Friday is here, and we know exactly what you need to kick start your weekend the best way possible! Today's Indian wedding experience comes to us thanks to our friends from WalkOnWater Productions, who really left us in awe with their visual work! So talented! The couple that will embellish our screens for the day? Priya & Arpit, and in case you missed the beautiful picture gallery we had a couple of days ago, you can always double-check it here. But first things first. This gala had absolutely everything we love about Indian celebrations. Color, lots and lots of family members, music, and of course, love. Imagine that all started with a scavenger hunt at the park! Who knew that Raja Arpit would be there at the end of it proposing! So romantic! Such a beautiful engagement deserved and equally beautiful wedding and that was precisely the case with this one. The stunning floral and decor you will witness were done by none other than Red Umbrella. We already know that in terms of style and finesse, there's none better! So, ladies, are you ready for this? We know you are, so hit play below and join today's couple on the most important day of their lives!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Arpit and I matched on a dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel, in February 2017. For our first date, we had intended to only go out for dinner but ended up going to three different places just to make the date last longer. Over the next few weeks, we were talking multiple times a day, and the chemistry just kept getting stronger. I knew this was it when the feelings I developed for him were like none other I had ever experienced before.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It's incredibly difficult to keep secrets from me, I'm too observant. Turns out Arpit had planned my proposal by getting my cousin Shilpa involved as his sidekick. I'm always her backup plus-one for events, and she had asked me to accompany her to an engagement party for a good friend of hers. On the way to the party, she told me she had to stop by a flower shop to pick up a few things for the engagement venue. We went to the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, a beautiful park in Lincoln Park Chicago and was approached by a girl who had told us the park was offering a scavenger hunt. I immediately declined since we were only there to pick up flowers (and of course, we're in evening dresses and high heels) but Shilpa said we still had plenty of time before the party. The girl handed me a canister with a scroll, which said to get ready for a journey and to search for the first clue. I looked up, and the girl was gone. I immediately thought this was a little creepy, and told Shilpa that we should go. She said she saw the second clue on a rock not too far away, and we should give it a try. Long story short, Arpit had set up clues all around the park, which led me to him standing under a bridge. He proposed, and I was definitely not expecting any of it! To make it better, the girl who had given me the first scroll was the photographer he hired to capture the 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.
Planning for 5 events (Mendhi, Grah Shanti, Sangeet, Wedding, and Reception) meant 5 itineraries, menus, outfits, decor schemes, hair and makeup looks, etc. I really had to get organized, so I made my own wedding planner book that I took to every vendor meeting and used to put inspiration in.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I really wanted to go the traditional route for my bridal lengha. I chose a bright, beautiful red with gold stitching.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved that Arpit was just as excited about wedding planning as I was. We worked together on most things and I think that made it a lot more fun.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The food was definitely a hit. Also, we loved surprising our guests! During the Sangeet, Arpit and I put on a surprise dance performance, and during the reception, we surprised our guests by driving into the reception hall!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
This was a behind the scenes moment that always brings a smile to my face. After we came back from the Vidaai, I had about one hour before I had to shower and start getting hair and makeup done for the reception. We were both in Arpit's hotel room and he was in a shirt and sweatpants, and I was still in my lengha. I realized there would be no way I would be able to eat and then fully undress in time, so two of my amazing bridesmaids, Amber and Forum, came to our room and took out the dozens of bobby pins in my hair and the safety pins in my dress while I ate. We were laughing most of the time and it was one of those little moments that made a lot of the wedding stress go away.
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.
The reception was my absolute favorite. I had envisioned a starry night theme with dark colors and bright stars, and my wonderful decorator, Red Umbrella, made it all come to life. By the best moment was when everyone was facing the front doors for our entrance, but instead, we drove in the side service entrance and around the hall to the front of the dance floor.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Get organized and remember the bigger picture. At the end of the day, it won't matter that you ran out of a certain appetizer or that your favorite song wasn't played. This is your wedding day, have fun and don't let one little thing ruin your mood.
More to come darlings, stick around!
