Welcome to Maharani Weddings

At Maharani Weddings, we believe that every bride deserves the fairytale wedding of her dreams! Here at MaharaniWeddings.com you will find glittering seeds of inspiration for every aspect of your upcoming wedding. In addition to profiling some of the most spectacular Indian weddings from around the globe through interviews, pictures, and videos, we also hand-pick and share a list of the best Indian wedding vendors in our Maharani Weddings Platinum Guide. From event planners to photographers, dj's, florists, cinematographers, makeup artists, mehndi artists, you name it... you’ll find connections to every resource you could ever need for all your wedding ceremonies and celebrations.

All posts with Style "Sangeet"

Charlotte, NC Indian Wedding by TNK Photo

March 20, 2020 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Happy Friday, Maharanis! Another week has gone by, and we are thankful for your company throughout it, that is why we have prepared something special for you to get ready for the weekend. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy today's fabulous wedding featuring all the beauty surrounding Neeli & Krishna's festivities! For this first installment, we'll be taking a look at a bright and harmonious Sangeet Ceremony held inside the halls of The Westin Charlotte Hotel. The interiors of this venue transformed into a cornucopia of flair, bold colors, and traditional fabrics thanks to the fantastic decor crafted by Utopian Events. And we want to make a big shoutout to Ask Neha Now for the perfect planning and execution of this event, as nothing would have been the same without their outstanding job! We also want to take a moment to admire the beauty of our gorgeous Maharani who burst into the room dressed in a gorgeous dual-tone lengha from PUNARVI and showcasing a ravishing look designed by Hair by Anna Pham and Makeup By Jenny Le. And we cannot forget the artistic Mehndi outlined by Reena Chaplot with Charlotte Henna Mehndi. Simply amazing! If you want to check more of this Sangeet, don't miss the visual masterpieces by TNK Photo in our gallery! Also, don't miss the film by Sculpting With Time Productions already featured in our Video Blog!

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

Krishna and I actually met online on the app Coffee Meets Bagel. I was quite intrigued by his profile so once we matched, we started to speak to one another over the app. Approximately 2-3 weeks later we met in person. I almost decided to cancel our first date in August but then I said to myself to take a chance and see where it takes us. We met in person for the first time on August 7th, 2016 at one of Krishna's favorite restaurants. Our conversation during our first date was memorable because our conversation felt like we knew each other for years. And what I thought would be a 2 hour date became more like a 7 hour date! As the conversation deepened, we found out more about one another including the fact that we were from the same region in India let alone the same town! That's when I realized it was the cherry on top of the sundae! After talking for several weeks while I was out of the country, I realized that I knew he was the one. And when we both met again in which we claimed as our "second" first date, well the rest was history.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

WOW. To be honest, I have to give a lot of credit to Krishna. He planned our proposal from beginning to end without any glitches. I was at work one evening when he told me that he needed help shooting for a wedding- yes he is a cinematographer. He told me that it was for a VIP couple and the theme was a yacht party. So we had to dress up. Now, at the same time, our parents were coming up for the weekend to meet Krishna's parents. So I was like "how can I leave them for the day? You need to ask their permission." He said, "no problem, i'll take care of it." Well while I was thinking about what I needed to wear, he said wear something "blue" since it was a yacht based theme party. And to top that, he said George Clooney would be there! So the day before our proposal, we picked up my family and I was asking them what to wear as I needed to look professional but also wear something where I knew I could also help him through the wedding shoot. My sister was amazing because as I was trying on clothing, she was actually playing behind the scenes and sent all of my outfits to Krishna - and they coordinated on which blue dress would match Krishna's blue suit. At the end of the night, Krishna told me that I had to keep a secret and be there on time because "Hilary" would be there and there would be gates closing the park. And I said "which Hillary? Hillary Duff or Hillary Clinton?" And that's when he was like "the Hillary". So of course, I got excited.

So on the morning of June 3rd, 2017, I made sure I reached the park on time. He started walking over to me explaining how stressed out he was because there were some glitches to the wedding shoot. I told him to not worry. When we arrived closer to the pond, he asked me to look out for a few photographers. That is when he re-directed himself to a specific corner where he knew he would propose at. Everyone was ready. He then told me to come to that corner as he "found the photographers" and that is when he proposed to me! I was in shock and of course said "YES!" But it wasn't over. Krish's family and my family were actually meeting at Bethesda fountain where they met for the first time. Krishna then continued to surprise me through the day with meet ups with many of our close friends and family! It was beautiful night with a beautiful beginning to the rest of our lives!

