Indian Wedding Videos

All posts with Color "Zombie Green"

Philadelphia, PA Indian Fusion Wedding by Lightyear Studio

December 17, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Welcome back, Maharanis! Time for a brand new Indian wedding filmy and this one comes from Philadelphia! Our couple of the day? Preeti & Jerry, and this is how their happily ever after began. The Hilton Philadelphia at Penns Landing was the venue chosen for the galas and the couple couldn't have made a better choice. The exclusivity and elegance of it made it the perfect place for the bash, strikingly planned and designed by none other than Elegant Events Planning & Design. As we will see, it was filled to the brim with details and beautiful setups that had us sighing the entire time! Be sure, ladies, that lots and lots of ideas are to bee seen on this one. This cinematic experience comes to us thanks to our friends from Lightyear Studio, who as always, come up with some of the best visual treats around. So without further ado, let us get to the images! Don't miss them!

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

Jerry and I met at work - we were coworkers (same department, different teams) and he sat right next to me. I still recall trying to be friendly with him on his first day, answering the various questions he had, and getting him settled in. In return, he made fun of me and was extremely sassy. I distinctly remember thinking, "This new hire is ridiculous. I can't believe he has the audacity to act like that." However, we started becoming really good friends as the days and weeks went by. We had a really tight friend circle with our co-workers and would constantly hang out after work and over the weekend.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

I really like escape rooms and puzzles so Jerry devised an elaborate puzzle scavenger hunt for me and said it was my birthday gift. I woke up to a dossier outside the bedroom door complete with an absurd premise (he was a secret agent and was captured by an evil organization), a time limit in which to save him, and a series of instructions (rules, clothes I should wear for the scavenger hunt, tools I'd need, and a granola bar for energy). I spent the morning running around the house, finding and solving puzzles while our housemates were secreting texting Jerry with updates on my progress. After I deciphered the clues, I learned I had to drive to the office where we originally met. When I arrived, I found Jerry - he had a GoPro attached to his head and was handcuffed to a tree (apparently the villains decided just to leave him there). He convinced me to believe I missed a clue that revealed the location of the handcuff keys so I turned my attention away from him to look for them in my car trunk. When I couldn't find it, I spun back around only to find him kneeling with a ring box in his hand. I said yes. Then I told him I had accidentally found the receipt and certificate for the ring while rummaging for clues. He was (and still is) mortified.

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.

Jerry and I essentially treated this like a project. We had weekly meetings with each other (Wedding Wednesdays), our parents, and frequent check-ins with all the vendors. We had spreadsheets, timelines, milestones, deliverables, etc. and made sure we started as soon as possible to give us enough runway to "deliver" on our Wedding. We took it upon ourselves to divvy up the work as "fairly" as possible (Jerry took food, I took decorations, etc) but we would always look to get feedback from the other before signing off on anything. There were definitely things that we struggled with - finding multiple venues large enough to host an Indian wedding, figuring out dates, hedging our bets with the weather, etc. Luckily, Jerry and I were aligned on most of the big decisions and all the partners we worked with had previously done Indian weddings (one of them also had experience with Indian/Chinese weddings). We ended up having a Chinese-themed Sangeet, Indian-themed ceremony, and western-themed reception. We wore Chinese outfits on Friday (I had a Qi Pao), traditional Indian outfits for the Ceremony, and INDO/Western during the reception. We were also very lucky that my cousin Kavan is an extremely talented designer (https://www.instagram.com/kavanshahdesignstudio/). He helped pick out the color schemes, provided guidance on our outfits, and essentially consulted us with his designer eye every step of the way. We're so grateful to have had someone like him help us out!

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

Every now and then, we would take a step back to a holistic view of everything. I think it was great practice as it gave us a sense of progress. The sense of accomplishment we got, seeing everything slowly coming together, was extremely gratifying. It allowed us to stop worrying about the granular details (if only for a moment!).

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

It's so hard to pick just one thing! The guests that had been to an Indian wedding were in awe of the Chinese themed decorations, party favors, and food (Sangeet was Chinese themed). Most of Jerry's side had never been to an Indian wedding and they were overwhelmed with everything that was happening. Some of his uncles and aunts keep telling us that our wedding was "the very best party they've ever had in their lives." Oh - and our priest was phenomenal! Not only was he charismatic and funny, but he also made it a point to draw parallels to other religions and cultures throughout the ceremony, while keeping it short for an Indian ceremony. We received many compliments about him even from my relatives from India!

