The Platinum Guide Blog

My beloved Maharanis, I hope you are having a day full of sunshine and happiness. Today, the love between the gorgeous Janice & Noble, brought us a sweet story. These lovebirds' wedding day was as romantic as it was luxurious. Celebrated at Villa Lombardi's venue, the couple had all the elegance this place has to offer. The scenery is as beautiful as you can imagine, ladies! The artists from House of Dipali outdid themselves with enchanting decor full of classiness. The royal blue and golden tones stood out flawlessly with M4U Events' lighting to complete the magnificent scenario for Janice & Noble. The celebration was extraordinary, with George & Co. Events' team behind the scenes managing every detail for our couple to rejoice with their loved ones. The sweethearts dazzled everyone with their garments, as well. The marvelous bride had Pixzy Dust do her makeup while The Posh Bride was trusted with her hair. And, dears, the result was breathtaking! Janice was a vision in her traditional white dress and red lengha later on. Noble was just as brilliant with his white and black tuxedo for the ceremony. The couple looked charming and graceful at any given moment. With matching sneakers, the pair was ready to celebrate their love with M4U Events in the DJ cabin, making sure everyone had the time of their lives. Of course, this couple couldn't have any other transportation that wasn't White Star Limousine's exclusive services. This event was magical and classy, fulfilled with romance and bliss. All of the heartfelt highlights were captured by MNM Photography for our couple to have a token of their day forever. This team does magic behind the lenses! And for you to bask in, my lovely Maharanis, we have this amazing gallery. You will love it!

Maharanis, remember you can find more stories righ here. I'll see you soon with more romance!

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Maharanis, I hope you are enjoying this lovely Thursday. Today brought us Nishi & Sohil's magnificent wedding, and I have all the details for you! These sweethearts chose a warm autumn day for their union, designed by RB Event Design, giving our couple all the time to revel in their day. Starting with a traditional sangeet celebration at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia Cherry Hill, Nishi & Sohil were all smiles and heart-eyes for each other. They followed up with a gorgeous ceremony and reception at The Mansion on Main Street. This fabulous venue provides vast spaces to accommodate the attendants and an elite service crew ready to assist with utter professionalism and vigor. The charming scenery couldn't be completed without Bandhan Celebrations' graceful touch with their exquisite ornamentation. I loved the pastel tones Nishi & Sohil chose for their wedding aesthetic. Our Maharani's marvelous attire, courtesy of Shilpa Gandhi Studio, was a masterwork! It combined elegance and tradition flawlessly, while Pretty Neat Beauty's tasteful makeup art made Nishi's natural beauty stand out the most. The bride was an enchanting view, especially for the handsome groom. He was dashing with his stylish attire and his divine wife-to-be by his side. Besides their excellent fashion choices, our couple also had Chand Palace's catering services to delight their guests' palates. Tinaz Entertainment Inc's skillful team was in charge of the music to keep everybody dancing and embraced by a heartwarming ambiance. The lovebirds had an unimaginable day that Studio KSD framed for them with their heavenly photography expertise. Their ingenuity and natural talent gave our couple astonishing pictures to cherish in their hearts forever. And for you, Maharanis, we have a brilliant gallery to widen your creativity. I am sure you'll fall in love with every single shot!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met on a dating app called bharatmatrimony.com. Sohil was living in California during the time Sohil and I first started talking, and for me to actually get to know him better, I made and wanted to make as many trips to California as I could. Once me and him felt comfortable with each other, Sohil flew to New Jersey, where we got to know each other even more. My last visit to California was in June of 2020, when we finally made it official and decided to do a court wedding in August of the same year. From the time in June until we decided to do our court wedding in August, Sohil and I decided to take a day trip to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge. The drive from his apartment at the time to San Francisco was about an hour, and during that drive was when I knew that Sohil was the one for me. I really had and felt so comfortable opening up to him, and letting my voice go. After that drive, and that trip did I know that all conversations with Sohil moving forward would be like the one we had on that drive. Calm, patient, and warm. Sohil is the most patient person I have ever met in my entire life, without any doubt, and that is why I love him so much.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Our Proposal story is a very cute and interesting one. Sohil proposed to me on July 25th of 2020 at a beautiful beach located in Half Moon Bay. The amazing part of the whole proposal is that he planned it during a pandemic with my mom and the help of his friends without me finding about the whole ordeal. He set me up while making me believe that we had to go shopping for a cocktail party that was hosted by his work, (Apple Inc.) He wanted the whole event to be perfect that he even made sure my nails were done, and even offered to do them for me. Funny, I know. He arranged it all so well, and he did an amazing and beautiful job at it. I was so gullible that I went along with the whole thing and I am so happy that I did. I was so naive that I even counted the number of steps that I had to walk down to to get to the beach, just to see what beautiful props and decorations he used to create the perfect atmosphere of the best proposal I could ever have imagined. I was in pure shock and awe, and so extremely happy. I will remember the day forever.

