Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Dear Maharanis, love was in the air as Komal & Nir embarked on their journey of eternal togetherness. With the assistance of Shaadi Destinations, the couple's travel concierge, their destination wedding dreams became a reality. It started with a vibrant Baraat procession expertly organized by Sugar Events & Entertainment. With their expert team of DJs and entertainers, they ensured that the celebration was nothing short of spectacular. The beats of their music set the tone for the joyous occasion, encouraging guests to dance and celebrate alongside the happy couple while they arrive at El Dorado Royale - Beach Terrace. Under the guidance of the talented JC Castillo, the planning and design of the wedding were flawlessly executed. At the same time, Roses & Co added a touch of magic with their exquisite floral arrangements and enchanting decor, transforming the venue into a haven of beauty with cascading blooms and beautiful details at every turn. Komal entrusted Sara Tamargo with her hair and makeup, who expertly enhanced her natural beauty, making her glow with confidence and happiness. Loto Mehndi adorned her hands and feet with intricate henna designs symbolizing love. The enchanting reception at the grand El Dorado Royale Ballroom exuded elegance and sophistication. Party Music & Events lit up the evening with a mesmerizing fireworks display, filling the air with bursts of color and joy, while the beats from Sugar Events & Entertainment kept the dance floor alive. They brought their expertise to music and entertainment, ensuring that the celebration was a non-stop party! Sweet Caribbean Photo artfully captured every heartfelt moment throughout the festivities, preserving memories that they will forever cherish. Check out the lovely gallery to relive this special day. You'll be amazed by every shot!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I first met Nir at my sister's wedding back in 2015. But since I lived in NZ and he was from the States, a relationship wasn’t on the cards, so we became good friends. Nir was persistent and determined to win me over, even if we lived on opposite sides of the world. After many years of friendship, our connection grew stronger, and I knew he was who I wanted to be with.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
The proposal was magical! I still remember it as if it was yesterday. We were staying at the JW Marriott Juhu, and he took me by total surprise by asking me to marry him. He had reserved the whole pool area and had private dining for us. The setup was absolutely beautiful. Saying yes to Nir was the easiest decision I’ve made.

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 choose to have our wedding in Cancun, Mexico, and choose to work with a wedding planner. We hired JC Castillo, and his work is beyond incredible. Our wedding got delayed for 2 years due to COVID, so there was a lot of back and forth with our vendors.

Having a planner made everything so much easier for us, especially with me planning a wedding from New Zealand. We provided JC with concepts and ideas of how we wanted our decor to be. JC delivered beyond our expectations, and each event was so much more than what we had dreamed of.

We had a small wedding with 120 guests, and our resort, Dreams Sapphire Resort, and Spa, was perfect for our wedding. The resort was beautiful, and each event location we picked provided us with the perfect backdrop.

We did the majority of our shopping from Mumbai and Surat in India. With COVID, video shopping made things a lot easier for us.

I wanted my makeup to be natural glam and was excited to be more adventurous with my hair designs. Sara Tamargo and her team were so easy to work with, and they left me and my family looking fabulous for all my events.

Sahil & Riddhi from Sugar Entertainment is great friends with Nir. Sahil did an incredible job providing the beats for our wedding. They were really helpful and detailed oriented in ensuring we had exactly the music we wanted for all our events!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Since we were going to be getting married on the beach, I wanted a pastel lehenga. I had a concept in mind of what I wanted. I went to buy my lehenga with my parents in India. When I came across my lehenga, I just fell in love with it. My father passed away a year before our wedding, and my lehenga is extra special to me as my father still got to see me in it.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Food! Haha, Patravali did all our event catering. Their food was so delicious that we still have family and friends that rave about it.

Our guests also loved how we spread out our events over multiple days. It gave everyone time to explore Cancun as well as attend and enjoy all our events.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking into our first event was really special. To see all our family and friends here with us to celebrate our love. We had a lot of guests that had traveled far to be with us, and we were really grateful that after 2 years, we were finally able to get married!

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.
I am so glad we hired Salsa dancers on our Sangeet night. They provided so much energy and got everyone onto the dance floor. We loved all the performances our family and friends did for us.

We wanted to keep the decor simple but elegant. I loved all our floral arrangements for each event.

