food and provided decor, including a beautiful royal mandap that matched my theme.

I also knew that I always wanted to have my reception at Crest Hollow Country Club on Long Island, NY. This venue is beautiful! The back area for cocktails is lovely, as guests are surrounded by a pool. The ballroom inside is also very large and can accommodate many guests. Crest Hollow had preferred vendors for decor. I decided to go with Stylish Events as they had the royal and blingy theme that I was going for.

For hair and makeup, I knew I wanted someone who could do hair and makeup for all my events. After researching and pricing out different MUAs, I went with Rebecca Bhagwandin (bexxalicious), and I was not disappointed. She made me feel like a beautiful princess for all my events!

For my Hindu wedding bridal entrance, I wanted to go for a Bollywood theme. Zamandari Inc. choreographed a beautiful entrance with my choice of songs. We left everyone, including my groom, in tears!

For photo and video, I also researched a bunch of vendors, but Events Capture had the best package. I am so pleased that we went with them because they captured everything we wanted and more!

For entertainment, we hired our family friend Jay Ramkishun and his team at FantaCSoundz. They kept our guests rocking for all our events!

Finally, our wedding was coordinated by Shivie Sookdeo at Platinum Celebrations. Shivie's execution of all my requests and needs was top-notch; he did not disappoint! I am so happy that I hired him and highly recommend his services for all weddings. Our wedding would not have gone so smoothly without him!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
For my Hindu wedding, there was no other place I wanted to go than to Nazranna. I made my family watch Nazranna's diaries every weekend until my appointment. I worked with Shia to find my royal and blingy outfits. And made sure that my groom's outfit complemented mine.

For my reception, I had always wanted to Kleinfeld. I used to watch Say Yes to the Dress with Mom for years! To my excitement, on the day of my appointment, my bridal consultant was Lisa! I was so excited because I was a fan of hers. After only trying on 4 dresses, I found my dream gown and said yes to the dress!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved working with all of my vendors! Everyone delivered and made our whole wedding a dream come true!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Everyone loved my attention to detail and how beautiful everything was.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
My Hindu Bridal Entrance.

I will never forget being carried in on the doli with my hubby waiting under the mandap, and he was crying! I never thought he would cry because he is a very jovial person. I had to try to contain myself when I saw him crying. I have never felt so loved by anyone in my life, and I will cherish that moment forever.

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 hired Omadevi Somai as a dancer for our entertainment. She is one of our favorite dancers in the West Indian community.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Limit your guest list. We had about 400 people at our wedding, and it was overwhelming and exhausting because everyone wanted to take pictures with you! Additionally, the more people you have, the more costly things tend to be.

If I had to do things again, I would definitely cut my guest list in half!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I got all my jewelry from Nazranna as well. It looks really good when you match your jewelry and outfits together.

Darlings, join us in reliving a new fairytale, a tale of love that will echo through the ages.

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Darlings, we're diving into Lori & Rakesh's fairytale. Their love story started at the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square, where Mehndi's night unfurled with rhythmic beats, thanks to DJ Ravi Jackson. Lori's palms were adorned with intricate mehndi designs by the talented Henna by Sushma. Her designs were a splendid mix of intricate traditional motifs and contemporary elegance. Jamie Hollander Weddings hosted the solemn ceremony and exuberant reception, where the creative geniuses at Beautiful Blooms Events enhanced its beauty—Rakesh's arrival in style, courtesy of Rags To Rickshaws. The seamless flow and exquisite attention to detail at each event were the handiwork of the exceptional wedding planner, Ask Neha Now. She knows all the secrets of the perfect vendors and specializes in mixed-culture weddings like this one. Sugar Bomb Entertainment accompanied this journey with melodic tunes. Lori's hair and makeup by Elegance Artistry made her look like a true Maharani. Sajda By Suman was in charge of the perfect white/light pink lehenga and customized sherwani. Bukhara Grill tantalized my taste buds with its exquisite catering. What truly captured the essence of this wedding was the timeless photographs by Maria A. Garth Photography. Her lens captured every moment, weaving a visual narrative that this couple will cherish forever. Enjoy it.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We designed my engagement ring together with the help of William Schwartz Jewelers in Philadelphia. Since we had gone ring shopping together, I knew the proposal was coming, but I was not exactly sure when. One February morning, I had gone out for about 45 minutes, and in that time, Rakesh sprung into action decorating our entire house with candles, flowers, and a million pictures from our years together. When I walked in, I think my first words were, "Is this what I think it is?!" At the top of the candle trail, Rakesh was waiting on one knee!

