Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Welcome, darlings, to Shivani & Shivam's love tale! Shivani, resplendent, entered Royal Alberts Palace with a radiant smile, creating an aura of anticipation and excitement. Amidst the golden hues of the setting sun, Shivani & Shivam exchanged vows, their voices quivering with love and promise. Their names echoed in each other's ears, encapsulating the depth of their love. DJ Monu Entertainment's music filled the air, blending tradition and modernity seamlessly. Known for their exceptional skill in blending cultural rhythms with contemporary beats, they ensured the celebration was vibrant and lively. Beaut by Far highlighted Shivani's features with a flawless makeup application that radiated elegance and grace. Her expertise lies in makeup application, understanding the bride's vision for her wedding day look, and making it a reality. Virsa Studio's photography captured every heartfelt moment. Amidst the golden hues of the setting sun, Shivani & Shivam exchanged vows, their voices quivering with love and promise. Their first dance as a married couple was a beautiful testament, encapsulating their journey together, a day that will forever be etched in their hearts.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met in 2017 on a little dating app known as DilMil. We spent the better part of 7 years eating and traveling with each other, strengthening our bond. I knew he was the one when I saw his personality and how sweet and caring he was to me, and I knew he was the one as soon as I met him on our first date. Through the years, he showed me he cared and made an effort to keep me genuinely happy, making sure all of my thoughts and feelings were heard and understood.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
He proposed to me in Akumal Bay, Mexico in a cenote. This was by far the most unique experience I have ever had or seen! He took me through a jungle in my dress and him in a suit and took me to a cenote with a little lake in it and proposed to me while the photographers were hidden.

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.
It was possibly one of the most stressful times in my life, but it was well worth it! We spent countless hours a day looking at ideas, dances, makeup ideas, venues, etc to find the best fit for us. We ended up choosing our vendors based on countless hours of research and talking. Overall, the vendors were the best! They informed us and kept up with our needs and thoughts, as well as made sure we didn't miss anything, even if we didn't mention it! Pinterest, Instagram, and viewing influencers were my main ways of finding ideas and thoughts about what we wanted!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted to do a variation of a red color and went to India through many different markets and shops to look for the perfect outfit until I went Thakur G in Vadodra and saw the lehnga and fell absolutely in love with it! It was love at first sight, and I never regretted or thought about that decision.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
It was for sure planning it with my husband and having him with me every step of the way. The way we bounced ideas off each other and managed not to pull each other's hair out amazes me to this day. He not only was active in giving ideas, thoughts, and insights but also was integral in all the vendors and other things we did

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests, for sure, still rave about the food and music. The food was absolutely perfect (I never had the time to try it!), and the music, especially the MC during the baarat, engaged everyone and made everyone involved dance and enjoy the moment. People we have never seen move at any event were seen actually dancing and enjoying themselves!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The pheras and first look we had were the special moment. The way he looked at me and said "DAMN" out loud to the moment we walked around the fire were all the most special moments I will never forget and keep replaying over and over again. It signified to me that I was finally with my "forever person," and I could enjoy my life with him!

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.
For our events we did something a bit different than most by doing our dances during the garba and only had younger people at our reception. We made sure every single person in both families joined us for a group dance where, even for the slightest time, they all got out of their seats and came on the dance floor to celebrate not only us but also to have them enjoy themselves too! For the dances, we spent hours practicing with each other and our groomsmen/bridesmaids, and as for the decor, we didn't want to stick to the traditional decor and ideas, so for unique ideas, our food rather than being served on tables, we had them on "street carts" during the garba similar to the food carts you see around India, we had out stage decorated bottom to top with fabric, umbrellas, and an "Arabian" seat style sitting.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
There will be stress and a lot of it, but in the end, it's all worth it! Always keep in mind something my husband kept reminding me: if something can go wrong, it WILL go wrong, and the more you try to make it perfect or try to fix things, the more it'll be stressful but also make things worse, so take it easy, relax, plan what you actually can and once you're on wedding days let it all be and enjoy your time and look forward to being with your "forever person."

