Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Hello ladies! Bhavna & Siddarth's wedding is now live in today's Platinum Guide Blog. You'll love it!

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Happy Monday, my beloved Maharanis. A brand new week starts today, and you know what? The love Shabina & Ryan has for each other is here to brighten your day! Let me ask you, how impressive would it be to get a proposal after slow dancing in the middle of Times Square? Yes, you've guessed it right, that is precisely how our lovely couple decided to say "I do" to a new beginning as one heart and soul. To make every guest feel special, they decided to host a beautiful reception at Neha Palace. Thanks to the magnificent wedding planning by AMP Royal Rental and the magical décor put together by  Mays Events; the reception turned out to be a real fairytale. The newlyweds wanted to share a special treat with their guests, and an enjoyable way to go was a photo booth, and F&M Photobooth is the best team to call. I know everyone loved this surprise! Our couple met through music, and it has always been an integral part of their relationship, so to celebrate their love, DJ Dynamik made everyone dance on the floor all night long. My dear Maharanis, the fashion part of this entry has come! Our gorgeous Shabina looked phenomenal, thanks to the exclusive designs by Rehana's Exclusive Design Inc, Lotus Bazaar, and RetroCraze Salon & Spa. Every dress made her look like the perfect Maharani she is. In addition to her natural beauty, the elegant jewelry by Kirni Designs and R-Chie Creations made Shabina glow. I adore her! An exceptional detail that caught everyone's attention was the mesmerizing Mehndi art Henna by Inder did. My dears, I have one last question for you. What is better than one photographer? Two photographers. J'adore Love Photography teamed up with NiL Photography to make this celebration of love a memory worth reliving through the most dedicated captures. Please don't wait any longer, and check out the gallery we have put together to get you inspired with emotional and incredible moments. You will love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Ryan and I were apart of a music group that sang at religious functions. I had just joined the group and throughout the entire summer they all joked that I had to meet Ryan because we would be perfect for one another. We were at the pooja and he happened to be free that weekend and decided to come join us. He walked in and we made eye contact and he smiled at me. From the moment I saw him I loved his smile. There was such warmth around him when he was smiling and being with him was a place of comfort. He asked for another group member's number and then he asked for mine. I was new to the group so I gave him my number without thinking twice about it so that we have can have it for future events. According to him, that was his trick to get my number. At the time we were both in college and we were on different paths trying to accomplish our goals. We decided to just stay friends and we went about our lives focusing on our goals. About two years later one of the group members got married and we saw one another again at the wedding. I was a bridesmaid and he was the DJ. As I was walking out of the limo he said he saw me and was speechless and couldn’t catch his breath. At that moment he decided that this was the time and he wasn’t going to let go of me again. That connection was instantaneous again and the timing was finally right for both of us! There were multiple moments throughout our relationship that I knew he was the one for me. How he interacted with my family and treated them like his own was a key factor. It was early on in our relationship when I got into nursing school and had to move to another state. He supported me from the beginning and throughout the many nights of tears and stress from school. I knew this was someone that I would grow with and will have his support. 

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
In April of 2020 I came home for spring break from nursing school and that was when the world changed not only for Ryan and I but everyone around us. Ryan planned to propose to me for spring break but due to COVID everything changed. We were on a lockdown in NY and his original plans for the proposal got cancelled. He didn't want to give up on proposing and came up with an impromptu proposal. He told me to get dressed and along with my brother we went to Times Square. It was where we had our first date. The city was at a standstill and there was almost no one on the street that we're used to seeing busy with activity. We met through music, and it has always been an integral part of our relationship. He played our favorite song from Arijit Singh through his car speakers, and we slow danced in the middle of Times Square. After the song finished, he got on one knee and proposed to me. After I said yes, the few cars that were on the street stated honking and cheering for us. It was a surreal moment for the both of us. It was a happy moment because we were moving on in our lives but there was also some hesitance because we didn't know how much the world was going to change around us. For the next year the world was in chaos to say the least and being in the medical field we both saw the carnage of COVID and how fleeting life was. We decided that we wanted to get married in June 2021.

