Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Welcome, darlings! Pooja & Neil's wedding was a glorious celebration of love, filled with vibrant colors and joyous melodies. The ceremony took place at the luxurious and captivating The Westin Charlotte, where they exchanged their heartfelt vows amidst a stunning backdrop created by Wedding Design & Decor. Ribha Events meticulously planned and designed every aspect of the wedding, ensuring that every detail reflected the couple's unique love story. As Pooja prepared to embark on this new chapter of her life, the talented Jenny Le Makeup Artist and Anna Pham Hair worked their magic, enhancing her natural beauty and creating a look that left everyone in awe. The intricate henna designs, crafted by the talented Henna4Happiness by Minaz, adorned Pooja's hands and feet, symbolizing beauty, joy, and blessings for her journey as a bride. Her expertise and attention to detail added a touch of elegance to the festivities, leaving everyone mesmerized by the beauty and significance of the Mehndi ceremony. DJ Rang's seamless transitions between tracks kept the momentum high, and the crowd was completely immersed in the music, moving and grooving with sheer joy. Capturing every precious moment of this grand celebration was the talented Danny K Photography. As we conclude this captivating tale of love, we invite you to immerse in the gallery. 

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We met in high school and quickly became close friends. After a lot of late-night Skype chats, Neil asked me to prom. Since we went to two different high schools, we went to both! We went our separate ways when I started undergrad at the University of North Carolina. Little did I know that Neil would be joining me the very next year. After re-establishing our friendship, we began dating at the end of college!
I had moved to New York to start business school, and one of my close friends invited me to Valentine’s Day party. I was so excited to get dressed up after months of living in my sweatpants during the COVID lockdowns. When I arrived at the venue, the doorman escorted me to the roof, where I walked into a bed of rose petals lined with candles. The most romantic music was playing, and when I turned the corner, I saw Neil standing there, and he said, “I have a lot of explaining to do,” in the sweetest way.
He pulled out a letter and asked me to open it. It had my signature, and I had dated it on his graduation day. He asked, “Do you know what this letter is?” When he graduated from undergrad, I suggested that he write his future self a letter of all his goals and aspirations for the next few years. So, he did. Little did I know that he wrote two letters: a goals letter and a proposal letter. He had me sign the front of the proposal letter, while I thought it was the goals letter.
He read the letter aloud, and we both laughed, cried, and felt every emotion that had taken place during the eight years we had known each other: from prom to proposal. And just like that, he got on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?” and I said, “Yes.”

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Spending time with my parents and fiance to bring the vision to life. It was by far the best group project I've ever been a part of!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our first look is something we both hold close to our hearts. It was an incredibly cold November morning, and I met Neil in a park near our wedding venue. When I arrived, he was holding a bouquet of balloons, which he let go of when I was right in Infront of him. That feeling when the balloons flew up, and we saw each other for the first time on our special day is a feeling I'll never forget.

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.
Pithi | November 17th
We kicked off wedding week with a Ganesh Pooja & Pithi. Truly the happiest of mornings surrounded by family, friends, and an abundance of love.

Mehndi | November 17th
An evening by the water filled with our favorite snacks and Mexican food, dances by the cutest nieces and nephews, games put on by my sisters, and a traditional chuni ceremony to get me ready for the upcoming ceremonies. One of my all-time favorite outfits represents my and Neil’s favorite colors, purple and yellow, and symbolic Mehndi green.

Grah Shantek | November 18th
Before our wedding ceremony could take place, we had our Grah Shantek, where we prayed for peace and bliss during married life. The most special of moments was the Mosalu, where my maternal uncles officially joined the festivities with an abundance of blessings and wish for happiness.

Garba & Sangeet | November 18th
The night before our wedding was my absolute dream come true. We blended our two Indian cultures to have a mixed Garba & Sangeet in a mela theme. The evening was filled with incredible performances, Gujarati garba, Punjabi jaggo, and SO much dancing. Our family and friends went above and beyond to make it the stuff of filmy dreams.

Wedding | November 19th
Marrying my best friend in front of all the people we adore most. Love was in the air with a flower girl who gave the best hugs, my Masis singing the Mangla pheras, and giggles to last a lifetime.

