Welcome to Maharani Weddings

It's reel day, loves! We have a beautiful day for a beautiful reel! Long story short, Jenika and Shivam's parents served as marriage scouts and matchmakers. The duo met in the USA, and sparks flew! They decided to take the plunge and planned a big traditional Gujarati wedding involving more than 300 guests! Wedding expert Derek Wintermute Photography waved a series of lovely clips of their union that turned into a beautiful highlight reel. Four days of traditions, family, and dance, including a ceremony and reception at the luxury Westin Atlanta Perimeter North were part of the elaborate affair. Utopian Events designed the decor for the main days creating the perfect ambiance for both events. The aisle lit up with candles added a touch of romance and infused the ceremony spot with soft pink shades and blooms. Jenika also walked the wedding aisle in pink! She planned a spectacular look along with Shiya's Glamour, who draped her AsoPalav bridal ensemble and transformed her into a real-life Maharani using their expert skills. Shivam also made a striking statement decked in a Jade Blue pastel pink Sherwani and a Nordstrom blue suit for his reception. A night bash followed the wedding. Here, Jenika twirled in a silver lehenga and danced the night away with Shivam to DJ Bobby's music beat. At the same time, the couple's closest family and friends surprised them with dance performances! Watch these special moments captured frame by frame in the reel below. Scroll down and click to reproduce! 

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I knew he was "the one" the moment I laid my eyes on him. The conversations I had with him made me comfortable and gave me a positive vibe. I immediately knew I wanted to share life's best experiences with him.
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.
Our decor theme was floral with pink and white flowers. It gave off a fresh frangrance and overall positive vibe inside the ballroom.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I did have a color in mind; it was pastels. I wanted my color to look different as I also did customize color. All my wedding shopping wear is done online by doing a video call. I also look for so many designer outfits. I got it from Asopalav in Ahmedabad.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The something that  tied our whole wedding week together. Seeing everyone's faces up and enjoying themselves. We have never had so much fun!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
They enjoyed the overall vibe the decorations created and delicious food at all the events. The dance floor at the reception was also very active and the crowd was engaged with all the performances by friends and family.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
When my husband and I exchanged garlands and we were doing our pheras.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy the process as it is truly a lifetime experience.

Good Monday, ladies! Get ready to enjoy because we're taking you on a love journey through Jackie & Aradhya's wedding, celebrated at the imposing Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte. We're starting this journey by looking at a fun-loving photo shoot captured by the expert lens of Amy Kolo Photography, leading to the fabulous wedding ceremony that united these two lovebirds in marriage. Jackie & Aradhya wanted to include their two cultures, and they trusted K. Scott Weddings to take care of the planning and execution of this celebration, resulting in a perfect event! There was so much beauty all over the place, but nothing compared to our lovely Maharani gorgeous look. She burst into the scene looking like a princess, from the Mehndi party to the reception! Aza Fashions chose a traditional but spectacular red lengha for her, highlighting her natural and unique beauty! Such beautiful and luxurious jewelry was part of her magnificent attire as well. And we can witness the joy through colorful pictures that show us every detail; we do not doubt that this charming couple had the time of their lives! If you want to start planning your dream wedding and send invites to your loved ones after seeing this marvelous celebration, contact Enlove Occasions; they did an outstanding job crafting Jackie & Aradhya's invitations! And we are confident they will do a fantastic job with yours! In the meantime, check out today's gallery, where you can get inspired; you will surely love it! 

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Arad and I had been dating for three years. We had planned a trip to Switzerland but unfortunately last minute had to cancel due to the beginning of Covid. He was planning to propose there but obviously, things changed. I was completely surprised by the proposal and was not expecting it when it happened! We had gone to Georgetown waterfront and he got down on one knee. I can’t remember what he said but it was such an intimate moment that I will never forget. I later found out that he had asked for my dad's blessing which meant a lot to me. Merging two cultures is never easy but our dedication to our relationship is something I will always cherish.
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 wedding during a pandemic when you live in a different city and state is not easy. Luckily we had the most amazing wedding planner(Keisha) to help! She curated the best team of vendors and made the process seamless. We booked our venue without even seeing it in person. I found our photographer (Amy) on Instagram and fell in love with her work. She was so easy to work with and made us forget we were even taking pictures. We are not the most photogenic couple but she truly just captured our pure happiness at the Wedding.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
When talking to our guests after the wedding the most common theme they mentioned was how happy our families seemed. Arad and I are both very family oriented and bringing our two families together to celebrate our love was the highlight of the day.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
My biggest piece of advice is to remember even though it’s an amazing milestone in life, it is only just a day. Building a strong relationship is the most important thing and if small details get missed, that is OK. Sometimes as a bride there can be so much pressure to plan the perfect day, but in the end, it’s your marriage that matters.

