Welcome to Maharani Weddings

At Maharani Weddings, we believe that every bride deserves the fairytale wedding of her dreams! Here at MaharaniWeddings.com you will find glittering seeds of inspiration for every aspect of your upcoming wedding. In addition to profiling some of the most spectacular Indian weddings from around the globe through interviews, pictures, and videos, we also hand-pick and share a list of the best Indian wedding vendors in our Maharani Weddings Platinum Guide. From event planners to photographers, dj's, florists, cinematographers, makeup artists, mehndi artists, you name it... you’ll find connections to every resource you could ever need for all your wedding ceremonies and celebrations.

All posts with Color "Brown"

Palm Springs, CA Indian Fusion Wedding by Matthew David Studio

March 29, 2019 Posted by: Shawna 1 Comments

Maharanis, I'm completely smitten by Nisha and Paul's adorable fusion wedding! This special celebration was quite something and thanks to the images by Matthew David Studio we will unveil piece by piece our favorite moments! Our fortunate bride and groom wanted to take the best out of the southern California Sonoran Desert and used it as a natural background for their wonderful photo shoot! The unique location at the golden hour turned out to be the perfect contrast for their wonderful wedding outfits by Bombay Trendz. Maharani Nisha looked flawlessly stunning in a lovely peach lehenga set, complemented by a strikingly beautiful hair and makeup look by Chelsea Nicole Makeup & Hair not to mention a pretty white jewelry set. Groom Paul exuded heaps of style as he brought to life his inner Raja with a peach color sherwani he paired it off with golden trousers and matching juttis. Follow me to the gallery for more on this wedding inspiring story!

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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?

After moving to Los Angeles from Toronto, Canada at 30. I moved to a new office and knew very few people in LA. I had always met people through friends in Toronto but in LA, in a new city, I decided to go online!

Of course, I had a very busy job that offers me the benefit of traveling all over the world, so it was hard to actually make time to date.

I finally connected with Paul on Match.com when he messaged me a very genuine, sweet message that I didn’t see until weeks later. He ended up in my junk box! You see, he was out my filters based on age and height. I had wanted someone 32-40, 6’-6’5”. It turns out Paul was 41 and 6’8”!!

I got an Alert to checked my emails and noticed his message there. Once I read his message I knew that he was different.

Because of the travel, I didn’t end up meeting him until three months later but we had texted and chatted a little bit in between.

When I finally met him on a date and saw him, I was smitten and so was he. I found out he was also a Canadian, both born in Edmonton, Alberta. We had the same humor, senseability, values, and love of life. I just wanted to be by his side from the moment we met. From that moment on, we were inseparable...

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

After dating for 2 years, buying a house and living together for 1.5 years, we were starting to build a new life in LA with amazing friends and family.

Paul knew I wanted to get married and start our own family we wanted to establish a foundation together.

So every trip and outing we had, I expected him to pop the question, but of course, Paul knows I’m too hard to surprise, so he had to catch me off guard...

One day, Jan 23, 2018, after eating a delicious meal with our friends, we all come and start talking about the importance of family and friends and building our life together, my little nephew, comes around with a ring box, gives it to Paul and he gets in his knee! In our living room, out of the blue!! I was shocked and elated and so happy it was in our home that we built with people we loved.

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 our wedding in California. The majority of our friends and family live in Canada and elsewhere, so we wanted to create a warm home away from home and to celebrate in one place for our two-day event.

Palm Springs was one of the places we traveled the most together in our relationships, so we knew the desert was the place to wed. I love traveling to Rajasthan in India and wanted something to reflect that feel in California.

When we finally found our venue and all the little eclectic influences we knew that the place was it!

We fell in love with The Colony Palms and the idea of having the whole place to ourselves and loved ones to celebrate the occasion.

Indian weddings are not a common thing in Palm Springs so coordinating these details took a lot of time and thought. I wanted to maintain the beauty and the culture of a Hindu wedding but I wanted an aesthetic that fit a more Bohemian, Rajasthani style.

I made sure that our Pundit, Music, Food, Clothing, Entertainment, and overall feel was true to Hindu culture but the wedding planner, photographer were local Californian.

We wanted to honor the fact that we both had different cultures and create a fusion that highlighted our favorite elements.

Since we had a fall November wedding, the colors were peach, coral, burgundy, ivory, pink and gold. The overall theme was Desert Sunset.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?

Being from Canada, I knew that the best Indian clothes close to me were in Brampton Ontario. Luckily I go back-and-forth to Toronto quite a bit for work and I was able to browse lots of boutiques with my mom before I found the right one.

