Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Ladies, a spectacular celebration is about to unfold! Get ready to behold the beauty of Shivani and Kishen's wedding celebrations. The couple reached out to Chandai Events to plan, design, and coordinate their wedding spree. They executed the perfect wedding weekend and weaved traditions and luxe elements for every function. The bride closest female friends and family members kickstarted the celebrations with a lovely Mehndi ceremony and a welcome party/Sangeet at the Holiday Inn Cleveland South Independence that included delicious dishes for a Mexican-inspired feast was the following festivity on the nuptial schedule! The ceremony took place at The Old Courthouse-Cleveland. Party Decor decked this historic spot with bright details and an abundance of orchid florals. Shivani's wedding look: a pastel pink color lehnga choli delicately embroidered with floral motifs. She accessorized her trousseau with an adorable petite bouquet. So cute! Kishen chose to wear a white Sherwani and elevated the look with a light cyan turban and scarf. After exchanging vows in the most extraordinary drape backdrop, The Old Courthouse-Cleveland was transformed into an enchanted castle the following day! The overall atmosphere was for a magical vibe amidst a navy blue theme night. Just beautiful! Allure DJs provided the incredible GOBO (Go-Between Optics) lighting that provided an elegant glow to the space and set the dance floor on fire with the best music as night fell. Maharani Shivani and Raja Kishen looked superb in this function, wearing elegant coordinated blue shades for picture-perfect wedding shots! Please scroll down and click on our full gallery to get more inspiration from this multi-day affair!

Are you looking for some wedding inspiration? We've got you covered.
Every day we feature the most exciting details of unique real Indian weddings. See you, tomorrow, Maharanis!

Chandai Events is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Chandai Events VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

Vineetha and Kanye's wedding wasn't just a beautiful reflection of their rich culture. It was an grandiose elegant soiree with a touch of glamour. Don't miss it in today in our Platinum Guide Blog!

Marigold Wedding Planners and Sugar Events & Entertainment are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Marigold Wedding Planners VIEW PORTFOLIO

Sugar Events & Entertainment VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

A scavenger hunt to all of this couple’s most memorable places lead to a proposal at their favorite local hiking trail, the Giant Stairs at Palisades Park. From there the couple set their sights on a magical wedding in Portugal in 2020, but like many couples, COVID-19 derailed their plans. Led by the trustworthy team of Shaadi Destinations, the couple settled on the Dominican Republic.

Turning a dream into a reality wedding in 60 days is no small fete. This decisive couple made decisions and made them fast. The mandap took center stage to capture an airy, casual island vibe. Rattan chandeliers, white gauze and fresh florals came together to set the mood. The bride donned a gorgeous Anita Dongre's bridal lengha with a touch sparkle and detailed embroidery, and was happy to have all the decisions done! Warm beaches, fabulous food and one killer party was the best way to celebrate surrounded by friends and family who had been apart for so long.

“My aunts family unfortunately couldn't attend the wedding due to UK travel restrictions. She took up learning the piano a few years ago and had learned a song that she was going to surprise us with at our original wedding. She instead facetimed me on the morning of our wedding day and played it for me. It was a profound feeling knowing that someone could be so far and still create such a special moment. Terrible for my make up, but it's a moment I will never forget.”

Congratulations Aekta & Samir!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We got engaged in Nov 2018. He planned a scavenger hunt at all of our most memorable places. My closest friends and family were waiting at each place to deliver the next clue. He proposed at our favorite local hiking trail, the Giant Stairs at Palisades Park.

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.
Our original wedding was supposed to be in Portugal in June 2020. Unfortunately, due to coivd, like many other couples, we had to pivot from our original plan. We actually weren't motivated to do a wedding after that process but my mom insisted and started a lot of the initial search process again on our behalf. She reached out to Shaadi Destinations since we always wanted a destination wedding and there was really only 2 hotel options for us, Hyatt was one. We starting planning the wedding planning in March and got married in May. It was hectic to find all new vendors but every single one of them were so amazing and reassured us every step of the way. We were blessed with an incredible team.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always wanted something with more embroidery and a little sparkle. Anita Dongre's bridal lenghas seemed like the perfect blend of both. I walked in, saw 3 that I loved and the one I wore seemed like the right one for our style!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
We planned a wedding it 2ish months and had to find all new vendors, a new location and work through a new guest list. So the most enjoyable part for us was when it was over!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
It was the first time since covid that my whole family and all our friends had seen each other in person so to be quite honest, they loved that they could spend 3 days laying around the pool/beach and 3 nights partying together.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
My aunts family unfortunately couldn't attend the wedding due to UK travel restrictions. She took up learning the piano a few years ago and had learned a song that she was going to surprise us with at our original wedding. She instead facetimed me on the morning of our wedding day and played it for me. It was a profound feeling knowing that someone could be so far and still create such a special moment. Terrible for my make up, but its a moment I will never forget.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Its a crazy emotional roller coaster experience but it goes by in a blink of an eye. Enjoy every moment!