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 Krishna worked in the wedding industry, he had all of the ins and outs to planning our wedding. My parents primarily helped with the venue, food and the priest and took that off of our hands. Everything else was mostly completed by us with the help of a few key people!

Wedding Planner: Neha Joshi: Our wedding planner, Neha was fantastic! She helped Krishna and I organize everything, who to contact and who to keep her in contact with- that way I didn't have to over stress myself. She was great with creating a timeline for our events and the day of the wedding made sure we were all running on time and that there were no hiccups. Neha also knew when I needed a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on. She was always supportive not just as a planner but also as a friend.

Venue: Westin Hotel, Charlotte, NC: Our venue was perfect. It had tall ceilings and a lot of space to work with. Our coordinators Betsy and Eric were extremely responsive to all of our emails and were also accommodating in making sure the weekend events all went smoothly.

Hair and Makeup: Anna Pham and Jenny Le: I will say word of mouth is a great way to meet other vendors. Many of my friends were also getting married within the same year in NC! I loved how the Jenny and Anna did their wedding looks, so I decided to use them as well as their work was flawless and their attitudes and personality were so positive! They couldn't have been a more perfect pair to work with!

Outfits were overall a piece of cake. I wasn't too picky and when I saw something I liked, I went for it. The only outfit I took some time to work on was my Sangeet outfit. A very close friend of mine and fashion designer, Punarvi Patel helped design my Sangeet outfit. It was quite unique and brought so much elegance. I already knew Punvari was an amazing fashion designer but when I saw what she put together, I couldn't stop smiling.

Decor: Utopian Events: We initially wanted to have an outdoor wedding but since it was a hot summer, we knew we had to look at other options. So with our wedding being indoors, we decided to have the theme of "Outdoor meets Indoor". Shushil and his team worked extremely hard in creating such a beautiful piece of work that represented both Krishna and myself. With Neha's help, as a team we were able to organize our thoughts and ideas and execute a truly remarkable piece. Our thought process behind the Mandap was that it should be the visual corner stone of our day but be extremely practical and cost effective. Krishna is a cinematographer by trade and has nearly a decade of experience in the wedding industry, so he had a strong foundation of ideas to go into the design. The Mandap was primary chosen to be hanging as it would be utilized for both the wedding as well as the reception, and to maximum visibility of the wedding ceremony for our guests. Krishna requested in the design to integrate close to 40 dimmable hanging light led bulbs to create a warm soft light in the inside of the dome to illuminate us during the ceremony. He then requested that all 8 of the dj's moving heads be focused on the outside of the dome with a contrasting cooler light. In the end Utopian Events delivered a piece that uniquely transformed and transcended our wedding ceremony

Food: Blue Taj: I would like to take a moment to thank my parents and Blue Taj's team for their extraordinary work! We had an amazing menu of items for each and every event! Tasting was obviously a blast and helped us narrow down to a few specific dishes! Blue Taj is mostly known for their north indian dishes but with the help of my mother, he was able to work outside of the box and bring out some delicious South Indian dishes as well! They were very easy to work with and our guests were thoroughly impressed!

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

Our wedding vows. Krishna and I were very insistent about having wedding vows in our ceremony as we both primarily grew up here. We figured it would be a great way to personalize our wedding and share our love and promises to not only one another but for everyone else to hear.

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

Stay in communication with your fiance and your family. Challenges will always arise but it is the challenge that you must overcome. Also, stay patient and delegate as much as possible. You cannot do everything! This is why it is important to let others help you when you feel like the world is spinning too quickly!

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

If you have your wedding in NC, go to Amelie's for your wedding cake! I love how I was able to customize my cake with whatever flavor I wanted per layer, its frosting, and the ganache and fruit in the middle! It was worth every penny! They also helped with breakfast sandwiches for the bridal party!