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.
Our vendors were the best yet. I wouldn't have had the perfect wedding if it wasn't for them. I'd say we started planning our wedding a few weeks after our Court Wedding, in August, the initial planning of our wedding. We went into full wedding planning mode in January of 2021. By this time, I had already started reaching out to vendors through instagram, reaching out to friends and family who had already gone down the route of planning their own wedding, and the rest through word of mouth. I had a vision in my mind of what kind of outfits I wanted, and from where so I started reaching out to friends. One of my friends has her own studio in New Jersey, so my Sangeet and reception outfit was designed from her and her aunt, but made in India. My wedding, haldi, and mendhi outfit was from Aari India. All 5 outfits, were stunning, and the style was perfect and exactly what I had in mind. I wouldn't t have had it in any other way. The venue we picked for the wedding and reception was like a palace, and it was called the Mansion on Main Street. It was and felt like a mansion, hence the name. I felt like a princess. My makeup artists and mendhi artists are now such good friends of mine. I gave them a vision, and a design of what I wanted for mendhi, and how I wanted my makeup to feel and look like me, but to also feel like a bride. They went with what I requested, no questions asked. I did have a makeup trial, which made things easier for me and the artist. The decor theme was done by a lady, who owns a company called Bandhan Celebrations. During the time of wedding planning my mom was the one who tackled this aspect of it. With me being in California, and my parents in New Jersey, they made not one but many back and forth trips to the the store who does all wedding decor. They also made several trips to the wedding venue to finalize all the logistics. Planning any wedding requires lots of communication, trust, and a vision. My parents, Sohil, me and our chosen vendors made all of this so easy, which is why we had such a beautiful and an amazing wedding.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So for me, I didn't want to go with the traditional red and white lengha or wedding dress for my wedding. I wanted to go a different route. I had seen a lot of brides wearing a off white, lengha with a floral print design to compensate or add on to the lengha, and overall look of the outfit. So that is what I went with. It looked stunning, and it made me feel even more beautiful. We chose Aari India, as our vendor for our wedding day.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
It was so exciting. Everything from A to Z. Our family, friends, and everyone and every detail in between made the whole event, or I should say events so enjoyable. I think for me, seeing all the vendors respond to our requests in a timely manner, made the planning process very easy. It made me feel that everything we wanted is and was going in the right direction, and it made me and my parents feel at ease. The support of the whole crowd, and our family was unconditional and I loved that.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think all of our guests enjoyed the live band we had going at the Sangeeth event. We had my mom's friend Chirag Trivedi and a known and popular singer perform, by the name of Tina Kundalia. She really engaged everyone in the audience, or rather our guests, including our friends, and close family. Sohil and I, as well as cousins and family performed dances throughout the evening, along with some speeches. We continued the celebration during the reception with more speeches and of course a DJ to get the party going even more. Our guests also enjoyed the gorgeous, and the beautiful setting of our venue, the Mansion on Main Street.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Yes! During our wedding, I walked down the aisle with my Uncle and Aunt.Growing up, I have been very close to them, and my uncle always encouraged me that I could do anything I ever set my mind to. That line, and him is very close to my heart. Also, while Sohil and I were getting married, my 4 brothers ( 2 boy cousins from my dad's side, and 2 boy cousins from my mom's side) were on the mandap during the whole ceremony. Even though, I am an only child, I actually felt as if I had 4 real brothers standing by me while I got married. I will never forget that.