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 could not have done it without our wedding planner - Neha Joshi of Ask Neha Now. Neha might be the best wedding planner and coordinator in existence. She specializes in mixed culture weddings (Hindu and Jewish in our case) and worked hard to ensure smooth and seamless coordination for our Sangeet and wedding.

Neha knows all the secrets of finding the perfect vendors, and we could not have been happier or more thankful for these vendors -

Wedding planner: @asknehanow
Photographer: @mariaagarthphotography
Decor: @beautifulbloomsevents
Hair & makeup: @eleganceartistrygroup
Bridal henna: @hennabysushma
Bridal draping: @shilpashenna
Venue: @jh_weddings @jhcateringevents
Wedding day lehenga/sherwani: @sajdabysuman
Band: @sugarbomb_entertainment
Officiants: @cantorlaurastein & Priest Vimal Raval

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Since we were having a multi-cultural fusion wedding (Hindu & Jewish), I wanted to make sure our outfits were appropriate for both cultures, so I landed on wanting to find a white lehenga. Nishi from Sajda in Edison, NJ, helped create the perfect white/light pink lehenga and then customized a sherwani for Rakesh to match.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
We LOVED food tastings! We wanted to have Indian street food for our Sangeet, a traditional Indian buffet for our Wedding day dinner, and an American-style cocktail hour. And I had my heart set on which cake I wanted for my wedding for over 5 years (the white chocolate cream with chocolate chip cake from Sweet Eats Bakery in Voorhees, NJ). Our tasting at Bukhara Grill blew us away with the amount and quality of food we were able to try - we were sold right away. We also went to a group-style tasting at Jamie Hollander Catering and Events, which created the perfect cocktail hour.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our ceremony! We wanted a fusion ceremony with two officiants who could complete the ceremony in under an hour! As the traditional Hindu wedding can be multiple hours/days and the rituals are more elaborate than a 20-minute typical Jewish ceremony, our main focus was ensuring that our cultures were balanced and that it wasn't a Hindu wedding with one or two Jewish elements or vice versa. Our two officiants, Cantor Laura Stein and Priest Vimal Raval (Indian Priest NJ), worked together to create the most unique and special ceremony, helping us to select the elements that were most important to us as a couple and condense the ceremony in a respectful and meaningful way.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Build in time to eat/escape together for a few minutes on the wedding day! This helped us slow down the day and be able to soak it all in.

Let this love story inspire your dreams. Remember to leave us a comment and come back for more.

Maria A. Garth Photography, Ask Neha Now and Henna by Sushma are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Let's revisit Natasha & Anish's mesmerizing tale of love and grandeur. This love story, set against the splendid backdrop of the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort, was nothing short of a fairytale. The venue, known for its luxurious elegance, played a pivotal role in their dream day, offering a blend of sophistication and comfort that beautifully complemented the couple's style. Natasha's beauty was elevated to celestial heights by the exquisite craftsmanship of Sabyasachi Official. The magic in her look was perfected by Dolled Up by Lulu. The air was fragrant with the aroma of fresh blooms from Bloombox Designs. The allure of the setting was heightened by the rhythmic beats of 3D Sounds, whose DJing skills set a lively tempo. Amidst laughter and dance, the ingenious Pixter 360 photo booth captured moments in dynamic frames. The feast by Jay Bharat was a culinary delight, each dish a testament to South Asia's rich, diverse flavors, complementing the sweet essence of the day echoed in the delectable creations of Tasty Temptations Catering. As the night unfolded, Lex Wedding Films masterfully encapsulated the essence of this journey, their cinematography not just recording but storytelling, infusing life into each frame. Check it out! 

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Met through a dating app, and the rest is history! Throughout our time getting to know one another- we helped each other grow, constantly laughed, tried new adventures, and mainly enjoyed the quality time. We both felt organic and natural to be in each other's company, and that's when we both knew marriage was the next step.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Anish knows how much I love the scenery. I never thought what my proposal would be, but I did know that I wanted it to be intimate; when we both went on our Europe trip, that's when he proposed in Florence, Italy. The location, the view, the moment- truly was a magical experience. In my eyes, it was a fairytale proposal of a lifetime!

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 both had a vision, budget, and multiple trackers to stay within the scope of our wedding vision. We had a lot of help from our families, which we are both grateful for.  The wedding decor was inspired by Bridgerton :)

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always knew that I wanted to wear a pastel lehenga. I love the color red and the significance it has in an Indian wedding. However, with makeup, hair, and jewelry, I felt that the color would have been too overpowering. My mother and I went to numerous stores in Mumbai in search of my bridal lehenga. When we both arrived at Sabyasachi, I saw the pink bridal lehenga and knew that it was the one.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
No, Indian wedding planning is so stressful!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
In planning for each event, I paid a lot of attention to guest experiences where they could truly enjoy something in particular from that event.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our first dance! The song was - Mere Haath Mein from Fanaa & Married Life from the Pixar movie Up. My husband literally came up with the choreography the Friday before Wedding Week! I was so nervous that we would forget our moves, but luckily we did not! To this day, I still watch our first dance.

