Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Hello there, Maharanis! Don't miss Amna & Mujtaba's lovely wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met over super bowl weekend in Houston through mutual friends. I knew he was “the one” after he met my family and saw how much everyone loved him.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
He proposed to me at the Dallas Arboretum in the Secret Garden. I walked in and there were three skylines- each for each city that played a part in our love story- Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Each sky like had a note and as I made my way around there was a violinist playing a special song for each city. At the end he was standing there with a ring in hand.

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 would not have been able to do any of this without my amazing wedding planner Nirali Shah Events. Everything was so seamless and easy. My vendors were easy to work with and made all of our wedding dreams come true!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted something a little different and more whimsical to go with our “Badarfly” theme for the Sangeet. We had our decor tie in to our outfits and it pulled the whole look together beautifully. For the reception I wanted something a little more timeless and soft. The train on my lehnga sold me on the Elan outfit!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I think the food was both of our favorite part of planning! We are both huge foodies and we knew we wanted the dinner both nights to exceed everyone’s expectations!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
After our wedding the thing we heard multiple times from our guests was how fun the dance floor was the whole weekend! We both were having so much fun and the energy was unmatched, everyone quite literally danced the entire night away! Shoutout to our amazing DJ for keeping the vibes on point!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
My brother in law from Ireland surprised me right before I walked in on the Sangeet!! He had been in a long-standing visa application process for months leading up to the wedding. As the day quickly approached I had to accept that he most likely wouldn’t be able to attend, and I had always said I did not want to have my wedding without him there. The night before my Sangeet he received his approval and he quickly booked a flight, flew over 20 hours, and landed just before the event. Somehow my whole family managed to keep this a secret! I replay the moment the door swung open and he walked in over and over in my mind. My heart was so full and so happy! There was some definite ugly crying that took place, but no regrets!

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.
I wanted to keep the Sangeet super whimsical and ethereal. We had lots of flowers and lights and our dance floor looked like a vintage Persian rug, which I absolutely loved!! Our stage was definitely A MOMENT.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Nobody will remember the little things, so don’t sweat it! Concentrate on the overall vibe you want to have and the feeling you want everyone to walk away with.

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Happy Fri-yay, Maharanis! As you know, 2021 has given us the most incredible entries, love has been present on every feature, and today, I am eager to share this year's last love story, Esha & Henil's. This gorgeous couple celebrated their love at a cozy yet elegant venue, Marigold Banquets. This place is the perfect combination between elegance and rustic and modern architecture. Those details, accompanied by the luxurious decor by Tradition and Trends, made this wedding an unforgettable one! We all know every event deserves attention to detail, professionalism, and, most importantly, passion. Events By Srishti have all of these, and our lovebirds couldn't find a better team to plan and design their most important day. The newlyweds were all about pampering their guests! That is why they had Medley Entertainment to make everyone feel their love through music and  Luxe Event Group to make everyone dance all night long. I think both teams did a great job! As you can see, our lovely Maharani, the handsome groom, and their guests had the time of their lives! My dears, it is time to mention how charming the bride looked during her big day. Esha looked phenomenal thanks to the delicate yet beautiful hair and makeup done by Maliha Khan MakeUp and a very detailed Mehndi art by Tejal. Henil couldn't take his eyes off of the love of his life, and we know why! We all can agree they will live happily ever after, and you can see this through the pictures Fine Art Production captured. They did a fantastic job, and we applaud them! Maharanis, check out the gallery we've put together for you! And don't forget that 2022 will bring more romantic love stories! 