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.
As many couples have experienced planning a wedding is stressful but planning during COVID was a whole different ballgame. There was so much uncertainty with navigating dates, vendors, COVID restrictions, international travel lockdowns etc. I started a new job and was working 12-hour night shifts while Ryan worked 14-hour day shifts! It was a lucky day if we were able to have 20 minutes to discuss wedding planning. He took the responsibility of planning the reception and I took care of the hindu wedding and all of the pre-ceremonies. When we were finally able to talk, we would lay out the options and select the things we both wanted. With the help of our amazing vendors and family members we were able to successfully plan our wedding. They accommodated both of our crazy schedules and the random hours of the day/night I would message them. Our vendors never hesitated to respond to our questions and gave us ideas on how to better organize ourselves.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guest loved the photobooth that was at our wedding. They loved that they could have their own souvenir from that day. After a year of being locked away and not being able to see one another in person, they loved that we were able to bring everyone together and to celebrate our wedding. Everyone savored the moment even more because we all knew what it left like not being able to spend time with family and the fun we had when we were together.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Ryan coordinated the music and made the program for our wedding. He knew which song and what particular point our bridal party, family etc were coming in. After what seemed liked forever, the song played for my entrance and he said "finally" my wife is coming. His smile was what I first noticed about him and as I was walking down the aisle he was beaming from ear to ear with that smile. Sitting down in the mandap and holding each others hand, we both could not stop smiling at one another because we both knew this was where we were meant to be.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Our advise would be to just enjoy and be present in the moment as it's happening. You spend so much time planning and going over every detail to make the day perfect but sometimes it doesn't go as planned. There is going unexpected situations that pop up and there are going to be things that may not have been done the exact way you envisioned. But that doesn't mean that you should get caught up making it perfect and miss out on what's going on right in front of you. Your family and friends are there to celebrate with you and they want to enjoy the moments together. It takes so long to plan but before you know it your ceremony just flies by like a blur. Soak up as much of it as possible because before you know it'll just be a memory. 

My beloved Maharanis, come back tomorrow for a new adorable love story.

Friday, Love-day! Maharanis, a new magical story comes your way, Kinjel & Sam's. My dears, let me ask you this, how romantic is it to receive a proposal at the same place where you kissed for the very first time? I think it is beyond romantic! That is how this journey began. We know an Indian Fusion Wedding can be hard to plan, but thanks to the dedication Golden Door Events offers, every detail of this celebration excelled our couple's expectations. Glen Ellen Farm is the venue where these lovebirds decided to start their life together as one soul, and they couldn't have chosen a better place to do it. Liz Decorations was in charge of the decoration of this place, and let me tell you; they put together a heavenly fairytale. Our bride and groom wanted to celebrate their love uniquely; that is why King Entertainment put their best musical touch and made everyone dance. Along with great music comes excellent catering. One of the top leading Indian catering companies, Rupa Vira's The Signature, prepared the most delicious meal that represented Kinjel & Sam's taste. Now, let's talk about how gorgeous our Maharani looked during the entire festivities! Kiya & Company and Couture Bridal of Maryland and their exclusive designs made Kinjel look perfectly charming. EMPOWDER by Amola Surya made her makeup and hair, and let me tell you, I adore the way she looked! We also have to mention how handsome the groom looked, thanks to Men's Wearhouse. He is genuinely Kinjel's one true love! Maharanis, the best part of this celebration of love is the most outstanding collection of memories put together by Raj Photo Video. If you check out the gallery, I promise you will fall in love with these pictures. They are an absolute visual delight you don't want to miss!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
My husband and I met when we were 18 years old and had our first date (and many more after) at Centennial Park which was a local park near our houses. We had just graduated high school in June 2012 and were about to begin our undergraduate careers in August 2012. He went to a different university but transferred over to Towson University (where I went) after our freshman. We knew this was it for us and wanted to spend more time together by attending the same university. He and I did everything together, and helped each other grow into the adults we are today. I knew he was "the one" around graduation time in May 2016. As I reflected on our time together, I knew I wanted to spend forever with him.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
He proposed at Centennial Park, where we shared our first kiss and date. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful proposal as he did it exactly in front of the bench we sat at. He even perfectly planned it to have my family and friends around the corner as he knew how important that would mean to me.