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.
Each event came with a theme—Haldi Ceremony- Whimsical Pastel that used a lot of yellow, lavender, and light pink. We provided spicy banana chips ( because it's yellow and tasty.. duh) and minter cooler drinks to our guests—Grah Shanti- Rajasthan, where the color palette was coral & blues. We made cool floral stickers to put on the gift bag for our guests. The Sangeet is multicolored to represent a more "Mela/carnival look." We curated a special Mango lava drink that looks really festive for our guests.  The wedding was inspired by Bridgerton- pops of berries, blush pinks, and greenery. The reception was Romance meets Great Gatsby. We had a photo booth and 360 LED walls, which our guests loved!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Have a vision, curate a budget, and create trackers to stay in scope for your wedding planning. During the week of your wedding, drink lots of water and use hydrating masks/lotion to look fresh for your wedding events.
May this love story inspire you, as it has inspired us to believe in the power of love and charm.

JW Marriott Anaheim Resort is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Welcome to a tale of love and grandeur, where Kinjil & Anshul's wedding unfolded like a page from a fairy tale. The sea whispers secrets to the shore in the heart of the enchanting Wild Dunes Resort, providing a serene and magical backdrop; it seemed like the universe conspired to make their special day perfect. Every corner echoed with love, thanks to the meticulous planning and design by District Events & Catering, whose expertise in weaving together elements of elegance and sophistication was evident in every detail. Loluma Events transformed the venue into a dreamscape. The Baraat, led by the vibrant beats of Elite Events DJs, was a spectacle of joy and celebration. The ceremony was a symphony of emotions, with each ritual meticulously honored, creating an ambiance filled with reverence and joy. Amidst this, District Events & Catering wowed guests with their delicious and visually stunning dishes at the event. Their impeccable service made everyone feel like royalty, creating a warm atmosphere of hospitality. As the evening unfolded, the air was filled with melodies by Vikesh Music. The couple's story, a blend of tradition and modernity, was beautifully captured by Alfaaz Photography, whose lens didn't miss a single moment of their love-filled saga. Enjoy it!

Be inspired, dream, and find a little bit of your fairy tale in theirs. Come back for more stories!

Wild Dunes Resort, District Events & Catering and Elite Events Dj's are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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We're diving into the enchanting world of Soumya & Neil's wedding. The Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley's opulent ballrooms and picturesque settings served as the perfect canvas for this love story. The venue, renowned for its impeccable service and stunning ambiance, played a pivotal role, setting the stage for a day filled with elegance and joy. Soumya's attire, meticulously crafted by Kankatala, was a masterpiece of traditional design and modern elegance. Her beauty was further accentuated by the skilled hands of Fenn Makeup and Spa, with Raya Beauty crafting her hair. The wedding's planning and design, expertly handled by Daniel from Harmony Weddings, ensured a seamless blend of culture, sophistication, and heartfelt moments. Every detail, from the floral arrangements by Once Gathered to the mesmerizing beats by DJ Rang, added charm to the celebration. The culinary journey, curated by Zayka Indian Cuisine, was a feast for the senses. Bluemoon Bakery's creation of the cake and treats added a sweet note to the symphony of tastes, each bite a testament to their culinary artistry. As the evening progressed, Soumya transitioned into reception attire by Anushree Reddy. Capturing every magical moment was Ellie McKinney Photography, whose lens artfully froze time, ensuring that every moment was immortalized. Enjoy today's feature and relive the magic!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met through his roommate and one of his closest friends, who happened to be a friend of mine from undergrad. Neil and I had both moved to Massachusetts for work and residency, respectively. I reached out to old connections (Neil's roommate) and met Neil at a July 4th party they both threw. Neil and I quickly became friends and explored the touristy parts of Boston (e.g., Fanueil Hall, Boston Common, etc.) together. We realized we had feelings for each other. Soon enough, we were dating! There wasn't a grand gesture that proclaimed Neil as "the one." Instead, it was the culmination of the small "everyday" moments that I shared with him—the highs, the lows, the dreams, TV show binges, and even the quirkiest details of my life, like conspiracy theories I dug up on Reddit. Soon enough - we started realizing we both loved sharing and learning more about each other and couldn't deem the idea to be apart, and that's when we knew.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It had been almost three years of dating, and Soumya was getting anxious as to when Neil would propose. Being the type A person she is, she had already picked out the ring and knew it was coming, but when? She knew it would be in 2022, so every weekend, she made sure to dress up and got her nails done around the clock every 3 weeks (a girl must be prepared). We were halfway through the year, and Soumya was getting a bit hopeless that it wasn't going to happen soon. Cut to one weekend in July when Soumya is getting ready for what she thought was her friend's engagement brunch. Her friend had recently gotten engaged and invited Soumya and Neil to the engagement brunch her family was throwing, with the dress code being fancy. While Neil was anxiously getting ready, Soumya was taking her sweet time watching Love Island because she knew her friend knew she ran on Indian Standard Time (IST). Before we got to the brunch destination, her friend had texted her to meet outside for pictures as it was a gorgeous day in the Seaport District in Boston. While approaching the restaurant, there were no signs of an engagement brunch, and the guests were not to be seen, but Soumya didn't think twice about it because they were probably inside the restaurant setting up, right? Wrong....the entire brunch was a decoy so Neil could get Soumya dressed up and to the Seaport district area (one of the first places they explored in Boston as friends). He got down on one knee and popped the question, to which Soumya replied, "Are you really trying to upstage my friend's engagement brunch"? Still down on one knee, he had to explain - the entire brunch was a setup, and it was their proposal day. We don't remember too much of the rest of what was said, but it was a beautiful moment to have the love of my life propose, and my best friend captured the moment!

