Welcome to Maharani Weddings

This long-distance couple, Nashville to New York, is what great teams are made of. Seamlessly navigating the pandemic, Soha and Sandeep, sat down to nightly wedding meetings to go over lists upon lists. They tackled planning this wedding in only 8 short weeks, and learned together they are ready for anything life throws their way.

The iconic Breaker Hotel set the stage for the glorious event. Their Mehndi and Sangeet were smaller-scale events at the bride's home. The ceremony was bursting with color. Bold flowers, the Breakers magically ocean setting, and a mandap dripping with flowers was the perfect setting to exchange vows. But, when it came to the reception they wanted a different feel. The Breakers' historical setting of old-world romance inspired the couple to choose pastel-colored flowers, lighted candles and created an elegance not only in the decor but in the aurora of the celebration as well.

Personal touches were added everywhere. Shawls, coordinated masks, and hand sanitizer were individually passed out at the outside wedding ceremony. While the reception was filled with details like table names originating from places they had traveled to and a live stream for 200 of their closest family and friends who were unable to attend due to COVID-19 pandemic and attended virtually.

A true Maharani bride, Soha asked Designs by Andrea to press her bouquet in order to ensure its preservation.

“Ultimately, the day is about you and your partner. No one will ever know if there was a flower missing or if the timing of the music was off during your first dance. Your loved ones are there for you both, and you both only.”

Congratulations Soha & Sandeep!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met the old-fashioned way - virtually. After 1.5 years of a long-distance relationship (New York - Nashville), everyone's world changed forever with COVID-19 in early 2020. We were fortunate enough to be together and quarantine during a global pandemic while living in Nashville, Tennessee.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The best part of the planning process was doing it with my then fiancé, Sandeep. Incredibly, as a team, we were able to plan our entire Wedding together in less than 8 weeks during a global pandemic. Every evening, we had "meetings" to go over all the "to-do's." I knew that if we worked this well together as a team to plan such an important event in our lives, we could tackle any and all challenges in our lives.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests constantly told us how personal the Wedding felt for each of them. They were greeted with personalized name plates at their individualized table seating. At the reception, we walked around to each table and individually introduced each guest and our relationship to each person.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The most special moment for me was walking down the aisle. Having my parents with me as I looked out into the crowd of the most important people in our lives - there are no words to describe how thankful I was to have such an incredible group of loved ones. Then approaching my soon-to-be husband was one of the best moments of my life.

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.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to keep our events small and personal. We held the mehndi at my parent's house with a few family members and friends. What would have been our Sangeet was an Indian dinner (also at my parent's house) for our guests the night before the Wedding. We wanted our reception to have a "romantic" feel to it with many pastel colored flowers (different from our Wedding which had very bright and bold flowers), lighted candles, and overall elegance. We held it in the Gold Room at The Breakers which just further enhanced our vision. Our first dance was to "Love Me Like You Do" by Boyce Avenue. Each guest was assigned a seat and greeted with a personalized name plate. The first course arrived on an "S&S" ice sculpture. The last course was a personalized ice cream sundae accompanied by confetti and champagne wedding cake. We also had special entertainment in the form of an electric violinist, which further enhanced the great music that was playing.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
"Don't sweat the small stuff." Ultimately, the day is about you and your partner. No one will ever know if there was a flower missing or if the timing of the music was off during your first dance. Your loved ones are there for you both, and you both only.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Other information:
- Livestream was provided to many of our closest family and friends who were unable to attend due to COVID-19 pandemic. Over 200 virtual guests "attended" the wedding and reception.
- Shawls, personalized masks, and hand sanitizer were individually passed out at the outside wedding ceremony. Mango lassi was served upon entry to the wedding ceremony.
- Please see program and reception menu cards for specific details
- Reception table names originated from places we traveled to
- Designs by Andrea - After the wedding, I pressed my bouquet in order to ensure its preservation.

