The Platinum Guide Blog

Happy Thursday, darlings! Indian fusion weddings have something special that always makes our hearts melt with tenderness and joy, and Ratna & Casey's wedding is no exception. So get ready to have a blast because today's fusion wedding packs all the things you love and so much more! We're starting this journey by joining this couple at The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North, where the ceremony took place. Crimson Bleu Events conceptualized this event to perfection, while Utopian Events enhanced the experience with heavenly decor. This winning combo created a soothing environment for Ratna & Casey to tie the knot. Our lovely couple looked ravishing together, but it was our beautiful Maharani who stole the show! She said, "I do," looking like a princess after being glamorized by Beauty by Ami. And we love every bit of her traditional and glamorous look! For more amazing shots of this event, head over to our full gallery. We've compiled the best photos captured by Christopher Brock Photography for your enjoyment, and we are sure you are going to love it all!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met through my sister in law. I knew pretty early on! He was so kind, fun, funny and cute.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We were on a dream vacation in Italy and he proposed in a beautiful garden with live music and a photographer. I was completely surprised and it was an amazing day.

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 wanted to get married pretty quickly (engaged in February, married in August) so things moved quickly! We wanted to focus on our family, friends and having a fun and memorable weekend. We're both pretty simple and didn't want anything over the top. Great food, music and simple but beautiful decor with lots of fresh flowers. I'm South Indian and we had a mix of traditional and modern aspects to the ceremony: sannai melam to escort us both to the mandap but a shorter ceremony altogether.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Being South Indian, I always wanted to be married in a beautiful sari although we didn't go with a traditional pattu sari but a gorgeous cream silk sari embroidered heavily with gold thread. I wanted to coordinate with Casey so we matched the pattern and color of our wedding outfits as closely as we could. I love gold and gold jewelry so that was a big part of of the wedding look. For the reception, my parents had a beautiful and vibrant pinkish-purple flower in their yard and I loved the color so we used that as inspiration for my reception lengha. I also wanted to coordinate with Casey who was wearing a navy blue tux so my blouse was dark blue silk and skirt was pinkish-purple, both with gold embroidery.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Getting to plan with my mom and Casey--they both made the planning process so fun and really helped to alleviate the stress with a short engagement. It was especially fun picking our first dance song and our favorite songs for the DJ. We also loved the food tasting!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
That it was smaller so we could really spend time with everyone.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking to the mandap with the sannai melam playing and seeing Casey. We had seen each other already during our first look and pictures but walking to him then was very special and emotional.

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.
We wanted a simple color scheme for both events: wedding was creams, golds with a little pink. Reception was bolder pink-purple and blue with gold. Both had tons of beautiful fresh flowers (as did my hair for both events!)

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy the process and do what you and your husband to be want! One regret I have is that we didn't mingle with our guests during cocktail hour so we could have a more dramatic entrance. Most weddings I've gone to, the bride and groom don't enter the reception til later but I wish we would have been present during cocktail hour.

See you tomorrow, ladies. We have new stories every day!

Christopher Brock Photography, Crimson Bleu Events and Beauty by Ami - Hair and Makeup Artist are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Welcome back, Maharanis! Let's start this Tuesday with Pooja & Sanket's journey into the happily ever after. And believe us; this is one you don't want to miss. On this occasion, it was the exclusive and imposing Hilton Orlando that hosted the beautiful and traditional wedding ceremony of this lovely couple. The perfect planning by Urvashi Mishra, Wedding & Event Planner and the fabulous decor crafted by Wedding Design and Decor created an ideal atmosphere for this life-changing event. Hands down,  Pooja & Sanket, could not have asked for a more beautiful scenario to declare their love in front of their family and friends. Our lovely Maharani stole all the looks while walking down the aisle on her fascinating ruby lengha with golden embroidery. But it was not just the splendid attire that highlighted Pooja's beauty; this traditional and drop-dead gorgeous look would not have been possible without the exquisite makeup and hairstyle designed by Michele Renee The Studio. Simply breathtaking! And just by looking at the spectacular shots captured by Castaldo Studio, we can agree that this celebration exceeded all expectations! From the fantastic garlands by Vivek Flowers to the endless repertoire of Medley Entertainment, everything was impressive! And let's not forget about the elegant and spectacular invites crafted by The Royal Collection, a delightful work of art. If you want to see more of this wedding ceremony, do not miss today's gallery, you will love it!

See you tomorrow for more. Same place, same time! 