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

Definitely the Ganth Bhandan (tying of the knot) - Jerry forgot that his dupatta was tied to my dupatta and almost dragged me off the stage on accident when he was moving something off the stage.

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

Plan early, meet often and communicate clearly. Be grateful for any support your friends and family may offer you. Speak your mind with cordial professionalism. And, above all else, remember to have fun! There will come a point where there's nothing you can do to change or control things (endgame, as my husband called it). You've planned to the best of your abilities, completed your checklists, and even prayed for gorgeous weather. Let the chips fall where they may, grab a drink, and enjoy the ride!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)

All of our caters did a wonderful job - the food was amazing and it was really exciting to watch our relatives try different ethnically authentic foods for the first time (Chinese provided by Sang Kee Sangeet night, Moghul for Indian Ceremony day and 5-Chefs brought Indo-Chinese to the reception). Cesaphe Vie also provided a plethora of hors d'oeuvres for our cocktail hour. Also, our cake provided by Cesaphe was an amazing sight - it was decorated one side to have each layer represent our individual hobby while the other side was an amazing red cherry blossom. Our guests did not leave any event hungry! Everyone we worked with also did an extraordinary job - Beautiful Brides was able to provide amazing hair and makeup for me and my bridesmaids, Lightyear Studio shot stunning photos and footage, Elegant Events made our venues look amazing, DJ Ravi got the crowd pumped with Indian/Chinese/American music.

Don't go anywhere, more to come!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Traditional
Fusion
season
Spring
color

Hilton Philadelphia at Penns Landing and Elegant Events Planning & Design are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Murfreesboro, TN Indian Wedding by WalkOnWater Productions

November 29, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

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!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Traditional
Ballroom
Romantic
season
Summer
color

Floral & Decor: Red Umbrella | Planning & Design: Red Umbrella | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville SE Murfreesboro | Cinematography: WalkOnWater Productions | Photography: Sapan Ahuja Photography

Red Umbrella is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Whippany, NJ South Indian Wedding by Prime House Productions

November 15, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Welcome back, ladies! Today, we have another gorgeous representation of what Indian weddings are all about. This time, we will be sharing Avianne & Ricky's lavish vision coming from New Jersey! Our friends from Prime House Production truly outdid themselves for this filmy so you definitely can't miss it! The Hanover Marriott was looking heavenly to house both the ceremony and reception and the couple couldn't have chosen a better venue for the gala! So majestic! What was also majestic was our lovebirds' fashion choices. Just take a moment to look at that awe-inspiring sea green and ivory saree! We are so loving that combination! Time to take notes ladies, new Maharani fashion trends are on the horizon and you definitely want to check them out! We also know that Indian jubilees are known for their colors and ravishing dancing moves. To keep everyone dancing the night away, the couple recruited the team from D&S Event Solutions who also assisted with the lighting decor! Seriously, can you ask for more? So, ladies, time to hit play below and let yourself be enchanted with today's filmy!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
My husband and I are high school sweethearts. We met during our senior year, and he won me over with magic tricks, silly pranks, and an epic scavenger hunt that led to him asking me if I wanted to be his girlfriend. He's such a charmer and great with surprises! I don't think there was ever a clear defining moment when I knew he was "the one"—as corny as it sounds, we just clicked from the moment we met. We're super silly and share the same life goals and values, but at the same time, we complement each other as opposites as well. Where I'm more emotional and sensitive, he's more thick-skinned and doesn't let stress get to him easily. Over time, we've grown together and learned so much from each other. Somewhere along the way of life's ups and downs, we just knew that we were in this for the long haul as life partners.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I thought we were crashing someone else's proposal, but it turned out to be mine! It was a chilly day in the city. I thought we were just there to spend the day with his family and meet up with his brother who came down from Boston to visit. At one point in the day, Ricky suggested we walk around Central Park. I was really grumpy because I was cold and just wanted to go somewhere indoors. Eventually, we went down a trail of stairs with petals scattered all the way down. His mom commented, "Wow! What are these?" and the cynic in me just responded, "Oh, someone probably just proposed here." At the end of the stairs, though, was Ricky down on one knee in a beautiful little gazebo by a creek. A group of our friends were also there and playing the song he played (Perfect Two by Auburn) when he asked me to be his girlfriend back in high school. My jaw dropped, and let's just say I wasn't grumpy anymore

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.