Thanks for being part of today's love story, don't forget to be back for upcoming events here! 

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Hello, Maharanis! We are glad to take you to Mandira & Nipun's wedding ceremony; this is an event that you will definitely love and enjoy! This celebration was full of colors and elegance and just by taking a peek at the incredible photos of Balerina Films, we are sure you can agree with that! The beautiful scenarios of The Richard Nixon Library were witness to this happy marriage since our lovely couple wanted to look for something unique, classy, and romantic. The amazing venue was decorated with delicate floral arrangements that created a peaceful and captivating design; it was more than perfect! But this could not be possible without the help of Promises Forever Events; they did not allow Mandira to be stressed for a second, thanks to their excellent job planning and designing her dream day! And we have to say that our gorgeous Maharani was the one that overtook these captivating scenarios! She stole all the looks when she started walking down the aisle; she was rocking the traditional and fashionable red-golden lengha that Seema Gujral designed! She looked so beautiful by complementing the outfit with such luxurious golden jewelry; we are sure that more than one of the guests couldn't help it and dropped a couple of tears of joy while seeing her! Every part of this event was unique, and the reception party was no exception; many features made every corner different, from a vast LED screen to a cocktail extended time! But if you want to get more of this great event, don't miss the incredible gallery we have prepared for today. You will love it! 