Photo: TNK Photo: Elmer and his team did such a fantastic job! His work was unique and he made sure that we were getting the photos we wanted! We also had the opportunity to build a good relationship with Elmer when he completed our engagement shoot in Jersey City! We felt at ease through the whole process and Elmer knew exactly how to make Krishna smile (with his teeth showing).

Video: Sculpting with Time: Krishna worked very closely with Alex and Whitney. They are the most genuine couple to work with. They were efficient and made sure not to miss a single detail! They were always accommodating and receptive to our feedback! The film they delivered was beyond our expectations and truly shows their capabilities not just as wedding cinematographers but artists.

Violinist: Edith Yokley: Edith was introduced to us by our DJ. She always brought a lot of style to her work! She was great and created my walk down the aisle memorable!

Reception Dance by Priti Udeshi-Gupta: If I tried to choreograph our reception dance, Krishna would have waited till the last minute to learn it. I knew he wanted to learn how to dance, so we found a dance teacher right here in Jersey City! Priti was fantastic! Given her history and what she has accomplished over the years, we knew she would be the right fit for us! Krishna learned quite a few steps that took him out of his comfort zone, and I myself was able to let go of my fears with certain moves. We learned a lot about one another through this process and it helped us understand each other's strengths and weaknesses with time and patience. Overall it was a lot of fun and everyone loved it!

DJ and Lighting: DJ BayBFace: Manish and I have known each other for many years- in fact he is family and has always been an older brother to me. He did a great job with helping out on the lighting for our wedding day and also the music (especially for the after party when he played all the old school hip hop songs!).

Get ready to continue enjoying this fantastic celebration, and don't miss the upcoming wedding ceremony.

STYLE
GUIDE style
Traditional
Romantic
Contemporary
season
Autumn
color

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Pittsburgh, PA Indian Fusion Wedding by Jorge Santiago Photo

March 17, 2020 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Happy Tuesday, darlings! We know the first two days of the week are the hardest ones, so we thought about how we could make them more pleasant and enjoyable for you, and guess what, we found the way to do it! The best way for you to start the week on the right foot is none other than taking a look at the fabulous weddings that we share with you daily. And today's wedding is a perfect example of it! Tara & Casey's fusion wedding festivities are going to take your breath as they overflow with so much beauty, traditions, and emotions that we are sure you are going to be craving for more. So, let's jump right into it! For this first installment, we'll be taking a look at a joyful and colorful Sangeet night held at the Omni William Penn Hotel. The halls of this venue completely transformed into a spectacular setting more than suitable for the occasion, thanks to the unique decor crafted by Imperial Decor. The bright and bold colors on the traditional fabrics contrasted with the elegance of our two lovebirds, creating magical moments beautifully captured by the lens of Jorge Santiago Photo. And we want to make a big shoutout to Pearl Celebrations as this opening Sangeet, would not have been the same without their detailed planning and perfect execution. So kudos to them! Remember that you can always take a closer look at this event by taking a look at today's full gallery!

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

Casey and I met working together in a medical office while both applying to medical school. One month after we started dating, we were accepted to different medical schools, and had to spend the next 4 years living in different states. The fact that he was so willing to put in the effort to make a long distance relationship work while going through med school made me realize very early on that he was the one. We went through the residency match process and were lucky enough to match in the same city, and shortly afterwards got engaged! We make each other laugh about the smallest things, and he always boosts my self confidence just when I need it!

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 am South Indian, and I knew I wanted to incorporate South Indian traditions with elements of a Western wedding as well. While my hometown of Pittsburgh is a wonderful city, it doesn't offer the variety of vendors that bigger cities do. For that reason, I used several vendors based in larger cities like DC and NYC and was very happy with how everything turned out. Casey's family is not Indian, and so we wanted a wedding that was festive but also felt warm and inclusive. We think we achieved that with the help of our fantastic vendors!

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

Casey and I traveled to India with my parents to do all of our shopping. I knew I wanted a hybrid of South Indian, North Indian, and Western looks for the wedding events, and we were fortunate to travel to different parts of India to achieve this. I found my bridal sari, a red traditional South Indian silk sari, in Bangalore, and my Sangeet lengha at a boutique in Delhi. While I love the blush and neutral tones that are really popular with brides, I wanted something a little different for my reception look, and when I saw my blue Tarun Tahiliani gown, I thought it was perfect. I loved how unique it was with its striking color and full skirt, and it made me feel so special!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

Of course we are biased, but our family and friends really had amazing speeches that left us, and our guests, crying with laughter. Also, I have a huge sweet tooth and really wanted a big dessert spread, which ended up being a big hit!