For our Wedding Ceremony, we wanted to have both a traditional and modern feel. We had a burgundy tent-style Mandap with a floating floral Ganesh and bells in the center and florals all around. We also had a raised aisle lined all the way down with candles and petals. Our DJ beautifully lit up the decor with wash lighting and uplighting and the ambiance was truly romantic. The actual wedding ceremony was a traditional Gujarati Hindu ceremony with an added Bible passage reading and Christian prayer by my father to honor my side of the family's beliefs. For our Reception, we wanted to have a classic, floral, elegant theme. Our stage had cherry blossom trees, a vintage lounge, and chandeliers, and our tables were decorated with mini cherry blossom trees, tall flower vases, and candles with orchids in them. Our DJ did an amazing job again with the uplighting and creating a dark, romantic ambiance in the room! We are so grateful to all our vendors, family, and friends who helped make our day so beautiful and effortless!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I originally thought I wanted to do a classic all-red ensemble, but when I stumbled upon the lehenga I ended up wearing, I completely changed my mind. I loved how it modernized and combined the panetar and gharchola traditionally worn by Gujarati brides. My favorite part was how the skirt had Indian Wedding motifs embroidered all around in gold thread. As a writer, I love a good story, and a lehenga that told a story just seemed fitting for me.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was picking out outfits and decor. I personally love designing and decorating, and who doesn't love shopping!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think guests really loved how genuine the day felt. Above all the glitz and glam, and more than anything else, we wanted the day to celebrate the magical and miraculous love that Ricky and I share. That love has transcended cultural and religious differences and overcome so much. I was so happy to see that love everywhere that day—in our silly antics, the heartfelt speeches, and the dances and fun we had with all our loved ones.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking down the aisle was a really special moment of my wedding. Right before entering, I was overcome with so much emotion that I started crying! As cheesy as it sounds, I've always dreamt of the day my dad would walk me down the aisle, and seeing him next to me at that moment made me feel so blessed. My entire eight years with Ricky also flashed through my mind. Thinking of all the challenges we'd overcome, especially coming from different backgrounds, culminating to this moment, overwhelmed me with so much gratitude and joy.

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.
For our Sangeet, we honored Ricky's Gujarati roots with a Garba night. We dreamt of a vibrant night filled with all the colors, song, and dance, and that's exactly what it was! I wore a colorful, multi-fabric lehenga, which was complemented by the decor—a colorful orange and pink backdrop with a golden swing and parasols—plus a beautiful tree in the center of the dance floor adorned by candles, a Radha-Krishna statue, and colorful pom-pom tassels. Ricky's mom and her friends did a special dance for us, as well as friends and two of Ricky's cousins. I also stepped out of my comfort zone to do a dance with my sister, joined by Ricky at the end.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
As crazy as wedding planning can get, don't lose sight of the reason for the day: the love you and your significant other share.

More glam and charm from our brides coming up!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Traditional
Romantic
South Indian
season
Spring
color

D&S Event Solutions and Hanover Marriott are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Tampa, FL South Indian Wedding by Since 1987 Films

September 9, 2019 Posted by: Shawna 1 Comments

Welcome back, dolls! Some months ago, we had the pleasure to have Avani & Naresh's gorgeous wedding vision. In case you missed it, you can relive all the glam here. Today, it is time to get those sarees on, grab a drink, and enjoy the cinematic experience that our friends from Since 1987 Films have for us from that unforgettable day of magic! The Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore was looking at its very best for the gala and it had to be like that! We know that when a Maharani ties the knot, mountains tremble! Just look at that gorgeous fashion choices our bride Avani made for her big day! So magnetic! I also loved her makeup, and guess who was involved in it? You got that, right! Michele Renee The Studio of course! Such a grand bash needed the pros! So, ladies, there is no time to waste, let us get to the filmy we have been waiting for, only here, at Maharani Weddings!

