Welcome back, queens! We are happy you could join us at Nupur & Ankur's wedding. At the stunning Leopold's Mississippi Gardens, adorned with exquisite floral creations by Richfield Flowers, Nupur & Ankur's wedding ceremony and reception unfolded like a dream. With the expert touch of Primped, Nupur's beauty was elevated to ethereal levels on her special day, and her hands were adorned with intricate mehndi designs by the talented Hajira of Gracious Henna. Completing her bridal ensemble was the Custom-Made Diamond Jewelry, a true reflection of her unique style and elegance. Each dazzling piece shone with brilliance, adding a touch of glamour and sophistication to her overall look. India Palace delighted guests with an extravagant feast showcasing South Asia's rich flavors. As the night progressed, DJ Alex from Instant Request took over the stage, effortlessly curating a playlist that had everyone on their feet, dancing and celebrating this union. Amidst the festivities, Bradley Hanson Photography skillfully captured every cherished moment, preserving the essence of love and happiness in timeless frames. Check out the incredible gallery we prepared.
How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
Ankur and I met online. We stuck together through some of the hardest times pretty early on in our relationship. We both are physicians and work under high-stress situations. Finding someone who not only understands that but also provides immense support and cares about my career goals as much as he was a blessing. I knew he was the one!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Ankur proposed against the backdrop of the Grand Canyon after a long hike. Hiking is one of Ankur's favorite things to do, and the setting was just perfect- totally candid and unfiltered, like Ankur.
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 a planner at heart- be it interior designing, styling, or shopping- I have very strong preferences. I knew I would be involved with every detail, even if we hired a wedding planner. So I forego of that and took care of everything myself.
Leopold's Mississippi Gardens was one of the two venues I saw, and I knew I didn't have to look any further. The place had everything I had dreamed of- it is on the Mississippi River with stone steps taking you there, right in the middle of nature.
Hair and Makeup was by Melissa from Primped. I was already familiar with her work which is very subtle, understated, and natural. That sums up my style any day!
Outfits were all custom-made, including jewelry. The Indian outfits were designed by my friend Srijan, who is an alumnus of the London School of Fashion and runs a very successful business in New Delhi.
The bespoke polki(uncut diamond) jewelry set was made by SVS Jewelers in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Jaipur is very famous for its gems and uncut diamonds.
The reception gown was custom-made in pink by Modehaus Bridal, Minneapolis by Chelsea. The earrings were custom-made by Barry's Diamond Jewelers, Dallas. Everything was just perfect and aligned with my vision.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I was pretty much stuck on the bright orange for my wedding lehenga. I didn't want a traditional red, but I still wanted something bright for the morning ceremony. I had a vision of a bright lehenga in the middle of all the greenery and water around. I wanted Ankur to wear something neutral with hints of gold in it. His sherwani was made by Jassal Tailors of Patiala, Punjab, who have been the official tailors for the royal family of Patiala. The sherwani shouted elegance with the rich fabric and the distinguished fabric while maintaining the simplicity that Ankur likes.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was planning every single detail - right from the wedding favors to the type of flowers in the garland. If you ask my husband, he will tell you that this is a stress buster for me. You will always see me redecorating some corners of my house, and planning a big event like this was all I could ask for.
I live for aesthetics, and the wedding helped me showcase a lot of my choices.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The venue was on top of it. I think even now, when we talk to our friends almost a year after the wedding, they still reminisce about the beauty of the location. The food and desserts came to a very close second.
Many of my cousins loved the tiny details- the selection of music, wedding favors, personal notes on the wedding favors, the unique garlands, scarves for groomsmen, and the DJ.
A lot of people appreciated that they got to see the urban side of Minneapolis, too, at the pre-wedding festivities.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Yes. It was when Ankur surprised me by playing guitar and singing Dreams by Cranberries for me. Ankur has an amazing voice, and I have been requesting him to do that for a long time. I didn't know it was going to come as such a big gesture. That will always stay as the most special moment.
Sitting next to the lake for the morning ceremony with Ankur holding my hand all through was the next best time of the day.
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 decor was minimalistic, as we didn't want to take away from the natural beauty of the location. I chose the flowers myself, and it was all natural floral decor throughout the day.
There were snacks in the morning, along with beverages near the lake, while the morning ceremony was going on. We made the best use of the weather and kept the lunch out on the lawn.
The cake was inspired by our engagement location.
The wedding favors were copper mugs. Copper is supposed to be auspicious in Hindu culture, and we love to see our guests sending us pictures of them using those for Moscow mules.
We kept the dances to a minimum and got everyone on the dance floor as soon as we could.
I would describe the overall style as minimalistic, classy, and elegant - something Ankur and I live by.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I think a lot of times, we get carried away by trends. What I will advise anyone is that your wedding videos and pictures are going to be your lifelong memories. You should like your vision 10 or 20 years later. Figure out what YOU like and what your real style is. Stick to your preferences, and don't worry about what other people around you are doing.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I think I did mention all of that in my above comments. If there is anything specific in the pictures that people would like to know, I will be happy to share the vendor details.
The enchantment of today has come to an end. Come back for more captivating tales like this one!