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met my Groom through a family friend and we started talking and dating casually. As time passed, we realized that we share the same ideology and the mutual respect for each other was on point. I loved the way he noticed little things that I liked or disliked, and did everything for me without asking. He blended so well with all my family members and took care of me as his princess. I knew he was the one, at the very beginning of our relationship. He used to his Masters in Scranton University, so one day for the first time I went to drop him off at his place. That day he invited me inside and cooked some delicious food (AKA "Poha") after driving him back for 2 hours. On my way back, he stayed on the phone call with me the entire time until I made it back home. That is when I realized that he was the one and that he will always take care of me and keep me happy!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Omee took me to California to visit his family for the first time. It was during that time, he took me to a surprise helicopter ride during sunset in Los Angeles as it was my first time visiting California. It was during that ride, he got on his knees and proposed to me near the HOLLYWOOD sign and I said "YES". Then we landed and celebrated with a bottle of champagne.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Initially, when I imagined getting married, I always wanted to wear a traditional red lengha. When it was turn for me to get married, I went to India and went shopping for my wedding outfit. I tried on many different red lenghas but none of them clicked with me! I went to Kathputli, the store where I bought my lengha looking for a red length however, my eyes landed on a pinkish shade lengha which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it! I tried it on and I knew that this would be my wedding lengha.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
There are many enjoyable parts of the wedding planning process such as creating my own wedding website from scratch, creating the invitations, decorating the house, and etc. The most enjoyable part was, the family gatherings we had starting 2 months before our wedding. We used to meet up every weekend as my dad's and mom's side of the family were preparing a dance for our Sangeet Night. My mom's side family ended up creating a personalized Sanedo based on my and Omee's relationship. The best part was getting together and everyone enjoying the process and making it feel like a nostalgic Indian wedding environment.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
For Brides-to-be, I would say that enjoy the entire process from the time you start planning the wedding to the time you get married. There will be times, that you will get stressed but at the end of the day, it is all worth it! One other advice I would give is to do a BARAAT as a bride too! It is an amazing experience. This is something I ended up doing and I really enjoyed the entire experience with my family. It was fun to experience all the family members from both the bride and groom's side come together and celebrate the Baraat!

Maharanis, we say goodbye to 2021 but we invite you to keep coming for more 2022 love stories!

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Darlings, get ready to enjoy Nandita & Aman's wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog. You'll love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
It was the fall of 2012 and when I was a freshman and Aman a sophomore at Duke. We literally locked eyes for the first time and met on a dance floor at a mixer. But it wasn't until the summer of 2013 when we started spending more time together watching Bollywood movies (Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani), taking summer classes at Duke, and getting to know each other. After a summer filled with endless conversations, sharing our favorite Hindi songs, and nervous laughter, Aman asked me on our first official date with a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a post-it-note with "will you be my girlfriend" attached on top.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Here is a youtube link to our proposal flash mob!

https://youtu.be/nncemfEMA7M

On August 29th, 2019 the two officially had six years of unforgettable memories with each other under their belts. One August afternoon, Nandita was getting ready for what she thought was a family friend's baby shower when the doorbell began ringing. When she came downstairs, she heard music playing at the door and saw her little nephew Neeraj peeking out the front window saying "Aman Uncle outside." When she opened the door, she saw not just Aman but also her Didi, Jijaji, Daddy, Namita, Ritu Aunty and Sanjay Uncle ALL outside. Confused, everyone came inside and started taking family pictures (at this point, Nandita wasn't sure if the proposal had already happened and she missed it, but needless to say there were many more surprises in store). Aman soon handed her an envelope with a clue that led them to a piano at Hotel Zaza where he played and sang "Pehla Nasha" for me. For their entire six year relationship Nandita used to complain that Aman was holding out on her because he would never let her hear him sing or play the piano, he always said "he was waiting for the right time." A few more stops for lunch and "fake-out proposals" during the day they arrived at her sister's house where he said she could change for dinner. However, when she walked inside she realized he was proposing right then and there in the backyard. He had an empty pint of Ben and Jerry's with the ring inside and a post it-note on top asking her to marry him, just like his first ask for her to be his girlfriend. After getting down on one knee, he got up and immediately began what she thought was an awkward "solo" dance to You are my Soniya. Within moments of him starting, suddenly 40 of their closest childhood, college, medical school and family friends rushed in to flash-mob the rest of the song. She has never been more stunned or overwhelmed and was quite literally floored by how much love they are surrounded by with their village!

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.
Pandemic shopping was difficult, growing up I always imagined going to India with my mom and sister to shop for my bridal outfits. Luckily my sister found Meha Bhargava from Styl_Inc in India who runs a personal shopping service. Without her and her team, we wouldn't have been able to get 20 custom bridesmaids sarees, 18 groomsmen outfits, and our entire family outfitted from head to toe along with all of our wedding gifts.

Without a single in person fitting, Meha and her team made sure each of my wedding outfits arrived on time and fit me perfectly. This wedding would not have happened without her!