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

Casey plays the piano really well, and he knows how much I love it when he plays. It's also hard for him to ever surprise me with anything. I was completely shocked when in the middle of our wedding reception, Casey and two of my cousins, Reka and Ashwin, surprised me with a performance, with singing, guitar playing, and Casey on the piano! They had secretly rehearsed via FaceTime for weeks without my knowing, and I was blown away by their thoughtfulness and talent! It was so special and I felt so lucky to have such a great family (and an amazing new husband)!

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

Our families are very important to us, and my wedding ceremony jewelry reflected this. My paternal grandfather is no longer living, but prior to his passing had gifted me with gold that was then turned into the Mangalsutra, my wedding chain, that Casey placed around my neck to signify our marriage. The other necklace I wore was a gift from my maternal grandfather. It was really special to have reminders of my grandparents' love during our ceremony!

Our venue, the Omni William Penn Hotel, is one of the oldest hotels in Pittsburgh. We especially loved the elegance of our reception site, the Grand Ballroom, which has a beautiful gold balcony. Our wedding ceremony was held in another room in the hotel that has a very unique art deco vibe. We wanted a venue that had three distinct event spaces for our three main wedding events, and were lucky to find it in the Omni! We wanted our cake to match the elegance of the venue, and Tasty Bakery more than delivered! We loved the combination of gold leaf with the textured gold base and maroon flowers, and it truly matched the aesthetic we were going for.

Don't go too far if you don't want to miss all the beauty that is coming your way!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Fusion
Romantic
Contemporary
season
Autumn
color

Clearwater, FL Indian Wedding by Noor K Photography

March 13, 2020 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Happy Friday, Maharanis! Can you believe how fast this week went by? It is unbelievable how time flies when you are having so much fun! Today, we wanted to give you a good dose of inspiration so you can make it through the weekend and get back on Monday with your batteries recharged! So get ready to enjoy Tulsi & Bunty's big wedding festivities as they are like no other you've seen in quite a while. For starters, this was a cross-country wedding starting in Clearwater, FL, and having its grand finale in Sacramento, CA. How amazing is that! For this installment, we'll be taking a look at a bright and extravagant Sangeet night held at the Kapok Special Events, and right from the start, we can say that this pre-wedding ceremony was off the charts! Tulsi herself took the lead in the planning of this spectacular event to ensure that her dreams would come true, and she nailed it! The elegance, the traditional flair, and the exquisite decor put together by Maharani Designs created the perfect setting for this festive occasion. Our lovely Maharani looked ravishing thanks to Michele Renee The Studio, who took care of her beauty needs making her look like a princess. The whole night was a huge success, and right before the end of it, Tulsi & Bunty surprised everyone sharing their 8-story wedding cake baked by Tru-Cakes, with all the guests! A sweet ending for the evening! Check more of this Sangeet night by taking a look at the shots captured by Noor K Photography, in today's gallery.

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

In the days of modern love, Tulsi and Bunty swiped right and matched with each other on Dil Mil back in January 2016. How could she resist a man dressed as Mario, with some adorable kids? Bunty hit Tulsi with a great one liner, "If you're a princess, will you be my princess peach?", and it all started from there. Numerous messages were sent back and forth for a few weeks before they decided it was time to meet and see if this connection would stand strong face to face. However, there was only one problem, Tulsi was on the east coast and Bunty on the west. They decided they would have to use Facetime to at least "meet" each other. January 17, 2016, they sat on a 4 hour Facetime call that changed their lives forever. Neither of them believed in love at first sight before this moment but from there onwards they knew this was for ever. They knew this was it and they had found their perfect match! On January 19, 2016 they decided it was time to tell their friends and most importantly their families about their crazy love. They spent the next few months building a strong foundation for their love and it was not long before they were best friends and knew each other better than they knew themselves. They finally decided in March, 2016 it was time to put their relationship to the test in person. Bunty, who had never left his home of California, flew across the US to meet his love in Pennsylvania. The moment they finally saw each other, they knew without a doubt that everything they had been feeling was beyond real and that this love was meant to be.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

