Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Morning Maharanis! We are ready to spill all the details from Courtney and Karthik’s spectacular fusion Indian wedding. Courtney resembled a goddess for her wedding day, covered in shimmering silk finery from head to toe. She was adorned in a violet and scarlet sari for her Indian ceremony, and later switched into an angelic white gown for her Christian proceedings. Both looks were simply divine, and we can’t stop swooning over this bride’s radiance. Magnificent Brides festooned Courtney with artistic, glamorous touches, such as flowing locks and glowing makeup. Her lip color was a soft pink which was such a refreshing choice. We typically see brides don red lips, but there’s something so romantic about pink makeup hues! Courtney and Karthik’s first look photos overlooking the Windy City were pristinely captured by the incredible talents at Jacqui Cole Photography. The dreamy photos perfectly encapsulated the love and excitement brimming between this beautiful duo. The ballroom at The Drake Hotel was turned into a Bollywood haven with plenty of chandeliers and pops of color. Kudos to the planning and design team from Events by Nisar and the decor mavens from Shaadi Creations. We’ll share all the magnificent deets in our next post. In the meantime, we have tons of images captured by the one and only Jacqui Cole Photography in the full gallery.

Ceremony deets coming right up!

After witnessing Sharanya and Terry’s pristine outdoor ceremony, it seemed an impossible feat to outdo the gorgeous affair. However, when the team at Dream Party Decor and JMJ Flowers step up to the plate, you never know what glittering surprises are waiting behind ballroom doors. The reception venue at the Pearson Convention Center was doused in sparkle and shine! A sweetheart stage designed for the ages was adorned with one of the most royal reception backdrops we’ve ever seen. Massive golden pillars and luscious white blooms transformed the space into a glimmering palace of decadence. To add to the luxuriousness, the couple brought in belly and aerial dancers, and Fine Cakes by Zehra whipped up a mind-blowing cake adorned with pearls and fluffy frosting. Guests’ taste buds were dancing with delight as Chef Ramanaa served up a menu that included sushi, a pasta station, and an unforgettable dessert bar. One of the highlights of the evening was when Sharanya hopped in on the action and choreographed a surprise dance number that kept the crowd moving! Geethams Event Decor flawlessly executed a fantastic series of events that must be seen to be believed. We picked our favorite shots by EM Photography in the full gallery, so enjoy all the beauty!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

EM Photography captured the magic of Sharanya and Terry’s outdoor Indian fusion ceremony so vividly. These lovebirds have such an epic love story. They’ve known each other since they were fourteen years old, and have been together for over nine years. So sweet! There was euphoria in the air as Sharanya gracefully floated down the aisle. The lush grounds of the Estates of Sunnybrook were adorned with oodles of white blooms by Dream Party Decor and JMJ Flowers. We are such fans of sunshiney outdoor weddings, especially with these current chilly winter temps! The event planners from Geethams Event Decor did an impeccable job making sure every detail was executed flawlessly, resulting in a ceremony that was regal and charming. After the emotional vows, guests cheered on the newlyweds as they were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. When the wedding ceremony ended, Sharanya and Terry posed festively on the grounds of Estates of Sunnybrook with the entire bridal party, capping of the delightful ceremony. Sharanya and Terry’s fairy tale wedding was a combination of gorgeous scenery, impeccable fashion, and plenty of razzle dazzle. It was a special day filled with unforgettable memories, so peruse all the beauty in the full gallery by EM Photography.

The breathtaking reception up next. Trust us, you don't want to miss it!

Before the fusion Indian wedding ceremony began on the grounds of the Estates of Sunnybrook, hearts were fluttering and anticipation was at an all time high as Sharanya and Terry prepared for the most important moment of their lives. Every bride dreams of looking like a Queen on her big day, and Maharani Sharanya definitely fit the bill. She couldn’t have appeared more beautiful! This fashionista bride was adorned in the best of the best, including a white gown with a sweetheart neckline and glittering earrings. To match her regal dress, she slipped on a pair of sparkling Christian Louboutin heels onto her dainty feet. The faces of her family and bridesmaids as she was adorned in her finery were just so precious! Finally, Sharanya was ready to make her grand entrance outdoors in the gardens of Estates of Sunnybrook, which was festooned in the most romantic, floral inspired decor concepts by Dream Party Decor and JMJ Flowers, with planning and design by Geethams Event Decor. And we’re loving the bridesmaids’ pink and lavender gowns. Such a supportive crew of ladies! In our next post, we dive into Sharanya and Terry’s ceremonial proceedings where with love, excitement, and laughter the darling duo became husband and wife. Stay tuned for the delightful ceremony. While you wait, hurry over to the full gallery by EM Photography for all of the glorious photographs! And make sure to scroll below for our exclusive interview with Maharani Sharanya.

