Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Behold all the grandeur of Bharti & Shiv's wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog. You will love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met in Chicago through one of the most common modern ways - over a dating app. Specifically, Coffee meets Bagel. In the first couple of months of getting to know each other, we created a strong bond of friendship that helped set the foundation for our relationship. Very early on, our relationship turned into 9 months of long distance, with lots of FaceTime dates and traveling to visit each other as I completed my medical rotations all over the country. This truly put our relationship to the test. But once I was back in Chicago, I made the decision to apply for jobs locally and be close to Shiv (my husband) as he completed medical school rather than start a fresh journey in a new city. I just knew he was the one because while we were going through our long-distance phase early on, he patiently waited for me to finish my rotations while also making an effort to keep our foundation strong.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
One of my greatest desires was a boating experience on the Chicago River. With the help of friends, Shiv (my husband) tricked me into thinking that they got a boat trip set up as a get-together. The next part of the plan was convincing me that this was a fancier occasion rather than a casual boat party. So with the help of my younger sister, I was guided to wear an outfit that I had had my eye on for a while.
Then it was finally the big day. My husband wanted all our close friends and family to be there at the proposal, so he invited his brother, his brother's girlfriend, and some of my best friends for brunch before getting on the boat. Next came the yacht. We all met at the Chicago River docking station, and finally, the yacht set off on the sunny shores of Lake Michigan. Shiv got down on one knee and popped the question with the Chicago skyline gleaming behind us. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost! Shiv had another surprise awaiting. He took me to his family's home, where my parents, my husband's family, and more friends gathered to continue the celebration.

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.
The planning process for the wedding started about 10 months before the wedding date. We first started with finding a venue in my hometown of Detroit, MI. We wanted to keep our mehendi and haldi more intimate, so those events were planned on our own at our home. The larger events, such as the sangeet, wedding ceremony, and reception, were held at the main venue. As the bride, I was looking for something with glamour and charm. We decided on Dearborn Inn by Marriott because it has an old rustic feel with elegance. The hotel interior also made the entrance of the ballroom and lobby a spectacle to behold.

Planning our wedding was a family affair alongside our wedding planner, Tina Singh. We had a great experience using both of our families' insights and visions. We wanted to use themes for each of our wedding events and design the decor for each event accordingly. For example, the sangeet’s theme was the royal bazaar. So we went with decor that displayed a large gold swinging bench decorated with flowers, with two large life-like trees in the background. The food was set up as stations all around the entrance of the ballroom that mimicked a bazaar with bright, vibrant ethnic tents. We had a program of dances by family and friends, so we set up multicolored cots along the dance floor area for people to sit and enjoy the program. We also incorporated Punjabi and Gujarati traditions in the sangeet, so we ended the night off with traditional garba. Since this was a royal bazaar-themed event, the outfit I went with was a lehenga, which was wine purple in color with gold frame embellishments as well as peacocks and birds on the skirt. My makeup artist Cecilia (Blush Salon in Commerce township), did an amazing job by adding extensions to my hair and putting pearls into a braid to give it a unique look. She used multiple colors on my eyeshadow makeup to match sangeet vibes. She also did the makeup and hair for my sister, my mom, and my MIL’s. Everyone loved their unique touch. Shiv matched me with an Indo-western, burgundy, velvet Sherwani.

For the wedding ceremony, we wanted to use the beautiful outdoor lawn of the hotel which was decorated with greenery and fresh flowers. We set up the mandap there with fresh red, pink, and ivory flowers, and we matched our wedding outfits accordingly. Our wedding was during Labor Day weekend, and we were blessed with beautiful weather. We had so much natural scenery around us that we felt the mandap did not have to be overdone. We went with a mandap that was rustic in nature to match the outdoor scene. Our bridesmaids and groomsmen entered with matching custom sage green outfits to start the wedding ceremony, and from there, it transitioned into the traditional Hindu ceremony. Each bridesmaid carried a fresh-flower bouquet down the aisle. For the bridal entrance, my uncles and cousins walked me on a red carpet under the Phoolon ki Chadar, custom decorated by our Florists by Lama in Dearborn. My hair was put in a loose bun, while my makeup had tones of gold with a bright red lip to match my wedding lehenga. Altogether it looked stunning with the jewelry hand-picked from South Delhi Jewelers, with green and light pink beads to match the veil and gold embroiderings. Our wedding was recorded by our video team, who used multiple drones to capture the beautiful footage.