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.
Our wedding was planned to be in May 2020 at another venue for the hindu wedding. Due to COVID, we had to move the wedding outdoors to help our guests feel more comfortable to attend. This was a huge undertaking given that we were planning our wedding at another venue entirely. We were so stressed and overwhelmed but persevered to have the wedding of dreams. I found an outdoor wedding venue and it was so dreamy. I knew I had to get married at Glen Ellen Farm for the hindu wedding, and we went ahead with the process. The Christian wedding did not change other than the guest count being decreased.

Given we were planning two wedding, everything was much more complicated when it came to planning. The Christian Mallu wedding was something I had never seen before so I had to learn all of their rituals and understand what will be happening. Same thing Sam had to do for the Hindu Wedding. While we had religious and cultural differences, our families showed no divide or differences and only wanted the best for us. They loved how we were cherishing our love rather than making our religion and cultures an issue. Our parents and siblings were so helpful, loving and accommodating to the entire situation. They were willing to redo all of the food tastings and see the new venue. All our our vendors were extremely accommodating with the changes and new set up. They were truly the dream team I've always wished for for my wedding.

I loved my hair and makeup every single event which was perfectly executed by Amola. She made me feel like a princess and her work is flawless.

My outfits were perfectly coordinated and the decor team blew us away, they were exceptionally great.

The food was also so unique and exactly how we requested. I highly recommend Rupa Vira for wedding catering.

The DJs for both weddings did an incredible job! During the Hindu wedding, Digvesh from King Entertainment announced my entrance so beautifully that I still have tears watching my entrance. It was majestic. He also did an amazing job during the Baraat and Reception in the evening. The Christian Wedding DJ, Tajinder Singh, was also exceptional and played the best songs all night!

RajPhotoVideo was the perfect team for us. They captured our events so perfectly and were so fun to work with. My husband owns a photo/video company of his own (TrueLifeStudio) and we wanted a photo/video team to capture our special week similiar to his style. RajPhotoVideo did just that and more! Highly recommend this team without a doubt. The pictures speak for themselves, they are flawless. 

Finally, my wedding planners were outstanding. They did everything to make our special day perfect. They not only helped replan our wedding, but helped create a new rain plan the night before our wedding with my amazing husband who stayed up to ensure the mandap was perfectly aligned with the backdrop of the beautiful venue. It was so surreal, dreamy, and felt liked a movie.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I custom designed my bridal lengha, my husbands outfit, and our jewelry as I had a very particular vision in mind and could not settle for anything less. I worked on my lengha for 8-9 months, with multiple revisions and changes along the way. I knew I wanted to wear ivory with pinks, greens, and gold. I specifically didnt want too much gold overpowering my lengha and I wanted birds as a symbol of our unity, love, prosperity and peace in our marriage. Two birds together are in a flower garden, consuming nectar from the same flower. This is another expression of how we will be two hearts beating as one soul.

Once my lengha was complete, I coordinate my husbands outfit and jewelry to match it perfectly.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Desiging my outfits, sams outfits, and wedding party outfits.

I also loved selecting outfits for my parents, grandmother and brother, as well as his parents and sister.

It was so fun doing dance practice with my family and friends. That really brought the wedding spirit alive!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Guests loved the decor, cake, our outfits, the food, venue, etc. They honestly were blown away from our wedding and how well it was executed by our amazing planners. They did everything in their power to make our wedding perfect. Guests specifically mentioned how they could feel the love between Sam and I, and it felt like a movie the entire weekend. They also felt we were considerate of their safety and comfort during the wedding events. It truly touched our hearts as we thought through every single detail to perfection.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
1. Mehndi night with my close friends and family. Also getting my mehndi done as it was very special as my mami (a professional henna artist in the DMV) did my mehndi with so much love and consideration of what I wanted. It was so beautiful.

2. Haldi ceremony: it was perfectly executed as a joint haldi with my husband. Since my husband is Christian, we knew their tradition doesnt involve a haldi but we both are Bollywood fanatics and couldnt resist having our "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" moment from the song "Kabira". And yes it was on replay!!

3. My entrance during both weddings. The hindu wedding i was walked down by my mama and mami (moms brother and his wife) who are so near and dear to my heart. It was so special. During the christian wedding, my parents walked my down and it was a dream come true. Wearing a white dress was so magical and something I never thought I would experience. I consider myself so blessed and lucky.