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.
Decoration for any wedding is in the eye of the beholder. Every aspect, and detail that goes into planning a wedding comes down to a huge vision board, and lots of communication. It also requires lots of patients, a game plan, and hard work. In any Indian wedding, you will see lots of colors, and each color has some sort of significant meaning to it. The meaning might be seen or interpreted differently by each person. Its all about perspective. You will see lots of yellow, red, blue, pink, magenta, and violet in Indian colors, as well as others. My cousins, performed a beautiful and graceful dance during our Sangeet, one that I will always remember. I have them down to perform at all functions, now moving forward. It's something they enjoy, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy every moment, as it will only come once, and remember to have fun.

I hope you are feeling inspired, dears. I'll see you soon with more stories!

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Good morning, dears! Today's entry will take us back to a cozy winter day for Jinnie & Kevin's wedding. Our protagonists had a magical celebration at the One and Only Westmount Country Club. This venue offers the intimacy and elegance every Maharani deserves for their special event. Our couple couldn't resist the alluring views they encountered here, instantly falling in love with its timeless enchantment. The venue's natural refinement played perfectly with the classy decor Dalsimer Spitz & Peck crafted. The lovely bouquets were my favorite detail. The gorgeous tones matched Jinnie's sophistication and color scheme, making her the center of attention. Our Maharani had the remarkable Color Me Rouge for her bridal party's makeup and Mona Chebli Makeup Artist for the ceremony. The two capable and experienced artists were more than perfect to embellish the already gorgeous bride! Our Maharani had a whole team of experts behind her look, and she was divine, ladies. Her traditional white dress was dreamy, and she dazzled more than one with a charming lengha later on. We cannot leave the handsome groom behind. Kevin had his full charm on display and a dashing tuxedo to shine with his marvelous partner. The lovebirds were a vision! Studio KSD didn't miss any chance to capture their love, giving them a splendid set of photographs to treasure for eternity. Jinnie & Kevin's adoration for each other is evident in every single frame! The enthralling gallery is ready for you to get creative, my dear Maharanis. Wait no more to check it out! 

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I first met Kevin at a Knanaya Jacobite Convention back in 2012. It sounds kind of crazy, but that first day I knew somehow that he was different and we hit it off. But despite the instant connection we felt, life had other plans for us and it didn't really pan out. We talked on and off a few times over the years In 2019, I guess we finally had our timing right. This time around, it stuck, and here we are, finally married over 9 years after our initial meeting.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Kevin proposed to me in December 2020 at a beautiful gazebo covered in Christmas lights. I was admiring it and the tree inside when I noticed that there was a man standing inside...Kevin. As I walked toward the gazebo, I could hear one of my favorite songs, Dhadke Jiya, playing in the background. I walked up to meet him and he got down on one knee and proposed. It was a perfect moment, captured by a good friend of ours, Ronnie Stephen. Afterward, we met up with our family and friends at Kevin's parent's house to celebrate.

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.
Kevin and I decided rather quickly that we wanted to get married, and we came to this decision during the pandemic. We ended up calling over 30 venues and visited 12 or 13 venues in one weekend. It was exhausting, but we picked our venue that same weekend. We chose the Westmount Country Club because they had experience with Malayalee Indian Weddings and because they had an incredible food spread. They were also very easy to work with. Once we had our venue and the date, we started reaching out to vendors, starting with finding a church, photo and video, DJ, and HMUA for myself.