Hurry back! Ceremony goodness up next!

We’ve finally arrived at the moment you’ve all been waiting for - The grand finale reception gala! Prashe Decor festooned the Hyatt Regency Houston to resemble a heavenly oasis, glittering with sparkling crystals chandeliers, lush blooms, and silky drapings. Once again, K.I. Weddings orchestrated every refined detail with perfect finesse. As beautiful as the ambiance was, nothing compared to the radiant couple. Anita dazzled the crowd with her Manish Malhotra designed reception outfit, featuring multifaceted floral embroidery and a billowing skirt that was perfect for twirling on the dance floor! Meanwhile, Gowtham was dapper in a blue, velvet blazer with Louboutin shoes. What a stylin’ pair. The newlyweds and their friends rocked the dance floor with some mind-blowing dance numbers that would have made Hrithik and Madhuri green with envy. Some numbers even included Telugu songs, which meant a lot to the South Indian crowd present. After decadent bites by Madras Pavilion, the night ended in another massive dance party as Gowtham and Anita showed off their sensational dance skills to the infectious tunes of DJ Insomnia. Guests left with a bounty of personalized favors, including beautiful Indian clutches, coasters, and chocolates. (with pictures of Anita and Gowtham on them!) This was a once in a lifetime wedding that every guest will remember forever. To gather more gorg wedding inspiration, peruse the full gallery by MnM Photography. And scroll below for all the behind the scenes scoop from Anita herself!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?

I knew Gowtham was the one almost immediately! The first time we met he came up to me with the most warm, amazing smile that made me feel like I had already known him for ages. As cliche as it sounds, it was love at first sight!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

We were in Austin, Texas and we invited our siblings to join us there for the weekend. We went up to the top of Mount Bonnell and in the presence of our loving family...my sister and brother-in-law and his brother and sister-in-law...he got down on one knee! The view from my perspective was breathtaking. My future husband on one knee and a spectacular landscape behind him...how could any girl not swoon :) As fate would have it…he received an amazing job offer to practice Retina in Austin at the Retina Consultants of Austin and we are excited to now start a home in Austin and live in the same city he proposed in!

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.

Lots of planning went into the process...we spent months planning an engagement ceremony, then a trip to India to shop, and then of course the wedding itself! The trip to india was definitely the most memorable part of the whole process. Gowtham's parents accompanied me and my parents to India and we really bonded while shopping for outfits. I particularly remember a moment where we were trying to find bridesmaid sarees and no store had 7 of any one saree! I decided to have my bridesmaid dresses made from scratch at that point. We went to a fabric store to buy the materials I wanted and sitting there with both sets of parents was such a special moment. We were all exhausted from a long day of shopping but really found the situation we were in hilarious. The store had no air conditioning and didn't even have any place to sit! Even to this day we laugh about the experience in that fabric store. The trip definitely brought me closer to Gowtham's parents and gave all our parents a chance to really get to know each other well.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?

Another special moment for me was when I found my reception outfit. We had spent all day going to different designer's stores and had almost lost hope when we finally ended up at the Manish Malhotra store in Mumbai. Everyone liked a dress placed on the mannequin and encouraged me to try it on. The moment I came out of the dressing room with it on, I could tell by everyone's reaction that this dress was the one!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?

The most enjoyable part of the planning process was definitely those moments i spent in India with Gowtham's parents and mine. Gowtham's parents are the most kind and generous people and that trip really proved how loving they would be towards me and my family and how well our two families would mesh.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

I got the most compliments about our mandap decor. It was honestly spectacular! Prashe did such a great job!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?

I replay so many moments from that weekend in my head! If I had to choose...that moment when Jignasa (my wedding planner) opened the doors to my wedding ceremony hall and I saw the most beautiful mandap with dim mood lighting and beautiful background music playing....and Gowtham standing with his back to me on the raised aisle waiting for me to meet him for our first look. That moment was unforgettable!

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.

One of my favorite things about my reception was that my beautiful bridesmaids danced to some Telugu songs that I had picked out! They took the time to learn the meaning behind the lyrics in order to come up with some cute steps that went with the words. The guests were mostly Telugu and therefore they were thrilled to hear Telugu music! I had several many guests tell me afterward how refreshing it was to come to a South Indian wedding and finally hearing some Telugu music! My bridesmaids are the best!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?

Enjoy the planning process and every minute of every event! It goes by quickly but it's so much fun!

Have a great day Maharanis!

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