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.
Mendhi: It was an outdoor setup where family and friends could enjoy some music, dance performances, and kick off the weekend with joy and laughter. Since we did not have a garba/sangeet due to COVID, we wanted this event to be little liver then your typical mendhi night. Decor was stunning and my outfit was perfectly designed. Sam and I both did individual performances with our friends, and everyone had a great time!

Grah Shanti: Let me start with the decor! We loved it and it blew us away that we had such an amazing backdrop in our home for my grah shanti. Sam and I had a pre-grah shanti shoot at the Turf Valley Resort, and then I had my pooja. The pooja was so great to be surrounded by family and close friends. I started feeling all of the emotions during this event.

Haldi: Decor was so grand and i loved having a combined haldi event. Everyone told us this was the best haldi they have ever been to and it was an honor putting haldi on the groom. I felt so many emotions but couldnt help but smile, laugh, and dance the ENTIRE time. I truly felt like I had "the bridal glow" after this event and was ready to get married the next day.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
1. Don't let your differences interfere with love. Where there is a will, there is a way.

2. Being a COVID bride is one of the hardest challenges I've had to face. Keep your head up and walk into your wedding week with confidence. Trust your vendors and remember you only get to live through this amazing experience once so cherish each and every moment.

3. Always keep a smile on your face because you never know when the camera is watching!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I would marry my husband over and over again. He knows me inside and out, and would give me the world. He is truly my person!

That is it for today, me beloved Maharanis! Come back on Monday to start a new week with love and romantic stories.

Hi, ladies! Get ready to enjoy Sundes & Marc's wedding celebration in today's Platinum Guide Blog.

SakhiBeauty Salon New Jersey, Xquisit Events and Studio KSD are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

SakhiBeauty Salon New Jersey VIEW PORTFOLIO

Xquisit Events VIEW PORTFOLIO

Studio KSD VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

Happy Friday, my beloved Maharanis. The last day of the week is here, and an incredible story comes to you to make you fall in love. Reshma & Davide is a young and gorgeous couple who has been together for over eleven years. They have built not only a relationship but the best version of themselves. Maharanis, I think Reshma & Davide's journey will last forever as they move forward to grow in life, and the best part is they do it together. These two high school sweethearts decided to celebrate their love in an intimate yet elegant ceremony at the temple our Maharani has been going to her entire life. The wedding of her dreams became a reality, along with lots of memories. I know our couple felt blessed and happy to have all their loved ones near them to help with every detail. Our lovebirds decided to wear burgundy and gold palettes for their big day, and we all can agree that their beauty combined perfectly with the colors they chose. The bridal fashions were in charge of a magnificent team, Manyavar. Traditional yet spectacular was the dress our Maharani wore, and she looked phenomenal. Reshma & Davide wanted to make this day an exceptional one; that is why they decided to call Kleber Basso to record the best moments of their big day, and the result is perfect! A beautiful film was produced to relive the celebration of their love. You know how challenging planning a wedding could be, but Reshma got the inspiration she needed from Maharani Weddings. Now we want to get you all inspired with the best photographs Tammara Jade Media captured during this beautiful event. A spectacular gallery is waiting for you, and I'm sure you will love every image!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Davide and I are highschool sweethearts and met our Junior year! As we started to get to know each other at such a young age I realized that not only were we growing into our own individual selves but we were growing up together and helping each other become the best version of themselves. It was these moments very early on that I think we both knew we were moving forward to grow a life together.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
My favorite part of the wedding preparation was having my mother get me ready for the ceremony which was so personal and meaningful to me. Especially so because I knew that with all of the help we hired for our original wedding, we would not have had this moment.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The moment that replays in my mind is during the Kanya Aagman when the veil finally lowers and we get a glimpse of each other for the first time. The moment our eyes locked and we smiled, I swear time stopped for me for a split second.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I had spent a full year planning what I thought was going to be the most perfect wedding day of my life, and as real life happened my plans changed…but the wedding I had was more meaningful to me than I could have ever planned. My advice, would be to take some time before jumping into planning to really think about what you and your groom want because it is very easy to get swept away in the grandeur of it all. Also during our planning we worked with great local vendors who really took the time to get to know Davi and I and our story before the day, so I would recommend finding a team that cares about you and telling your story!

That is all for today, my beloved Maharanis. Come back on Monday for more.