Our wedding planning experience started in August 2019, a few months before the pandemic hit. After an unexpected hiccup with the first planner we hired we were so so blessed that Hala Snyder (Events by Hala) decided to step back into wedding planning just for our family. She planned my sister's wedding 8 years ago but had since stepped away from wedding planning. She swooped in right before the pandemic and made sure to find us the best vendors in the game. We chose the new venue, Live! By Loewe's in Arlington Texas because we wanted a hotel with a newer feel and a lot of energy -- with the AT&T stadium and an array of restaurants the venue was perfect for our wedding weekend. Jill from Live! By Loewes was also the most amazing point of contact and made sure all of our event details were seamless. Jill and Hala made sure my dream of Aman arriving in on an elephant for the baraat came true. From extensively mapping out the elephant's route to weighing the bridge the elephant would walk over, they planned out every detail! We worked with Alex from Ms Painted Lady for Hair and Makeup and from providing the most flawless makeup for my family and I, to creating hair styles based off of my descriptions alone, to being just a wonderful, hard working and amazing person she and her team made the weekend perfect and got over 20 ladies ready throughout the weekend. We were lucky to work with Prashe for our decor -- she took exactly what I described and envisioned and made it come to life each night of our wedding events. We loved our DJs from Desi Junction, they made sure our dance floor was hard to leave and from night to night everyone was there till the lights went up. DJ Channi never lost energy and is someone who made our wedding so memorable! Most importantly, our Photo and Video Team (Peter Nguyen Luxury Weddings) was a dream. They were there all week, the kindest team, the most amazing talent and took what my family and I requested (full coverage of our family and all guests) to heart and made sure they covered every aspect of our wedding. The same day edit is also amazing and captured our week so perfectly. I cannot express how lucky we are that Peter and his team came highly recommended to us by our family friends and he is definitely responsible for capturing our memories in a beautiful way.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always grew up wanting to wear Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra for my wedding events. When it came time to pick my bridal outfit, I decided Sabysachi for their classic pink and red bridal attire. Due to COVID, their design house was unable to produce several of their lehenga designs. Despite a limited range in choices, I fell in love with a hot pink Nayantra lehenga and despite only seeing it virtually over Facetime, I trusted their designs would be stunning in person and I was so happy I was right.
For my reception outfit, I knew Manish Malhotra would be perfect. His designs are glamorous and intricate all at once. The lehenga I picked was one I had flagged from one of his earlier collections (it caught my eye well before I was engaged!). Their team was so lovely to work with and despite the pandemic, they were so happy to offer any design I found of theirs to produce. From fitting to customization, they were precise and perfect. The outfit arrived and was even more stunning in person.
Finally, for my Mehndi outfit, I always knew I wanted to wear something vibrant, bright and different than my other more classic styles. Aisha Rao seemed perfect and her royal blue designs with brightly embroidered skirts and blouses were exactly what I envisioned. Her team was also wonderful and prompt, they allowed us to customize everything from the blouse design to color and made sure everything arrived promptly! 

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was the time I was able to spend with my family dreaming up every detail. From start to finish, my Mom, Dad, Didi and Jijaji wanted to make this the wedding of my dreams and if I imagined it they made it happen. Most importantly, despite the stress of the pandemic, my family and Aman made sure I was smiling and laughing through the entire wedding planning process.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests loved the traditional aspects of the wedding -- from our Benarasi Mehndi at our Didi and Jijaji's house, to our elephant at the baraat, to the array of dances our friends and family put together for each and every event, to our midnight ceremony, we loved sharing our culture and excitement with all of our guests. Everyone also loved the chance to finally dance on a dance floor together again and we cannot thank our friends -- all amazing dancers -- for bringing so much energy. Personally, I also think everyone loved seeing Aman stay on his feet throughout the week dancing the nights away (he's definitely the dancer out of the two of us!)

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The baraat was an amazing experience. I got to watch the baraat from a balcony facing the bridge route and wave to Aman as he came in on the elephant. I also got to see all of our incoming guests on both sides and enjoyed seeing the baraatis dance. There was so much energy and after an incredibly tough year for so many it was so perfect seeing so many of our loved ones together again celebrating with us.

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 Mehndi was our kickoff event hosted at my Didi and Jijaji (Natasha and Rajiv Shenoy's) residence. The two of them transformed their home into a bright, completely decked out venue complete with a bangle "market," draped tents, rickshaws, fire dancers, a dessert truck and so much more. Their vendors included Lawson Rentals, Fox electric & Renee's Lighting company (who came in clutch with a completely new lighting system the night before the Mehndi when a last minute tent was installed for rain precaution!) Prashe, Celebration catering, Mehnaz Mehndi Artists, Desi Junction, and Elite Valet.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Take advantage of the fact that all of your loved ones are under one roof for your wedding day! There is no bigger joy than getting to constantly turn around and see another person who is so filled with love and excitement for you and your husband to be on your wedding day!