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
The Mehndi person we used was absolutely amazing! (Rita Shah)She hid Shivam's name in my hand to the point where I struggled to find it, and it stumped almost every member trying to find it. We didn't know where it was until we had to beg her to tell us! The jewelry I used was handed down by Mom or bought from Jersey City at Taj Jewelers, where they not only gave us amazing prices but also made sure everything and anything we had asked for was there for us! The venue heard us out and did everything in its power to make our events go smoothly (Royal Albert's Palace). They ensured the food, seating, etc, were handled and done at a proper time and allowed our vendors ample time to come in early to handle their business, giving us a smooth and easy event!

The wedding was an unforgettable fairytale, a day that blended tradition and modernity, romance and charm.

BEAUT by FAR and DJ Monu Singh Entertainment are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Darlings, we're diving into Lori & Rakesh's fairytale. Their love story started at the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square, where Mehndi's night unfurled with rhythmic beats, thanks to DJ Ravi Jackson. Lori's palms were adorned with intricate mehndi designs by the talented Henna by Sushma. Her designs were a splendid mix of intricate traditional motifs and contemporary elegance. Jamie Hollander Weddings hosted the solemn ceremony and exuberant reception, where the creative geniuses at Beautiful Blooms Events enhanced its beauty—Rakesh's arrival in style, courtesy of Rags To Rickshaws. The seamless flow and exquisite attention to detail at each event were the handiwork of the exceptional wedding planner, Ask Neha Now. She knows all the secrets of the perfect vendors and specializes in mixed-culture weddings like this one. Sugar Bomb Entertainment accompanied this journey with melodic tunes. Lori's hair and makeup by Elegance Artistry made her look like a true Maharani. Sajda By Suman was in charge of the perfect white/light pink lehenga and customized sherwani. Bukhara Grill tantalized my taste buds with its exquisite catering. What truly captured the essence of this wedding was the timeless photographs by Maria A. Garth Photography. Her lens captured every moment, weaving a visual narrative that this couple will cherish forever. Enjoy it.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We designed my engagement ring together with the help of William Schwartz Jewelers in Philadelphia. Since we had gone ring shopping together, I knew the proposal was coming, but I was not exactly sure when. One February morning, I had gone out for about 45 minutes, and in that time, Rakesh sprung into action decorating our entire house with candles, flowers, and a million pictures from our years together. When I walked in, I think my first words were, "Is this what I think it is?!" At the top of the candle trail, Rakesh was waiting on one knee!

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 could not have done it without our wedding planner - Neha Joshi of Ask Neha Now. Neha might be the best wedding planner and coordinator in existence. She specializes in mixed culture weddings (Hindu and Jewish in our case) and worked hard to ensure smooth and seamless coordination for our Sangeet and wedding.

Neha knows all the secrets of finding the perfect vendors, and we could not have been happier or more thankful for these vendors -

Wedding planner: @asknehanow
Photographer: @mariaagarthphotography
Decor: @beautifulbloomsevents
Hair & makeup: @eleganceartistrygroup
Bridal henna: @hennabysushma
Bridal draping: @shilpashenna
Venue: @jh_weddings @jhcateringevents
Wedding day lehenga/sherwani: @sajdabysuman
Band: @sugarbomb_entertainment
Officiants: @cantorlaurastein & Priest Vimal Raval

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Since we were having a multi-cultural fusion wedding (Hindu & Jewish), I wanted to make sure our outfits were appropriate for both cultures, so I landed on wanting to find a white lehenga. Nishi from Sajda in Edison, NJ, helped create the perfect white/light pink lehenga and then customized a sherwani for Rakesh to match.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
We LOVED food tastings! We wanted to have Indian street food for our Sangeet, a traditional Indian buffet for our Wedding day dinner, and an American-style cocktail hour. And I had my heart set on which cake I wanted for my wedding for over 5 years (the white chocolate cream with chocolate chip cake from Sweet Eats Bakery in Voorhees, NJ). Our tasting at Bukhara Grill blew us away with the amount and quality of food we were able to try - we were sold right away. We also went to a group-style tasting at Jamie Hollander Catering and Events, which created the perfect cocktail hour.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our ceremony! We wanted a fusion ceremony with two officiants who could complete the ceremony in under an hour! As the traditional Hindu wedding can be multiple hours/days and the rituals are more elaborate than a 20-minute typical Jewish ceremony, our main focus was ensuring that our cultures were balanced and that it wasn't a Hindu wedding with one or two Jewish elements or vice versa. Our two officiants, Cantor Laura Stein and Priest Vimal Raval (Indian Priest NJ), worked together to create the most unique and special ceremony, helping us to select the elements that were most important to us as a couple and condense the ceremony in a respectful and meaningful way.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Build in time to eat/escape together for a few minutes on the wedding day! This helped us slow down the day and be able to soak it all in.