One of the best surprise proposals ever set up! Tulsi came to California KNOWING she was going to get proposed to this trip or at least that is what she thought and told her friends and coworkers. I set up the most romantic day in Napa and she was convinced the big question was coming. It was our first day in Napa at the same spot we first went on vacation. The lighting was perfect, she looked across the table and I looked back and all I could think was “who are the kings going to sign in the off season? “ because today was not the day I was proposing. After that night, she thought she KNEW I wasn’t proposing this trip. With the help of a coworker months before our romantic Napa trip, we set up a fake invitation for a fake birthday party at a very real very romantic restaurant with a very real proposal. Heading to the “birthday party” I had to stall while family and friends set up the scene for me. Eventually getting to the restaurant where we arrived early to “help set up” for a birthday party. We walk in to a beautifully set room. At this point pictures were on the projector, candles and roses took the form of a heart on the floor. She is crying and I'm about to start my speech to her but the only words that I could sputter out are “ will you marry me?” After the shock wore off and between snotty tears, she said yes! What I wish I could have said to her in that moment is “ Tulsi Patel, you are my soulmate, my best friend, and the person I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with. Since you have come into my life there has been nothing but good. You are the person I wake up thinking about and fall asleep dreaming about. You are the woman I want to start a family with and want to grow old with. I have never met a person with a heart as big as yours and it shows everyday with how you treat me and treat my family. If I can treat you half a good as you treat me then I can say I have accomplished something. Will you be my wife?” After she said yes, our song (Tonight by John Legend) came on and we got a quick dance in. Eventually all the people that made this night possible started coming from behind the scenes: my family and my friends as well as some of her family that has flown in from the East coast. I wasn't done with the surprises yet and I still wanted my well deserved coconut, so at 5 am we woke up my soon to be bridezilla to take her back to my parent's house. When we arrived her parents, who had also flown in from the East coast opened the door, and you bet the water works started again. It was such a sweet and thoughtful weekend! Tulsi was so surprised by the whole proposal, which she never thought was going to be possible because she is a big romantic and had thought of every possible proposal scenario in her head!

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 planned our wedding in 10 months including the shopping in India! It was a crazy hectic 10 months trying to plan a cross country wedding. Before the proposal even happened, Tulsi’s parents along with Bunty and Tulsi went to see Kapok Special Events and Bunty loved it just as much as we all did (we had been to weddings there before), so we actually booked the venue and date 2 weeks before the proposal was to take place! We wanted our wedding to be magical and everyone to feel like they had been transported to another place and Kapok truly made that happen with its antique statues and romantic, very elegant feel. Tulsi wanted our whole wedding to be what she called the “Floral Fantasy”. All our outfits, all the decor, our humongous wedding cake, and even Tulsi’s wedding ring were all inspired by florals to play into the Floral Fantasy. Tulsi being named after a holy plant has always felt tied to plants and florals and what they all represent. We chose florals as our theme to represent our love that is awe striking, forever blooming, and that expels love that radiates and captivates those around. Tulsi’s hair styles also contained lots of fresh flowers to keep the theme alive in all her looks! Tulsi had known from her previous friend’s weddings who she was going to use for hair and makeup for all the Tampa events, Michele Rene was the obvious choice! All other vendors were selected after searching maharani wedding’s vendor guide and after recommendations from friends and the bridal expo. The California vendors were much more difficult! Tulsi found all the vendors off of Instagram and Bunty was communicating with those vendors and making sure everything was in order. Bunty never met most of the wedding vendors until the actual wedding and Tulsi never met any of the reception vendors including actually visiting the reception venue until the actual reception, which was very unique and a little nerve wracking. Many of the small details of the wedding were purchased from small businesses found on Instagram like Tulsi’s jewelry for the grah shanti, which came from @ixorabyshikha and some items were purchased from Etsy to help keep the ideas unique and portray our personality as a couple.