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Happy Friday, ladies! I hope you are ready to dive into a new love story because today's feature will take your breath away. So wait no more and get ready to enjoy this cornucopia of beauty and flair! When Shivani and Ajeet both swiped right, sparks began to fly! After countless dinners, travels, and laughter, a surprise proposal in a Sea Plane, over the Golden Gate Bridge led to a magical “I do.” The Covid pandemic hit this wedding hard, numerous reschedulings, starting and stopping the planning process, and finally, as they approached the groom’s parent’s 40th wedding anniversary the bride suggested having their traditional ceremony on the same day. What a good daughter-in-law!  Vegas was a middle ground for the families and friends attending from both CA and CO. And the sweetest twist? They legalized their wedding at the local courthouse in Marin, the day of the bride’s parents' wedding anniversary. Blessed with love, the couple married at the Las Vegas Sikh temple and ISKCON center. From dawn to dusk this couple enjoyed every moment of their wedding day. From the fashionable ensembles from Kundans Bridal Couture to the exquisite makeup by M-Sutra Bride, down to the jaw-dropping shots captured by Lux Wedding Studios, everything was a dream day come true. But don't take my word! Browse through this spectacular gallery and see it by yourself. It is amazing!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We both swiped right! We met online- through Match.com
Within a few days of connecting, he called me and within a week thereafter, he visited me from Denver, CO. I was hesitant to pursue a long distance relationship. I relayed this to him during one of our first conversations but that didn't deter him from coming out to meet me. He swooped me and here we are. After 4 years of long distance courtship I must have been persuasive enough for him to eventually move to CA.
During all those  years, I don't think there was only one moment. There were various occasions and instances that kept bringing us closer and solidifying our love for each other. On our first date as we had dinner in Downtown Sacramento, he had toasted - "cheers to our last - first date" and boy he was right! Since then, and many travel adventures together, ups and downs later I knew he was the one for me!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
This was the perfect, most thoughtful and surprise proposal to my awe. About a month before he had the date planned, he informed me that one of his close friends from back home (Denver, CO) who has a passion for photography was going to be visiting us in the bay area and he had offered to take some pictures of us. My husband planned for the 3 of us to go on a Sea Plane ride (out of Sausalito) to tour over the bay area. While we were in the air, flying over The Golden Gate Bridge, Ajeet popped the big question. My immediate response was- yes yes yes! After we landed back and as we exited the sea plane I saw both my brother and brother-in-law running towards us with excitement, champagne and roses that Ajeet had previously planned with them. We then took some pictures at the Lover's Lane, Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco as the Fleet Week planes flew by on that beautiful sunny day. Ajeet even brought us our rival football Jerseys of our team quarterbacks to take some fun pictures. In the evening there was another surprise awaiting. He had planned a dinner with our parents, siblings and our closest family members. This all happened on my birthday eve. This has been my favorite surprises of all time.

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.
There were a lot of twists and turns with our wedding planning.
As almost all our wedded friends advised- we started with the dates and venues to get the ball rolling. After the 2 most important things were squared away, I began my search into the outfits, hair make up and henna while my husband started with the photography, decor, food and cake vendors. Of course after we had all these arranged, the COVID pandemic hit us....hard. As we continued to postpone and limit the guest count according to the allowed attendees at a gathering, often, we felt a lot of hard work we accomplished together was wasted but looking back at how beautiful everything turned out I am glad I had him by my side to make all wedding planning stress manageable.
We started over many times. At last, as we approached my in law's 40th wedding anniversary, I suggested to have our traditional religious wedding ceremonies on the same date as them. With about 2 weeks left to begin the process for our intimate destination wedding in Las Vegas, NV, non stop phone calls and emails began yet again, as we scrambled through finding new venues and vendors. Vegas was a middle ground for the families and friends attending from both CA and CO. The sweetest twist- we legalized our wedding at the local court house in Marin, the day of my parents' wedding anniversary.
All our vendors we had contracted except my previously contracted make up and hair artist- Neetu Josh were understanding of our multiple postponed dates. After receiving a deposit of about $1000 from us, she was not willing to acknowledge that the COVID 19 pandemic was not any individual's fault. She decided not to refund this to us despite knowing the current circumstances caused by the pandemic. However, I feel lucky that Mitasha was very accommodating and available for my big day.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Wedding dress shopping has to be my favorite experience from it all.
As a little girl, I used to look through my parents’ wedding album, sometimes even wore my mother’s wedding sari and jewelery on to feel like a bride myself. From those childhood days- I knew I wanted to wear the traditional red color.
Pre-pandemic, I went to Delhi where my maternal uncle and his family were at the time. My cousin- Pooja Sharma, a Fashion Stylist guided me with all my outfits as well as my husband's matching wedding look. She understood my vision and helped me create my dream bridal lengha with one of the shops in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Trying on various different bridal outfits and jewelry while spending quality time with my cousins, uncle and aunt in India were my most enjoyable days leading up to the wedding. The moment I tried on the first lengha is when it really struck me- that it was happening. I was about to be wedded. So many emotions, laughter, tears of happiness and purely joyous moments I shared with my doting family members I still hold so dearly in my heart. They were not able to come to the US and attend my wedding due to the pandemic but those 10 days spent with them are the sweetest memories of my wedding planning process.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We wanted our closest family and friends present to come bless us, but most crucial, was everyone's health and safety, including those of our vendors.
We ensured that our families and best friends who attended felt comfortable and safe being there for us in the midst of the pandemic. Hence, we chose Las Vegas. Keeping everyone’s safety in mind, we requested all our guests to drive after having quarantined for 2 weeks, instead of taking a flight as the vaccines had not rolled out at that time. This eased everyone's anxiety and fear. Other than everyone's health and safety- there was nothing more important for my husband and I as we celebrated our day.
Those that weren’t able to be physically be present, attended it virtually through zoom.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The entire day that began with waking up at 4am to get ready to our cake cutting ceremony at 9pm, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of that day.
As a young girl, whenever it rained, I would often a make a wish that it would rain the day of my wedding also. Careful what you wish for- not only were there showers that afternoon but there was also a rainbow as we were getting ready to begin the Hindu ceremony. It was like a dream come true, which constantly replays in my mind as one of my fondest memories of that day!