I’ve always loved Bombay Trendz they have a very high-end fashion with reasonable prices and can do customization. I’m taller and their lenghas always fit my body perfectly.

I found both my henna and bridal Lengha there, as well as Paul’s wedding Shirwani. Because I have a creative job at work buying furniture my favorite part of the process was picking the colors and reconfiguring how I wanted it to look and fit in our theme and blend together for the events.

I wanted to make sure the wedding was full of vibrant color but I also didn’t want the traditional red because of our desert backdrop, so I opted for soft peaches, burgundy, and ivory.

I was most inspired by Varun Bahl and Anita Dongres high waisted skirts, tight floral embroidery and contrasting soft palettes.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?

Planning the outfits, the decor, and the rickshaw!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

The guests loved all the details and the intimacy of the venue. The highlight was definitely our entertainment including Paul’s Band Hiway 2 playing at the Henna night, Ronobir Lahiri playing the Sitar at our cocktail event and The Belly Twins at the reception.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?

The most special moment was sitting under the ceremonial mandap with our Pandit, both our families staring at our loved ones knowing that our lives were bonded. Seeing both our families and cultures unite in this way was beautiful and felt meaningful and progressive.

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.

Henna party included a fusion of California, Canada, and Gujarat with Mexican food for dinner, Henna, Garba, Dandia Raas in the evening ended off by a stellar performance by Paul’s Canadiana Rock band, Hiway 2.This was an introduction and collaboration for everyone to participate in both Hindu & Canadian celebration!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?

Have a vision for the day and make sure you have the right people supporting you, so you can be calm and relaxed through the process. I planned most of the wedding details alone in the first four months but leaned on my amazing Bridesmaids, my Mom and wedding planner six months before the final day.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)

Other than details given by wedding planner:

A lot of details and guest favors were ordered through my favorite store in Rajasthan, Anokhi.

The details of the block print were reflected in handkerchiefs and table napkins.

The jewelry was passed down through the family were ordered through India.

Bridesmaids outfits were from Priti Sahni.

Bicycle rickshaw ordered through Classic Home and fixed and decorated by our bridesmaids & groomsmen!

I'll be back in a bit, so stick around!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Fusion
Contemporary
season
Autumn
color

Hinal's Beauty Studio and Ronobir Lahiri Music are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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

Rancho Santa Fe, CA Indian Fusion Wedding by Anza Foto + Film

March 14, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

The fusion union became official and I'm still in awe with the heartwarming fine art images that the amazingly talented Anza Foto + Film captured of today's soulmates, Amrita and Brian! As part of our Best of 2018, this magical fusion wedding shows the best of two cultures and endless details that made it a truly unique union! The beautiful Spanish-style residential estate grounds were once again picked to host the outdoor reception. The set up was totally impactful, with string lights from San Diego SociaLights, over the fully decorated tables all aligned with the sweetheart main spot that was custody by two beautiful tree branches and lush florals all created by Organic Elements and conceived by the bride herself! Coast Catering & Crown Rentals provided the extraordinary catering service while the musical entertainment that made everyone dance under the stars and some incredibly lovely red lamps were in charge of VOX Djs! After the wedding toss and the fun games, it's time to take a closer look at this lovely outdoor reception in our full gallery!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?

We first met at college in Minnesota when we were neighbors in our freshman year dorm. We started hanging out through our mutual friends and dated a bit our sophomore and junior years. After college, now both living in Chicago, we started seeing each other again, and the rest is history.

There were a lot of different moments that led me to know Brian was the one: 1) He encouraged and supported my unconventional and adventurous spirit; 2) he liked my drive and loved it when I ran with it and achieved my goals; 3) I loved the balance of our relationship - we could talk politics and art for hours, as well as goof around and party. We always introduce each other to new things, and both of us truly enjoy it. I discovered so much more about myself as I hung out with him more and more; and, 4) His open-mindedness and comfort, and how he interacts with activities and cultures that are new to him.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

Brian proposed to me during a three-week trip we took to southern Europe in June of 2018. Towards the end of our trip, Brian took me to Parc De La Ciutadella, in Barcelona, and brought me out on a rowboat where asked me to marry him. After, we walked and took pictures next to Gaudi's Cascada Fountain.

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.

Three months before our wedding, crisis struck, and we lost the dream wedding venue we had booked several months earlier. Luckily, through a family friend/contact, we found a beautiful Spanish-style residential estate as a replacement venue, with an enormous backyard in Rancho Santa Fe.

We are both from very different cultures (I’m Indian and Brian’s American-Jewish), so we thought it would be really fun to blend both cultures together into one ceremony! We picked the La Jolla/Del Mar area because it’s a special place for Brian’s family, and it’s simply gorgeous in the summer. We were having three events so we wanted it to be a fun vacation area for our family and friends.