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

I knew that our wedding being in summertime I wanted the stick with brighter colors and the traditional red! Sabyasachi was my biggest inspiration and it took 7 days of constant searching to find the perfect lengha. We actually even drove 5 hours away to Surat, near where Bunty’s family is from, all the way from Ahmedabad, where Tulsi’s family is from and where we initially searching. It was actually kind of sentimental that i bought my lengha from where Bunty's family is from, after meeting his grandma for the first time. Tulsi went to probably about 25 different Boutiques, Designer Flagships, and Indian fashion stores before choosing the perfect red lengha with a pink accented dupatta and pink and white florals and green vines. It was everything I was hoping for and truly captured my style and essence. I looked at hundreds of lenghas before I said yes to the lengha!

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

Our favorite part was the cake! Tulsi loved getting to help design her dream extravagant wedding cake and Bunty loved trying all the flavors and our unique at home cake tasting! We got to chose 7 different flavors for each tier, so Bunty got a tier, Tulsi got a tier, all 4 parents got a tier and we picked one we thought would be a guest favorite! The flavors were, 2 layers of red velvet white-chocolate cheesecake, cookies and cream, cookie dough, carrot cake, Tiramisu, and Rose Water. The whole process was pleasant and so stress free because we loved our vendor and how much they communicated with us and we completely trusted them to make our vision better than we could imagine!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

Our guests loved our unique venue and decor choices! We tried to be modern and rustic and still incorporate traditional looks into our decor and the guests loved the uniqueness of all our events! There were lots of selfies with the wedding cake and everyone enjoyed the food very much! Many of our guests said our wedding was so unique and fun and they really enjoyed all the effort we put in to make it one of a kind.

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

Walking into the wedding to the song Gudiya Rani, which was the lullaby Tulsi’s mom sang her every night. Also seeing each other for the first time at the mandap was such a special moment for us since we tried to be traditional and opted out of a first look.

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.

Our Mendhi night was done at Tulsi's house which was decorated by herself and her family and friends. The decor was the perfect mix of florals and tradition. We chose to do something different and fun and so we had a live pizza station in our backyard which was done by Catering Specialties by Steve. All the guests loved the idea!

Our Sagai or engagement ceremony was done at the Hindu Temple of Florida and was decorated by Maharani Designs with elegant white draping to contracts our mint blue outfits! We also had Catering Specialties by Steve set up a taco bar which was fun for all the guests.

Our Sangeet was at Kapok Special events and we chose to do a rustic romantic floral theme! We had a rustic rope swing with florals for us to sit on which was parallel to a life size Radha Krishna statue that was also sitting on a swing. It was elegant and we were so awestruck by the Cake and decor! Tulsi did a 12 minute dance as a surprise for all her guests and especially Bunty, and Bunty also made a special appearance to steal a dance with Tulsi during her performance. Tulsi's bridesmaids and friends put on a lovely dance performance with Tulsi making a special appearance to the songs Lamborghini and Crazy in Love (which was one of our hashtags #Gandhiinlove). Tulsi's cousins put on a really creative performance which had dancing, singing, and even a self written poem that brought laughs and tears to us both! Tulsi's parents also sang a beautiful song that had Tulsi crying like a little baby. It was such a beautiful night and we felt so loved and special.

The reception in sacramento california at The Grand Pavilion was amazing. The decor done by A & S Decor took our breath away with trees, florals, and lots of candles! Our entrance also encompassed our relationship, as Bunty entered without Tulsi on a scooter and rode into and around the hall before climbing up a beautiful staircase to get Tulsi and entering together as husband and wife. The guests were so shocked and loved the entrance. Tulsi's cousin who owns Nothing Bundt Cake in Dublin, CA was also so kind to make a cake for Bunty and Tulsi to cut and also Bundtini's for all the guests which was also kind of sentimental because Tulsi calls Bunty "buntcake" as a pet name. We also had an indian dessert bar and mango soft serve for all our guests.

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

Don't be afraid to be different and maybe a little unconventional when it comes to your wedding. Try not to stress over the little things because at the end of the day nothing will matter except for your love for one another, and that itself will make your wedding perfect. Brainstorm ideas but don't plan your wedding to a T beforehand because it most likely wont be exactly what you think up in your head. Most importantly, remember to enjoy your wedding and not worry about the small details on the day of because it flies by and in the blink of an eye you'll be wishing you were back in that moment.