Reception | November 19th
The finale to the most magical weekend. A cheers to our incredible, fun-loving bridal party, speeches and dances that warmed the heart, and an endless amount of dancing.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Think of the things that matter most to you and focus on them. There's a strong likelihood that you can't plan every detail of your wedding, but make it known to all your vendors the things that matter most to you. Besides that, enjoy every minute of the process. It truly is the most magical few days.

Let the intricate details and romantic moments inspire you and joyfully fill your heart until the next!

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Hello, Maharanis! Astha & Chintan's incredible wedding is now live in today's Platinum Guide Blog.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
So it was March 19th, 2021, our two-year dating anniversary, and Chintan said he planned a special dinner in NYC. He told me we were going to stop by at our favorite rooftop in Jersey City (Rooftop at Exchange Place) and then make our way into the city. So we get ready and head over to the rooftop, and as I enter, I hear music, and I get a glimpse of all our loved ones waiting for us on the other side. Then Chintan takes my hand and walks me to the center of the room, and immediately breaks into dance! He planned a whole flash mob Bollywood-style proposal with my favorite songs and favorite people dancing! All of my family and friends joined him for some songs, and he ended the dance with “Marry Me” by Bruno Mars. He took me to the front of the room and proposed with the New York skyline as our beautiful backdrop and with our family and friends cheering us on!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So we went to Mumbai for my wedding shopping because my family is from there so we had a lot of stores to visit in mind. My mom had this dream of me wearing a Sabyasachi lehenga, and I told her if I loved something, I would definitely consider it. So we enter the store; the beautiful surroundings and vibes are definitely enchanting! We look at a couple of outfits, and I see this red outfit that my aunt and mom selected for me. I was actually against wearing red because I didn’t like that color much, and the outfit they showed me was red, but I decided to try it on anyways. I try it on, and the rest is history! I bought that outfit right away, and I ended up wearing a beautiful red lehenga for my wedding :) everything changed when I wore it, so I’d definitely recommend trying different colors even if you don’t like them. I only tried one bridal outfit, and that’s all it took for me!