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for a new love story!

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Friday, Love-day! Maharanis, a new magical story comes your way, Kinjel & Sam's. My dears, let me ask you this, how romantic is it to receive a proposal at the same place where you kissed for the very first time? I think it is beyond romantic! That is how this journey began. We know an Indian Fusion Wedding can be hard to plan, but thanks to the dedication Golden Door Events offers, every detail of this celebration excelled our couple's expectations. Glen Ellen Farm is the venue where these lovebirds decided to start their life together as one soul, and they couldn't have chosen a better place to do it. Liz Decorations was in charge of the decoration of this place, and let me tell you; they put together a heavenly fairytale. Our bride and groom wanted to celebrate their love uniquely; that is why King Entertainment put their best musical touch and made everyone dance. Along with great music comes excellent catering. One of the top leading Indian catering companies, Rupa Vira's The Signature, prepared the most delicious meal that represented Kinjel & Sam's taste. Now, let's talk about how gorgeous our Maharani looked during the entire festivities! Kiya & Company and Couture Bridal of Maryland and their exclusive designs made Kinjel look perfectly charming. EMPOWDER by Amola Surya made her makeup and hair, and let me tell you, I adore the way she looked! We also have to mention how handsome the groom looked, thanks to Men's Wearhouse. He is genuinely Kinjel's one true love! Maharanis, the best part of this celebration of love is the most outstanding collection of memories put together by Raj Photo Video. If you check out the gallery, I promise you will fall in love with these pictures. They are an absolute visual delight you don't want to miss!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
My husband and I met when we were 18 years old and had our first date (and many more after) at Centennial Park which was a local park near our houses. We had just graduated high school in June 2012 and were about to begin our undergraduate careers in August 2012. He went to a different university but transferred over to Towson University (where I went) after our freshman. We knew this was it for us and wanted to spend more time together by attending the same university. He and I did everything together, and helped each other grow into the adults we are today. I knew he was "the one" around graduation time in May 2016. As I reflected on our time together, I knew I wanted to spend forever with him.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
He proposed at Centennial Park, where we shared our first kiss and date. It was the sweetest, most thoughtful proposal as he did it exactly in front of the bench we sat at. He even perfectly planned it to have my family and friends around the corner as he knew how important that would mean to me.

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 wedding was planned to be in May 2020 at another venue for the hindu wedding. Due to COVID, we had to move the wedding outdoors to help our guests feel more comfortable to attend. This was a huge undertaking given that we were planning our wedding at another venue entirely. We were so stressed and overwhelmed but persevered to have the wedding of dreams. I found an outdoor wedding venue and it was so dreamy. I knew I had to get married at Glen Ellen Farm for the hindu wedding, and we went ahead with the process. The Christian wedding did not change other than the guest count being decreased.

Given we were planning two wedding, everything was much more complicated when it came to planning. The Christian Mallu wedding was something I had never seen before so I had to learn all of their rituals and understand what will be happening. Same thing Sam had to do for the Hindu Wedding. While we had religious and cultural differences, our families showed no divide or differences and only wanted the best for us. They loved how we were cherishing our love rather than making our religion and cultures an issue. Our parents and siblings were so helpful, loving and accommodating to the entire situation. They were willing to redo all of the food tastings and see the new venue. All our our vendors were extremely accommodating with the changes and new set up. They were truly the dream team I've always wished for for my wedding.

I loved my hair and makeup every single event which was perfectly executed by Amola. She made me feel like a princess and her work is flawless.

My outfits were perfectly coordinated and the decor team blew us away, they were exceptionally great.

The food was also so unique and exactly how we requested. I highly recommend Rupa Vira for wedding catering.

The DJs for both weddings did an incredible job! During the Hindu wedding, Digvesh from King Entertainment announced my entrance so beautifully that I still have tears watching my entrance. It was majestic. He also did an amazing job during the Baraat and Reception in the evening. The Christian Wedding DJ, Tajinder Singh, was also exceptional and played the best songs all night!