There is still plenty much more coming your way! So make sure to stick around if you don't want to miss it.

STYLE
GUIDE style
Traditional
Romantic
Contemporary
season
Summer
color

JSK Photography and Michele Renee The Studio are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Michele Renee The Studio VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

Clearwater, FL Indian Wedding by Kimberly Photography

March 9, 2020 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Happy Monday! The weekend felt so long without your company, but we are back now! And we are more than excited to be in your lovely company so that we can share our excitement and amazingness towards Ankita & Sunny's big wedding celebration with you! So without further ado, let's jump right into it! Let's start by taking a look at a vibrant Sangeet ceremony so joyful and colorful that we were almost left out of words when we laid our eyes for the first time on the fantastic shots of it, captured by Kimberly Photography. This entire cornucopia of colors, traditional flair, and emotions, thoroughly orchestrated by Apsara Events and fully decored by Ritti Couture, was nothing but perfect! Just take a look at the variety of hues, the ideal placement of all the ornaments, and traditional fabrics; it is all so mesmerizing that it seems almost surreal! And talking about mesmerizing, let's take a moment to admire and appreciate the beauty of our gorgeous Maharani who attended this event looking ravishing! The trendy and stylish dual-tone attire she got from Hyphenite perfectly combined with the sleek hairstyle and makeup designed by Michele Renee The Studio, making her look like a total bombshell! Check more of this lovely couple in today's full gallery. It is the perfect preamble for the wedding ceremony at the Hilton Clearwater Beach!

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

The first time I met Sunny was actually on Twitter. He was doing a global health rotation in rural India, and came across an article I wrote when I was reporting in India (I'm a journalist, he's a doctor). But that tweet didn't go anywhere. About a year later, a mutual friend introduced us when Sunny was visiting New York. Shortly after we started spending time together I knew!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

During one of our first hangouts Sunny and I happened to stop by Jane's Carousel in Dumbo, Brooklyn, which is this beautiful labor of love perched right on the water and overlooking the New York skyline. For the proposal he surprised me by flying down to New York from Boston, where he lived at the time, and making up an elaborate excuse with our mutual friend to go down to Dumbo one evening. It was freezing so I didn't know why he wanted to walk by the water, but he eventually led us up to the carousel. The people working there informed us it was closed, so I thought all hope was lost, but then they agreed to let us take a spin. Once we climbed on our respective horses, however, I realized that this was all planned well in advance because our song (Frank Ocean's Moon River) started playing. As it all hit me he walked me off the carousel, which he had rented out for us, and proposed with a Neruda poem we both love, and a pretty amazing speech.

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 our wedding was a wild ride, but it happened because we have a lot of good friends with unique talents and businesses. We chose the Hilton on Clearwater Beach because it's the beach in my hometown, where I have a lot of great memories and Courtney, our coordinator was probably the person I spoke to the most that whole year outside of family.

For our decorator, we spoke to a few people but chose a close family friend, Lakshmi Sastry, who owns Rtti Couture and was able to provide the intricate details and personal touch that we wanted. I also commissioned art from my friend Kamardip Singh (@kakikasi on Instagram) that was a crowd favor. Kam and Lakshmi Auntie also helped formulate the theme colors for all of our events (mehendi, sangeet/garba, ceremony and reception) and we used those color palettes for everything which was very helpful in narrowing down the options. My design aesthetic, if you can even call it that, was just to have the whole weekend feel vibrant, fun, playful, beachy and personal.

We chose our good family friend Janardhan Uncle as our caterer, and he made a completely different menu to fit the tone of each event and to reflect both the Marathi and Gujarati traditions.

For outfits, we went with a mix of things we bought in India and things we found online/custom made. For my wedding sari I went with designer Ayush Kejriwal, who is kind of funky and indie. For my reception I choose a Seema Gujral design in person while visiting India. And for my garba/sangeet outfit a college friend Swetha Gautham custom made both our outfits (hyphenite.com). For hair and makeup, after a disastrous trial with someone else, I went with Michelle Renee for my entire bridal party, who runs a well known team in Tampa. And we chose Volcanik Entertainment for our DJs because they were incredibly fun and flexible. Castaldo did our video, and Kimberly Photography did our photo.

