Welcome back, ladies! We are wrapping up our journey through this charming love story with a fantastic reception party held at the exclusive halls of the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles. But before we start, let's join Ujwal & Michael on a last outdoor photoshoot taken before the reception party. As it could not be different, the talented crew from Regeti's Photography carried out this photo session, immortalizing the sweetest and romantic moments of this lovely couple. After the photoshoot, it was time to celebrate their union, in the company of their family and friends. Hands down, this reception party was one for the books! It was full of happiness, emotional speeches, and a lot of merriment and dancing! DynastyAV set the dancefloor on fire with upbeat melodies. And all of the guests enjoyed the delicious plates that Rangoli Indian Restaurant prepared for this evening. Our lovebirds had their first dance as husband and wife, and later on, they had the first cut at the beautiful cake that Amphora Bakery prepared for this event. Without any question, this was a night to remember, and we are sure everyone loved it. If you want to take a closer look ad this reception party, or if you want to relive this entire wedding celebration, don't miss today's gallery. We have gathered the most amazing and charming shots fo you to enjoy! But before you go, you should know that these shots will hit you hard on the feels, so you might want to have your tissue box handy!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Mike and I were friends for a couple of years before we started dating. We already knew each other really well, so I knew pretty early on this would be something special!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Early in our relationship, I had told Mike that I wanted to date for at least 2 years before getting engaged. Mike must have been counting down the days, because he proposed exactly on our 2nd dating anniversary! That night, after getting back from our favorite Italian restaurant, he led me to his living room. He lamented that this would have been a perfect time to propose, except that the setting and ambiance were just not right in his apartment. One by one, Mike started listing things that would enhance the space for a proposal, and after uttering each item, a different friend of ours would emerge from their hiding spot to make it happen! One friend appeared and handed me a bouquet of roses, another friend came out playing our song on a speaker, three more friends emerged and moved a couch out of the way, yet another three friends showed up and hung a picture collage Mike had secretly made of us, and on and on until 12 (!) of my friends were in the living room and the scene was now just right! Mike finished his speech and got down on one knee with a ring, and I said yes through happy tears. He was so excited that everything went so perfectly that he forgot to actually put the ring on my finger!
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 started planning almost immediately after we got engaged! Anyone who knows me knows that I love to research and set schedules so I was very excited for the planning process and knew I wanted to plan our own wedding without an official planner. I had multiple Google docs and used Trello to help me plan each task. Neither of us are creative people, so we really needed vendors who could show us examples of their past work rather than having us suggest ideas. From there it was easier for us to describe what we liked or disliked. Attending the Shaadi Showcase in our area helped us pick most of our vendors and get to know them quickly. Weddingwire.com and reviews from friends were also instrumental to planning. For hair and makeup, it was important to me to find stylists who could handle a big wedding party of different hair and skin tones. Instagram played a huge role in helping me find Makeup by Ana B and Henna Harmony. Choosing the venue and date were the first big step and from there everything eventually fell into place. Overall, we felt comfortable knowing that our vendors had worked with each other before and were highly recommended among each other.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Originally I wanted one Indian dress and one white American dress. But I found myself attracted to the sparkle and color in Indian outfits. I eventually decided on a traditional South Indian sari for the ceremony and a lengha for the reception. I thought red, ivory and gold were such elegant and royal colors, so that was the theme of our wedding and outfits. I saved pictures from Instagram for inspiration and consulted some of my closest friends before embarking on a whirlwind shopping trip in India. I traveled to Chennai with my mom for a week filled with shopping in T. Nagar for outfits for myself and Mike, the wedding party, and our parents. It is a memory I will always treasure of shopping with my mom for my wedding dress.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Cake tasting was the most fun part - getting to enjoy multiple delicious flavors at once was a highlight! More than that, the planning process really helped us bond with each other's families. Just through the decision making cycles and various pre-wedding events that occurred, it provided a chance for both of our families to come together prior to the wedding. I found myself calling my mother-in-law multiple times a week for various questions and it now formed a routine we both look forward to of calling each other!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We had 2 dance performances - one was a Bollywood medley performed by our wedding party - almost none of whom were Indian or had choreographed dance experience! We were so impressed by the amount of time and effort they put in the dance and it was so much fun to watch. My parents' friends also performed a surprise large group dance that took up the entire floor and was such a thrill to watch!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
It was so nice to be able to spend the day with our loved ones from near and far. While we had a Hindu wedding, we wanted to make sure we captured both Indian and American traditions that were most important to us. Reading our vows to each other was a special moment for us to pronounce why we love each other and it will forever replay in our minds.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Think about what is most important to you and the groom and what you want your guests to remember or enjoy. It is easy to get caught up in the extravagant wedding details, but it is most importantly a day to celebrate the bride and groom with their closest friends and families. When choosing vendors, make sure you are comfortable with them because they make up your entire celebration! There are so many little decisions to make and eventually your gut will tell you the right choice. We found ourselves almost instantaneously knowing if something or someone was the right fit for us. When we went to compare, we would always think back to the ones we landed on and we're so glad we did!
We have a new appointment for tomorrow, ladies! Same place, same time. Until then, have a great one!
Photography: Regeti's Photography |
Venues: Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles |
DJ: Dynasty AVE |
Floral & Decor: Yaadein Weddings |
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Ana B |
Catering: Rangoli Indian Restaurant |
Cake & Treats: Amphora Bakery |
Cinematography: Creative Touch Films |
Invitations & Wedding Stationery: Stacey Hsi |
Mehndi Artist: Henna Harmony |
Priest: Satyanarayana Marathe
Regeti's Photography,
Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles and
Dynasty AVE
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