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.
Our wedding photography turned out to be amazing! All the pre wedding, ceremonies and the Vegas strip pictures are exquisite. As we walked the grand halls of The Caesar's Palace and The Venetian especially, striking poses in our traditional dulha-dulhan attire we felt as if we were the Maharaja-Maharani in some magnificent palace. Those visiting and passing by asked if we were the King and Queen from a different country or if I was a princess visiting from some far away land. Many even wanted to snap pictures with us, complimenting how elegant we appeared. Those were also some very special moments that my husband and I often reminisce. We walked holding hand in hand, laughed, danced and were just in each other's presence as Vishal made us take some of the most gorgous pictures we have together.
How appropriate that our wedding is also being featured in "Maharani" because i sure did feel that way then also.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Do not sweat the small stuff! I know many of us brides worry and get consumed with the smallest of details but the big picture is what matters, I promise! Focus on yourself and enjoy every moment you can that day with your partner. It's  your day- so make it special and memorable for both yourself and your partner! Leaning on my husband throughout this process made everything better and I would advise the same. If you as a couple can survive wedding planning, especially during COVID, that’s a testament to your marriage!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I love everything about that day and especially appreciated how intricate my henna was. Big shout out and thank you to Minal! I had so many designs in mind but the "Shehnai" themed henna she recommended and patiently drew, perfectly matched my "baraat and doli" themed bridal lehnga.

That is all for today, darlings. See you on Monday for a new love story!

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Maharanis! Don't miss Katherine & Sahil's fusion wedding in our Platinum Guide Blog. You'll love it!

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Hello ladies! Bhavna & Siddarth's wedding is now live in today's Platinum Guide Blog. You'll love it!

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Happy Monday, my beloved Maharanis. A brand new week starts today, and you know what? The love Shabina & Ryan has for each other is here to brighten your day! Let me ask you, how impressive would it be to get a proposal after slow dancing in the middle of Times Square? Yes, you've guessed it right, that is precisely how our lovely couple decided to say "I do" to a new beginning as one heart and soul. To make every guest feel special, they decided to host a beautiful reception at Neha Palace. Thanks to the magnificent wedding planning by AMP Royal Rental and the magical décor put together by  Mays Events; the reception turned out to be a real fairytale. The newlyweds wanted to share a special treat with their guests, and an enjoyable way to go was a photo booth, and F&M Photobooth is the best team to call. I know everyone loved this surprise! Our couple met through music, and it has always been an integral part of their relationship, so to celebrate their love, DJ Dynamik made everyone dance on the floor all night long. My dear Maharanis, the fashion part of this entry has come! Our gorgeous Shabina looked phenomenal, thanks to the exclusive designs by Rehana's Exclusive Design Inc, Lotus Bazaar, and RetroCraze Salon & Spa. Every dress made her look like the perfect Maharani she is. In addition to her natural beauty, the elegant jewelry by Kirni Designs and R-Chie Creations made Shabina glow. I adore her! An exceptional detail that caught everyone's attention was the mesmerizing Mehndi art Henna by Inder did. My dears, I have one last question for you. What is better than one photographer? Two photographers. J'adore Love Photography teamed up with NiL Photography to make this celebration of love a memory worth reliving through the most dedicated captures. Please don't wait any longer, and check out the gallery we have put together to get you inspired with emotional and incredible moments. You will love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Ryan and I were apart of a music group that sang at religious functions. I had just joined the group and throughout the entire summer they all joked that I had to meet Ryan because we would be perfect for one another. We were at the pooja and he happened to be free that weekend and decided to come join us. He walked in and we made eye contact and he smiled at me. From the moment I saw him I loved his smile. There was such warmth around him when he was smiling and being with him was a place of comfort. He asked for another group member's number and then he asked for mine. I was new to the group so I gave him my number without thinking twice about it so that we have can have it for future events. According to him, that was his trick to get my number. At the time we were both in college and we were on different paths trying to accomplish our goals. We decided to just stay friends and we went about our lives focusing on our goals. About two years later one of the group members got married and we saw one another again at the wedding. I was a bridesmaid and he was the DJ. As I was walking out of the limo he said he saw me and was speechless and couldn’t catch his breath. At that moment he decided that this was the time and he wasn’t going to let go of me again. That connection was instantaneous again and the timing was finally right for both of us! There were multiple moments throughout our relationship that I knew he was the one for me. How he interacted with my family and treated them like his own was a key factor. It was early on in our relationship when I got into nursing school and had to move to another state. He supported me from the beginning and throughout the many nights of tears and stress from school. I knew this was someone that I would grow with and will have his support. 