We created welcome bags for all our guests personalized with a handwritten letter from us. We wanted to ensure all our guests had all the essentials they could possibly need, along with a few goodies to enjoy!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Planning a wedding can be stressful! When the week/day comes, enjoy every single moment. Don’t sweat the small stuff, as there will always be hiccups no matter how well you plan. Just live in the moment!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Loto Mehndi are so talented. I loved every piece of my Mehndi design.

We also loved our Pandit. We had Bernado Soriano perform all our ceremonies. At the request of our parents no ritual was left incomplete. He explained everything so well and performed all ceremonies so gracefully.

What a lovely wedding! Sweeties, see you tomorrow for more tips and stories. Same place, same time!

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Darling readers, today we have the absolute pleasure of sharing the love-filled journey of Supriya & Andrei. The captivating Pyrgos Petreza provided the perfect backdrop for this dream wedding, flawlessly brought to life by the talented team at White Stories Events. From the moment guests stepped foot into the breathtaking space, adorned with the exquisite floral and decor creations by Jim Labraco, it was evident that every detail had been thoughtfully planned. With White Stories Events leading the way as both the planning and event design team, the venue was transformed into a magical haven, leaving everyone in awe of the beauty and romance that filled the air. Supriya's bridal look was a masterpiece, thanks to the talented hands of the brilliant hairstylist Olga Samartzi who expertly crafted a hairstyle that perfectly complemented her features, and the skilled makeup artist Εmmanouela Tagara, who skillfully enhanced her radiant features, creating a flawless and ethereal look. The culinary experience was a true delight, thanks to the exquisite offerings by Art Catering. Every dish was a testament to their culinary expertise, from the delectable appetizers to the mouthwatering main courses. And when it came to the sweet treats, Poulette Cake Design took center stage with their stunning wedding cake. The intricate design and delectable flavors left guests in awe. As the night unfolded, Galakteros Event Production set the mood with their expertly curated playlist, ensuring that the dance floor remained alive with energy and excitement. The talented photographer Sotiris Tsakanikas immortalized every precious moment, capturing the love and joy that filled the air. Check out the gallery to enjoy the memories of this unforgettable day. It is incredible!

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met through friends during the world cup 4+ years ago! I was with a friend, a last-minute plan to attend a beach party/festival; one of our mutual friends was there and introduced us to each other. He told me he had his own fitness studio and that I should come along for a trial session the next day and booked me in, I told him it was my day off, but he insisted! I went, and after we went for a coffee, we kept in touch, couldn't stop speaking to each other, and eventually, he asked me out on a date. We shared all about our lives and, on the first date, pretty much decided it was all or nothing. We haven't looked back since. My husband comes from a small family, he once told me heaven is at my mother's feet- I knew he was the one then. When I got some courage to tell my mum, she insisted on speaking to him on video chat; eventually, he came to meet my family, and I knew he was the one when he touched my parent's feet. He got on so well with my nieces, nephews, and siblings, it was like he was always part of the family. He had so much respect for everyone and was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He is a genuine, nice guy who has gone through so many hidden struggles but always has a smile on his face- which is so rare to find in this world.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
A week before Valentine's Day ( a year or so of being in a relationship), Andrei told me to let's go for dinner, but not on Valentine's Day as it's too expensive, so let's go the day before. I thought that was so cheeky! I asked him where we'll be going and what I should wear, he told me to wear a nice dress, so I got ready, and we were driving, and driving, and driving. In the middle of the desert, we reached this beautiful hotel in Dubai, and I asked him where are we; we were in the desert! A golf buggy came to pick us up, and when we arrived at the "final destination," I was surprised.

There was a red carpet with candles and rose petals to a private area overlooking Royal Horses and the desert. We were greeted by our own private butler and chef, I told Andrei you've really gone all out here, haha!

We had dinner, and then the chef came over and asked me to come with him to see all the desserts she had prepared and which one I would like to choose. I wanted all of them, but now I realize he was trying to distract me from the set-up that was going on!

The music all of a sudden changed, and when I came back out to the table, Andrei was standing at the end of the red carpet with a giant bouquet of red roses, swaying to the music; he asked me to come over. I knew then what was about to happen and was overcome with emotion. He had a small speech ready, which I have never shared because the words are too precious and for my ears only :)

He asked me to marry him and presented me with my giant ring (he had contacted my friend to find out prior and had also shown my mum and asked my parents for my hand in marriage weeks before proposing).