We had a lot of hiccups throughout the wedding planning process. Florida and a beach wedding can prove difficult at times, and there's lots of elements you have to account for. But luckily Sunny was incredibly involved and supportive and has solid negotiation skills, so he and I figured things out step by step with the help of our parents, family and friends (should out to my friend Swati, my ad hoc wedding planner). It also helped that we hired Sokha at Apsara Events about six weeks out for wedding coordination. She helped us make a minute-to-minute schedule, and account for all the elements we had to track. A life saver.

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

I had originally bought my wedding sari on a trip to Hyderabad, where my Mom's family is from. It was a whirlwind day with my mom and cousin, who had set aside a bunch of red saris at different shops based on a photo I had sent them. I bought one, a rich kanchivaram sari. But for whatever reason, when I got home, I changed my mind. I'm not a super fashionable person, but it just felt too heavy and gold. After some Instagramming I came across Ayush Kejriwal, who runs a label out of the UK. He was approachable and helpful and he showed me a sari via WhatsApp that I bought on the spot, on my phone, while sitting in a taxi in the Dominican Republic. It turned out perfectly for what I wanted, which was classic and bright. Sunny is Gujarati and I'm marathi so I wore a sari to honor my family's tradition, and red to honor his.

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

The best part of the planning process was been enveloped by the support and love of my family and friends at every turn. I really capitalized on all my friends' talents, from Kam's art, to my friend Rohit's writing skills for our newspaper, to my friend Madhvi's dance choreography skills. I had all my musically talented friends created a song that we sang to Sunny at the reception. It's the one time you can be a little more demanding than usual.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

The absolute best compliment I've gotten is that our wedding was well planned and the events were pretty seamless. Our guests loved all of our personal details (art, newspapers, program etc.) and the fact that they were on a beach for three days, which I also think helps cover up for any little mistakes we made! Everyone had a lot of fun, and I think my friends thought they were on spring break again.

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

This would have to be the ceremony. I was expecting the ceremony to be emotional and meaningful, but I didn't realize it would be so fun. From dancing during our pheras, to Sunny's hilarious and touching vows, I just remember looking out at the crowd every now and then, seeing a face of someone I loved, and feeling so grateful and humbled.

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.

My sister planned my mehendi, and with the help of our neighbor and friends made it this bright and colorful affair in the backyard of the house where I grew up. It was the perfect start to the weekend.

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

Make your guest list before you do anything else, and stick to it as closely as possible. It's really hard to draw the line sometimes, but it helps with everything that comes after.

Keep the people you know keep you calm and centered around you during the wedding week. Stress is inevitable, but if you're lucky, all of that will subside when it's actually time to celebrate.

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

I got my bridal set at a traditional Hyderabadi jeweler. For the rest of my jewelryand smaller decor details I relied on Etsy. Our cake was from Piece of Cake Florida.

We are just getting started over here, so make sure to stick around for more!

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Tampa, FL Indian Wedding by Sona Photography

February 28, 2020 Posted by: Shawna 2 Comments

Happy Friday, ladies! Can you believe how fast February slipped through our fingers? It went by in a blink of an eye! And today, we want to end it with a flourish, by taking you on a romantic journey through Sheena & Dhrumil's unforgettable wedding celebration. So, get ready to enjoy it! For this installment, we'll be taking a look at a romantic outdoor photoshoot leading to a Sangeet Party that we are sure you don't want to miss! The talented team from Sona Photography worked their magic to capture enchanting shots to portray the love of this beautiful couple not only at their photoshoot but also at the bright and vivid Sangeet Party, and we are utterly amazed by their talent! The way they captured the colors, the emotions, and all the beauty of these lovebirds is impressive! For the Sangeet Party, Occasions by Shangri-la demonstrated why they are the go-to-guys when looking for a fabulous and mesmerizing decor, creating a fantastic scenery featuring bold and vivid colors that we loved so much! Hands down, this Sangeet was a huge success, and we want to make a big shoutout to Apsara Events for the perfect planning and execution of it! If you can't get enough of this lovely couple, don't miss today's gallery. And in case that is not enough, you might want to check the blockbuster clip by Riant Films already featured in our Video Blog! It will take your breath away!