RajPhotoVideo was the perfect team for us. They captured our events so perfectly and were so fun to work with. My husband owns a photo/video company of his own (TrueLifeStudio) and we wanted a photo/video team to capture our special week similiar to his style. RajPhotoVideo did just that and more! Highly recommend this team without a doubt. The pictures speak for themselves, they are flawless. 

Finally, my wedding planners were outstanding. They did everything to make our special day perfect. They not only helped replan our wedding, but helped create a new rain plan the night before our wedding with my amazing husband who stayed up to ensure the mandap was perfectly aligned with the backdrop of the beautiful venue. It was so surreal, dreamy, and felt liked a movie.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I custom designed my bridal lengha, my husbands outfit, and our jewelry as I had a very particular vision in mind and could not settle for anything less. I worked on my lengha for 8-9 months, with multiple revisions and changes along the way. I knew I wanted to wear ivory with pinks, greens, and gold. I specifically didnt want too much gold overpowering my lengha and I wanted birds as a symbol of our unity, love, prosperity and peace in our marriage. Two birds together are in a flower garden, consuming nectar from the same flower. This is another expression of how we will be two hearts beating as one soul.

Once my lengha was complete, I coordinate my husbands outfit and jewelry to match it perfectly.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Desiging my outfits, sams outfits, and wedding party outfits.

I also loved selecting outfits for my parents, grandmother and brother, as well as his parents and sister.

It was so fun doing dance practice with my family and friends. That really brought the wedding spirit alive!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Guests loved the decor, cake, our outfits, the food, venue, etc. They honestly were blown away from our wedding and how well it was executed by our amazing planners. They did everything in their power to make our wedding perfect. Guests specifically mentioned how they could feel the love between Sam and I, and it felt like a movie the entire weekend. They also felt we were considerate of their safety and comfort during the wedding events. It truly touched our hearts as we thought through every single detail to perfection.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
1. Mehndi night with my close friends and family. Also getting my mehndi done as it was very special as my mami (a professional henna artist in the DMV) did my mehndi with so much love and consideration of what I wanted. It was so beautiful.

2. Haldi ceremony: it was perfectly executed as a joint haldi with my husband. Since my husband is Christian, we knew their tradition doesnt involve a haldi but we both are Bollywood fanatics and couldnt resist having our "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" moment from the song "Kabira". And yes it was on replay!!

3. My entrance during both weddings. The hindu wedding i was walked down by my mama and mami (moms brother and his wife) who are so near and dear to my heart. It was so special. During the christian wedding, my parents walked my down and it was a dream come true. Wearing a white dress was so magical and something I never thought I would experience. I consider myself so blessed and lucky.

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.
Mendhi: It was an outdoor setup where family and friends could enjoy some music, dance performances, and kick off the weekend with joy and laughter. Since we did not have a garba/sangeet due to COVID, we wanted this event to be little liver then your typical mendhi night. Decor was stunning and my outfit was perfectly designed. Sam and I both did individual performances with our friends, and everyone had a great time!

Grah Shanti: Let me start with the decor! We loved it and it blew us away that we had such an amazing backdrop in our home for my grah shanti. Sam and I had a pre-grah shanti shoot at the Turf Valley Resort, and then I had my pooja. The pooja was so great to be surrounded by family and close friends. I started feeling all of the emotions during this event.

Haldi: Decor was so grand and i loved having a combined haldi event. Everyone told us this was the best haldi they have ever been to and it was an honor putting haldi on the groom. I felt so many emotions but couldnt help but smile, laugh, and dance the ENTIRE time. I truly felt like I had "the bridal glow" after this event and was ready to get married the next day.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
1. Don't let your differences interfere with love. Where there is a will, there is a way.

2. Being a COVID bride is one of the hardest challenges I've had to face. Keep your head up and walk into your wedding week with confidence. Trust your vendors and remember you only get to live through this amazing experience once so cherish each and every moment.

3. Always keep a smile on your face because you never know when the camera is watching!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I would marry my husband over and over again. He knows me inside and out, and would give me the world. He is truly my person!

That is it for today, me beloved Maharanis! Come back on Monday to start a new week with love and romantic stories.

