At Maharani Weddings, we love when we get to cover Midwest weddings, and ones from the Windy City are extra special to us. Sonam and Harpreet were in good hands with Rahul Rana Photography, who captured ethereal, editorial-worthy photographs of every special moment. Meanwhile, cinematographers at Wynn Films captured video footage of the events, and you can find out even more detail below as Maharani Sonam fills us in on her special day. The bride was armed with a top notch beauty team throughout the festivities, with hair and makeup done by Diem Angie and mehndi by Unnati'Z Art. Together, Sonam and her fierce bridesmaids made a formidable-looking group of women, who looked more than ready to get the ceremony started! Sonam and Harpreet's sangeet was held at Ashyana Banquets, while their ceremony and reception were held at the Doubletree by Hilton Chicago – Oak Brook. Sonam knew that she would have to look no further than Yanni Design Studio to make her wedding vision come to life, and the decor house definitely held up their stellar reputation as they assembled a golden paradise in the Doubletree's ballroom. JSM Entertainment also did a fabulous job creating romantic lighting that added to the royal decor. When we return later this morning, we'll dive into the adorable couple's beautiful ceremony. In the meantime, check out the full gallery and the fun interview we had with Maharani Sonam below!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Harpreet and I met through mutual friends in medical school. I knew there was something special about him from the moment we met and I quickly realized he was "the one" for me.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Harpreet surprised me with a beautiful proposal overlooking the stunning Chicago skyline in Millennium Park. He strategically had my sister and best friend go on a walk through the park, where he was secretly waiting. Once we got closer, I saw him, wearing a suit, in the middle of Lurie Garden. I realized what was happening and couldn't believe it! He had emptied out the garden so he could propose right in the center. He had a table and chair set up for a private celebration with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. The surprises didn't stop there. After he proposed, he had all of our friends and family, including visitors from around the country, waiting to surprise me to kick off the celebrations.
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 was so excited to plan my wedding but was so nervous since I didn't have any wedding planning experience. After talking to several friends who were recently married, I made my to-do list and got to work first picking the dates and major vendors, then the details. I absolutely loved my wedding and reception venue, the Oak Brook DoubleTree by Hilton. Their wedding specialist, Khulood Alfadhel, worked closely with me to ensure the wedding and reception were as organized and stress free as possible. Hair and makeup with Diem Angie and her team for the Sangeet, Wedding, and Reception was so much fun. Her team also did hair and makeup for my bridesmaids for the wedding.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Picking my decor company was easy as Yanni Design Studio took my breath away with all the beautiful weddings they have done. Working with the team at YDS was my favorite part of the wedding planning process. Shari really helped my vision of an elegant, pink, gold, and sparkly wedding and reception come to life.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking down the beautifully decorated aisle, with my dad at my side. I truly felt the love in the room for Harpreet and I, and I was so excited to be marrying him. I really felt like it was a moment straight out of a fairy tale.
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 mendhi function was held in a tent in my backyard for close friends and family. We had a dosa station and extravagant dessert table. All of the ladies got their mendhi done by Sonal Dhanani, who was great.
I wanted the Sangeet to be bright and colorful and full of dance. The garba centerpiece was unique as it was something my mom, neighbor, and some aunties helped build. We had great performances by one of our 3 year old ring bearers (he even pulled me in to dance with him), the Lungi Dance by my dad's friends, a garba dance by my Mom and her friends, and so much more.
The Reception was the part of the wedding I was most excited about. I wanted it to be full of sparkle, crystal, gold manzanita trees, and beautiful candlelight. We wanted to incorporate some fun surprises for the guests so we had a red carpet photo booth with a backdrop, selfie sticks on all the guest tables, and pink light up sunglasses distributed on the dance floor. The entertainment at the reception left me speechless and full of love. There were exciting dances, heartfelt speeches, and hilarious videos.
Aww, that all sounds amazing! Check back soon to relive the couple's ceremony!
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