Hi there, ladies! It is time to unveil Alycia & Brian's big reception party! So let's check it out! Held inside the halls of the Sheraton Mahwah Hotel, this gala was the best way to bring the wedding festivities to an end. Urvashi Mishra, Wedding & Event Planner followed the line of elegance that we already saw on the previous events, and designed a full-flair night that everyone loved while Wedding Design The Event Decorator took care of the fancy and minimalist decor! Everyone had a great time chatting and tasting the delicious plates that Moghul Caterers prepared for this gala. Every detail surrounding this event was fantastic, but let's not forget this was a reception party, so a great DJ is a must! And Magic Mike DJs did not let anyone down! They enlivened the night with upbeat melodies that put everyone on their feet! Without any question, this was a night to remember, and we wish we would've been there as it seems like a lot of fun! Luckily, the good friends from Manish and Sung Photography snapped shots from every angle and shared them with us to bring us a closer insight into this fantastic reception party! So check them out in today's gallery!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met my husband Brian through family friends who thought we would be good for each other. Both of our families met together for the first time for dinner at a local Italian restaurant and then Brian and I stepped away and spent a few hours talking over a drink at a nearby bar. Through our conversation, I realized that our upbringing was very similar but our personalities were the complete opposite – he was calm, a little bit on the quieter side, and observant. Somehow, in that moment I knew he would be good for me and that thought has only been confirmed every day since I met him. Both of us have learned a lot from each other and our love for each other has only grown stronger in the last three-plus years.
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.
One of the best decisions our family made was having a wedding planner. Urvashi Mishra had been on board with us planning from day one. She attended all of the meetings with the vendors and was so organized, timely, and effective. As a result, our wedding day was carried out flawlessly due to her coordination.
Hair and Makeup – I worked with Aisha for my hair and makeup and she was truly a pleasure! I am more into the simple and traditional makeup and hair and she carried out both my wedding and reception looks with perfection. The reasonable price for her services was also much appreciated!
Décor – Ravi did an absolutely amazing setup. Since our outfits were on the simpler side, he made sure the décor didn’t take away from our look. He put together a clean and elegant look with white and blush pink flowers and the outdoor location for the wedding enhanced the rest.
DJ - We could not have gone with a better DJ. Mihir did a phenomenal job with our music and has the perfect MC voice - he knows the exact time to chime in to enhance the overall experience. He played a great mix of American and Indian music. He knew everyone was very excited about the dancing and he was right there with us to make sure that it was a blast. All of his props, dancers, and special effects made every second memorable for us and our guests.
Photography/Videography - We cannot be more thankful for the work of Manish and Sung, along with Daniel Ward. They captured the subtleties of our expressions and even the moments that may have missed by the two of us.
Finally, we cannot thank both of our parents and my brother enough for all their hard work and dedication to making this wedding possible. They gave us enough autonomy to let us decide certain matters on our own but swooped in when we were steering the wrong way. My brother spent hours on so many tendinous aspects of the wedding planning. We appreciate the five of you immensely!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Since Brian and I are both constantly busy in the field of medicine, we didn’t particularly have the time to go to India. When I was selecting my Bridal lengha, I had the image of looking like a Sabyasachi bride – subtle, rich, and most importantly, elegant. I was fortunate enough to find both my bridal and reception lenghas at Khajana Boutique in Edison, NJ - both Sabyasachi pieces. Their selection of clothing from India is composed of unique designer pieces that are of the finest quality. Though I did find my outfits in America, both of our parents did make the trip to India for outfits/jewelry needed for other events and props needed for the traditional wedding rituals.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
There are two things that Brian and I thoroughly enjoyed while planning the wedding. The first being picking the food – we are both huge foodies and we wanted our guests to indulge in a wide variety of cuisines! We made sure to spend extra time carefully handpicking each item served.
Secondly, Brian and I decided to spend some time and actually choreograph our first dance. While this initially seemed like a daunting task given that both of us are always so stressed with work, it actually was the most relaxing and fun part of the preparation. We had hired my mother’s Zumba Teacher and she did a phenomenal job putting together a choreography that truly displayed our passion and love for each other.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Everything was going by so fast the day of the wedding but the moment that truly brought me to realize the importance of the day was when I stood up under the gate during the wedding ceremony and put the garland or “haar” on Brian - I took one look into his eyes and was so grateful to be marrying my best friend, confidant, and supporter
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
As much as people say you don’t enjoy your own wedding day, both Brian and I made it a goal to defy that stigma so please enjoy yours!!
Things we did to make sure we made the most of the day were:
- We had a pre-wedding party the night before (we both did not drink so we felt great the day of).
- I attended the Baraat and danced with everyone for a few moments.
- Both of us went to our cocktail hour and enjoyed time with our guests.
- We made sure our speeches and performances were under an hour so we had 3 hours of dancing and drinks.
More importantly, I know this is a stressful day for you and it’s a lot of attention, but stay calm and relaxed. Things will go wrong, but try your best to shake it off and stay in the moment!
Have a great day, ladies! See you tomorrow!