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
As soon as I graduated from medical school, my mother was on my case of finding a boy as are most Indian mothers. I was very adamant about marrying another physician for really no good reason and struggled to meet another physician I was compatible with for about 5 years. One evening, we had a family friend come over for dinner who happens to be a lawyer and married to a physician. The lawyer's uncle says to me, "Mandira, what's your problem? Why are you not considering guys from other occupations?" Ask your auntie, she's married to a non-physician and she's happy." I replied, "Well, that's not a fair thing to ask her while you are sitting here. But fine, how about this, if you find me someone then I will consider it." I had only said that just to get him off my case and did not think he would come up with something. To my surprise, the next day he presented me with Nipun's biodata. Before I could say anything in return, he told me, "Look, I already had his dad talk to your dad this morning so you have to talk to him now." Lesson learned: don't mess with a lawyer. Line by line I went through the biodata and found every reason possible as to why this would not work. but of course, because our dads had talked, so I was emotionally blackmailed into talking to him. He politely texted me how I was doing, and so I replied, "I'm doing well, just studying for my board exam. How are you?" He responds, "Hopefully you don't get bored studying for the boards (sorry bad dad joke). I'm just relaxing at home with my book." I then couldn't resist and said "Well sounds like you're booked with a good read (one bad joke for another)." After that within two days, we had our first date. Instantly we both just knew there was just something different about us and we couldn't resist learning more about each other.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
4/3/21...the final countdown. While dating, Nipun had come up with the idea to play 20 questions so that we can break the ice and learn about each other. He proposed to me on April 3rd, 2021. His mother's birthday is April 4th so we had planned a dinner at the house for her was the impression I was under. I was on call that weekend and was finishing rounds in the hospital. My supervising physician insisted I leave early so I wouldn't be late and he also mentioned he would cover me if there were any overnight patients to see which I found a bit odd but I went along with it. I quickly go home, freshen up and change, and head to their house. He opens the door and there is no one in sight at the house. I asked him and he just simply replied that they all went for a walk. He takes me to the backyard and we walk to the edge of the yard. (His parents live on Crystal Cove in Newport Beach so the view from the backyard is spectacular.) He gets down on one knee and says to me "I have my 20th question to ask you" and with his American accent he says "Mujhe Shaadi karoge?" Obviously, I had said yes and to my surprise, our parents and his siblings were hiding on the balcony watching the entire time. Later I learned that Nipun had spoken to my supervising physician to let me off the hook for that weekend - so shout out to Dr. Sethi for allowing me to have this moment.
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 started planning during the second COVID surge which was surprisingly a lot easier than we were anticipating. We assumed because there was never a guarantee when COVID would disappear so no one would respond to us; however, to our surprise, every single one of our vendors went above and beyond communicating with us, answering all our questions, and walking us through the entire planning process. We really had an amazing team of people to work with and actually finished planning 1 year in advance so all we had to then was wait for the big day.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I had ordered my lengha about 1 year in advance online because at that time I had no idea if would have the chance to go to Mumbai and find my perfect dress. A couple of years ago, I visited the Pernia Popup Shop in Bandra, Mumbai, and met their manager Deepika there who helped us look at outfits, however, at that time I was very singed and had no plans of getting married anytime soon. My mom and I did keep in touch with Deepika over the years so when the time came to get my wedding dress, we knew she was the one we could trust during that time. We spend days and days on their website, browsing through all the possible options. I knew I want a bright red lengha, but I did not want it entirely red. Then Deepika introduced us to the designs by Seema Gujral and within minutes of looking at her stuff, I found my dress. I was a little nervous about ordering online, but Deepika kept me informed the entire time. She would even send me pictures and videos of the dress being made at Seema's workshop. The service at Pernia's Popup Shop was out of this world. They delivered exactly what was promised and made online shopping so simple and trustworthy.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I actually have the top two enjoyable parts of planning. The first was brainstorming with Nipun on how we wanted our events to happen, which was actually not the easiest part either. Families would have different opinions, and even we would disagree. Nevertheless, it was one of the best parts of the process because we learned how to work with each other and how to work with each other's families. That was a very valuable experience for both of us because, at the end of the day, a marriage is between two families.
My second favorite part was planning our menu for each event. Rasraj was an amazing catering team to work with, especially with Chef Saumil. Unlike most caterers, we were not forced to choose from a fixed menu selection. Instead, Chef Saumil sat down with us multiple times and help curate new varieties for our menu and came up with dishes that really represented Nipun and me. We really wanted Malaysian food at the sangeet and they just knocked it out of the park. Tasting, planning, and execution were phenomenal with Rasraj. Even our venue, Nixon Library, was very impressed with how they worked.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I believe there are three things that our guests loved:
1. The food - even though 6 months have gone by and so many other weddings within the family, but still our guests cannot stop raving about the food
2. The themes - everyone really enjoyed that every single one of our events was very different from one other it felt like 5 different parties and at each party the energy just got higher and higher.
3. The flute player - Anis was part of our sangeet, wedding, and reception. He got every dancing at the sangeet with his live band. He set the perfect romantic mood with the melodies he played on his flute during our wedding ceremony. He turned our cocktail hour at Nixon into a raging dance party which Nixon was even blown away by.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
For me, a really special moment was when my cousin's brothers rushed around me when I entered to lift me up during the vaar mala. It was a very special feeling to know that they always have my back (quite literally).
For Nipun, a really special moment was when he entered after the baraat and my mom with her sisters and friends performed a special dance for him right before I entered. It was a surprise for him and still to this day, keeps replaying the video. He was left blown away by it, especially the special appearance of my dad in the dance. (I could have had bridesmaids for my entrance but I thought why not let my aunties have some fun!)
For both of us, a really special moment was how well both families just mixed into one another that we actually couldn't figure out anymore who was from the "boy's side" or who was from the "girl's side."
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 Haldi/welcome party, we wanted to do something fun so decided to host it as Havana nights. Our guests were amazing in dressing up per the theme. We blasted reggaeton music all night. Nea by Nikita Tiwari created tropical-themed outfits worn by me, my mother, and my mother-in-law. Rasraj set up an awesome Mexican fiesta. And of course, we had tropical-flavored mojitos to keep the party going.
For our sangeet, Nipun and I wanted to add a personal touch so we folded over 1500 origami butterflies (Per Japanese tradition, origami butterflies flying around each other represents marital bliss.) Our decorator - Royall Ball Designs - beautifully incorporated into the decor and thus naturally the theme of the night was an enchanted butterfly forest. Rasraj had set up a variety of different stalls from falafel burgers to chaat to Malaysian street foods. My dress came from Netr Boutique, owned and ran by my very own masi, Trupti Kothari. She designed and created by outfit for me which I will say is my favorite outfit of all the outfits I have worn.
For our wedding reception, we didn't want to go with a romantic theme because Nipun and I are not the most romantic couple and we just wanted to have fun so we thought what's more fun than a disco party at the 'White house! Royal Ball Design did a fantastic job turning The East Room of Nixon into a disco tech. Our DJ Dhamaka Productions provided the LED screen for our stage backdrop which we used for slides of old pictures of Nipun and me growing up. These slide shows were played during speeches and certain performances, for example during the father-daughter dance, we played a slide show consisting of pictures of my dad and me over the years, or when Nipun's friends gave a speech, we played a slide show consisting of pictures of him and his buddies over the years.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
There may be things that won't go exactly as you planned but just remember all your hard-working in planning will pay off. It is not worth stressing about, just enjoy the moment because it is your day and no one can take that away from you.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Nipun and I felt that we had the perfect wedding, there is not a single thing we would want to change about it. This would not obviously be possible without our amazing coordinators - Promise Forever Events. Those girls made magic happen. They made sure everything happened on time, with not a single delay, something I thought was actually impossible (especially being Indian and running on IST). We also could not thank our photo/video team - Balerina - enough for capturing all the moments so perfectly. The same-day edit video they created for us truly is a beautiful rendition of all our events. 