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.
So I was always clear on what kind of styles and themes I wanted for all my pre-wedding events, and because I’m a classically trained dancer and loved dancing and choreographing, I planned out all the dances, songs, and the whole program of all the events. My first event was the Mehendi which I wanted to be a “mela,” bright, colorful carnival style! We had lots of gifts, giveaways a whole Chudi bazaar full of bangles, turbans, bindis, purses, earrings, and many more items. They all were customized with our hashtag, and our guests loved it and took everything home! I did two dances in the mehendi, and my friends performed “mere yaar ki shaadi hain,” which was so fun! The Sangeet was that night, and we had a live singer Rex D’Souza who set the dance floor on fire! Everyone had the best time of the whole weekend on the Sangeet night! He was singing non-stop for 4 hours, making everyone dance which was an absolute blast! We also had 9 performances in the Sangeet with all our family and friends, and it was a complete Bollywood-style Sangeet. Chintan and I have loved Bollywood since we were kids, and we knew we had to incorporate it in our wedding, so we chose a whole Bollywood theme with a red carpet and all the decor being posters of Bollywood movies as well. The Sangeet truly was a Bollywood dream come true! For my haldi, I decided to do something a little different, I decided to do an entry song with all the uncles and aunties that I’ve grown up with and chose to dance with each couple for a few seconds as I entered the hall. Choreographing this and all 15 of us dancing together was such a memorable memory that I’ll never forget!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I think the biggest thing I would say to all future brides is to have a clear vision of what you want and work towards fulfilling that. Because there are so many options, so many vendors, and so many small details to get overwhelmed and confused over, the sooner you can make firm decisions quickly, the sooner you can get to planning all the fun stuff and not be overwhelmed! I also advise you to prioritize what you and your partner want, from decision-making to incorporating small details in the wedding, like writing your own vows or giving gifts to each other before the wedding. At the end of the day, it’s the wedding of you two, and you should be perfectly content and happy with everything you choose to do. On the day of the wedding, if something goes wrong or doesn’t go according to plan, the best thing to do is to just move on and not let it affect your mood/smile because the camera captures everything! The photographers are always going to be with you, and everything gets captured, so if you let one thing affect you, everything will fall apart, including your pictures!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
The first thing we locked down for our wedding was our venue! We absolutely loved The Legacy Castle and just knew that’s where we wanted to get married! Our hashtag comes from that venue as well! It’s AC which stands for Astha and Chintan, and ki Legacy means “their legacy,” which was a word play on the venue and also the beginning of our legacy! #ACkiLegacy. We even decided to do an outdoor jai maala on the legacy castle terrace, which had never been done before! We tried to do something unique and make the most of our venue, which turned out to be a beautiful ceremony with the drones above us capturing every moment! Our planner Urvashi Mishra was amazing from the beginning of our whole process! She was with us since before Chintan even proposed and helped him out with those details, along with our engagement party, bridal shower, and wedding! She took care of everything during those events over 2 years, and it made wedding planning a breeze! Our amazing photo video team, Memories Studios, has been with us since our engagement party, our engagement photo shoot, and the wedding! They brought their whole team and went all out! They showed off their amazing skills with the same-day edit in the reception, and everyone was left stunned! Our caterer, Moghul Caterers, knocked every meal out of the park! Food is something that is so important in every wedding, and we managed to incorporate almost every cuisine during the whole weekend, and they pulled it off beautifully! For our decor, we had Ravi from wedding design and decor, who took all of my visions and brought them to life! I drew out every single decor setup from the mehendi to the Sangeet to the haldi and wedding and reception, and he did it exactly as I had imagined! Having a vision of what I wanted for all the setups was extremely helpful because all he had to do was just explain to me how it was going to work and then just do it. For my makeup and hair, I had the amazing Pauline, who was my partner in crime for 4 days! Waking up and keeping me awake and excited at 4 am is no easy task, and she did it so effortlessly, along with also working and giving me 4 beautiful looks! Anuja, for my mehendi, was amazing! She also took my vision of what I showed her from a photo and made it come to life. She was so calm, and we had the best time together ordering our pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks at 3 am! Sheraton Parsippany was a great venue to host all of our guests and to have all of our pre-wedding events! It was the best idea to have everyone stay in one place for 4 days, and all the events be in the ballrooms of the same hotel. Super convenient and stress-free because traveling was completely eliminated!

This lovely wedding was such a pleasure to see. I enjoyed every minute of it! See you tomorrow.

Happy Monday, ladies! We missed you so much during the weekend and were dying to share Nidhi & Karan's lovely wedding. The festivities started with the vibrant Baraat, accompanied by the lively beats of Medley Entertainment, whose DJ skillfully curated a playlist that had everyone on their feet, dancing and celebrating in unison. Held at the prestigious Hyatt Regency Princeton, the venue was a picturesque backdrop for the couple's dreamy celebration. The venue's grandeur was matched only by its impeccable service and attention to detail. The sprawling halls and elegant ballrooms provided a seamless canvas for unfolding the couple's love story. Meticulously planned and flawlessly executed by KM Events Management. Masterfully crafted by Wedding Design (Ravi Varma), the gorgeous floral arrangements transformed the space into a breathtaking paradise where love and beauty intertwine perfectly. Guests were treated to a gastronomic extravaganza as the culinary delights of BAS Cherry Hills and the culinary expertise of Rakesh and Shabela took center stage. The rhythmic beats and seamless transitions of DnS Entertainment filled the air with an irresistible energy that had everyone dancing the night away. The skilled lenses of Regal Palette Studio captured every precious moment, freezing them in time to be cherished forever. Indulge in the captivating gallery we prepared. Enjoy!

Darlings, I hope you enjoyed today's feature. Remember to read the new Platinum Guide story!