From there commenced phase II of the proposal --- lunch at our favorite Indian spot. As Soumya opened the door, she saw her Dad's gleaming smile and lost it! Both sets of parents and sisters had flown to Boston from NC to surprise us and share the moment. Lunch was filled with laughter and amazing food. For phase III of this proposal, Soumya unknowingly played into it by suggesting the families check out a rooftop bar in the Seaport district. Little did she know that our closest friends and family had flown in from around the country and Canada to surprise and celebrate with the two of us. The rest of the day was one for the books filled with love, food, laughter, and the best memories with our family!!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted to honor my Telugu roots during the wedding and opted to do so by wearing not one but TWO sarees for the big day. After the muhurtam (auspicious time), ladies in my family changed into traditional white and red sarees, so I had the privilege of picking out two of my favorite sarees. I went shopping in Bangalore and Vishakapatnam with my mother and my aunts to select the two sarees. Since I knew one would be red and white, I wanted to incorporate a non-traditional color for my other saree. I've always loved lavender and sage green, so it was a matter of looking at different sarees and patterns. Once we started shopping, lavender spoke to me, and it was the one! I incorporated heavy gold and silver embroidery on my blouses to match the saree and chose to do two different draping styles (one for each saree) during the ceremony. Honoring my roots and incorporating my own style meant a lot to me.

I had Pinterested "Anushree Reddy" designs on my "future wedding" board as a freshman in college and knew I wanted to wear her designs. Fate had it; I found the perfect AR lehenga in Bangalore for my reception. I've also admired Shubika Sharma's designs and journey and worked closely with Papa Don't Preach to customize my mehendi outfit and worked with Kynah and Aisha Rao to find the perfect outfit the spoke "bridal but make it fun and light to dance in" for my Sangeet. Each and every outfit made me feel like a princess, and I absolutely loved working with all of the artisans to create them!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our muhurtam (auspicious time) was on a Sunday morning at 9:59 am, and the one thing I did not want as a bride was to get less than 3 hours of sleep before the wedding. I'm in awe of brides who stay up until midnight for their Sangeet and swiftly go into hair and makeup 2 hours later for their wedding; however, I knew I could not be one of them. While our families toyed with the idea of having the Sangeet on Saturday night, we really didn't want our families, bridal parties, or ourselves to have to be up until 12am or longer on Sangeet night, followed by hair and makeup calls starting just three hours later. Prioritizing rest and beauty sleep, we advocated for a break day on Saturday where family and guests could sleep in and recharge. Our guests absolutely LOVED it! The break day allowed us to utilize two different venues in different local cities (Bay 7 in Durham and Marriott Crabtree in Raleigh) and create distinct vibes for the Sangeet, Ceremony, and Reception. It also meant the party lasted longer after the Sangeet on Friday, with mini after-parties forming. Our out-of-town guests got to explore the area while our college friends were able to reconnect and kindle. Last but not least, our favorite part was it gave us one more day to hang out with all of our loved ones under one roof!

Join us in reliving these mesmerizing moments, and may you find inspiration for your fairytale.

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