Shaadi Destinations and Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Shaadi Destinations VIEW PORTFOLIO

Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

The age old advice of “maybe you will meet someone at the wedding” paid off for these two, when sparks flew and it is still unclear who initially approached whom. Akshay had grand plans for his proposal to Naomi, but after a few details went by the wayside, the classic combination of a knee, a beach and a ring once again worked it’s magic.

Fortunate enough to make a trip to Bombay before COVID was everywhere, Naomi had her eye on a one of a kind look. Her personal style is more reflective of neutrals & dark colors so the idea of wearing traditional bright bridal colors didn’t feel natural to her. After mapping out stores and revisiting places with lenghas that really made her heart sing, she went with a piece that made her find her bridal magic. Her outfits became the cornerstone of the event decor and all the designs went around them.

The bride always had her heart set on an outdoor ceremony. A fall wedding in New York didn’t make it possible so the team of designers brought the outdoors, indoors for an ultra dramatic look. A few larger trees came together to create the central canopy, and were flanked by dozens of branches, greenery, and loads of cream and white mixed flowers. Soft lighting created the ambiance and everyone was blown away by the transformation of the ballroom.

"When you think about your wedding, you won't want to look back and remember all the moments of stress - you will want to think about the moments of love and celebration"

Congratulations Naomi and Akshay!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I did my wedding shopping in Bombay and was fortunate to get to make a trip before COVID cases got scary there. I had been following a number of designers on Instagram and had some sense of what I liked from when we shopped for my sister's wedding and from seeing multiple friends & cousins' weddings. The one thing I knew for sure was that I didn't want to wear red for my wedding day, and I wouldn't be caught dead in pink anything. In general my style is more natural or dark colors and rarely any bright colors. So my mom and I mapped out and visited multiple stores the first few days of our trip just to get a sense of what the options were in style, cost, quality, etc. Then we went back to places that really caught our eye or stuck out. Obviously, we did a lot of trials and in the end I went with my gut -- what felt great on my skin, what made me feel like a bride, where did I feel the magic, and what felt like me.
I picked my outfits before almost any other detail of our wedding. Then we based a lot of the themes and colors of events around that :)

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The wedding ceremony decor really stood out to people. I very much wanted to get married outside, using nature as our backdrop. That didn't end up being possible given the year and constraints we had, so all my direction to our decorators were about how we can bring the outside inside. I had a tree-based mandap concept in mind and they really brought it to life in the most memorable way. I, and our guests, were blown away with the stunning transformation of the whole ceremony room. I think it was also something so different that what people were expecting or had ever seen before -- especially at an Indian wedding -- but it was so fitting for me, because nothing about our wedding was uber-traditional :)

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Do what you need to make sure you can be present for day(s)-of. Protect your emotional wellbeing and surround yourself with joy. You won't want to look back and remember all the moments of stress and not the moments of love and celebration.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I enjoy mehndi, but I've definitely had mehndi put on that was not great or to my taste. So for my own wedding, when I'd have the most mehndi on and would have to look at it for weeks, I was very selective. I hate tips and thick designs, I didn't want lots of imagery, but loved intricate/delicate jali work, etc. I value the artistry that comes with mehndi and wanted to find someone who treated it as such as well.
I found my mehndi artist on Instagram through another friend and ended up flying her out to NY from LA for my bridal mehndi :) It was a bit extravagant but totally worth it.