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
In April of 2020 I came home for spring break from nursing school and that was when the world changed not only for Ryan and I but everyone around us. Ryan planned to propose to me for spring break but due to COVID everything changed. We were on a lockdown in NY and his original plans for the proposal got cancelled. He didn't want to give up on proposing and came up with an impromptu proposal. He told me to get dressed and along with my brother we went to Times Square. It was where we had our first date. The city was at a standstill and there was almost no one on the street that we're used to seeing busy with activity. We met through music, and it has always been an integral part of our relationship. He played our favorite song from Arijit Singh through his car speakers, and we slow danced in the middle of Times Square. After the song finished, he got on one knee and proposed to me. After I said yes, the few cars that were on the street stated honking and cheering for us. It was a surreal moment for the both of us. It was a happy moment because we were moving on in our lives but there was also some hesitance because we didn't know how much the world was going to change around us. For the next year the world was in chaos to say the least and being in the medical field we both saw the carnage of COVID and how fleeting life was. We decided that we wanted to get married in June 2021.

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.
As many couples have experienced planning a wedding is stressful but planning during COVID was a whole different ballgame. There was so much uncertainty with navigating dates, vendors, COVID restrictions, international travel lockdowns etc. I started a new job and was working 12-hour night shifts while Ryan worked 14-hour day shifts! It was a lucky day if we were able to have 20 minutes to discuss wedding planning. He took the responsibility of planning the reception and I took care of the hindu wedding and all of the pre-ceremonies. When we were finally able to talk, we would lay out the options and select the things we both wanted. With the help of our amazing vendors and family members we were able to successfully plan our wedding. They accommodated both of our crazy schedules and the random hours of the day/night I would message them. Our vendors never hesitated to respond to our questions and gave us ideas on how to better organize ourselves.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guest loved the photobooth that was at our wedding. They loved that they could have their own souvenir from that day. After a year of being locked away and not being able to see one another in person, they loved that we were able to bring everyone together and to celebrate our wedding. Everyone savored the moment even more because we all knew what it left like not being able to spend time with family and the fun we had when we were together.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Ryan coordinated the music and made the program for our wedding. He knew which song and what particular point our bridal party, family etc were coming in. After what seemed liked forever, the song played for my entrance and he said "finally" my wife is coming. His smile was what I first noticed about him and as I was walking down the aisle he was beaming from ear to ear with that smile. Sitting down in the mandap and holding each others hand, we both could not stop smiling at one another because we both knew this was where we were meant to be.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Our advise would be to just enjoy and be present in the moment as it's happening. You spend so much time planning and going over every detail to make the day perfect but sometimes it doesn't go as planned. There is going unexpected situations that pop up and there are going to be things that may not have been done the exact way you envisioned. But that doesn't mean that you should get caught up making it perfect and miss out on what's going on right in front of you. Your family and friends are there to celebrate with you and they want to enjoy the moments together. It takes so long to plan but before you know it your ceremony just flies by like a blur. Soak up as much of it as possible because before you know it'll just be a memory. 

My beloved Maharanis, come back tomorrow for a new adorable love story.