We got married at St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Paramus, NJ. The church itself was stunning, with beautiful high ceilings and lots of natural light. It was clean and elegant, and Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun was so welcoming and kind.

I knew early on that I wanted to book Mona Chebli for my hair and makeup; I had been following her on Instagram for years.

We spoke to a lot of different photo and video teams but ultimately chose Studio KSD because we loved their work and felt comfortable with Tina.
We chose M4U for our DJ Team and DJ Vik and MC Vik really know how to host a party. They set such an amazing vibe and had the whole room going.

We chose our florist/decorator based on recommendations from the Westmount Country Club. John from Dalsimer Spitz and Peck was so easy to work with, and understood the vision I had for my wedding decor and florals so clearly, and brought it to life.

Keys2Vocals, led by our friend Vineeth Thomas, handled the choir details for our wedding ceremony and gave us all the feels on the day of.

I had the most fun designing my bridesmaid's outfits. I worked with Chinnu from Amayaa Collections in India, and she brought my vision to life.

MehndiKalogie did my bridal mehndi and brought the vision I had for my mehndi to life.

Colour Me Rouge did hair and makeup for my bridesmaids and their team was excellent.

PleatsBySher did draping for my mom and MIL, as well as my manthrakodi draping and she was so easy to work with and made me feel absolutely beautiful in my saree.

Eventify was our DOC for the weekend and hands down the best decision we made with regards to the day. Aji, Jino, Tina, and Rupali were our dream team for the weekend and took so much of the stress out of the day. We knew after our first call with Aji and Jino that they were the team that we wanted with us on the most important day of our lives, and they did not disappoint.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So I always knew for the church portion of the wedding, I wanted to wear a white gown. I had SUCH a hard time finding "the dress." Everything I thought I would love (lace, long sleeves, A-line) ended up being everything I hated. I finally figured out that I was a satin girl all the way, and that less is more. I tried on over 30 dresses at so many bridal salons before I finally found my dress at L&H Couture in Doylestown, PA....5 minutes from my house.

My Manthrakodi was purchased in Cochin, Kerala, India from Seematti Silks. As per tradition, my parents and I went shopping with my mother-in-law and father-in-law to purchase the sari. I didn't have much of an idea in mind but both moms had their hearts set on traditional red, which is what we ended up picking out.

My reception outfit was purchased at Made by Milan, in Cochin, Kerala. This lehenga was an absolute dream and was my favorite outfit of the entire day. It was all the sparkle and drama that I wanted in a reception outfit. Big skirt, tons of sparkle, a ruffled dupatta, and all in shades of white, ivory, and silver that made me feel so incredibly bridal.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why? 
I think for me, the best part of wedding planning was all the time I got to spend with my family and Kevin's leading up to it. From planning pow-wows to dance practices, it was such a fun time to get together with the people I love, and even though it wasn't always easy, I still have such awesome memories of some of these times.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
My husband and I chose our wedding venue based on the food, and sure enough, that was what my guests RAVED about after our wedding. We heard so much about how much our guests enjoyed cocktail hour and the endless options they had.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
There were so many moments throughout the day that I replay in my mind. If I really had to choose one, I think it would be the moment in the morning when I read Kevin's letter to me. It was probably one of the only quiet moments I had during the day, and honestly, his words were exactly what I needed to hear before walking down the aisle to him. It centered me.

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 night before the wedding we had our traditional Mylanchi and Chantham Charth, but we decided to have them together at the same venue, since we both had so many guests come in from out of time, especially extended family. Masato Events designed our staging for the event in peacock colors. It was a fun night filled with Knanaya traditions, and family dances. I did a traditional look for this event, and got all glammed up by Swara Kasbekar from Artistry by Swara Kay.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Try to soak as much of the day in as you can, and try not to worry about all the details the day of. Things will inevitably go wrong, but everything works out in the end. The whole day passes in a blur so really try to be present in the moment and enjoy the day.

