Welcome back, darlings! It is time to unveil Payal & Pranay's magical reception party, and we are so excited to share it with you because we are sure you are going to love it! So let's not keep on waiting and check it out now! Held inside the halls of the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, this reception was the best way to bring the wedding festivities to an end. Events by Nisar followed the line of elegance that we already saw on the wedding ceremony and designed a full-flair night that everyone loved. For the decor, Marigold Wedding Planners enhanced the beauty of the venue with soft pasteli linens that enchanted everyone! The night was a full success, and everyone had a great time with DJ Naveen's music, while tasting the delicious plates prepared by the Village of India from Toronto's team. And right before the night came to an end, our lovebirds shared a delicious cake baked by Sweet Dreams Bakery with all the attendees, and we bet it was so good because our mouth is already melting just by looking at it through images! Without any question, this was a night to remember, and we wish we would've been there as it seems like a lot of fun! Luckily for us, PhotoKitch snapped shots from every angle to bring us a closer insight into this grand reception! Check them all out in today's gallery!

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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Pranay and I met on our very first day of residency orientation after we had both moved to Cleveland. We actually ended up parking our cars right next to each other and walked in together! After that, we hung out a few times with friends and really connected. I think I knew he was "the one" from the beginning

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Pranay and I both love going to the movies (he loves the Rom-Coms, but I love the Sci-Fi and superhero movies). I had been bugging him to go see the new Star Wars movie, but we kept putting it off, until we finally made plans to go see it one weekend. When we got to the theater, he sent me to go get snacks while he got the tickets. We walked into the theater, and I noticed we were the only ones there, but I guess I didn't think too much of it because the movie had been out for some time. The previews played like usual, but instead of the movie, Pranay came up on the screen! He had put together an amazing trailer with all of my favorite movie scenes, as well as some action shots with him. As the trailer ended, he got down on one knee and popped the question! Of course I said "yes" through my tears, but the surprises weren't over. Our parents walked into the theater to celebrate with us (at this point, the waterworks were flowing). Pranay had called them into town to surprise me, and they had been waiting in the theater next door all along. He had come to the theater earlier in the day to drop them off and set up a camera to record the whole thing!

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 were initially intimidated by wedding planning. We decided to get a wedding planner to help with all the logistics. Nisar Naimi from Events by Nisar was recommended to us by a friend and he was the best decision we made regarding the wedding. He and his team were with us through the whole process and executed the weekend perfectly.

Venue - We had a few requirements for venue selection - it needed to be large enough to fit our 500 person guest list, we wanted an outdoor space, we wanted a venue the was experienced with Indian weddings. Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest fit the bill. The Marriott staff was very knowledgable, accommodating to all our needs, and worked hard to make our weekend perfect.

My hair was done by Nicole from Nicole Lynn Artistry and make-up was done by Jahura Hobby from JHobby Makeup Studio. Both were recommended to me by a friend and they were amazing.

Tina from Marigold Planners did our decor and everything was beautiful! She really listened to our thoughts, offered suggestions and made our vision a reality. For our Sangeet we wanted a Festival or Mela theme with bright colors and props, different seating areas and sections for guests to mingle. For the ceremony, I wanted a softer color palette with gold, ivory, and blush. 

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I got my bridal lengha (all all of my wedding outfits) from Aso Palav in Ahmedabad. I had taken 3 weeks off to go shopping in India but ended up picking my wedding dress on the very first day! This worked out nicely because I was available for alterations and fittings.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
My favorite part was shopping for clothes in India. I loved trying all the outfits as well as picking outfits for my family.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think our guests appreciated how smoothly the whole weekend ran. all of the events started and ended on time. This credit goes to Nisar on his team who kept everything going.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
It's hard to pick one moment because there were so many special ones. I always think back to coming down the aisle - my uncles carried me in on a doli that was made by one my friends (it was beautiful). It was so surreal to see all my friends and family gathered in one room for such a special 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.
Our family friends helped to decorate our house for the pre-wedding events, which was so fun. We had a big tent in our driveway for guests to hang out.

During our Sangeet, my sister and I did a surprise dance for my parents. We danced to Aisa Kyun Ma and Dilbaro. I wanted to do something special for them so we practiced in secret. They loved it!

We were especially proud and thankful for our work friends, many of whom are not Indian or had not been to an Indian wedding, who did a fabulous dance at the reception.


Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Wedding planning is stressful for everyone involved. There are a lot of opinions that you will have to deal with. The important thing to remember is that it's not your job to make everyone happy. Be true to yourself and the day will turn out beautifully. 

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I wore my mom's original wedding lengha for my pre-wedding puja (vidhi). It fit perfectly, we didn't have to make any alterations! I also wore some of her wedding jewelry, including her anklets, for the ceremony. Incorporating these parts from her special day made my day even more special.

 

Have an awesome weekend, Maharanis! See you on Monday for a new love story! 

STYLE
GUIDE
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Summer
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DJ: Naveen Productions - DJ, Lighting, Entertainment and Photo Booth | DJ: Naveen Productions - DJ, Lighting, Entertainment and Photo Booth | DJ: Naveen Productions - DJ, Lighting, Entertainment and Photo Booth | Floral & Decor: Marigold Wedding Planners | Venues: Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest | Planning & Design: Events by Nisar | Hair & Makeup - Sangeet Night: Hands2Create Studio | Hair - Wedding & Reception: Nicole Lynn Artistry | Makeup - Wedding & Reception: JHobby Makeup Studio | Catering - Sangeet & Reception: Village of India from Toronto | Catering - Wedding Lunch: Krishna Catering and Restaurant | Cake & Treats: Sweet Dreams Bakery | Cinematography: Aria Cinema Films | Mehndi Artist: Henna by Hetal | Photography: PhotoKitch