My beautiful Maharanis, another week full of wonder and romance is here, so let's get it started with Sheliza & Farhan's grand wedding! Our couple had a fetching sangeet celebration at JW Marriott to enjoy with their loved ones. They chose the Beverly Wilshire A Four Seasons Hotel for their wedding celebration since the elegant design of the location matched perfectly with the couples' vision for their revelry. With Modern LA Weddings' assistance behind the curtains to bring their fantasy to reality, the lovebirds knew that they would have a memorable day to relish in their love. With the fantastic setting and the warm summer sunshine, our Maharani shone brighter than ever with My Fair Bride's assistance to complete her look. This phenomenal artist did Sheliza's mehndi and makeup with her heart and soul for our Maharani to dazzle more than one. The bride's elegant garments from Manish Malhotra are heavenly, ladies! I am sure you will fall in love with every single one of her attires. I adore how our Maharani combined soft and bold colors and even different textures that go from smooth to shiny throughout the celebration. The groom was just as handsome, with some stunning suits to show off his most fashionable side and cheerful dance moves, with Dhamaka Productions in charge of keeping up a vivid ambiance no one could resist joining in! What a lovely way to walk into their newly-formed life together. Our dearling couple will hold these everlasting memories close to their hearts for many years to come. The remarkable Samson Productions made it easy as pie for them by capturing each instant in a delightful set of pictures. So, sweethearts, be my guests and bask in this sensational gallery we have compiled, ready to spark your imagination!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Farhan and I met through the field of medicine. Farhan was a new attending and I was completing my first year of residency. Though we resided thousands of miles apart, we found time to meet regularly and get to know each other. We bonded through brunches, trips to the beach, basketball, scary movies and much more! After braving distance, and a year-long pandemic, Farhan knew he wanted to propose. Farhan planned for months to create the perfect fairytale proposal for me and asked me to marry him. And of course, I said yes!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
My proposal was one of the best days of my life. I was at home for Thanksgiving break and my mom "accidentally" let it slip that Farhan was going to propose the next month. I was upset at her but figured I would at least be prepared for the day. I wanted Farhan to come visit my family during the break but he said he had to work. I had a sneaking suspicion that he may try to surprise me but upon checking his work schedule, I saw that he was indeed scheduled to work over the Thanksgiving holiday. While I was at home, my best friend and maid of honor wanted to celebrate her birthday. She wanted to have a girls day to get our nails done and then do a photoshoot at the Grove, an outdoor mall in LA. She had such a perfect cover up story that I didn't even suspect anything. My mom hired a makeup artist to do my hair and makeup for the photoshoot because she said it would be the best time to trial out my look for my proposal the following month. It all made logical sense. Ironically, I told the makeup artist that I was upset at my mom for not being able to keep the secret of my upcoming proposal. Little did I know, he was in on the secret as well! When we got to the Grove, my best friend seemed a little stressed, but nothing out of the ordinary. We started taking pictures and walking around. Suddenly, music started playing throughout the mall. Before I had time to process what was going on, I was in the middle of a flash mob proposal! My friends and family were all there, and anyone that wasn't able to make it in person was online via a Zoom broadcast. When Farhan came out from the crowd, he started dancing and proposed to me during a Bollywood song. It was the most amazing, romantic, and spectacular proposal.
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 had a wedding planner, but my parents were my unofficial wedding planners throughout this entire process. I am a surgical resident so my time is not my own. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have the support of my parents throughout the process. They visited venues, spoke to vendors, tasted food and assisted in all the other intricate details of the planning process. I knew that my parents knew what type of wedding we wanted and I put blind trust in their judgement. Although my parents did all the legwork, they made sure that Farhan and I approved of all the major aspects of our wedding - and they were all fabulous! We had LED walls, a photo booth, colorful decor, customized dance floors, delicious food every night, and amazing vendors overall.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I'm an organized person and google docs and spreadsheets became my best friends throughout the planning process. I had so much fun planning all the bridal events such as the bachelorette, the bridal shower and the bridesmaids lunch. My maid of honor, Sonam, and I would spend hours on the phone making sure the logistics of each event panned out. We planned a Grey's Anatomy themed Bachelorette in Seattle with 13 girls! It was such an amazing weekend to be surrounded by some of my closest friends. Another enjoyable part was planning and coordinating the dances to to be performed during the Sangeet night. My friends all took time out of their busy schedules to help choreograph and participate in up to 7 different dances. The performances turned out fabulous!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
One of the unique things about our wedding was the LED wall we had both on Sangeet night and Reception night. We were able to project different images, with lights and colors throughout the night. It enhanced our dance performances, pictures, videos and overall experience every night. Another fun aspect was the food stalls we had during our Sangeet. Our vendors put up 8-9 booths of different food items, with creative names. It was a fun way to let all of our guests try a variety of foods.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
One of the most special moments of our wedding was our Nikkah and Vow ceremony. The Nikkah is the traditional Muslim wedding, and that's when Farhan and I officially became husband and wife. We each wrote our own vows and exchanged rings in front of our closest family and friends. It was such a special moment that Farhan and I will remember for the rest of our lives.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Words of wisdom for future Brides-to-be would be to enjoy your wedding as much as possible! Wedding planning can be a stressful process, especially when you have a multiple-day wedding, but enjoy the process and enjoy the wedding! You only get one! The days will fly by, and you will wish that you could do it again. Try to enjoy the moments and have fun. And definitely eat every night!
Let your imagination sky-rocket, Maharanis! I'll see you soon with more brilliant stories!