Of course, I said yes through tears, and when I looked around, the butler was filming everything, and the chef was clapping. It was truly romantic and private, and everything I could have asked for was intimate and just us taking at the 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.
Our plan was to get married in 2020...then covid hit. We had decided that we wanted a destination wedding. I visited Italy with my parents as that was my dream destination on the Amalfi Coast, but then we decided on Greece as my husband is Half Greek, Half Romanian, so it made sense.

We hired a wedding planner to help, and after 2 years of delay, we finally said by hook or by crook we would get married in 2022. We wanted to blend our cultures, so we decided on 3 events: an English/Greek Wedding, a Henna/Chura Ceremony & Indian Hindu wedding (spread over 3 days).

We wanted each event to have a different theme, color, food, and style. Our wedding planner did a fantastic job of catering to this, I was heavily involved in the decor, wedding favors, music, and every small detail. I wanted it to be perfect, this is the first and last time I will get married after all!

Each of our venues showed the beauty of Greece, Athens. Our English wedding was on a beautiful lake, our henna ceremony a luxury private villa overlooking the Athenian sea, and the Indian venue a castle surrounded by vineyards.

Andrei knew I was going to be a bridezilla, so he let me crack on with the planning. His only opinion was to have Romanian & Greek music at the English wedding. The rest of him knew I was a perfectionist, so he left me to it...also he wanted a peaceful life, haha!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I went to Delhi with Andrei and met my parents, who were already there visiting. We have family friends who are in the textile industry, and if it wasn't for them, I would have struggled. They took us to the numerous list of designer boutiques I had wanted to visit. I didn't have a color in mind. I was an open book and wanted to try everything and anything. They say when you know, you know. I tried multiple different colors, I wanted something that reflected me but also was elegant and timeless and would compliment the Indian venue. I tried red (but decided it was too traditional for me and didn't suit me). Towards the end, it was between 2 colors- orange/rust and blush pink. I decided on the blush pink and am so glad I did. The decor, the venue, everything just blended so beautifully, and I felt so elegant and beautiful.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was the layout: envisioning the guests arriving, the small surprises, the big reveal of the venues, and planning all the evenings out. I wanted separate areas where guests could talk and mingle with one another. The small details for me I enjoyed the most- the wedding gifts, the decor, the small touches such as the guest book and advice for the bride and groom table

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
EVERYTHING! 7 months post-wedding, our guests are still telling us how our wedding was the best they have ever been to, from the food, venues, and country to everyone staying in one hotel and having fun. Our wedding was the first destination wedding in my family, so it was amazing that everyone got to experience that!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Every single moment was special, but if I had to choose one moment, it would be when I was walking down the aisle with my father and looking into my husband's eyes, saying our vows. I didn't realize the emotion that would overcome me at that moment. It was a life-changing moment when I said to myself, I am truly happy and content at this moment in my life.

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.
Being from a Punjabi family, we all had to bring our A-Game to the wedding and show my husband's friends and family who we Punjabis are! We made sure to involve all the special elements of being Punjabi, such as the food, music, and boliyan. My mum had brought a dholki with her and was singing folk songs that she used to sing in the village when she was growing up; that was truly special. Our henna and chura ceremony was very Punjabi. Bold colors, Punjabi songs, and even my chura cover said Punjaban on it!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Sit back and take in each moment where you possibly can. When the guests are eating, look around and just see how many people came together to celebrate your LOVE. And don't forget to EAT! The adrenaline can quickly take over, and you need to make sure you are hydrated and eating- no one wants a collapsed bride!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
For the English Ceremony, I had a vision of blue and white- the colors of the Greek flag but also, because blue is one of my favorite colors, it reminds me of the sea, and being in Athens, we were surrounded by it. Elements of ice blue and white with the backdrop of the blue lake complemented each other so well.

For the Indian Ceremony, I wanted to pay an ode to my mum. I am the last child in my family to get married, and I really wanted that she walks into the venue and see my dedication to her. For the whole wedding, my parents took a back seat, I truly wanted them to enjoy it. They had worked hard enough all their lives and had already planned and done everything for my 3 siblings' wedding. My mum's favorite plant is orchids, so to match my lehenga, we went with a darker pink orchid throughout the castle. It's something that has never been done before, and even the florist for the wedding absolutely loved the idea. It really paid off and made the whole castle brighten up, just like my mum's smile :)

Dears, thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more inspiring weddings from our Maharani brides!