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

We met on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. Our first date consisted of a shared, vegetarian Thai dinner at Thai Prime next to the hotel where their wedding took place. They then enjoyed a really fun night out in Tampa Bay’s SoHo district (where the wedding after-party was) that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. In total, we ended up visiting seven or eight different places on that first night. Our second date was the very next day at the Laxmi Narayan Mandir, where Naresh has been visiting every Sunday for yoga, meditation, and prayers. Our third date was the next day after that, at P.F. Chang's for dinner. While Naresh felt like I was his "One," after the first date, I knew a few weeks into our relationship.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

Weeks before the proposal day, Naresh’s friend Santosh Govindaraju sent an email invitation for his birthday party at the top of the Aloft hotel in downtown Tampa Bay. Coincidentally, on the same day as the party, a different friend of our, Michele Renee - who runs a hair and makeup studio - invited me to participate as an "Indian model" during training for her new artists. We decided to meet at the Aloft hotel for the birthday after my beauty session. On my way to the hotel, I received a call from Naresh telling me he had just gotten to the birthday and that a guy at the entrance would lead her to a special location for the occasion. When I arrived at the front, I found it odd to be met by a photographer. I followed the photographer up to the top floor of the hotel. As soon as I opened the door to the penthouse, I knew there was no birthday party. The room was filled with red balloons, hearts, roses, candles, and my favorite Ferrero Rocher chocolates. The photographer had me sit down to watch a video on the TV filled with sweet messages recorded by our families and photos of us together. Halfway through the video, I was confused about why I was watching this alone while the photographer was snapping pictures of my reactions. I legitimately thought Naresh was late to his own proposal. I couldn't even concentrate on the video because I kept gazing around the penthouse for him... but at the end of the video, there was Naresh, telling me to come out to the balcony. I followed a trail of roses from the TV couch to the balcony. Another pathway outside led me to Naresh, who was on one knee in a heart-shaped bed of petals bordered by candles. He said a few words about how it had been exactly 364 days from the day we first met and how his life had completely changed for the better. It was such a sweet and thoughtful proposal, and of course, I said YES! But it didn't end there... After an immediate photo session with the photographer around Tampa's Riverwalk, we returned to the penthouse, where about 30 of our close family and friends secretly gathered for a surprise engagement celebration! This was actually more of a surprise than the proposal!!! Some of our family drove or flew in from out of town. Other friends FaceTimed into the event. It was an eventful night of dinner, drinks, dessert, and love. Everyone celebrated the night and ended up at the hotel bar downstairs, which was blocked off for the group's party. Naresh, his parents, and I then spent the rest of the weekend in Orlando at a resort near Disney to keep the festivities going.

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 hired a month-of coordinator and separate day-of coordinator. We recommend hiring both even if you’re looking to save a few bucks. It’s important to feel as relaxed as possible the week of the wedding and during all the festivities.

Naresh handled a bulk of the long-term planning, event coordination, negotiations, and programming (of course, with the consultation of me :-). Naresh owns an online and digital agency, and one of the services they offer is online special events like webinars and virtual conferences. They know what’s entertaining, what’s boring, what’s expensive, how to negotiate, etc. His company has generated more than $10 million dollars for clients over the past few years, so planning an actual physical event like a wedding was much smoother than the horror stories he was led to believe. Naresh treated our wedding #Narvani2018 just like he does his tech work. He quantified prospective vendors, digitized processes, and outsourced the labor to speed up efficiency and effectiveness.

Naresh identified the three cheapest venues (through an Excel spreadsheet model he created, since each venue has different variable costs) in the Tampa-St. Pete area that could accommodate more than 350 people. I visited all three and picked my favorite.

About 100 locals attended at least one of the events. The rest of the folks (about 250 folks) drove in from Ocala or flew in from around the world.

The wedding ceremony took place inside our hotel venue’s ballroom. It was on a Friday late morning. The mandap was beautiful with fresh flowers, candles, votives, entry ramp, etc.

The baraat got rained out, so we did the baraat inside the hotel. They had an area where we could do it. We were very fortunate that our DJ Inderjeet is a dhol player, so we were able to do a truly mobile baraat inside.

Everything took place in the hotel.

I made centerpieces for the reception. They were trees with crystals.

Naresh choreographed multiple jaw-dropping dances. I made a slideshow that was running throughout the reception backdrop. Naresh also gave a speech with supporting slideshow that one person called “the greatest wedding speech given by a groom in the history of weddings.” Multiple people have requested access to this video of the speech. It will release next month. All attendees under 50 years kept in touch via a private WhatsApp group. The group chat got very wild and crazy, which made the memories and new friendships even more lasting.

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

I went to India. I tried on a bunch of outfits and picked the dresses I liked the most. I wanted a wedding outfit to be traditional red. I wanted blush and gold as the colors for the wedding theme because those are popular colors for Indian weddings. They are pretty and "in."

