Happy Friday, Maharanis! Another week has gone by, and we are rapidly approaching the weekend; and what better way to do it than taking a look at a romantic love story that will make you feel inspired! Today's love tale centers on the adorable duo of Ashima & Dhritiman. The couple brought on Utsav Planners,Inc. to help spearhead wedding planning, and the result was a fabulous wedding brimming with culture, mixed emotions, flair, and above all, lots of love! When Ashima through the aisle of the Center Point Marriot in Auburn Hills, guests couldn't help but sigh in delight at her radiance. And before we go any further, we want to take a moment to commend the gorgeous bride on her various bridal looks! We love how she switched gears from her ruby wedding lengha to a blue and sparkling reception lengha, always looking like a goddess. To achieve this dreamy look, she brought Makeup By JHobby and Hair by Ayesha to dazzle her up in glowing skin and a classy wavy hairstyle. To add an extra touch of traditional flair, she got a lovely Mehndi design by Henna Beauty by Krupa, and the final result was something to die for! The ceremony was an intimate affair, and Ashima & Dhritiman capped off the joyous event with their first kiss as husband and wife to cheers and rose petals. After the wedding ceremony, it was time to celebrate this life milestone with a glamorous reception party animated by DJ Ice & Fresh Productions. The dancing, the delicious food by Punjab Indian Cuisine, and of course, the love of Ashima & Dhritiman made of this night a night to remember! And we are glad Sky Films and Productions was there to capture all the action. If you can't get enough of this lovely couple, head into this full gallery, where you can find plenty of photographic inspiration for your own glam wedding. Believe us; you will love every single shot!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Dhritiman and I met in the busy halls of an pediatric emergency department in Michigan. As a pediatric resident, I was rotating through the emergency department and Dhritiman was my supervising fellow. While I grew used to Dhritiman's humor(or lack thereof) over the month, they bonded over patients and procedures. We parted our ways, however one month later he called me and we met up for dinner and bonded over common hobbies and similar upbringing. I knew he was the one when after his long shifts he would be waiting outside for me at the hospital with a water bottle and box of chocolates. He would listen to me endlessly with a smile on his face.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Dhritiman dropped to one knee and asked Ashima "the question" in front of the restaurant, where they first established their relationship.Leading upto that special moment, Dhritiman was both excited and nervous ( for once he had planned something in life). Ashima was all tears (partly due to cold weather) because at that moment she knew she had met her real life "Shahrukh Khan". The two of them had a wonderful night sharing the start of their new chapter together with family and friends.
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.
Wedding planning was fun, but stressful to say the least. We initially had planned our wedding for 2020 but due to the pandemic we pushed it to the summer of 2021. Right off the back, we went with UtsavPlanners for our decor/wedding planner because we had hearing amazing things about them. After our wedding was pushed, we worked with them to reschedule all our vendors for the following year. Throughout the year, planning gradually unfolded as we selected our hair, makeup and venue. The biggest challenge we had was restrictions with the pandemic including constant changes in guest count. At times we were frustrated and thought our wedding would not be possible but wit the constant support from family and each other we kept our heads up.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I bought my bridal lengha from India via online shopping. With the ongoing pandemic and minimal flights to/from India, my desire to go to India and pick out a dress was not possible. I knew I wanted a maroon dress and I was able to pick a beautiful dress from raj gharana. Their team was wonderful in helping me through this process via photos/facetime from India. For my reception, I knew I wanted a blue lenghaa. I travelled to New Jersey and fell in love with the lengha at Nazraana. I came back to Michigan and customized my lengha via facetime. I was able to pick out the design and color. The process took about 6 months, but I fell in love with the dress once I saw the outcome.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was seeing the months of planning come alive in front of your eyes. As a couple we set out telling ourselves "we want to plan a wedding" but we had no idea what was in store for us. As we checked off one task, we would soon find ourselves surrounded with more tasks ahead. Through this process, we enjoyed learning more about each other as a couple and our family and friends. We also enjoyed communicating with various vendors and learning how they played a role in making our dream day come true.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests loved the sincerity that was put into the wedding day. When planning, we wanted to make sure every guest was taken care of and that they had all the necessities including having a extra water bottle in their guest bag to having a snack while watching our ceremony. We wanted to show our loved ones the love we had was special, therefore every detail we put into the wedding was a reflection of our love. We waited to have our special day and were so happy family and friends could make it.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I have two special moments that replay in my mind. One was walking down the aisle and looking at the family and friends who traveled during a pandemic to be with me. At that moment, I also realized it is not easy to find the one you are meant to be with. Sometimes it takes more than one person to find the person you are meant to be with. I had tears in my eyes walking down the aisle knowing I was going to be with my "one" forever. Another moment was when I was getting ready from wedding ceremony to reception. My mother has dementia and I had limited support from her. My bridesmaids came together and helped me like no other. They all played a part from holding my dress in the bathroom to fixing my broken jewelry to feeding me. That is the moment I realized the importance of friendship.
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 enjoyed all our events but especially loved our sangeet and our thanks goes out to UtsavPlanners who made our vision come true. We loved the bright colors and the festive look. Our theme was blue and fuscia pink The event was a big success with fun filled dances and a variety of food. My favorite dance was a melody of shahrukh khan dances portraying Dhritiman and my love story. My cousins spent 3 months planning this dance and it definitely brought out tears, laughter and smiles. During our reception, we had people sit at different tables listed with various Michigan cities Dhritiman and I had traveled. We included chocolate cherries and fudge for favors. This was special as Michigan was the birth of our love.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I know wedding planning is stressful and at times it seems like there it is never ending, but remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel: your wedding day. There will be obstacles. Approach those obstacles with a smile. Things may go wrong on your wedding day and that is okay! No one will know if something goes wrong except for you. The guests will be enjoying themselves because you have put together a wonderful event. Don't forget to relax the week of your weekend. Lastly, don't forget to look around and take it all in, it goes by in a blink but the memories last forever.
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 working with each and every one of our vendors and would not have had it any other way. If you are a covid bride, we understand what you are going through, keep your head up. Your special day is around the corner, big or small it is your day to celebrate!
That is all for this week, darlings! See you on Monday for more.