Welcome, darlings, to a tale of love and celebration as we embark on a journey through Supreet & Kabir's wedding. One of the most significant events was the Sangeet held at The Rockleigh. The expansive dance floor beckons guests to let loose and celebrate the joyous occasion, while the attentive service ensures that every need is met with grace and warmth. Supreet wore a magnificent bridal ensemble designed by Abhinav Mishra for the Mehndi ceremony, which was the easiest to choose for our bride. Mehndikalogie adorned her hands with exquisite mehndi designs, symbolizing love and new beginnings. Equishare Baraat Horses added a lovely touch as Kabir made his entrance on a magnificent horse adorned in vibrant colors and regalia. The sight was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The graceful presence of the majestic horses created an atmosphere of joy and excitement, symbolizing the groom's journey toward his happily ever after. The wedding ceremony took place at the breathtaking Guru Nanak Mission Gurdwara. Chandai Events meticulously planned every detail, ensuring every ceremony aspect was flawless. From the initial concept to the final execution, their expertise and meticulous attention to detail were evident throughout the entire process. Exclusive Events transformed the venue into a magical wonderland. The celebrations continued with a grand reception at the mesmerizing View on the Hudson, where the energetic beats and seamless transitions by DJ Raj Minocha from Platinum Roadshow Entertainment helped light the dance floor on fire! Studio KSD captured the magic of the evening with their exceptional cinematography skills, preserving the cherished moments of this wedding in a cinematic masterpiece. The team's professionalism and ability to capture candid, intimate moments allowed them to create a narrative reflecting this love story's true essence. Check out the video and enjoy!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Heena Surani from @houseofchicofficial was my personal shopper and a BIG help when it came to picking out all of my clothes, as well as my mom's and my sister's. We didn't go to India to shop, so I really needed someone I could trust to coordinate with designers and ensure that everything fits perfectly. Heena works closely with many of India's top labels, which made the process smoother than I could've ever expected, especially given the fact that Kabir and I planned our wedding within 6 months.

I knew I wanted to get married in Rani pink, but I fell in love with the ombre Aaliyah lehnga from Dolly J Studios. Luckily, they were able to send me swatches of pink and custom-made the lehnga for me in that color. The swatches also made it easier for Kabir to incorporate the same shade of pink in his ensemble as well.

My sangeet was one of my biggest events and had the most people. I had really struggled to find my look for this event as I wanted to stand out and look bridal but still have fun and feel comfortable enough to dance. Coincidentally, the Rang collection from VVani had just launched, and I fell in love! Once again, I asked for a custom red color (Kabir's favorite!), and Vani was kind enough to give me multiple options on threadwork that would go best with the red. Vani and Heena really helped me every step of the way, offering suggestions and best practices.

My Mehndi outfit was the easiest of them all, as I liked it as is and didn't have to go through any customizations! I'm a traditional bride through and through and knew I'd want to wear yellow.

Lastly, my reception outfit was the most difficult! I wanted a different look while still feeling bridal. I had chosen such heavy outfits for all the prior events and didn't want to fall short at the reception. Our reception was more intimate, so originally, I had picked a taupe color with silver embroidery. Once it arrived, I decided it didn't have the same wow factor as my other outfits. Again, House of Chic came to the rescue and worked with the wonderful Seema Gujral to rush order me a reception outfit in a custom sapphire blue. This one was BREATHTAKING. My makeup artist, Karuna Chani, helped me style the dupatta in the more modern cape style, which allowed me to dance freely and take it off halfway through the night.

All in all, for bigger weddings, I think it's worth splurging on your bridal clothes. You want to stand out amongst a crowd and feel like a princess!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Definitely the food and the DJ!! I come from a big entertaining/ foodie family, and food was definitely a top priority during the wedding. We served over 2,000 lamb chops during our wedding week! Each day had an expansive menu filled with stations from around the world (Thai, Mexican, Sushi, etc.). The wedding day at the Gurdwara had a completely vegetarian menu, but we were able to incorporate traditional South Indian food, juices, smoothies, etc., to make it more special.

Raj Minocha from Platinum Roadshow was one of our favorite vendors. He helped light the dance floor on FIRE! Each event had a particular musical theme to keep things different. The Sangeet focused on Bollywood music, the Mehndi and Jaago leaned more toward traditional Punjabi, and we had told Raj to turn our reception into a club! He delivered all of the above and beyond.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our toy poodle puppy, Romeo, was able to make it to the reception and take family photos with us. His doggy daycare Doggie Shrink was super accommodating and coordinated with our wedding planner to make an appearance. Romeo is very special to Kabir and me since we met on the same day I brought Romeo home. Having him in our wedding pictures was magical, and he got to see his mommy as a bride!