Brian and I have an eclectic aesthetic and loved our recent trip to Barcelona. We wanted to make sure the ceremony was still uniquely “us”. Adding to the venue, the design was woodsy, midsummer night’s dream theme, of course with some Indian elements. The color palette was inspired by my wedding dress.

On the wedding day, each event was set up so the guests could enjoy different parts of the estate. Each area had its own special element that tied into the larger theme. We started in the front of the house with a cocktail hour, which had the Baraat, Bridal Entrance, and Milni. The music for this event included lots of Spoon and Nicolas Jaar (our favorite artists!). Brian was driven in by his groomsmen on a 1950s Porsche convertible to a Spoon song, and then I walked in through the large main doors of the house to Havana by Camila Cabello. Then we had the Milni (the joining of the families) - my favorite event!

After the Milni, we moved to the ceremony, which had a woodsy romantic feel. The aisle entrance was two big branches with flowers and orbs. The mandap had wooden poles and loose flowers. The mandap ceiling was made of branches and had Moroccan lanterns and orbs hanging. A big thank you to Organic Elements for pulling that together! Under the mandap, we also had stunning gold painted peacock sweetheart chairs from TBD San Diego. We had mixed farm chairs from Archive Rentals and large white umbrellas for shade. To blend the white umbrellas into the theme more, we added orbs to the inside of the canopy of the umbrellas and vines up their poles.

Our ceremony started as a short Hindu ceremony, and then transitioned into my best friend from college, a philosopher, introducing our vows and leading the ring exchange. Dharmasetu Das ji, our Hindu pandit, was fantastic to work with and did a fabulous job explaining the ceremony to our guests. Brian and I both wanted a more egalitarian ceremony than the traditional Hindu ceremony, so Panditji helped us personalize it. For example, there was no kanyadaan - instead, our families supported our decision to marry, and my mom, who brought me up herself, played the roles traditionally played by a male family member.

After the ceremony, we had another cocktail hour next to the estate’s gorgeous pool area and cabanas. The guests mingled while the bridal parties and family took pictures, as hot air balloons from a nearby competition floated by high above in the skies. Then we moved on to a dinner in the backyard. Here we did the grand entrance with our bridal party, performed the breaking of the glass (a Jewish tradition), and family and friends made speeches. We had long communal tables so all the different groups of family and friends could mingle. Under a full moon, the lighting above the tables had a variety of Edison bulbs and orbs, perfect for a warm, romantic night. The buffet was lit up with candles instead of overhead lighting. The wood communal tables had golden flatware and charger plates topped with embroidered gift bags my mom brought from India. The tables had loose floral centerpieces and vines, and Indian sari material as overlays.

The sweetheart table was absolutely amazing. We carried over the theme from the ceremony, so the sweetheart table had the same type of flowers and lanterns. Two branches lit with fairy lights stood behind our table to function as frames. I also added a crystal chandelier to hang over us. The sweetheart chairs were the gorgeous peacock chairs, the same ones we sat in on the mandap.

Then we moved to the dance floor. Here we did the first dance, bouquet toss, the garter toss, the shoe game, and the hora (another Jewish tradition)! For the decor, we used an assortment of Vietnamese silk lanterns crisscrossed along the ceiling of the dance floor, as well as a lounge area lit up with fairy lights. DJ Sahara was fantastic to work with.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?

I knew I wanted pastels with a focus on floral embroidery. I loved the Garden of Eden designs from Varun Bahl. One of the perks of the dress was that it wasn't super heavy - it was mostly (stunning!) embroidery with minimal pearls and sequins. I knew I wanted to be able to party in it with my new husband and all my family and friends!

My hair was inspired by Pakistani brides! I knew I wanted my hair down but wanted it to be elaborate. I also added a passa (hair jewelry).

My makeup artist was Shelby Henry. I found her on Instagram and loved her technique, especially flawless and elaborate eye makeup.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?

The design process! We are both from distinct cultures (I’m Indian and Brian’s American-Jewish) and so we thought it would be really fun to blend both cultures together into one ceremony! And also planning how we are going to introduce the families and cultures to each other through the wedding, and just planning a fun day that brings together our personalities as a couple!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

Everyone told us that they loved the food from Food Curry and More in San Marcos. We were also told everything looked beautiful, and the successfully blended many cultures

People also loved our Wedding card, which included cover art of Radha Krishna and a helpful timeline (with pictures) of our two days of events.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?