Our reception theme was all about sparkle and glamour. The color themes I chose were ivory and shades of lavender. My outfit was an all-silver, sparkly lehenga by Seema Gujural. Shiv wore a custom-designed tuxedo. For the decor, we went with gold frames on our stage, with chandeliers dangling on the sides and an ivory bench in the center. All our guest tables had fresh flowers, bouquets, and candle arrangements following the theme of ivory and lavender. We had a LED light stage in the center of the ballroom where all the performances and speeches took place. I also came up with a Photo Booth area near the entrance of the ballroom with a LED sign that said “It Was Always You,” placed on a green wall and surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Our dessert table consisted of assorted bite-size pastries decorated with a life-size white peacock with a tail made of lavender flowers. Last but not least, our DJ and photography team, Sky Films and Productions and DJ Vic did a spectacular job at all our events to capture each moment. They kept our wedding reception open dance floor flowing with energetic music so that we danced until we dropped. Even today, we keep replaying our same-day edit video and reliving our wedding each time.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I originally wanted to go with pastel colors on my lehenga. But after trying on several pieces, I decided the traditional red color looked best on me. After shopping around in New York and India, I decided on a crimson red Sabyasachi-style lehenga with gold embellishment that I found in a unique boutique in Delhi. I custom-designed a light peach veil with a wave border to match the lehenga.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was having substantial input on how each wedding event would run and planning the decorations. My wedding planner was instrumental in helping me decide which of my ideas was realistic and reasonable to bring the themes of each wedding event to life. I took pride in knowing that each event had an original touch of my personality. I also had a significant role in choreographing all the dances  I performed in. I have been dancing and choreographing for my other friends' weddings in the past, and now it was finally my turn to showcase at my own wedding.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We received numerous compliments about the high energy in the room during each of the events, how in tune and invested our guests were with the program going on, and how much detail our events were decorated. Last but not least, we received so many compliments about how AMAZING the food tasted. Our guests kept telling us how they kept going back for more.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The most special moment for me was walking down the aisle to the mandap with all the guests' eyes on me, and seeing the joyful yet somber faces of my parents, knowing that I was entering a new phase of life. That is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
To each bride-to-be:
Planning your wedding is one of the most stressful times that you and your family can go through.  At times it may seem that things are about to fall apart, and last-minute details are still not finalized. But at the end of the day, you will get to your wedding day and realize it all worked out. Trust the process and do the best you can, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Stress only causes tension in your loved ones and yourself. Enjoy each moment of planning because it always turns out beautiful, no matter what.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Venue: The Dearborn Inn by Marriott - Event Planners @ Venue: Paulette OConnell and Christie Dixon
Wedding Planner: Tina Singh (Marigold Wedding Planners)
Photography/Videography/DJ: Sky Films and Productions and DJ Vic
Reception Gown Designer: Seema Gujral (Delhi, India)
Groom's Clothing Designer: Diwan Saheb (Delhi, India)
Bridal Jewelry: South Delhi Jewelers
Hair and Makeup Artist: Cecilia Kashat (Blush Salon in Commerce Township)
Mehndi Artist: @DreaminginHenna by Sandy (Michigan)
Reception Florist/Wedding bouquets: Lama's Florist (Dearborn, MI)
Sangeet Catering: Punjab sweets and Indian Cuisine (Michigan)
Wedding Breakfast Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant (Michigan)
Wedding Lunch Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant (Michigan)
Reception Dinner Catering: Saffron (Michigan)

Getting ready for "I Do? Visit our blog tomorrow for more inspiration for your own big day! 