The Royal Collection, Urvashi Mishra, Wedding & Event Planner, Medley Entertainment and Michele Renee The Studio are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Good morning, ladies! We are glad to have you back because we were dying to share Ankita & Kunal's wedding celebration with all of you. So, let's wait no more and get ready to dive into this enchanting story. Planning a wedding is not easy, let alone a wedding in the times of COVID, so these lovebirds had a couple of different ideas to carry on with their special day. From a small backyard celebration to a civil wedding at City Hall, they wen over several options until they decided to have an intimate outdoor ceremony officiated at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. The bird songs and the sound of a gentle waterfall break combined with greenery created the perfect setting for Ankita & Kunal to join their lives in marriage in the company of their loved ones. Although every inch of the backdrop was mesmerizing, nothing compared to the beauty of our blushing Maharani Ankita, who looked like a vision of beauty thanks to the exquisite makeup and sleek hairstyle designed by Colleen Anne. An in case you were wondering who is the mastermind behind her spectacular Mehndi, it is no other than Unnati'Z Art. After the ceremony, a celebration dinner held at the DL Studio melted everyone's hearts with emotional speeches and tender moments. Ladies, don't miss any detail of this charming event by taking a look at the jaw-dropping shots captured by Peter Nguyen Studio in this gallery. Every image is a visual masterpiece you don't want to miss, so make sure to check it out!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We were introduced through mutual friends - he was living in New York and I was in Chicago. Our first date was actually a FaceTime, but eventually we met in person and hit it off! There probably wasn't a single moment where I knew he was "the one" but it was a feeling that I had from the very early days - he is kind hearted, caring, fun and a foodie like me :)

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It was a cold February Saturday in Chicago, and I had a work event in the evening where significant others were invited, so Kunal was going to join me. Kunal told me that a cousin of his was visiting so we would stop by to see his cousin first, then go to the work event. So we got dressed up, and walked toward the location where his cousin supposedly was. As we walked over the Clark Street Bridge, Kunal stopped to take in the sights. I was freezing, so I was like "ok it's pretty, let's move on!" He asked if we could wait a minute and then reached in his pocket and proposed!
After the proposal, we went back to the place of our first date to grab a drink. Little did I know that Kunal had planned for my entire family and his family to be waiting for us at our apartment. We had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends that evening.

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.
Wedding plan in the times of COVID was very difficult. We had a number of different ideas - backyard wedding at my parents' house, civil wedding at City Hall, but we landed on a very small outdoor ceremony that was fairly simple. We had a civil ceremony officiated by a judge and are hoping to have a bigger Hindu ceremony in the future.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I purchased my bridal lengha not know that I would wear it for my wedding! I bought the outfit in Jaipur a few years ago just because I thought it was very pretty. With COVID, my trip to India to shop for the wedding was canceled, and I thought the outfit I had would be perfect to us on this day.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Writing the vows with Kunal, as we though about the kind of marriage we hope to have

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
With COVID, there is a lot of uncertainty about the future. We chose to get married because we didn't want to put life on hold because of things our of our control. I would encourage brides to be (and grooms to be) to think about what is most important to them and know that weddings can be reimagined and still be very special

See you tomorrow for more. Same place, same time!

Peter Nguyen Studio is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Good morning, beautiful Maharanis! We hope you are ready to dive into a new lovely and charming story because Zohra & Rehan's wedding is a real-life fairytale you don't want to miss. So, sit back, get your pen and notebook, and get ready to enjoy today's cornucopia of beauty and flair celebrated at The Henry Autograph Collection. Thoroughly planned, designed, and decored by Marigold Wedding Planners, this wedding was an ode to beauty and extravaganza. Anywhere you looked, there was beauty all over the place, and we found ourselves lost in words to describe so much beauty. And if you thought the scenery and de decor were swoon-worthy, wait until you take a look at the ravishing look of our gorgeous Maharani, Zohra. She had the best allies by her side and ended up looking like a vision of beauty for her big day. Simply take a peek at the lineup of top of the line vendors that made her dreamy look come to life: JHobby Makeup, Hair by Aysha, and Fatima Ashar. Hands down, a winning combination from which you can only expect nothing less than amazingness, and this time was no exception! If you are like us and can't get enough of this enchanting celebration, don't miss the spectacular shots captured by Sky Films and Productions in today's full gallery. Every image is an absolute visual delight you don't want to miss, so make sure to check it out. You will be amazed!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met through a common friend and realized after meeting that we are from the same med school, had so many friends in common but never really met each other then.
So when we met in the US, its like we clicked right away

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
No major scoop. We kept it traditional. Families met. And we decided on a wedding date, which was way harder than it sounds

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 kinda knew had an idea who I wanted for my vendors in Detroit. And luckily enough, they were all very nice and accommodating.
I only had about 8 weeks to plan my wedding, while working as a physician-in-training with long hours. All I had to do was share my ideas and my wonderful vendors brought it to life.
Honestly, I was so lucky to have jhobby to do my make, Ayesha my hair, Gagan for video/pics/music/lighting and Tina from Marigold

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always knew i wanted something with gold and red, with a lehnga and choli. I went to Pakistan and met the designer i was getting my dress from in person. She tool my measurements, we did some rough sketches and I came back to the US. My Mom took care of the rest.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
All the pre-wedding festivities. The spending time with family, late-night sittings, singing, dancing.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests enjoyed everything. The table setting, photobooth with props, dessert station, my dress, my makeup and hairdo. Everything turned out phenomenal.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Making my entrance, and seeing my husband get up to receive 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.
One evening main event right after the nikkah with beautiful floral centerpieces on a gold table setting, LED lights, hanging flowers, green leafy floral backdrop with hanging chandeliers, entrance centerpieces with a petal throwdown, photobooth, dessert station, sparklers, and fog machine. A hired bhangra dancing troupe.