Thanks for joining us today, sweeties! Remember to come back every day for more romantic events! 

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Hello, Maharanis! Go check out Anar & Harsh's wedding that it is live on today's Platinum Guide Blog.

We hope that you have enjoyed this journey as much as we have! Remember to stay close for more!  

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My beloved Maharanis, we are right in the middle of the week, and we have a splendid filmy day to start! Nishi & Sohil's grand wedding took place on a lovely autumn day. RB Event Design crafted these sweethearts' immaculate event, resulting in a visual delight! With Bandhan Celebrations' artistic decor and the fabulous venue that The Mansion on Main Street offered, our couple was on the right path to creating a magical night for everyone. They hosted a beautiful ceremony and celebration with their loved ones and had Chand Palace's exceptional catering services to assist with utmost professionalism and zeal. This majestic event wouldn't have been as memorable as it was without our Maharani's dashing style. Nishi was shining with her divine attire from Shilpa Gandhi Studio and charming smile framed by Pretty Neat Beauty's intricate makeup dexterity. The bride was a sight to behold! Her dear partner, Sohil, was as enthralled as we are by her beauty. The groom was dazzling on his own with his ravishing garments. Our couple was stunning at all times, including on the dance floor, with Tinaz Entertainment Inc bringing the best ambiance to enjoy. Believe me, ladies; the film is even better than you can imagine! Studio KSD's team flaunted their cinematography skills for this once-in-a-lifetime day, capturing the night's highlights and more for Nishi & Sohil to revisit their wedding day whenever they please. The lovebirds will treasure these memories rest of their lives, and you can illuminate your creativity by clicking on the play button below.  Enjoy, Maharanis!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met on a dating app called bharatmatrimony.com. Sohil was living in California during the time Sohil and I first started talking, and for me to actually get to know him better, I made and wanted to make as many trips to California as I could. Once I and he felt comfortable with each other, Sohil flew to New Jersey, where we got to know each other even more. My last visit to California was in June of 2020 when we finally made it official and decided to do a court wedding in August of the same year. From the time in June until we decided to do our court wedding in August, Sohil and I decided to take a day trip to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge. The drive from his apartment at the time to San Francisco was about an hour, and during that drive was when I knew that Sohil was the one for me. I really had and felt so comfortable opening up to him, and letting my voice go. After that drive, and that trip did I know that all conversations with Sohil moving forward would be like the one we had on that drive. Calm, patient, and warm. Sohil is the most patient person I have ever met in my entire life, without any doubt, and that is why I love him so much.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Our Proposal story is a very cute and interesting one. Sohil proposed to me on July 25th of 2020 at a beautiful beach located in Half Moon Bay. The amazing part of the whole proposal is that he planned it during a pandemic with my mom and the help of his friends without me finding the whole ordeal. He set me up while making me believe that we had to go shopping for a cocktail party that was hosted by his work, (Apple Inc.) He wanted the whole event to be perfect so he even made sure my nails were done, and even offered to do them for me. Funny, I know. He arranged it all so well, and he did an amazing and beautiful job at it. I was so gullible that I went along with the whole thing and I am so happy that I did. I was so naive that I even counted the number of steps that I had to walk down to get to the beach, just to see what beautiful props and decorations he used to create the perfect atmosphere of the best proposal I could ever have imagined. I was in pure shock and awe, and so extremely happy. I will remember the day forever.

