Hello Maharanis! Get ready to enjoy Kristina & Shayam's wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Shayam and I actually met when we were 15 years old and over the years he became best friends with my brothers. Little did I know back then that I would end up marrying my brother's best friend, but fast forward a few years to adults and our friendship turned to romance. I knew he was the one because once we started dating he kept saying I am going to marry you!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We actually had just purchased our first home together and after weeks of renovations, he surprised me with a getaway trip to the Keys. We stayed on a beautiful private island at the Sunset Key Cottages resort. I must say, I wasn't one for the fairytales and big surprises, but this man blew me away. He proposed on the beach just before sunset. Funny thing is I saw a woman hiding in the bushes before he proposed and come to find out it was a photographer waiting to take pictures of us.
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.
Shortly after our engagement we got married legally and being that we just purchased a home, we decided to take a year and half to plan our official wedding ceremonies and reception. The religious aspects of our marriage was just as important to us as legally being married especially getting to share the moment with our loved ones. We had 3 venues and thankfully all went well. Our Hindu ceremony was held at the Coral Springs Center of the Arts in their courtyard. Our Nikah ceremony was held at Nur Ul Islam in Cooper City and our reception was held at The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs. A great photo and videographer was needed and Sugarfree Studio took good care of us capturing these wonderful moments! I did freelance makeup on the side, so it was only natural for me to do my own bridal makeup each day! A lot of work for a bride, but I was happy to do it. My overall experience with the vendors went well and I am glad I had an amazing wedding coordinator Chire Harvey to help make it happen on the wedding weekend.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Our wedding was in the fall and I wanted to incorporate those jewel toned colors that we felt brought a classic touch with deep hues for my bridal outfits. I went with reds and gold for our Hindu ceremony and emerald green for our Nikah. For my reception look I always wanted to wear a white Pronovias wedding dress for their beautiful delicate lace detail.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I would say the most enjoyable part of planning was preparing for our first dance. We took ballroom dancing classes at Fred Astaire in Delray Beach with the wonderful Vanessa Iurman. This was something I always wanted to do, and we got to experience it in preparation for our first dance on our reception night.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
They loved the dancing and entertainment!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
There was a moment when my husband and I said with relief, we did it!
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.
Indian Dance Instructor: Jayadevi Arts helped us coordinate a dance routine after our hindu ceremony to surprise our guests.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Take everything one day at a time. Wedding planning and preparing for the big day can be overwhelming, but it is so important to remember to enjoy it while in the moment because all you have left are those memories.
