Ladies! Get ready to enjoy Niharika & Naman's enchanting wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met Naman at college orientation at The Ohio State University. Go Bucks! We happened to be sitting next to each other at one of the orientation lectures and got to talking about how he is from New Jersey. As we kept talking, Naman asked me what my major was and it ended up being the same as his. Then he asked if I was living on campus and I said yes. We then found out that we were living in the same dorm, on the same floor! Our suites ended up being near each other, and we had classes together as well so we quickly became close. It was fate!
I knew he was the one a few years into our relationship. We got along so well and had so many of the same interests. We had fun together and were happy just sitting and talking or watching movies.Our time together never had to be anything crazy, but we loved being together. Whenever we weren't together, we missed each other. I knew I couldn't imagine my life without him.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Naman and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas in March of 2019. We had dinner reservations that night so after I got ready, Naman asked me to take some pictures outside on the balcony outside our room. When we went out there, he got down on one knee and proposed during sunset! It was especially meaningful because he worked with a jeweler to design my ring. It made me feel that much more loved because he took the time to do that.
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 worked closely with our wedding planner and families to get through all the details of the events. Our wedding planner, Urvashi, did a great job of keeping us organized and on track to make sure everything got done on time. The service at the Marigold was unmatched. They were very helpful to the bride and groom but they were also great to all the guests.
Lilly Rivera of Bridal Gal was amazing. She made me look and feel like a bride. She was very responsive throughout the planning process and listened and took notes during our trial.
Wedding design did a great job of understanding our vision and style for the events. They worked with us to make sure the color scheme would be just right for each event and that it would mesh well with our outfits.
Premier entertainment provided great service as well. They were very helpful and responsive during the planning process and thought of so many details. We didn’t want a DJ who would hype up the crowd too much; we wanted the music to speak for itself. Premier entertainment understood that and set us up with a DJ who fit our style.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted to go for a dress with a pink tone. I also wanted the details on the dress to be easy to see and not overdone. I tried on a few outfits that were lighter in tone, but I realized a darker tone may look better in the daytime. I tried on a dress that was a red wine color and it had some gold and blue details on it as well. I knew it was the one, the minute I put it on. I loved everything about it!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was seeing the final products come together, the food menus, decor ideas, favors, etc. It was amazing to see all our hard work and the countless hours of planning make everyone happy. It was astonishing to see how the vendors brought our visions to life.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests were raving about the variety of food in all our events. Moghul Catering went above and beyond in helping us create the perfect menus for our events. My husband and I love different kinds of cuisines and we wanted to incorporate that into our wedding while also staying true to our Indian roots. Over the course of all the events, we had Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, Japanese and Italian options for our guests. Many of the items were Indian inspired like the paneer tikka sushi made fresh by a Japanese chef. The food was definitely a highlight of the weekend!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
My husband and I aren’t big on the usual entrances that are done in weddings where the bride and groom are introduced and come dancing in. Instead, our wedding planner, Urvashi, helped us come up with a reveal. While our same day edit was playing for the guests at the reception, we snuck onto the stage and as the same day edit ended, the spotlight flashed on us, music played and sparklers went off. It was a magical moment!
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.
The weekend kicked off with a combined Haldi and Pooja at my husband’s family house. We had a beautiful backdrop of orange flowers and colorful umbrellas. Friends and family were able to color us full of Haldi.
That evening we gathered for an outdoor welcome dinner at a family friends home. The night was filled with friends, family, delicious food and lots of dancing.
The following night was our Sangeet at Martinsville Gardens. We used the outdoor courtyard space for our cocktail hour. The fountain was a focal point and we also had various food stations around the courtyard covered by large, decorated, maroon umbrellas. The decor in the ballroom was Moroccan themed. Floral pieces and Moroccan lamps filled the stage. To go along with the theme, we also had herbal, flavored hookah available for our guests to enjoy during the cocktail hour. Family members and friends did dance performances and we had a few singing performances as well. We also played the wedding shoe game in which we’re asked questions and have to hold up the shoe of the bride or groom depending on who fits the answer best. It was an entertaining evening! Once the performances were done, the dance floor opened for the night. Towards the end of the night, our guests were able to enjoy the paan cart by Mr. Paanwala. Chocolate paan and mint mojito paan were among a few of the flavors they could choose from.
Our reception cocktail hour was a good time for our guests to mingle and enjoy appetizer while listening to the electric violinist play modern and classical songs. The reception itself started with the playing of our same day edit and the bride and groom’s reveal. Then we went straight into our first dance in the clouds created by dry ice. We danced to crowded room by Conor Maynard. Following this, our parents gave speeches and then my father and I had our father daughter dance. We danced to Daughters by John Mayer. We chose to have a cupcake tower instead of a traditional wedding cake, so that our guests would be able to easily grab and enjoy different flavors. The night moved on with dinner and plenty of dancing. We then had an incredible Viennese dessert display.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
The planning process can be overwhelming and frustrating at times, especially now during covid, but I would say that your wedding day will be exactly what you want it to be. In the end the details don’t matter as much as just being able to celebrate your relationship with your family and friends. Everyone is there to celebrate you as a couple and that’s what you should focus on.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Mehndikalogie did my bridal henna and it was breathtaking. The intricate details were so precise and beautiful.
We chose to do a cupcake tower and Palermo Bakery did a great job of replicating the designs I showed them. We had vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes with buttercream frosting. The frosting colors were just what we asked for and the cake was delicious.