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

Food and cake tasting were the most enjoyable parts of the planning process. They were fun activities to do together as a family.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

We were surprised at the feedback we got regarding the joint priests (Telugu and Gujurati). The two priests worked amazingly with their teams (we had an additional three or four priests reading the Shastras), the DJ, and the thavil, shehnai, and nadaswaram musicians. You could truly feel holy vibrations during the auspicious muhurtham. "I've never been to a wedding with such talented and wonderful Vedic priests. It was a privilege to witness the divine merging of two cultures, traditions, people."

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

It was very nice to see everyone - friends and family - coming from all around the world to celebrate under one roof.

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

I tried to do some of my own décor items, and we ended up not using them. We recommend not doing your own decorations. Spend the money to get a professional company to do it all. Don’t do anything yourself. Estimate that the liquor tab will cover your entire food and beverage minimum (assuming you’ll have liquor at your Sangeet and wedding).

Don’t get stressed out over this event. Get a good project manager and event coordinator to take on the workload and stress. The future of your marriage is far more important than your wedding weekend.

More to come, don't miss it!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Ballroom
Romantic
Cinematography
season
Winter
color

Michele Renee The Studio is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Toronto, Canada Indian Wedding by Plum Pictures

July 10, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Have you ever been enchanted by the colorful dances and flying Sarees of the Bollywood flicks? Well, we know that Indian culture is all about color and movement and today's feature is truly like one of those stories had come to life. Shikha & Janak's love story comes to us from Canada and thanks to our friends from Plum Pictures' striking visual sensibilities. Maharani Shikha was everything a real Maharani is for her wedding day. Glowing and with a big smile, this bride totally mesmerized everyone from beginning to end. Her gorgeous maroon toned saree was the highlight for me. Such a dazzling color that matched with her aura in all the right ways! So gorgeous! The gala couldn't have run as smoothly as it did if it wasn't for Chic Events by Sonia who assisted with the planning and design and who also helped conceived the amazing wedding theme as the event's designer. So talented! So, ladies, time for some jubilee with our filmy of today! Don't miss it!

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

How did we meet:

It's true when they say, your perfect soul mate comes when you least expect it. Janak was introduced to me when I was at a strange point of my life, through a friend. I was finishing up my undergrad, trying to determine what best to do with my life afterwards, unsure what would happen or where life would take me - the typical undergrad crisis. A friend introduced me to Janak who I avoided speaking to for months. Finally, I gave in and met him for our first date (bubble tea at Sweet Dreams Tea Shop in Waterloo) for some bubble tea and Jenga. The moment we met, I knew he was the one. What sweetened the deal was that he did not let me win at Jenga (and still doesn't), but I still won.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

After dating for almost 4 years, Janak popped the question on a cold February afternoon (-23 degrees). We walked around our favourite hangout spot (Port Credit in Missisauga) by the water, where he asked me to marry him - just as two beautiful swans swam by!

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.

Since Janak and I are two different cultures (I'm Punjabi, he's Rajasthani), we had to find a medium that would work with both cultures. We both have fairly large families, so we needed a venue that would accomodate. Janak and I started playing golf together, so we felt that having our ceremony at a golf course only fit! Our decor style was very royal and Rajasthani palace-esque, beautifully designed by Karma Design Studio, with reds and golds as our main colours. I walked in under a beautifully made floral canopy made by BloomenBrides that caught a lot of eyes and added to the royal feel of my entrance.

For our reception, we took a midnight palace stance, with whites and florals.

We wanted to emulate the royal feel throughout, so ensured that every accent piece (from cake, to floor wrap, to stationary/signage) met that feel.

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

I knew I wanted to wear red. When else in your life are you EVER going to wear a red lengha? I flew to India and found my perfect outfit on my first day shopping in Chandni Chowk, New Dehli, from Om Parkash (https://www.instagram.com/omparkashjawaharlal/?hl=en) in a reddish/pinky tone with accents of mint green and peach.

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

CAKE TASTING! We chose Fine Cakes by Zehra for our cake vendor, who not only made our cake a visibile work of art, but the flavours were amazing! We chose Skor and Strawberry Shortcake to serve and Ferro Rocher to save for ourselves.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

Our guests loved our ceremony, especially our venue. There was an indoor mandap, and a beautiful outdoor back patio that over looked the golf course that our guests loved taking pictures on. The food, from The Host, was enjoyed and complimented thoroughly. They also appreciated the little touches of personalization we provided. Every male from the brides side wore a red stool, and the grooms side wore a red rajasthani turban. Our ceremony programs walked through everything about the ceremony, and the priest through in some light humour to make the actual prayers enjoyable.

