Welcome back, darlings! We hope you are ready to have some fun because Sireesha & Nittin's big reception party held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Oak Brook is going to make you jump off of your couch! To make this reception party an unforgettable event, Engaging Events by Ali showed off all their talent and expertise in planning and designing dreamy events, finding the best ally in Erin McDonald Co, who took care of the enchanting decor for this gala! And the result was pure perfection! One of the most anticipated moments of the evening was Sireesha & Nittin's first dance as husband and wife, and thanks to the previous practice lessons they had with DeMaira Dance Studios Inc., this moment was perfect! So much beauty surrounding the scene that it is almost impossible to put it into words, thankfully Banga Studios snapped shots from every angle so we can feel just as if we were there! To turn this gala into a party, Dream House Productions set the dancefloor on fire with upbeat melodies and the Best Bollywood Hits! For the culinary department, Gaylord Indian Cuisine prepared delicious plates that everyone loved! Hands down, this reception -just as all other events- was a huge success! So there is no surprise that we get to see this wedding in our Best of 2019 Magazine! If you want to relive this celebration, don't miss today's full gallery!
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Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Nittin told me we were going to meet his mom at the Planetarium in Chicago, right on Lake Michigan. We got there and waited in the lobby because it was 15 degrees outside (gotta love January in Chicago!). 30 minutes later, he said his mom was running late because she was trying to find parking; I didn't think anything of it because the parking lot was really packed that day! Finally he said, "She's here!" We quickly run outside where holds my hand and walks me over to the lake to propose to me - I couldn't believe it! People around us were cheering and applauding! He hired a photographer to capture the proposal with the Chicago skyline in the background. It was absolutely perfect.
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 wanted to get married that summer and feel like we were guests at our own wedding. Ali Phillips at Engaging Events by Ali made it all possible, she planned our entire wedding in 3 months! We went with her recommendations for DJ, Decor, Photography, Video, Hair and Make-up.
Ali very patiently helped me vet about 30 different photographers before we landed on Banga Studios from Toronto. I was looking for a photographer who could handle editing all the beautiful color you see in Indian wedding photos. Gurminder Banga flew down to Chicago for our engagement shoot and he captured photos that looked like they were straight out of a magazine. His team shot our wedding day and there are so many lovely photos that it was so tough to decide which ones would make it into the album!
Mark Wynimko from Wynn Films was our videographer. His creative filming technique and music choice was exceptional - you can tell he loves what he does and is an expert at it!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Nittin and I both looked forward to dance practice for our first dance with DeMaira Dance Studios. Joe and Kathy DeMaira were excellent instructors and made our classes so much fun. Our first dance went incredibly well and our guests loved it!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
There's so many aspects of our wedding that our guests really enjoyed! Sri Krishna Jois officiated our wedding ceremony and he was a hit! He did an amazing job explaining the different customs as part of the Hindu marriage ceremony and made everyone laugh! He seamlessly performed the ceremony switching between four different languages: Sanskrit, Telugu, Hindi and English. I feel so fortunate that he was a part of our wedding day.
Food overall was definitely a highlight. After the ceremony, we had lunch catered by Seven Spices Indian Cuisine and they served all my favorite Andhra specialties which our guests loved! For dinner, Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine served innovative North Indian dishes family-style.
The decor stood out because of the seating arrangement in the ballroom and the neutral palette with a pop of color (coral to be exact!). Erin McDonald from Erin McDonald Design made the place look incredible and we were even able to re-purpose our mandap which he transformed into a fairy tale, garden-like setting for the reception.
More recently, Nittin and I (ok, maybe it was really just me) have become to love pie and we wanted to share this with our guests on our special day. As a wedding favor, we had individual pie slices with the note "A Sweet Ending to a New Beginning." Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits catered these sweet treats.
The one complaint one of my closest friends had was that the entire day was on schedule (thank you, Ali Phillips!).
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
During the wedding ceremony our priest, Sri Krishna Jois, asked all our guests to raise both hands and bless us. It was such a wonderful thing to see the entire ballroom filled with the people who want the best for you and they showed it with this very meaningful gesture all at the same time. I will never forget this moment.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My engagement band and wedding ring were custom designed by Jose Torres of EcoKarat Jewelry. I wanted a non-traditional engagement ring and what he created was absolutely stunning! To this day, I still can't stop staring at it!
During the wedding ceremony, I wore a gold choker that has been in our family for a few generations; it was an honor to wear the family heirloom on this special day.
Rosie Scianna of Makeup By Rosie was fantastic! It was so hard to find a makeup artist whose makeup philosophy matched mine. She believes in you looking like yourself and enhancing your natural features and not only does she believe it, but she's able to create a look that aligns with it as well!
In lieu of a traditional guest book, I found a watercolor painting of the Chicago skyline for our guests to sign. I knew a guest book would sit in some shelf that we would rarely look at so a painting was the perfect option! During cocktail hour, the painting was available for guests to leave a note and I had this sign placed next to it:
Please sign our guest book.
Chicago is very special to us. It's where we met, fell in love, and tried olive oil ice cream on our first date.
We wanted to capture the memories of our special day with messages from our favorite people on this painting.
Love, Sireesha & Nittin
That is all for today, Maharanis! See you tomorrow for more!