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.
Karishma Tanna, the owner of the Indian luxury wedding choreography company Urban Dancera, coordinated all of my family's sangeet dances as well as my solo and Kabir and my dance. She was wonderfully accommodating and taught us all via Zoom from Mumbai. I had seen her dances on youtube and Instagram and had known for years that I'd want her to choreograph my dances. In my opinion, the dance companies in India have more unique, modern steps than the ones based here in the States. The icing on top of the cake was when Karishma flew in from Mumbai to have one last in-person dance rehearsal with all of us before the wedding.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Find vendors that you truly love and connect with! One bad vendor can really sour all of the hard work and effort you put into your wedding, and no one wants that. Taking the time to meet with multiple vendors until you find "the one" is really tedious, yet important.

I also delegated a lot to my parents and my sister. My mom and dad were really passionate about food and decor, and I trusted their opinions completely, so they led those conversations and took those tasks off my hands.

Have a go-to person outside of your family to help run last-minute errands or be on bride duty in case you forget something the day of. I chose a few close family friends and bridesmaids to be my go-to people while my mom, sister, and I were in hair and makeup for 5 hours getting ready.

Lastly, find moments to sneak away with your husband! Those were some of Kabir's and my favorite moments! Our photographers would take us to various locations for pictures, which allowed Kabir and I to catch up and get a few moments to ourselves away from the spotlight.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
We had the @thepaanwala at the Sangeet, which was a big hit with our guests. @urbandancera choreographed all of my wedding dances.

Maharanis, that is all for today! Come back to enjoy the romantic stories we have for you!

Studio KSD, Chandai Events, BEAUT by FAR, The Rockleigh and Equishare Baraat Horses, Rickshaws and Carriages are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Hello, Maharanis, to the ravishing tale of Sonya & Samir's wedding, where love bloomed in the air and romance filled every moment. Amidst a tapestry of love and grandeur, this sweet couple embarked on their magical journey at the breathtaking Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort Spa and Marina. The air was filled with anticipation as the spirited Baraat, led by the charismatic D&S Event Solutions, set the stage for an unforgettable union. Guiding them through sacred rituals and blessings was the esteemed Priest Thyagu Sastrigal, whose words resonated with divine wisdom. Urvashi Mishra, Wedding & Event Planner, masterfully orchestrated every aspect of the celebration, while Elegant Affairs wove a spell of elegance and enchantment with their captivating decor. From the delicate floral arrangements to the exquisite lighting, every detail reflected the couple's unique love story, mesmerizing guests with the sheer beauty surrounding them. As the sun kissed the horizon, casting a golden glow upon the festivities, the talented team at Style by Susmita brought forth their artistry, enhancing the bride's natural beauty with their impeccable hair and makeup skills. Sonya emerged as a vision of grace and elegance, her radiant smile reflecting the joy within her heart. The intricate patterns and designs adorning her hands were brought to life by the skillful hands of Rang Henna. Under the shimmering lights and pulsating beats, the dance floor by Shout! came alive and created an electrifying atmosphere that swept everyone off their feet. The tantalizing aroma of Moghul Caterers' culinary delights filled the air, teasing the senses and leaving everyone craving more. The rhythm of D&S Event Solutions filled the air, igniting a contagious energy that compelled guests to join in the celebration. With their expert lighting, the venue transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, illuminating the celebration with an ethereal glow. The mesmerizing smoke machine added an element of mystique, enveloping the space in an enchanting haze that heightened the senses. The talented team at Knotting Bells immortalized every spin, twirl, and step, whose expert cinematography and photography captured the essence of love in every frame. Their lenses painted a vivid portrait of joy and intimacy, preserving the memories of this great day for eternity. Check out the incredible and sweet gallery for all details. Enjoy today's feature!

Sweeties, see you tomorrow for more tips and stories. And don't forget to leave us a comment.

Greetings Maharanis! Ayesha & Ahmad's gorgeous celebration is live on today's Platinum Guide Blog.

Today's journey is over, but the love story is just beginning! Don't miss our coming events here! 

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