Friday is here, hard-working Maharanis! It is time to kick back, relax, search for inspiration on our site and you are all set. Today, and saying goodbye to the first week of April, we have a feature that is all things stylish and colorful. Deepa & Anand's gala comes to us from Philadelphia, and we know, it is exactly what we need to start our weekend. Maharani Deepa's style just blew our minds. We are absolutely loving the colors she picked for her outfits. Going from a mix of coral and light mint to aqua with tones of soft green and then deep navy blue to sky blue, our bride absolutely rocked those outfits. Notes have to be taken here, ladies, a style pro getting married big time! None only were the lenghas amazing but also her hair and makeup. Our incredibly talented friend, Flawless Beauty by Pauline, dolled up the bride with her unmistakable style and as we will see, she was an absolute knock out from beginning to end. Not an ounce of glam lost during the hectic nature of grand bashes. We all know that there can't be a class A mehndi design without Mehndikalogie's input. This time was not the exception and as pictures will tell, she shone like always. Want to know what went on during the ceremony? Stay with us and figure it out by checking our gallery of today thanks to Ajit Singh Photography.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met this wonderful man in November 2011 at a birthday party. I was there with my girls, he was there with his boys, we met, we flirted, then he ignored me for two weeks before finally asking me out =)
I'd love to say that it was love at first sight and I instantly knew he was the one, but I didn't! I was cautious and not all that interested in a serious relationship at the time (and neither was he). But, we couldn't help falling in love as we got to know each other and got to see how much better we were together than apart. Of the 7 years we dated, about 5.5 of them were long distance, which is a testament to how much we stuck by each other through thick and thin and how much we encouraged each other to have fulfilling careers and lives both within and outside of our relationship.
I guess what I'm saying is, I knew he was "the one" when I looked back on our time together and realized that I couldn't imagine my future without him.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I had always told Anand that I wanted a meaningful proposal, and boy did he deliver! The proposal started when I walked into my apartment after having brunch with my friends (which he had secretly planned), and I saw a bouquet of flowers on my entrance table with a card in it. The card was my first "clue" in what turned out to be an epic scavenger hunt throughout my apartment and New York City. After solving puzzles (literally) and making a stop at our first date spot (Cafe Cluny in the W. Village), it all culminated at the Bow Bridge in Central Park. Before I knew what hit me, he was down on one knee and asking me to be his partner for life. I said yes and to my surprise, our families were hiding behind a tree and waiting to congratulate us!!!! What followed was an amazing celebration with family and friends at the Empire Hotel rooftop, and then a romantic dinner with me and my fiance at Indian Accent.
It was a beautiful way to start our adventure together!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the wedding planning process was going to India to shop with my mom, my sister, and my aunt. My aunt lives in Bombay and ever since we were little, my sister and I would dream of the day we could go to Bombay to shop for our weddings! My aunt has infinite tolerance for shopping while my mom as 0, so we needed them both there in order to get things done without spending all of our time and money! The dream finally came true in March 2018 and it was everything I wanted and more. I of course loved trying on all the lehengas and jewelry and feeling like a princess, but the most memorable part was getting to spend quality time with the most important women in my family before I started the next big chapter in my life. I will forever cherish my trip to India in March 2018 that was full of family, love, laughter, sisterhood, and lots of lehengas! It's exciting to know that I'll get to do it all over one day for my sister!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Perhaps everyone says this to a bride, but after our wedding I heard from so many friends and family that they really felt the love at our wedding. I am blessed to have a very fun-loving family and group of friends, and every single person who attended the wedding made it a point to really be a PART of it, and not just watch it from afar. We were lucky to have excellent food, warm decorations, a DJ that played every hit song there is, and epic dance performances by everyone from (almost) professional dancers to five years olds to uncles wearing lungis (proudly!). Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the most memorable part of my wedding, which was my DAD'S SPEECH! I am contemplating putting it on youtube but I'm afraid it will go viral and it will go to his head! Stay tuned...
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I remember the moment very clearly. The weekend was nearly over and the wedding day flew by, and my husband (!) and I were on the dance floor at the reception when I asked what time it was. Somehow, it was 10:55pm! We looked at each other in that moment and without saying a word, we knew we were thinking the same thing. We were so thankful that the weekend had gone well and we couldn't believe it was nearly over, after all the planning and phone calls (and arguments)! But in that moment we also knew that this was really just the beginning, because even though the wedding was over, the marriage was just beginning, and that was all the more exciting.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
When I was planning my wedding, I was constantly worried that someone would be upset with one of the many decisions that had to be made. Whether it was my parents, or his parents, or our guests, or our closest friends, we were constantly worried that the decision would offend someone or a group of people. My word of advice to all brides-to-be is to not worry, because at the end of the day, once the weekend is over, all anyone will remember is the good stuff. They will remember the great food, the smiles, the dancing, and most of all they will remember the love and energy that filled the room. Enjoy every minute of the planning and don't sweat the small stuff!
Stay with us, brides at home, part two of this wedding coming up!
Hair & Makeup: Flawless Beauty by Pauline |
Venues: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown |
Mehndi Artists: Mehndikalogie |
Photography: Ajit Singh Photography |
Sangeet Venue: The Arts Ballroom |
Reception Venue: Water Works by Cescaphe / Cescaphe Event Group |
Planning & Design: Elite Events Management |
Floral & Decor: Lax States |
Catering: Bhukara Grill |
DJ: DJ Suhel |
Baraat: DJ Suhel |
Reception Bridal Fashion: Gaurav Gupta |
Sangeet Bridal Fashion: Tamanna Punjabi Kapoor |
Cake & Treats: Cescaphe Event Group |
Cinematography: Rare Air Films |
Invitations & Wedding Stationery: Parekh Cards |
Reception Lighting: Beautiful Blooms |
Sangeet / Ceremony Lighting: DJ Suhel |
Transportation: Delaware Express Shuttle & Tours
Flawless Beauty by Pauline,
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown and
Mehndikalogie
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