Sky Films and Productions and Marigold Wedding Planners are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Hello, dear ladies! We hope you are ready for a new love story because we are dying to share Kirty & Ankur's wedding with all of you. Without further ado, let's jump right into it! Highly acclaimed Brandon Andrews Photography prepared a jaw-dropping gallery for this installment to take on a visual journey through all the beauty and flair surrounding this life-changing event. Their innovative techniques allow for a balance between the natural movement of life and capturing it in a still shot. We're joining this couple at Twelve Hotels, where the ceremony occurred. Ankur arrived at the wedding venue escorted by his long side with much merriment during a vibrant Baraat that Dholi Saag and Jashn ATL enlivened. RHS Events conceptualized this wedding perfectly; they were passionate about helping them craft, execute, and elevate their once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Jim White Designs enhanced the experience with heavenly decor. This winning combo created a soothing environment to tie the knot. Throughout the festivities, Kirty looked drop-dead gorgeous thanks to Sumiyah Simjee, who praised this Maharani's innate beauty, making her look like royalty. Kirty sought high-quality bridal henna with beautiful figurines and allied with the great Manasi's Art ~ Hennafy Me. She created a unique bridal design just for her, just how she imagined it. After the ceremony, an epic reception party was enlivened by the incredible M1 Sounds we could not describe. The only time the guests stopped dancing was to take a bite of the delicious plates from Art of Flavors and the cocktails from Fizzi Atlanta. Everyone had a great time! But it would be better to experience it yourself. Believe us, it is worth the while, and you will get tons of inspiring ideas. 

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

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Happy Friday, Maharanis! How is your week going so far? We bet it is going great! And it will get even better after you peek at Durre & Varun's wedding because it is one for the books. Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Boston Westborough nestled the beginning of this everlasting love story, transforming its surroundings into a cornucopia of elegance and traditional flair, thanks to the fabulous decor crafted by The Floral Boutique and Yaar Events. The lovely floral arrangements and linens set the mood for the charming wedding ceremony that united these two lovebirds in marriage. It was such a gorgeous combination of elegance and flair that all guests adored! And talking about flair, we must remember to mention the fantastic looks of our lovely Durre. Maharani Dure trusted Umar Sayeed Couture's fashion needs, perfectly complemented with the fabulous and delicate Mehndi design of Poonam Henna Art. We also love the exquisite jewelry that Arts and Gems and Ar-Rahim Jewelers selected for Durre since this praised her while giving her a perfect touch of elegance and style. After the ceremony, it was time to celebrate the newlyweds with a luxurious reception party enlivened by Boston Sound and Light Company, who put everyone to dance. The only time the dancing stopped was to enjoy the mouth-melting cake baked by Benares Caterers. And if you want a photographer that uniquely tells stories, LoveDays Photography is the one! They are about creating something significant, different, and unique that Durre & Varun will cherish forever. So wait no more, and get ready to dive into this cornucopia of beauty we have prepared for you. It is the best way to start getting ready for an inspiring weekend! You want to take advantage of this lovely adventure!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met in college. It's wild to think we were only 21 and 22 when we found each other. He felt like my best friend, so early on, I knew we had something special.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Varun will contest this, but we got engaged three times! He proposed at Quabbin Reservoir, surrounded by friends and family. We used to go out to Quabbin to take pictures (Varun does landscape and astrophotography). One of our friends offered to take our pictures there, and that's where Varun proposed. It was the first place we took a picture together, and it was where we got engaged.

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 is one of the more overwhelming things we've taken on. So many moving parts and vendors to take time to research, talk to and negotiate with. Covid definitely hiked up prices and reduced the number of vendors available to us.
We chose a venue close to the airport, where we live and something affordable for our guests. We also wanted to be able to bring in outside catering since we wanted South Asian cuisine for each event. Varun and I each picked 1 thing we prioritized for the wedding. For me, it was photography; for Varun, it was the DJ and lights. I knew I was really nervous about hair and makeup and not looking like myself, so I just trusted my gut and did my own hair and makeup for all the events. The rest kind of fell into place.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I had so many outfits, and each one was incredibly special to me.
For the civil ceremony, I wore my mother's sari with my grandmother's pearls. My mother-in-law had a lovely bouquet made for me. I knew I wanted a veil with a long train, so my mother and sister-in-law had it custom-made in Pakistan with each flower hand appliqued on the veil. I felt like I was dressed by all the women who love me.

My nikah outfit was a traditional gharara but in a more modern light green color. My mother and aunt, and I picked out the fabric and had it dyed. The gharara itself is really special because my mother and phuppo (aunt) cut and stitched the fabric themselves. My whole life, I've worn ghararas that they hand-stitched, so I had to do the same for my nikah.
For the shaadi, I wanted a traditional red color but with a modern silhouette. The outfit was from Mohsen Sons, the same store where my mother's, aunt's, cousins, and grandmother's bridal outfits were made. There was so much comfort in going to someone who knew us and what we were looking for and who had excellent craftsmanship.

