If like us, you have never seen a fairytale in real life, that is about to change with Ahalia and Aaron’s Nikkah and reception. It involved a ton of scrutiny and careful planning because the Nikkah was immediately followed by the reception, which meant no time to change outfits, decor, hair and makeup. Amy Devan of Naveda Couture outshone here because Ahalia wanted to keep the party time at a maximum. She wanted a regal, elegant, feminine, and flexible outfit, modest to suit the Nikkah and easy to convert into bridal-party-wear. So Naveda Couture’s brilliant custom-made solution was a blush three-piece ensemble that looked like a beaded maxi during the Nikkah, and a crop-top lengha set during the reception. Aaron donned a spiffy tuxedo that he accessorized with a matching blush pink scarf for the Nikkah and pocket square for the soiree. The ballroom at The Swan Club looked like a luxury cruise dinner setup in the peach, beige, and white drapes, thanks to the punditry of Elegant Floral Design. “A blush, navy, gold, and multi-metallic bridal party…a mix of masculine and feminine colors,” is how Ahalia describes the reception decor. The tablescapes featured a small bouquet of pastel florals as the centerpieces, some champagne and rose gold accents, surrounded by Chiavari chairs. A ton of personalized elements were featured on the display tables alongside guest books, and a to-go station for traveling guests. MaxPhoto NY captured the myriad details excellently, both on film and through photos, while DJ SpeedE had the guests glued to the dance floor after the couple’s dance performances to hits like Cheap Thrills, I Won’t Give Up, Just The Way You Are to name a few. Super chic and elegant reception that you shouldn’t miss a single photo of - head to the gallery for the rest of them!
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Finally, as promised, we bring to you the story of how this couple met through their very own which you can visit here, and lots more from our quick chat with the bride:
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
My favorite part about planning our AhAaWedding Weekend, was listening to our religious leaders hear us out and sagely advise us, watching our families come together to celebrate occasions and discuss wedding wishes and woes; shopping with the moms; registry list-making; countless night's out with our friends all empathizing and sharing their own wedding-secret-sauce with us at this time; seeing our sisters (Sharon, Nadia & Sarah) cousins and friends chip in on the festivities leading up to the wedding and throughout the weekend; having a phenomenal wedding planner was a huge life-style saver, too. With Aaron and I both being career-oriented, community involved and a long list of movies, games and events, we didn't want to lose a full year of our own goals by being bogged down in homework and worry over our wedding. We enlisted the wedding team that expertly executed my sister's wedding in 2007, Platinum Wedding Celebrations.
What did your guest particularly love about your Wedding?
When I imagined our Hindu ceremony, I envisioned a reboot of my older sister's wedding lengha with a solid red top and mermaid-flared bottom. After looking at two vendors, I confirmed that I didn't want to look farther than home. My Aunty Mini, who is an expert seamstress in the City, took on this challenge and she put every ounce of her being into ensuring each seam was perfect and color the right-type of red for this Hindu bride. Working with her, it was incredible as she poured over each decision on the coolest type of silk for a hot summer day, and a flattering but modern cut that had enough bling for her satisfaction; meeting with her to pick the trimmings of my top, made this heirloom outfit even more special to me.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Post Hindu ceremony, at our Sangeet, our closest friends and family took to the stage and performed their versions of "How to Pick up Gyal" the filming where Aaron and I met for the first time, by our Flat Tire Productions friends; the super-hero version of conquering love and having Aaron's novel published by our Penn State friends; a custom-written reggae fused hip-hop performance by our friend Ahmen; a video spoof of the hit song "Champion" on how Ahalia fell in love with Aaron by our Chir-Kali cousins; and lastly an ode to young love by our cute nieces who put all of their energies into ensuring our wedding carried their vibe, smiles and blessings. While we thought we were surprising our guest with a super-secret-sangeet-performance, little did we know they had something else up their sleeves. Our Sangeet Stage Manager, Alisha, was covertly coordinating a story-telling Soca-FlashMob! It was an idea spawned and executed by our Sari Sisters: Soham, Swati, Charlene, Bibi, Sally, Aruna, Ariana, Annie, Sioux and Kurta Brothers: Feroze, Moe, Delvin, Hayden, Eric, Farhan, Abdel, Francisco, Dinesh, Travis, Ravi, Chris - we love you all! The video was recorded and mailed to the masses, where (we later discovered) they held practices up to the day of our reception on the lawns, behind the scenes, and only our wedding planner knew.
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 dance teacher and family-friend, Preeti helped us create a 5 minute medley of various songs for our first dance.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
You'll "get by, with a little help from your friends" and family!
Multi-faith weddings are a world of their own, but with mindful planning and patience, they can be as brilliant as Ahalia and Aaron’s! Come back tomorrow for more inspiration from spectacular and unique weddings!
