A beautiful fusion marriage to set in motion our week, ladies! My Wedding Way captured the perfect match at one of the greatest weddings venues in New Jersey, The Palace at Somerset Park! Here, Sonali and Ted started their wonderful journey together in a big wedding that included a lovely Indian ceremony, a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony, and finally a lavish western reception! With grace and beauty, Elegant Affairs Inc. adorned the ceremony and filled with extraordinary elegance the glamorous reception ballroom! The beautiful Maharani Sonali wore the most auspicious color for the ceremony and opted for a stunning white glittery gown for her evening trousseau that she completed with unique family jewelry pieces, a gorgeous henna design and a stunning makeup look from Makeup by Jillyan! She had just the perfect style! The energetic Dj Amrit from Bollywood DJs with his extensive music knowledge made the special day the most unforgettable for the newlyweds and all of those around them! See the radiant devotion Sonali and Ted have for each other in the film below!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met Ted when we were both working at a software company in Madison, WI. Our department was very small so it was hard to not notice the super cute guy who was in all our division meetings. We finally started talking after I got assigned to the project he was managing. After he crushed me in laser tag at our department holiday party, we ran into each other in a bar and spent hours talking over some late night pizza. He mustered up the courage to ask me on a date and we've been insanely happy ever since. I knew he was the one a few months later. Four months after we started dating, I left for grad school in another state. He was on a project in Hawaii. Without fail, every single weekend from the beginning of June until he moved to a different state for graduate school in September, he made the 13 hours, 3 leg trip from Honolulu to South Bend, Indiana. He never complained and never missed a weekend. That's when I knew he was as crazy about me as I was about him, and that it was forever.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I used to work right across the World Trade Center in Jersey City. My office had the best view of the city in my opinion. He surprised me by meeting me after work and suggested we take a walk along the water. Right when we got to the most picturesque spot, he dropped down on one knee and popped the question!
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.
Planning a multicultural wedding isn't easy! Luckily, I am the youngest cousin in my extended family and had been to a ton of weddings to observe from. I knew I wanted a very specific traditional feel for the ceremony and a western wedding. My husband is half Chinese, half Irish, so we also incorporated a Chinese Tea Ceremony into our big day. Our venue coordinator at the Palace at Somerset could not have been more amazing. He helped coordinate the whole day so that it ran smoothly without me having to think about anything other than the fact that I was getting married. Our decorator, Elegant Affairs, made my visions come to life and were so helpful in coming up with ideas within our budget. All of my outfits came from India and were just perfect!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted a traditional red and gold lengha for the traditional wedding ceremony, and an off-white glittering dress for our western reception. I scoured the shops of New Delhi for three days before I finally found the perfect lengha. The second I tried it on, I knew it was the one. Looking back on pictures, I'm still convinced there wasn't a better lengha out there. For my ceremony dress, I spent MONTHS looking. One day, at a boutique in New Jersey, we spent about 3 hours trying on dresses. Literally the second I was about to give up and leave for the day, the owner mentioned that she had a new rack of dresses that she was just about to put out. On that rack, was the dress of my dreams. I tried it on, and it was like with the lengha - the second I put it on, I knew.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I think the best part was definitely the food tasting. Our venue catered the BEST food. Over a year later, and the compliment we get most often was, "Oh my god, the food at your wedding was incredible."
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I've had so many people tell me that they loved that we had so many different cultures incorporated in the weekend. We had traditional Hindu, Irish poems, a Chinese Tea Ceremony, and a very western style Reception.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
During our first dance, Ted literally swept me off my feet and swung me around in his arms. Everyone went crazy with cheering and it felt like such a fairytale moment. It's also the part of the wedding video I rewatch the most.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Take a few minutes to drink it all in! The day(s) go by so fast so just take a few minutes and realize that this is the biggest day of your life and you are marrying the man of your dreams.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My mehndi took 7 hours but could not have been more perfect. My jewelry all came from India or from my mother in law. She provided all the diamonds for my mangalsutra and the gold for my husband's wedding band, which made them feel extra special. Our cake was devil's food cake filled with cannoli filling and was THE best cake I've ever had. I wish I could have more!
Looking forward to seeing you Maharanis tomorrow!
Floral & Decor: Elegant Affairs Inc. |
Photography: My Wedding Way |
Photography: My Wedding Way |
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park |
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Jillyan/Skin Bar & Paint Studio |
Catering: The Palace at Somerset Park |
DJ: Bollywood DJs - DJ Amrit |
Cake & Treats: The Palace at Somerset Park
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