My reception outfit was designed entirely by my uncle, Umar Sayeed, and is from his couture collection. I picked the color and showed him my jewelry, and he worked around it to create the most luxe outfit I have ever worn. The work, the embroidery, and the cut are immaculate. I felt like absolute royalty in my dress, and I'm so glad he could make me feel this incredible in his work.
I could go on forever about my outfits and the styling but shout-out to my Amma, Bhabi, and Phuppo for running around and getting my outfits together!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Food tasting. It ranged from questionable to mouth-watering and was the best part of the planning process. Who wouldn't like sampling all their favorite dishes?

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The food! And the dancing!
We went with Benares, and everyone loved their food. They kept the meat dishes more Pakistani style and the vegetarian dishes more Indian style. The food was a love letter to South Asian cuisine.
We danced the night away for two nights and got the chance to celebrate with all our friends, family, and loved ones.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
For each ceremony, there comes a moment where you realize that you're really about to commit your whole life to the person you love. I think my special moment came each time I committed to marrying Varun. Whether it was my father, his brother, or the priest seeking our vows and affirmation, every time felt just as special and intimate.

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 mehndi night was something really special. We had super colorful decor, and Varun and I both wore fuchsia pink outfits. My sister-in-law and I choreographed the dances for the bride's side, and Varun's sister-in-law choreographed their dances. Varun did a special performance where he played guitar and sang a mashup of songs in English, Urdu, and Spanish for us. I walked in, playing the dhol surrounded by my entourage of friends and family. It was a great night when we all just danced and celebrated together.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Get a planner. Everyone will tell you you don't need one, or you might think you need to do it alone, but a planner will cut out so much of the grunt work. It leaves space for you to enjoy the process.
Also, take your time!
Find your venue, then work your way backward.
Pick one thing you care the most about and one thing your fiance cares the most about, and figure out compromises on the rest.

Ladies, remember that we have inspiring stories every day. I will see you soon for the next love story!

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Hello, Maharanis! Don't miss Malary & Kishore's lovely wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog.

Remember that we have inspiring stories every day, so make sure to join us tomorrow for more!

DJ Riz Entertainment and Soni Choreography are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Happy Monday, ladies! A new week starts today, so let's get ready to enjoy a unique love story. Today's feature concerns a lovely couple, Richa & Pratik. Planning a wedding event might be complicated; however, our couple always believed their love could surpass any situation! Thanks to the dedication and professionalism of the Weddings By Shy team, every wedding detail was perfectly executed. The elegant JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa was the venue of choice, and I can tell you our couple seemed happier than you can imagine! With the picture-perfect landscape and lovely decor crafted by Inner Space, this was the perfect backdrop for them to say "I do" in front of their family and friends. Richa impressed everyone with a traditional and fashionable look that can serve as inspiration for future brides! This gorgeous look would have been possible without the beautiful lengha from Silk Threads by Ruby Bhandari, draped and tied by Ninad Dadabhoy with Beauty by Lishma. An early wake-up was pretty good for this Maharani, knowing Ninad from Beauty by Lishma would work her magic. They had good conversations, and she made her feel comfortable and confident. Each look was unique and beautiful! To tie it all together, she got an excellent, original, and creative Henna artwork outlined by Henna by Purvi, adding an extra touch of traditional flair to an already captivating look. Her experience and original designs are the cherries on top for a great look! Dancing and celebrating with the bride and groom during their big day is a must, and DJ Aumir from Escape Entertainment L.L.C. played the best songs to achieve this. Another must of a wedding is a cute set of pictures to relive your most magical day.  Santiago Almada Photography did a fantastic gallery that will make you feel inspired. Due to their commitment to providing quality work that their clients love, they deliver clear, beautiful, hand-crisp photos that bring that special day to life. Wait no more and enjoy!