Studio Nine Photography + Cinema is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Studio Nine Photography + Cinema VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

Happy Monday, Maharanis! I hope you are ready to enjoy a new entry! Nishi & Tapan are the protagonists of this new story full of romance, magical moments. The wedding event took place at The Legacy Castle, where everyone is committed to providing the brides with a storybook setting to plan the wedding of their dreams! Karma Events harnesses the power of emotion to make your most important day less stressful and more stunning. That is why they delighted the newlyweds with their excellent work. Kudos to this team! Maharanis, as you know, having a flowery touch is always the most lovely way to create a delicate ambiance. If you want to make sure the love for texture, color, and composition is present in your wedding event, you should contact Partyland Sajawat. They are experts in reflecting the romantic, bold, and fun-loving modern style. You can have a beautiful reference of the sweet decor they did for Nishi and Tapan's wedding! Darlings, every detail was flawless, not to mention the fantastic entertainment provided by DJ Sunny Entertainment. Ladies, you should never forget to treat your guests to delectable cuisine. Moghul Caterers has a professional team of chefs who guarantee the exceptional quality and service you deserve on your wedding day. Maharanis, the fashion moment of the entry has come! So, get your pen and paper ready so you can write down the names of the teams who pampered Nishi & Tapan. Let's begin with Neha Memon, the Mehndi artist who elaborated the most fantastic henna design that everyone loved! I also want to celebrate the fabulous fashion designs Anita Dongre, and Christian Louboutin offer! Nishi & Tapan chose the most classy outfits for their glamorous reception. Our Maharani wore a stunning traditional yet radiant lehnga by Krésha Bajaj, while the dashing groom wore a classic Joseph Abboud's suit. They couldn't take their eyes off each other! A film and a set of pictures are the perfect way to relive the most tender moments of your big day. And thankfully, House of Talent Studio was present to immortalize the most memorable moments. So, don't miss today's gallery. You'll love every picture!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Tapan and I had made a pact to travel as much as we could while in residency to make up for lost time in medical school. He booked a trip to Paris and informed me the day we landed that we had reservations at an upscale restaurant with a formal dress code. We woke up late so naturally, we rushed out of our hotel as I thoroughly embraced my caffeine withdrawal headache. He asked our cab driver to drop us off at the Bir-Hakeim bridge with the Eiffel Tower in the background. He insisted we take pictures under the "Inception movie bridge" and assured we would still make it to our lunch in time. He handed our jackets and my purse to a couple who was passing by and asked them to take a picture of us. I was too distracted by this gesture, wondering why my purse was with a stranger to notice he had already knelt down on one knee. The couple i.e. the professional photographers managed to capture my confusion and surprise oh so well.

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 initially started to plan the wedding in the Summer of 2019 when we went to Mumbai. We started with what I enjoyed the most...shopping for our wedding attire, of course. The wedding was set to occur in May 2020 in an outdoors setting hence we wanted light colors with intricate floral designs/embroidery for the AM ceremony. For the reception, we wanted an ode to the roaring '20s and went for a Gatsby vibe, with more elegant geometric patterns. Our vendors were finalized quite early on, but unfortunately, we had to make numerous changes due to rescheduling the event twice over in the era of Covid.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
After walking through multiple boutiques and showrooms, I came across my ideal wedding outfit at the Anita Dongre store in Mumbai. I presented my vision to them and they graciously agreed to customize the color scheme, down to the thread work for my lengha. The ivory lengha with accents of green and blush foliage was perfect for our theme when paired with the blush pink blouse. We stumbled upon Krésha Bajaj's showroom on a whim searching for the Gatsby-Esque gown I had envisioned. Krésha Bajaj's ivory lengha was the perfect fit with its elegant yet intricate design; which paired perfectly with Tapan's white Tux. The look was complete with the final magical touch by my amazing MUA.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The wedding planning process was quite stressful as we were both in residency in different states working very different schedules during the pandemic. The one silver lining was this process allowed us to work diligently together (although virtually) and share a "normal" task in what seemed like a chaotic, abnormal, and unpredictable time.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The ability to celebrate together after social gatherings with loved ones had gone on a hiatus. Although the ceremony was more intimate than originally planned, everyone fully enjoyed the entertainment (notably our amazing DJs), food, and the general ambiance of the Legacy castle. We have beautiful candid pictures which have captured these moments. This was also made possible by our day-of wedding planners who greatly assisted in making the day run seamlessly. The

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Tapan said: The Bridal party (Bridesmen and Bridesmaids) walked out with our portraits displaying the memories over 11 years of dating. There were 11 pictures each corresponding to a respective year/memory which made me very nostalgic. It made me very emotional as I eagerly awaited her entrance.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Oftentimes we forget the big picture while planning the "perfect big fat Indian wedding." It can be stressful and nerve-wracking but at the end of the day, your big day will be filled with invaluable memories. Don't forget to prioritize your mental well-being while you are catering to needs of your loved ones.

My dears, keep coming back for more!

House of Talent Studio and BBZ Limousines and Livery Services are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

House of Talent Studio VIEW PORTFOLIO

BBZ Limousines and Livery Services VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.