Let this love story inspire your dreams. Remember to leave us a comment and come back for more.

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Today's Platinum Guide Blog is unfurling the vibrant tapestry of Shena & Daxesh's wedding. Enjoy!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
In May 2021, I received a connection request on a dating website. At first, I didn't answer the connection - she hadn't heard of Daxesh and wanted to find a mutual friend who might be able to vouch for him. After some time, a friend was able to confirm that Daxesh ('Dax' for short) was a great guy, very likable and well-known. Shena took the leap and, on the second connection request, clicked ‘accept.’ One connection request and the rest is history.

I knew Dax was the one after our first date. After a long few months of texting and talking over FaceTime, we decided to meet up in Washington, DC. Our first date consisted of two things we love dearly - Art and Food! After attending the Van Gogh immersive experience, we headed over to a restaurant for lunch. After our first date, I remember walking away feeling safe, feeling like I could be myself around him, and knowing that this guy would make me laugh and smile for the rest of my life…I just knew he was the one!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
R. We were planning a cabin staycation at Cloudland State Park in November 2022. As the date came near, Dax saw an opportunity to execute the surprise - and I know at certain points that week I got on his nerves with my Type A, planner personality. He had hired a photographer and dusted off his drone skills. As we went outside to look at the mountain scenery in the morning, Dax swept the drone up and smoothly landed on one knee as I turned around. It was absolutely perfect! You can see the video on my Instagram!

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.
Many know, and for those who don’t, I currently work in the corporate world, but I also am at the beginning of my journey to start my side business as an event planner. Saying that, you can imagine the crazy Type A personality I had when planning our own wedding. Leading up to our wedding, Dax and I worked hard to break down each detail and be on the same page. This really helped when talking to all our vendors and families. The effort put into the planning in the months leading up to the wedding definitely paid off during the week of the wedding!

Our wedding could not have been possible without our amazing vendors! Each one of them took such care in helping us plan out each detail, and when the weekend came, they showed up with their A-game. Each of our vendors was easy to work with and stayed flexible when things changed! Leading up to the event, they worked hard with us to make sure they could achieve our vision (and within budget). My coordination team took all the details I had planned and executed everything perfectly! I think I am one of those rare brides who didn’t stress about if things were getting done because the coordination team was always on top of it, even when there were last-minute changes.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Call me weird, but I did not want to go with the traditional red. Anyone who knows me well knows that when it comes to Indian outfits, I like to wear stuff that is unique. Dax and I looked for inspiration for months. We finally found a color that we really wanted to incorporate into our outfits - sage green. Walking into Thakur’s, I knew I would have to keep an open mind. We didn’t have much time to get custom-made outfits, so I would have to choose something ready-made. After looking at a few outfits, the lengha, which was brought out last, was the one I fell in love with. It had a sage green color and incorporated the red brick color as well.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved the planning process! I believe my favorite part was planning the small details. We really wanted to make sure that our guests enjoyed the weekend. Guests at any event remember two things the most - the food and the experience. Dax and I made sure we thought about those two things in the most detail when planning. We had an in-depth conversation with our caterer to build a menu that was different for each meal. We wanted to make sure there was variety the entire weekend, and being foodies ourselves, it was important to us that our guests enjoyed the food!

For experience, we tried to have meaningful experience-related pieces throughout the entire weekend. We wanted to showcase our favorite things throughout the weekend while adding the element of guest experience. We planned unique event signs (our love for art and design), flower pithi (our love for fun and fresh floral), sparkler exit, baraat dances (our love for music and healthy competition, as we had a dance-off between both families), late night games (our love for board and card games) and much more! I’m so happy we put time into detailing these pieces because it made the weekend much more enjoyable and memorable.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Even today, the two things I hear the most about from our wedding guests are that the food is some of the best food (if not the best) they have had at a wedding in the US and that they have never been to a wedding which has had been as punctual and organized as ours. Everyone had a blast and was able to enjoy the moment!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Obviously, it is hard to choose just one moment. Of course, the entire weekend revolved around my husband and I, and each of those moments was special. However, there is one special moment that stands out to me. Over the past few years, I have been giving this piece of advice to my friends, family, and bridal clients:

During your wedding, choose a random chunk of time and walk around the venue. Use this as a moment in time to observe and let the emotions soak all in. I chose to do this twice, once on the Wednesday before my wedding and once on the Friday before. These moments will remain so special to me because walking around I saw all the individuals - family and friends - who came together just for Dax and I. Each one of them worked together to help make our weekend possible. These moments showed me that the weekend was about Dax and I, but it was also about the relationships we have forged with each guest who attended. I will be forever grateful for these relationships and remember these moments!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
When you look back at your wedding and the months leading up to it, you don’t want to be reminded about hating the process. Wedding planning can be stressful, but only if you make it more stressful than needed. There is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding. Plan your wedding with the method that works best for you and your fiance because it will make the process that much easier. If you wanna get all the easy stuff done first and then work on the large pieces, do that. If you want to plan the little things and have a planner do the large pieces, then hire a partial planner. If you don’t care much about certain things and want to hand them off to family members so they can help, then communicate that and get the help. If you need help from others, get the help. At the end of the day, do what works best for you!

Obviously, Indian weddings have a HUGE family element to them, and for many, that could be the stressful part. However, always remember that communication is key. Keep everyone on the same page on what you and your fiance envision and what the budget is/should be. Also, take the time to understand the different ceremonies and traditions.

Lastly, I have seen a lot of brides recently becoming stressed during wedding planning because they keep thinking about what others will think. Always remember that the weekend is about you and your fiance. Plan the details in a way that showcases your relationship.

Join us in reliving this majestic celebration, where every moment is a story and a testament to love.

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We're thrilled to share the charming tale of Lavannya & Corey's wedding, where romance blossomed amidst the splendid backdrop of Highlands Mansion and Gardens in the heart of Morris Arboretum, a perfect canvas for the floristry artistry of Wildstems. Lavannya was a vision of elegance and grace, her beauty accentuated by the expert touch of Mia Farah Beautique. The masterful planning and design by That's Darling Events wove a tapestry of charm and sophistication. The musical strains of Soda Pop Strings added an ethereal layer to the already dream-like ceremony. Stylus DJ Entertainment ensured the dance floor remained a whirl of color and happiness, reflecting the couple's blissful journey. Each frame composed by Iryna Shostak Photography is a testament to her skill in blending artistry with emotion, resulting in a visual feast that will forever remind Lavannya & Corey of their magical day. As one browses through the gallery, it becomes clear that these are not just wedding photos but timeless keepsakes, each telling a unique part of this love story. Enjoy it!

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
Corey and Lavannya's love story began at the University of Delaware, where they both attended college. It wasn't until Lavannya's coding partner bailed on a project that Corey stepped in to help. This act of kindness sparked their friendship, which would eventually blossom into something much more.

After graduation, Corey and Lavannya found themselves working at the same company, which helped them stay close despite their busy schedules. Lavannya was smitten with Corey, but he remained completely oblivious to her feelings. It wasn't until February 2017 that they finally started dating, and the rest is history.

Lavannya wasted no time in sweeping Corey off his feet, taking him on a romantic trip through Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Reykjavik just four months into their relationship. Over the last six years, they have weathered many storms together, including job changes, a pandemic, and even a home purchase. They've also traveled to more places than Corey ever thought he would.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We went out to dinner in the city, and when we came home, the living room was filled with candles and a breathtaking flower wall filled with 1000 live roses that Corey built himself.  While we were out, Corey's friends came in and set up everything in the living room.

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 toured a lot of different types of venues, and I really fell in love with the idea of a garden wedding.  The Morris Arboretum was the first garden venue we toured, and we immediately fell in love with it.  It took us a while to find our ceremony venue, but we were very happy with The Highland Mansion and Gardens.  Both were gorgeous garden venues.

Thanks for reading, loves! I hope to see you tomorrow. We will unfold more inspiring wedding stories.

Iryna Shostak Photography is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Hello, Maharanis! Shriya & Rikhab's lovely wedding is now live in today's Platinum Guide Blog.

Come back for more tales, loves. Until then, stay inspired and cherish the love that surrounds you!

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