Two moments come to mind immediately. First, walking down the aisle with my grandparents and seeing Brian under the whimsical Mandap with my mom and both our families surrounding him. The orbs and lanterns from the ceiling just made it more of a fairytale.

Second, the Milni. Having both sides of the families meet each other and give each other hugs was really special.

One funny moment - we hadn’t done a rehearsal of the ceremony so a couple of bloopers happened. The funniest one was when Brian was going to put the sindoor (red powder) on my hair. Growing up in India, it’s so obvious that the sindoor goes in the parting of the hair so I didn’t think to tell Brian beforehand that he’d have to do this. At the ceremony, the Panditji gave Brian the sindoor and he literally shakes it on my hair like it’s salt. Haha. So lesson learned, definitely do a rehearsal if you are doing a cross-cultural wedding.

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.

We had two additional events - a Mehendi and a Groom’s Dinner.

The Mehendi was an afternoon apéro riche held at L’Auberge Del Mar’s Pacific Terrace. At the Mehendi, we did a chudda ceremony as well as lots of singing and dancing. Brian has a large family so we also did some speeches at the Mehendi. Traditionally, the Mehendi event is a women-only event but we opened it up for everyone to enjoy. We also had favors from India as well as a Mehendi artist so everyone could partake in the tradition. My mum, sister, and family friends also did choreograph dances.

For the design, I knew I wanted a structure but one that complemented the ocean view and winds. We went with a naked teepee from Southwest Teepee Rentals. The teepee had lounge seating complete with a mix of fur and leather. The color palette was browns and white with some turquoise.

My mother picked out my outfit from Ogaan in India. I love yellow and my mom was so cute when she showed it to me so I knew I had to wear it. I had my hair in a fishtail braid with a flower crown using the same type of flowers used for the decor.

The groom’s dinner, similar to a rehearsal dinner, was hosted by Brian’s mom at the Pacific Terrace. We all got to see a gorgeous sunset over the ocean. Amazing! Brian’s cousins (who are amazing singers) also performed several songs on guitar.

For my dress, I wanted to wear white to the event as a nod to American culture. I wanted the dress to be structured and have a Victorian collar. Elliat had the perfect dress!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?

Consider doing one ceremony for our cross-cultural wedding. It’s super fun to have the cultures and families meld together. And it brought everyone closer.

Make sure you get along very well with your planner. When you interview, keep an eye on how supportive they are going to be in crisis situations. Crazy things can happen, and you want to be working with someone who makes things easier.

Always take a step back and enjoy the process! On the wedding day, it will be surreal. Enjoy every moment and interaction!

The details really make the entire wedding decor come together! Even seemingly small things, like what chairs to use, can make a big difference in the overall feel of your wedding.

Consider a ceremony rehearsal for a cross-cultural wedding.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)

We loved including our family members in our wedding planning. It made the entire event even more special, even if there were a few more disagreements. Brian’s sister designed the cutest card with a baby pic, and Brian’s mother planned the groom’s dinner. My mother and I did the ceremony.

AnzaFoto+Film, our photographer/videographer was excellent. Kristina and Eric are husband and wife and have a great vibe. Their pictures and videos are to die for! They captured the whimsical vibe and all the Indian and Jewish traditions perfectly! A big thank you to them.

See you tomorrow for more wedding wonder!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Fusion
Contemporary
season
Summer
color

Henna San Diego is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Henna San Diego VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Rancho Santa Fe, CA Indian Fusion Wedding by Anza Foto + Film

March 14, 2019 Posted by: Shawna 1 Comments

It's an absolute honor to bring to light the ceremony of Amrita and Brian, featured in our Best of 2018 Emagazine and fully shot by the talented husband and wife photo team of Anza Foto + Film! Inspired by their recent trip to Barcelona these soulmates showed off their essence and style in the beautiful decor, in the bride's own words: "We wanted to make sure the ceremony was still uniquely us. Adding to the venue, the design was woodsy, midsummer night’s dream theme, of course with some Indian elements" And with a color palette inspired by the bride's wedding dress the outdoor ceremony was a whimsical fairytale! Organic Elements really knew how to translate the couple's vision by creating the fantastic ceremony decor while Korie at Bliss Events guaranteed it all went without a hitch by all accounts! Brian's big arrival in a convertible vintage vehicle was another great highlight while our bride Amrita's entrance completely stole the limelight! Ingeniously blending Amrita's Indian background and Brian's Jewish American culture, they opted for a short Hindu ceremony performed by the Hindu Pandit Dharmasetu Das and that later shifted for an American style ring ceremony exchange! Go into the bundle of pics of our gallery to find more of this fusion wedding wonder!