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

All right, darlings, I hope you are feeling inspired. Keep coming back for more romance!

Studio KSD and Color Me Rouge are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Good morning, dears! Today, we have a delightful story for you starring Liliana & Praveen. These lovebirds said "I do" on a cozy fall day at the Rolling Hills Country Club. This luxurious venue was excellent for our lovebirds' wedding celebration. The astonishing views and private environment made all the guests feel at home while enjoying the tasty cuisine from India's Oven and the splendid scene in front of them. The Portofino Hotel & Marina was the place with undeniably gorgeous, where our couple hosted their magnificent Sangeet and where they decided to stay along with their beloved family. The phenomenal team from Deepti's Florals Designs & Mandaps made sure to transform it into a lovely dreamland with her artistic flowery touch. With Absolutely Fabulous Events & Productions Inc's stagging, our couple had a picture-perfect setting for their extraordinary events. The flowers' tones were carefully combined with our Maharani's attires, making her shine brighter. The stunning Liliana was a vision! Her magnificent lengha seemed to be taken out of a fantasy and Dolled up by Lulu excelled with her makeup skills. She highlighted every single one of our Maharani's already beautiful features. And thanks to Nisha Mehndi's henna design, Liliana looked glorious, ladies! The handsome groom didn't miss a beat with his traditional yet stylish clothing for the day. I am sure all the attendants were dazzled by the couples' look and incredible moves while dancing to Special Occasions DJ & Lighting's cheerful music set. Everyone was also amazed by the Bollywood dancers from Lunasha Bollywood Company and the magical team from Essense Entertainment. I adore them! This event was beyond perfection! Liliana & Praveen flawlessly mixed love and fun while creating everlasting memories with their loved ones on their special day. Skyline Entertainment and Capture Pod Studio were in charge of the photo booths that allowed everyone to enjoy unforgettable moments! From exquisite churros from Barts Carts and delicious treats from Chocolate Fountain SoCal to the sweetness of the cotton candy from the Candy Kingdom. Our couple pampered their beloved guests with delightful pleasures! Meanwhile, Lin & Jirsa Photography captured every instant for them in a sparkling set of pictures. I know you can't wait to see them, loves. We have them in this marvelous gallery, available for you to get your inspiration!

I hope you loved this story, Maharanis. Keep coming back for more!

Deepti's Florals Designs & Mandaps and The Portofino Hotel & Marina are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Good morning my queens! What a beautiful day we have ahead of us, and, as always, it is my pleasure to share with you a new story to be inspired. Our sweethearts, Christine & Jerin, celebrated their lovely union at the VIP Country Club surrounded by their special ones and the gorgeous sun during a perfect summer day. The delightful colors of the decor Stylish Events provided were the perfect contrast for the delicate ones our Maharani chose for her lengha. Her elegant white dress was perfect. I adore it! But my favorite part about her look was the stunning shades Heena Das Beauty applied for her makeup. Christine was glorious! I am sure you won't believe how incredible the couple looked standing together. The traditional attires were just the beginning of a magical night for everyone. Of course, with the joyful music M4U Events brought, the guests couldn't be kept away from the dancefloor. There is no better companion to a happily ever after than a vibrant soundtrack. Now, ladies, I know that minor aspects during one's special day can be overwhelming at times. That's why our bride contacted the professional team from L&B Events to keep everything in check. This fabulous wedding couldn't be possible without them taking care of every feature, giving our lovebirds all the time to enjoy the beauty of their forever. Jashim Jalal Photography's pictures captured all the love and adoration Christine and Jerin have for each other. My wonderful Maharanis, I have a dazzling gallery for you. Go check it out and be enchanted by this phenomenal love story.

My loves, that's it for this entry. I'll see for the next love story!

Stylish Events and L&B Events are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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