Happy Wednesday, Maharanis! The filmy time of the week is here, and it comes packed with tons of beauty, emotions, and traditional flair. Today, we have all the details surrounding Nandita & Aman's charming wedding and believe us, this is one celebration you are going to enjoy. So, without further ado, let's jump right into it! This love journey began most vibrantly and colorfully with a joyful Sangeet, which was the perfect preamble for all the amazingness that was about to come. For the big wedding day, Nandita & Aman decided to bring Peter Nguyen Studio on board. And oh boy, what a great decision it was! This fantastic studio showed all their talent and expertise, capturing every detail of the wedding events with so much delicacy that we couldn't stop seeing the blockbuster film below. The wedding ceremony officiated at the Live! By Loews was a cornucopia of beauty and flair thanks to Prashe Decor, who transformed this venue's halls into an exquisite setting, more than suitable for this solemn celebration. The traditional linens wrapped around the room and the gorgeous floral arrangements created the perfect backdrop for these lovebirds to profess their love and commitment to each other. Still, it was our gorgeous Nandita who stole all the show! She donned a  fashionable gown by Sabyasachi, draped and tied by Elegant Saree Draping. But that is not all! Ms Painted Lady complemented Nandita's dreamy look with fabulous hair and makeup designs that made her look like a goddess. And we absolutely loved this winning combo! If you can't get enough of this couple, make sure to hit the play icon below. You will be amazed!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
It was the fall of 2012 and when I was a freshman and Aman a sophomore at Duke. We literally locked eyes for the first time and met on a dance floor at a mixer. But it wasn't until the summer of 2013 when we started spending more time together watching Bollywood movies (Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani), taking summer classes at Duke, and getting to know each other. After a summer filled with endless conversations, sharing our favorite Hindi songs, and nervous laughter, Aman asked me on our first official date with a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a post-it-note with "will you be my girlfriend" attached on top.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Here is a youtube link to our proposal flash mob!

https://youtu.be/nncemfEMA7M

On August 29th, 2019 the two officially had six years of unforgettable memories with each other under their belts. One August afternoon, Nandita was getting ready for what she thought was a family friend's baby shower when the doorbell began ringing. When she came downstairs, she heard music playing at the door and saw her little nephew Neeraj peeking out the front window saying "Aman Uncle outside." When she opened the door, she saw not just Aman but also her Didi, Jijaji, Daddy, Namita, Ritu Aunty and Sanjay Uncle ALL outside. Confused, everyone came inside and started taking family pictures (at this point, Nandita wasn't sure if the proposal had already happened and she missed it, but needless to say there were many more surprises in store). Aman soon handed her an envelope with a clue that led them to a piano at Hotel Zaza where he played and sang "Pehla Nasha" for me. For their entire six year relationship Nandita used to complain that Aman was holding out on her because he would never let her hear him sing or play the piano, he always said "he was waiting for the right time." A few more stops for lunch and "fake-out proposals" during the day they arrived at her sister's house where he said she could change for dinner. However, when she walked inside she realized he was proposing right then and there in the backyard. He had an empty pint of Ben and Jerry's with the ring inside and a post it-note on top asking her to marry him, just like his first ask for her to be his girlfriend. After getting down on one knee, he got up and immediately began what she thought was an awkward "solo" dance to You are my Soniya. Within moments of him starting, suddenly 40 of their closest childhood, college, medical school and family friends rushed in to flash-mob the rest of the song. She has never been more stunned or overwhelmed and was quite literally floored by how much love they are surrounded by with their village!

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.
Pandemic shopping was difficult, growing up I always imagined going to India with my mom and sister to shop for my bridal outfits. Luckily my sister found Meha Bhargava from Styl_Inc in India who runs a personal shopping service. Without her and her team, we wouldn't have been able to get 20 custom bridesmaids sarees, 18 groomsmen outfits, and our entire family outfitted from head to toe along with all of our wedding gifts.

Without a single in person fitting, Meha and her team made sure each of my wedding outfits arrived on time and fit me perfectly. This wedding would not have happened without her!