For the reception, it was a slightly smaller day event. The ballroom itself was like a small art gallery with complimenting pnk/white decor.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
This is a very stressful time and its normal to want everything to be perfect, but don't forget to breathe and enjoy the process. This is your moment, cherish it.

Marigold Wedding Planners and Sky Films and Productions are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Good morning, ladies! We are glad you could join us today because we were dying to share Parina & Pathik's wedding celebration with all of you. So let's not keep on waiting, and get ready to enjoy it! Right from the bat, we have to say that this will take your breath away as it is another demonstration that love always wins! When Parina & Pathik's started planning their wedding, they didn't know that nature had a big surprise for them, and COVID emerged soon before their big day. Still, they decided not to back down and carried on with their wedding celebration, making the necessary arrangements to comply with all the safety measurements. To make that happen, they decided to bring Events By Srishti on board, as their expertise in planning dreamy weddings is out of the question. And this time it was no exception! The final result: A lovely and intimate wedding ceremony hosted at the Hanover Marriott! Anywhere you looked, there was beauty all over the place, thanks to the fabulous decor crafted by Florista Decor. Still, nothing compared to the ravishing look of our gorgeous Maharani Parina. She trusted her beauty needs to Arfana Jasar, who delivered nothing but perfection in the form of an exquisite makeup and hairstyle that still has us sighing. After the ceremony, all guests celebrated along with the newlyweds while taking a bite at the delicious food from Tacowala, and Pizza Vita, right before having ice cream from Ben and Jerry's Truck. Having different food trucks helped with social distancing and gave different food options to choose from, and we are sure all guests were more than happy about it! If you want to take a closer look at this lovely celebration, don't miss the awe-inspiring shots by Events Capture in today's full gallery. You will love it so much!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Pathik and I met online via DilMil. He lived in Boston and I was in Jersey. The beginning stages of our relationship was rough, his work required him to travel internationally 3 weeks out of a month and I knew he was the one when he would find a way to meet with me in his one week back in the states. That’s how I knew he was the one - he was willing to make plans with me during his small time frame back at home and that showed me that he made spending time with one another a priority.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Pathik proposed to me about 2 weeks before he decided to move to New Jersey to be closer to me. He proposed to me on a very windy day in battery park, and made me the happiest woman around. I was so shocked that even though I knew that the ring goes on the left hand - I was so surprised and shocked that rather than gracefully handing him my hand I gave him both hands to let him choose where the ring should go. Turns out I wore my ring on the wrong finger and didn’t realize it until I FaceTimed my sister to tell her the news and she called me out on it.

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.
Planning out wedding started over a year before the actual wedding date. We had all of our vendors selected by November 2019. But in February 2020 covid hit and changed so many aspects of the plan. We went from having 4 events at 2 venues with 500 people each to having only the wedding with 90 of our closest family and friends.

The wedding was nothing like what we planned but it was everything we truely wanted. Shrishti our wedding coordinator helped keep us calm and figure out how to work with the constantly changing regulations and we couldn’t be more greatful.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I went to India to do my shopping, and unlike most brides experiences. I fell in love with my outfit within the first 12 hours of being in India. I bought the dress from the first store I went to and fell in love with it.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
There was no joy in our wedding planning all of the fun things that were to take place were canceled due to covid. We never had a food tasting as we didn’t have a typical caterer. We opted to go for a safe way of getting food to our guests with food trucks. We didn’t get to have a cake tasting as we felt having a large Cake that would have to be cut and served could be risky and we wanted to try and be as safe as possible so we had a Ben and Jerry food truck take the place of the wedding cake. We didn’t want to risk catching or transmitting anything to the makeup artist and I put all my trust in her the day of and let Arfana Jasar work her magic.

The most enjoyable part for us was just being able to have the wedding given the climate of the world with corona virus.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests still rave about the precautions we took at our wedding. We provided all of our guests with custom face masks, we set up all of the seats to be set up 6’ apart, we made sure that we avoided indoor dining as that is risky and had food trucks set up outside so it was a safer method for all of the guests to enjoy the food. The pizza vita, tacowala, and Ben and Jerry’s food trucks did a great job and everyone loved it!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Given the risk Covid put on everyone present at the wedding pathik and I had to make the difficult decision to cancel so many events. The hardest one to cancel was the reception. I had spent so much time planning dances and making song selections for entrances and something I dreamed about, the first dance. Before the vidai/farewell I was able to have my first dance and that had left me in tears since it was something I was really looking forward to.

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.
I only ended up having the ceremony, so I was able to convince the bridal party to do a little dance as the bridal parties entry to the mandap so I could still have a little bit of dancing for our wedding.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
For any brides to be - don’t forget that you are planning the wedding as way to celebrate the start of a new and beautiful chapter. So remember that it is something you want to enjoy not overplay.

What a lovely story! Remember to join us tomorrow for more!

Florista Decor, Arfana Jasar and Events By Srishti are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.