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.
Our vendors were the best yet. I wouldn't have had the perfect wedding if it wasn't for them. I'd say we started planning our wedding a few weeks after our Court Wedding, in August, the initial planning of our wedding. We went into full wedding planning mode in January of 2021. By this time, I had already started reaching out to vendors through Instagram, reaching out to friends and family who had already gone down the route of planning their own wedding, and the rest through word of mouth. I had a vision in my mind of what kind of outfits I wanted, and from where so I started reaching out to friends. One of my friends has her own studio in New Jersey, so my Sangeet and reception outfit was designed by her and her aunt, but made in India. My wedding, Haldi, and Mehndi outfit were from Aari India. All 5 outfits, were stunning, and the style was perfect and exactly what I had in mind. I wouldn't t have had it in any other way. The venue we picked for the wedding and reception was like a palace, and it was called the Mansion on Main Street. It was and felt like a mansion, hence the name. I felt like a princess. My makeup artists and Mehndi artists are now such good friends of mine. I gave them a vision, and a design of what I wanted for Mehndi, and how I wanted my makeup to feel and look like me, but also feel like a bride. They went with what I requested, no questions asked. I did have a makeup trial, which made things easier for me and the artist. The decor theme was done by a lady, who owns a company called Bandhan Celebrations. During the time of wedding planning, my mom was the one who tackled this aspect of it. With me being in California, and my parents in New Jersey, they made not one but many back and forth trips to the store that does all wedding decor. They also made several trips to the wedding venue to finalize all the logistics. Planning any wedding requires lots of communication, trust, and a vision. My parents, Sohil, me, and our chosen vendors made all of this so easy, which is why we had such a beautiful and amazing wedding.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So for me, I didn't want to go with the traditional red and white lengha or wedding dress for my wedding. I wanted to go a different route. I had seen a lot of brides wearing a white, lengha with a floral print design to compensate or add on to the lengha, and overall look of the outfit. So that is what I went with. It looked stunning, and it made me feel even more beautiful. We chose Aari India, as our vendor for our wedding day.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
It was so exciting. Everything from A to Z. Our family, friends, and everyone and every detail in between made the whole event, or I should say events so enjoyable. I think for me, seeing all the vendors respond to our requests in a timely manner, made the planning process very easy. It made me feel that everything we wanted is and was going in the right direction, and it made me and my parents feel at ease. The support of the whole crowd, and our family was unconditional and I loved that.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think all of our guests enjoyed the live band we had going at the Sangeeth event. We had my mom's friend Chirag Trivedi and a known and popular singer perform, by the name of Tina Kundalia. She really engaged everyone in the audience, or rather our guests, including our friends, and close family. Sohil and I, as well as cousins and family, performed dances throughout the evening, along with some speeches. We continued the celebration during the reception with more speeches and of course a DJ to get the party going even more. Our guests also enjoyed the gorgeous, and beautiful setting of our venue, the Mansion on Main Street.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Yes! During our wedding, I walked down the aisle with my Uncle and Aunt. Growing up, I have been very close to them, and my uncle always encouraged me that I could do anything I ever set my mind to. That line and he is very close to my heart. Also, while Sohil and I were getting married, my 4 brothers ( 2 boy cousins from my dad's side, and 2 boy cousins from my mom's side) were on the mandap during the whole ceremony. Even though I am an only child, I actually felt as if I had 4 real brothers standing by me while I got married. I will never forget that.

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.
Decoration for any wedding is in the eye of the beholder. Every aspect, and detail that goes into planning a wedding comes down to a huge vision board, and lots of communication. It also requires lots of patients, a game plan, and hard work. At any Indian wedding, you will see lots of colors, and each color has some sort of significant meaning to it. The meaning might be seen or interpreted differently by each person. It's all about perspective. You will see lots of yellow, red, blue, pink, magenta, and violet in Indian colors, as well as others. My cousins, performed a beautiful and graceful dance during our Sangeet, one that I will always remember. I have them down to perform at all functions, now moving forward. It's something they enjoy, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy every moment, as it will only come once, and remember to have fun.
Dear ladies, this is all for today. Do not forget to keep coming back for more romance!

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