During my mehndi night, we asked everyone to wear yellow or green and provided floral jewelry to each woman attending.

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

Our first look at the wedding ceremony is something that replays all the time. I had no idea what Janak's look would be, and he had no idea what mine was. We were both blown away when we saw each other for the first time, and I still remember the smile on his face.

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.

Sangeet - keeping performances at the sangeet made that function more enjoyable as it tends to be more close family. I chose to wear a silk lengha, and go big and fun with my make-up. I used BombayHair extensions and went for large hollywood curls, with pinky/purple eye make-up.

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

1. Find a way to be apart of the cocktail hour at the reception! I don't recall seeing 75% of guests at the reception because it all happens so quickly! The cocktail hour is a great way to see EVERYONE and thank them for coming in a personal way.

2. Have a planner. It is SO crucial to have someone solely responsible for the schedule of events and all the small items that are required throughout the ceremony.

3. Work with vendors that go above and beyond for you. If you aren't vibing with them from the start, find someone else. If your gut is telling you this vendor isn't the right choice, find someone else. You don't have the time, nor should you take on the stress, of dealing with a difficult vendor during your wedding.

4. Start early! This way, you can evaluate multiple vendors and plan ahead. My goal was to be hands off for the entire month leading into the wedding because that's when family was coming into town. Spend time with them instead of worrying about final details before your wedding date because once the wedding events start, everything happens so quickly.

5. Don't go back to work right away. Even if you don't want to go on a honeymoon, you and your partner need some time to relax and rejuvenate after the wedding. It took me one week to recover.

6. Don't push your grooms to do something they don't enjoy. Instead, loop them into things they will so they actually enjoy the planning process (cake tasting, food tasting, etc.) The last thing you want to deal with is a grumpy groom.

6. Ask for help!! There are a lot of things you can delegate off to family and friends. USE THEM! Don't feel like you have to do things on your own.

7. Follow all your vendors on Instagram. It makes for easier consults, and they all post their work on their feed and stories. This is a great way to stay up to date on what's trending, their work style, and see other vendors.

8. Keep some things a surprise from EVERYONE. It's amazing to see people's reactions when they don't know what to expect. :) I didn't tell anyone about my decor, nor my outfits for the wedding and reception.

9. Book your mom with you for MUAH. She will appreciate the private bonding moments with you, especially since the wedding festivities get busy!

10. Have a bridesmaid, sister, friend, whomever, help you get changed after the ceremony and reception. You may be looking for some private, romantic moments with your new husband, but having him spend an hour helping you get out of the heaviest outfit, take off your jewelry and help with all your bobby pins isn't as romantic as one would think :)

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)

Mehndi - HennaByDivya spent 7 hours designing beautiful henna on my hands that added very beautiful personal touches throughout (a Rajasthani Bride and Groom, Groom holding a basketball, the Toronto Skyline, a mini rendition of my tattoo).

IAMALLTALK - We hired a professional MC for our reception who kept the crowd energized and engaged the entire night

Chic Events by Sonia - Having a planner was key to help keep everything organized!

We streamed the Raptors game during the reception as we knew our guests would be watching that instead of enjoying anyways.

BloomenBrides - Jasmine hair pieces, floral canopy, bridesmaids bouquets - all beautiful touches to add an extra layer to your wedding.

CanvasMUAH - going above and beyond helping me with 3 different looks for my big 3 events.

Mehndi night - I went for a short lengha, so I could enjoy singing and dancing with my family while they were all dressed up, without ruining my own outfit.

Fine Cakes by Zehra - delicious cake and so beautifully designed, I did NOT want to cut it!!

Plum Pictures - loved working with them as they were readily available, easy to work with, and let Janak (who is a bit camera shy) be the most comfortable.

Jewelry - I wanted to go all out for my wedding look, like a typical traditional bride. Matapati, nose ring, big earrings, double necklace, everything! I chose a contrast of dark green to go with my red lengha.

Stick around for more!

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FEATURED PLATINUM VENDORS

FILMS

Indian Wedding Videos

All posts with Color "Zombie Green"

Philadelphia, PA Indian Fusion Wedding by Lightyear Studio

Murfreesboro, TN Indian Wedding by WalkOnWater Productions

Whippany, NJ South Indian Wedding by Prime House Productions

Tampa, FL South Indian Wedding by Since 1987 Films

Toronto, Canada Indian Wedding by Plum Pictures

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