Happy Tuesday, Maharanis! The week is just starting and we never stop! Today we have yet another accurate representation of what Indian weddings are all about! Vinaya & Karthik decided to the knot with all the style in the world, but also, paying homage to the traditions they hold so dearly. The Bridgewater Banquet and Conference Center was the venue of choice for both ceremony and reception and we know what you are thinking! A fantastic choice, to say the least! What was also fantastic was Maharani Vinaya's fashion sense and multitasking abilities. Seriously, it is not that often that we have a bride that handles her own hair and makeup and all the decor choices! This gorgeous lady is truly a Maharani for the books! The newlyweds also wanted the best of the best for their guests. In order to do that, they recruited the fine talent of DJ Mavi Productions who brought a playlist with all the latest Bollywood hits and modern tunes! So, ladies, you can't miss this love-fueled jubilee coming to us thanks to Photosaga! Let's get to it!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met through our mutual friend while doing rotations in our third year of medical school. The attraction was there from the very start when first met at the dinner at our friend's place. He always says how he couldn't make eye contact with me because I was too pretty... We got to know each other in the hospital though, talking in the hallways, eating lunch together. Then we slowly realized we were seeing each other without our other friends. The attraction is basic and not difficult to find. My comfort, and a feeling of home, away from home, that feeling is hard to find and that's what we found in each other.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We did a traditional proposal at our engagement event in front of our closest family and friends in Canada with a traditional Hindu pooja.
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.
We both worked tight schedules and it so happened that we both were only "free" in March, so as much as I never dreamt of a winter wedding, a winter wedding is what we had with a huge storm two days prior to our big day. We picked Columbus Ohio (my husband's home town) as the wedding location since we got to have the engagement in my home town, in Canada. The venue choice was mainly based on the fact that they let us cater food from outside, as most venues within the area restricted bringing outside catered food into the venue. I decided to suit the season of winter, I would light pastels for a brighter warmer feel for our ceremony with creams and peaches and then for the night reception I choose a bold dark maroon and cream for a romantic feeling. Hair and makeup I did myself as I dislike the feeling of wearing pounds of makeup and feeling un-like myself. I stayed true to myself and worse makeup to accentuate my existing features and kept the looks simple and wispy.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I wanted to keep my outfits very traditional with minor changes in the cuts. For my first saree, I wore a beautiful traditional red with gold detailing saree. And as I'm Malayalee and we normally wear cream silk sarees for the ceremony, for my second wedding outfit in which the mangalsutra was tied, I wore a traditional cream silk saree with the traditional Indian red trim and blouse. My husband wore the traditional dhoti. And for the reception, he wore a dark navy suit while I wore a dark cream/gold lengha with a pink shaal.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Planning was actually very hard to do seeing as my husband and I work almost 80 hours each, however, having our parents very involved and helping with the planning made it more enjoyable.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
They loved how traditional the ceremony was. Although it was long, the traditions performed were appreciated by most as most weddings these days no longer include such details.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I walking down the stage during the wedding ceremony; my husband's face was covered and I wasn't able to see him as a sheet was held before him and I had all my best girlfriends and my sister walk in front of me. It was an emotional time to finally live the moment we waited for 4 years.
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.
We had my haldi celebration at the Airbnb my family and I stayed at. We kept that simple with some decorations from a department store and some prayer items from my mom's prayer room from our home. The sangeet/mehndi night we again kept simple and rented out a room in a nearby Indian restaurant.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Not everything will go right on your wedding day, but that doesn't matter because at the end of the day you get to be married to your (hopefully) best friend.
Amazing wasn't it?