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Loves, let's watch the charming wedding of Anisha & Meghan. The incredible team at Tum Hi Ho Events carefully curated and meticulously planned every detail. The ballroom at the Sheraton Parsippany transformed into a dreamscape of romance and elegance thanks to the creative prowess of Florista Decor. The melodic beats of the Dhol Drummer, Neil Desai, and the haunting tunes of the Bagpiper, Michael Hannigan, blended harmoniously, symbolizing the beautiful union of two cultures. The couple's natural beauty was enhanced by the skillful hands of the talented artists from Cinderella Bridez. Palermo Bakery and Beignets crafted a decadent wedding cake that stood as a symbol of sweetness and togetherness. Moghul Caterers delighted the guests with exquisite culinary delights, tantalizing their taste buds and satisfying their souls. The dance floor was alive with energy, thanks to the vibrant beats of DJ Sunny Entertainment. The sweet couple expressed gratitude by donating to the LGBTQ charity Family Equality as their wedding favors. It was a beautiful gesture that encapsulated their desire to spread love and acceptance in a world that sometimes needs a gentle reminder. House of Talent Studio, the master storytellers behind the lens. They created a visual symphony through their lens that encapsulated raw emotions, stolen glances, and heartfelt laughter. Let their love story ignite a flame of courage and acceptance in your hearts, and may it serve as a reminder that love knows no limits and dreams do come true! Enjoy this inspirational wedding.

How did you meet your Bride, and when did you know she was "the one"?
It was a chilly Sunday morning in November of 2020. The height of the COVID pandemic was slowly beginning to dwindle down when Anisha and Meghan matched on a dating app called Bumble. As a funeral director and a nurse, they quickly bonded over their shared traumatic work experiences that had transpired over the prior 8 months. This bond led to more conversations and discovering more things that they had in common: their difficult journeys leading up to coming out and their desire to be truly happy. Despite their differences (their races, where they grew up, their cultural upbringings) and Anisha almost infecting Meghan with COVID after their first date, they both knew they had found something special in the other. After Anisha’s 14-day quarantine period was over, the couple eagerly met up again, and the rest is history! Meghan and Anisha hope to grow their family in the future and pave the way for other interracial, same-sex couples.

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 overall experience with all of our vendors was impeccable. They all truly brought our vision to life and never once made us feel “less than” for being a same-sex couple.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Almost all of our guests said as soon as they entered the ballroom, they felt good vibrations and positive energy, and that is honestly all that we could have hoped for. We had all the right people there with us, supporting us along the way.

One moment that the guests said that they enjoyed the most was when the dhol drummer and bagpiper performed a duet before the dance floor opened. We thought it would be a nice way to symbolize two cultures coming together.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My parents, Sankar and Sabita Mukherjee made a generous donation to the LGBTQ+ organization Family Equality as one of the wedding favors. Family Equality’s mission is to create a world where everyone can experience the unconditional love, safety, and belonging of family. Family Equality aims to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

Our other wedding favor was a beignet-to-go!

Darlings, I hope you loved this story as much as I did. I'll see you for the next entry with more!

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Darling Maharanis, today we have the absolute pleasure of sharing the love-filled journey of Kavya & Rohin! Join us in this incredible story! Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, this celebration was a true testament to the power of love and magic. Patra Designs' stunning floral and decor transformed the space into a fairytale wonderland, with vibrant hues and cascading blooms mirroring Kavya's infectious joy. Every intricate detail, meticulously planned and executed by them, created an atmosphere of pure romance, setting the stage for a truly unforgettable day. As Kavya prepared to walk down the aisle, her beauty was enhanced by the skilled hands of Kajal by Kimberly, who created a bridal look that was both timeless and modern. After the ceremony, the celebration continued at the elegant Marriott Key Tower Cleveland. Paradise Biryani Pointe treated the guests to a culinary feast that delighted their taste buds and added a touch of culinary brilliance to the festivities. DJ's United took charge of the evening, transforming the reception into a lively and energetic dance floor. The talented team at Making the Moment Photography captured the moments for eternity and effortlessly immortalized the love, laughter, and pure bliss that radiated throughout the night. Leaving no doubt that their talent and passion for their craft elevated the wedding to a whole new level of enchantment. Remember to check out the gallery.

This lovely wedding was such a pleasure to see. I enjoyed every minute of it! See you tomorrow.

Making the Moment Photography is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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