Happy Monday, Maharanis! We're off to Hartford, CT today for Pooja and Ameesh's spectacular Indian wedding, captured in magnificent photos by Manish and Sung Photography! We'll head to the marvelous Marriott Hartford Downtown in a bit to see the ceremony, but first, it's time for the pre-wedding celebration! Blushing Indian bride Pooja wore a radiant chartreuse and pink lengha for the event, and looked extra dazzling with a flawless hair and makeup look by Hairdresser on Fire! The venue was also gorgeous, thanks to the incredible decor by Starz Decor! Check out some pre-wedding portraits and highlights below, and head to the full gallery to see the reception, which featured incredible food from Sukhadia Caterers!
Maharani Pooja on meeting her Raja and how she knew he was "the one":
"Ameesh and I met years before we started dating at a party in New York City. At the time, Ameesh was working in finance at a large bank in New York City, and I was visiting the city from Ithaca, NY, where I was a first-year law student. It was his birthday, and one of my best friends also happened to be celebrating her birthday at the same bar. We were casually introduced by Ameesh's sister-in-law, who I knew from New York University. Fast forward over two years later in 2011--I moved back to New York City after law school, and Ameesh and I were introduced again through mutual friends. We would run into each other every couple of months and slowly became close acquaintances. Finally, in August 2013, we attended the same Yankees game, and the rest is history. We quickly knew that what we had was special. I knew he was "the one" only a few short months into the relationship, and my suspicions were confirmed when my younger cousin stole my phone and sent Ameesh an unflattering photo of himself as a joke; Ameesh quickly responded by sending a similar, unflattering photo of himself. A small act with a lifetime of meaning."
On the romantic proposal:
"When Ameesh and I were dating, we frequented Central Park. Whether it be biking, running, or picnicking, we always enjoyed ourselves while we took in the views of Manhattan from Sheep's Meadow. So it was only fitting that he proposed where we created several of our fondest memories. Ameesh planned a picnic in the park during his last weekend in New York City before returning to Ann Arbor, Michigan for his final year of business school. Little did I know, he had scoped out proposal locations earlier in the week and had one of his best friends follow us with a high-resolution camera taking pictures the entire day. We strolled through the park, had a lovely picnic (complete with gourmet cheeses and fine wine), and then took a boat ride near the Bethesda Fountain and Boat House. Ameesh subtly positioned our row boat near the iconic Bow Bridge and asked me to marry him. We topped off the day with champagne at one of Manhattan's finest rooftop bars overlooking Central Park and a romantic, candlelit dinner at our favorite NoHo restaurant."
On choosing her bridal outfits:
"I traveled to India with both sets of parents (my parents and my in-laws), my sister, and my childhood friend to select wedding outfits for Ameesh and me. We shopped for my Sangeet lengha, Wedding lengha, and Reception gown in Mumbai, and each of these outfits was customized to ensure I would be comfortable while also feeling glamorous during the wedding. I wanted unique designs and colors for my outfits, and I was able to do just that during the time I spent in Mumbai. I scoured the internet for ideas before my trip, but what I was able to see and create in Mumbai surpassed my expectations. My Garba lengha and my white, red, and green panetar sari for the Wedding were both designed in Gujarat, where my family is originally from. We customized each of Ameesh's outfits to match my lenghas."
We'll share the magical ceremony when we return!