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.
I put a lot of trust into Weddings by Shy (and Prameet) - they look at my general ideas and help elevate them to the next level and beyond! Together we curated a wonderful list of vendors that were so personable and easy to work with. Once we got assigned Adil, our venue coordinator at JW, we were so excited as he was extremely easy to connect with anytime and worked so well with Shy and her team. Shy puts so much thought into making sure the bride, groom, and their families have an effortless wedding weekend - so they can actually enjoy the moments! Pratik and I can both attest that we thoroughly enjoyed our wedding and were not stressed on the days.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I definitely knew I wanted all red and two dupattas (one being an accent color) for the bridal lengha! I went to numerous stores in Chicago and did online visits to stores in India, but nothing caught my eye. One of my mother's friends recommended a store in Dallas, and it was going to be the last stop before my mom locked down the idea of traveling to India directly for wedding shopping. We went to Silk Threads in Dallas and saw numerous pieces that we instantly knew would be starting points for our custom vision, and with the one-on-one help we received, we spent ALL day at the shop and customized ALL bridal wear in one day. Each outfit was made with careful detail work and quality materials - nothing felt too heavy in weight either; I loved and felt beautiful in every single outfit I wore during the wedding weekend.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Aside from Shy and Adil, I enjoyed working with all our vendors from all over the world, even in the virtual environment, especially...
*Ninad from Beauty by Lishma - waking up early was not too bad, knowing Ninad was going to work her magic, and we always had a good conversation - she made me feel comfortable and confident, and each look was unique and beautiful. She is so genuine, and I can not wait for our paths to cross again for more looks.
*Santiago Almada Photography - he was the first vendor we hired and beyond helpful in making sure we picked colors that didn't clash with the sun/lighting; he was also very easy to connect with any time on any platform (call, text or email) and helped answer my numerous questions along the way.
*DJ Issac - he paid attention to our curated themed music requests and conducted meetings to ensure everyone was on the same page with coordination - his attention to detail was greatly appreciated and made a difference in our event vibes
*Lupe - she went above what we discussed in our meetings for decor and made each event unique, and she always came prepared and worked with Shy so well to make a day of coordination changes as needed to elevate the space in real-time without the bride having to worry about a thing
*FestiveeveLK - extremely patient to work with and responded to all updates and details in such a timely manner for both Pratik and Richa's invites that were requested - the inviting quality was so rich and beautiful

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
*The number one comment we got was about loving the food and its variety in how the menu coordinated well with its event - every. Single. Dish. Was. Amazing - yes, the bride and groom actually got to eat, so we can confirm this too.
*Our guest also liked the organized method of coordination by getting group text messages about the events (timings, locations, updates, wedding program guides, seating chart) from our planner's app
*Our guests also have commented about the beauty of the Venue, the variety of decor/theme for each event, and that our Violinist, Johnathan Levingston at cocktail hour (who also plays Indian), played beautifully and added to the atmosphere for the evening

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Legit. Everything!
But especially the memories I got to create with my family and Pratik family, especially during Sangeet night when everyone came together to practice (even those last-minute joiners) and perform choreographed dances as well as finally enjoy Garba - being Gujarati, we knew everyone was longing to do the Garba and Raas after not being able to for almost 2.5 years due to COVID and the night was just a dream as we kicked off our wedding weekend in our first joint event with both families

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.
*Mehndi - traditional umbrellas, pillows, floor mats
*Grah Shanti / Haldi - traditional
*Sangeet / Garba - colorful and bright Moroccan vibes, chic lounge atmosphere, food cart stations, music was all about love and Garba ... we made a last-minute change on the Sangeet backdrop, and Sage Production pulled it together perfectly with Lupe making it a beautiful welcome night
*Wedding - peaches and florals ... we love how Weddings by Shy helped elevate our wedding mandap with a floral-wrapped aisle and stage, which tied into our mandap structure and theme effortlessly
*Reception - crisp and clean (whites, gold, blue accents) - we loved how Sage Production helped elevate our entrance which was through a moving LED wall backdrop

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Trust the process, and don't sweat over the little things - enjoy the process together!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Richa and Pratik met and dated long distances during COVID. When they were together in their hometowns, one being Phoenix, they spent a lot of time exploring outdoor activities that were still open to the public. As their love for nature grew, they envisioned a beautiful Arizona mountain-cactus background to kick off their marriage adventures. With the help of close family and friends, as well as amazing vendor collaborations from all over the world, their wedding dreams came to life with a three-day, five-event weekend. Their beautiful memories were captured effortlessly by Santiago Almada Photography and will be a lifelong cherished - seriously, Richa peaks at her wedding album regularly, wanting to relive the celebrations all over again.
Thanks for being with us today, and don't forget to be back for our daily and lovely updates here! 

Beauty by Lishma, Henna by Purvi, Escape Entertainment L.L.C. and Santiago Almada Photography are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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