Our wedding planning experience started in August 2019, a few months before the pandemic hit. After an unexpected hiccup with the first planner we hired we were so so blessed that Hala Snyder (Events by Hala) decided to step back into wedding planning just for our family. She planned my sister's wedding 8 years ago but had since stepped away from wedding planning. She swooped in right before the pandemic and made sure to find us the best vendors in the game. We chose the new venue, Live! By Loewe's in Arlington Texas because we wanted a hotel with a newer feel and a lot of energy -- with the AT&T stadium and an array of restaurants the venue was perfect for our wedding weekend. Jill from Live! By Loewes was also the most amazing point of contact and made sure all of our event details were seamless. Jill and Hala made sure my dream of Aman arriving in on an elephant for the baraat came true. From extensively mapping out the elephant's route to weighing the bridge the elephant would walk over, they planned out every detail! We worked with Alex from Ms Painted Lady for Hair and Makeup and from providing the most flawless makeup for my family and I, to creating hair styles based off of my descriptions alone, to being just a wonderful, hard working and amazing person she and her team made the weekend perfect and got over 20 ladies ready throughout the weekend. We were lucky to work with Prashe for our decor -- she took exactly what I described and envisioned and made it come to life each night of our wedding events. We loved our DJs from Desi Junction, they made sure our dance floor was hard to leave and from night to night everyone was there till the lights went up. DJ Channi never lost energy and is someone who made our wedding so memorable! Most importantly, our Photo and Video Team (Peter Nguyen Luxury Weddings) was a dream. They were there all week, the kindest team, the most amazing talent and took what my family and I requested (full coverage of our family and all guests) to heart and made sure they covered every aspect of our wedding. The same day edit is also amazing and captured our week so perfectly. I cannot express how lucky we are that Peter and his team came highly recommended to us by our family friends and he is definitely responsible for capturing our memories in a beautiful way.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always grew up wanting to wear Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra for my wedding events. When it came time to pick my bridal outfit, I decided Sabysachi for their classic pink and red bridal attire. Due to COVID, their design house was unable to produce several of their lehenga designs. Despite a limited range in choices, I fell in love with a hot pink Nayantra lehenga and despite only seeing it virtually over Facetime, I trusted their designs would be stunning in person and I was so happy I was right.
For my reception outfit, I knew Manish Malhotra would be perfect. His designs are glamorous and intricate all at once. The lehenga I picked was one I had flagged from one of his earlier collections (it caught my eye well before I was engaged!). Their team was so lovely to work with and despite the pandemic, they were so happy to offer any design I found of theirs to produce. From fitting to customization, they were precise and perfect. The outfit arrived and was even more stunning in person.
Finally, for my Mehndi outfit, I always knew I wanted to wear something vibrant, bright and different than my other more classic styles. Aisha Rao seemed perfect and her royal blue designs with brightly embroidered skirts and blouses were exactly what I envisioned. Her team was also wonderful and prompt, they allowed us to customize everything from the blouse design to color and made sure everything arrived promptly! 

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was the time I was able to spend with my family dreaming up every detail. From start to finish, my Mom, Dad, Didi and Jijaji wanted to make this the wedding of my dreams and if I imagined it they made it happen. Most importantly, despite the stress of the pandemic, my family and Aman made sure I was smiling and laughing through the entire wedding planning process.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests loved the traditional aspects of the wedding -- from our Benarasi Mehndi at our Didi and Jijaji's house, to our elephant at the baraat, to the array of dances our friends and family put together for each and every event, to our midnight ceremony, we loved sharing our culture and excitement with all of our guests. Everyone also loved the chance to finally dance on a dance floor together again and we cannot thank our friends -- all amazing dancers -- for bringing so much energy. Personally, I also think everyone loved seeing Aman stay on his feet throughout the week dancing the nights away (he's definitely the dancer out of the two of us!)

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The baraat was an amazing experience. I got to watch the baraat from a balcony facing the bridge route and wave to Aman as he came in on the elephant. I also got to see all of our incoming guests on both sides and enjoyed seeing the baraatis dance. There was so much energy and after an incredibly tough year for so many it was so perfect seeing so many of our loved ones together again celebrating with us.

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 Mehndi was our kickoff event hosted at my Didi and Jijaji (Natasha and Rajiv Shenoy's) residence. The two of them transformed their home into a bright, completely decked out venue complete with a bangle "market," draped tents, rickshaws, fire dancers, a dessert truck and so much more. Their vendors included Lawson Rentals, Fox electric & Renee's Lighting company (who came in clutch with a completely new lighting system the night before the Mehndi when a last minute tent was installed for rain precaution!) Prashe, Celebration catering, Mehnaz Mehndi Artists, Desi Junction, and Elite Valet.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Take advantage of the fact that all of your loved ones are under one roof for your wedding day! There is no bigger joy than getting to constantly turn around and see another person who is so filled with love and excitement for you and your husband to be on your wedding day!

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for a new love story!

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