March is here, Ladies! And with this new month, we have numerous unique events that will inspire your soul and will fill you with many ideas for your dream wedding. Today we are traveling directly to Atlanta to admire the spectacular wedding ceremony of Shibani & Ashish, our lovely duo from today. For this first installment, we'll take a look at the incredible shots captured by Fenglong Photography that immortalized the most tender and intimate moments of our lovebird's big day! And if this is not enough, we are also showcasing a phenomenal film created by Blu Couture Wedding Films, from this sweet day that will also add tons of inspiration to your day. How cool is that? The traditional Hindu wedding ceremony was held at the grand Hilton Atlanta Northeast. Right from the start, we have to say that we absolutely loved the fantastic decor crafted by Weddings InStyle. Just take a look at that beautiful draped and floral mandap! The cream colors and bright hues looked amazing together! We are certain that both, planning and organization from Pure Lotus Events were outstanding. They totally took this event to a higher level! Definitely, love was in the air that day, and every single part of the ceremony made everyone sigh. So today, you are invited to relive this moment and sigh a bit too by visiting our gallery and also our main video blog. You will adore it!
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Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Ashish first expressed his feelings to me at a secluded garden on Georgia Tech's campus (where we went to college) in 2011, and he knew that same spot would be the best, most sentimental location to pop the big question. He asked my parents for their blessing, and they were overjoyed! To plan the proposal, Ashish worked closely with my brother, Rohan. As a current student at Georgia Tech, Rohan convinced me that he had an event on campus on December 16, 2017 (the day of the proposal) that he wanted the whole family to be present for. On the day of the proposal, Ashish pretended to be at work, texting me throughout the day about what a busy day he was having there. In reality, he was working with Rohan, his sister and brother-in-law to intricately decorate and set up the proposal spot with rose petals, candles, lanterns, and of course, champagne. As I arrived on campus expecting Rohan's supposed "event", I was shocked to see Ashish waiting for me instead. I immediately started crying tears of joy, and Ashish took my hand and walked me to the garden. He had hired a photographer and a violinist who played some of our favorite romantic songs. He asked me to dance as we reminisced about our past 6 and a half years together. Then, Ashish got down on one knee and proposed. It was the easiest question I ever had to answer! We joined our families for a special dinner afterwards.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Choosing a bridal lengha is a big deal - it's part of all of your pictures, videos and memories! I was fortunate to have so much help from my mom with all of our wedding planning, including my outfits. She has an amazing eye and my taste emulates hers. I had been talking to a few designers, but nothing stood out to me as "the one". I knew I wanted red with green accents, and I wanted a design that felt modern but had traditional elements. During our search, Mom came across Chamee & Palak, a boutique in Mumbai, and I worked with them through WhatsApp and over the phone to design my dream wedding lengha (as well as three other outfits for my other events), customized to my preferences and size. They were amazing to work with, and my outfits were beyond my imagination. I loved that my wedding lengha was red, had green detail, and also featured a pink ruffle at the bottom that felt like a unique, slightly playful touch. I still look back at our wedding pictures feeling so grateful to have worn the outfit of my dreams!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I'm not going to lie - food and cake tasting were both mine and my husband's most enjoyable parts of the planning process! It was so fun bringing our families along and getting to try rich, delicious food and cake. I went on a semi-diet before the wedding, so I welcomed the excuse to indulge. Also, many components of wedding planning can be stressful, but these were not in the slightest!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
As a surprise for us during our reception, my mom planned for family members from both of our sides to perform a medley of short dances. We loved the dances they did for us, and the time they all took to choreograph and practice beforehand meant so much. However, my favorite part was when the medley ended, all of our family members formed a U-shape around the dance floor and held hands, signifying our families coming together as one. They brought Ashish and me to join in, and although marriage itself symbolizes the merger of the bride and groom's families, the gesture was so sweet. I replay this moment in my mind often.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Wedding planning is likely going to be stressful for you. If you're anything like me, you've been dreaming about your big day for as long as you can remember, and you want it to be as close to perfect as possible. A few things that helped me were:
1. Hiring a day-of coordinator, if your budget permits. We had an incredible experience with Dhara from Pure Lotus Events. She managed our wedding and reception beautifully; we didn't feel any stress on the day of our main events. She communicated with us throughout our planning process and reminded my family and I of things we would not have otherwise thought about, she managed our schedule, and most importantly, she managed our vendors on the day of our wedding. We were not planning to hire a day-of coordinator, but I am so glad we worked with Dhara. I only have delightful memories from our wedding day.
2. Involve your fiancé in the planning. My husband was involved each step of the way, from choosing our venue, to invitations, to food (this one did not take any arm-twisting), our reception flow - everything. Involving your fiancé can be challenging when you have different ideas, but ultimately, it's one of the biggest days in both of your lives. What you learn from planning a wedding together is important as you plan other important things together later in life!
3. Be open about how you feel during the wedding planning process. Speak up about what is important to you and your significant other. Know that you probably won't get everything the way you've always imagined it in your head since South Asian weddings typically tend to involve both the bride and groom's families in the planning, and distinguish the must-haves vs. the nice-to-haves. If you can be flexible on some of the nice-to-haves, you'll likely find that you are able to manage your planning-related stress more effectively.
You've been dreaming about this day for a while, so do what you need to in order to feel the bliss and love you deserve to feel on your big day. Maybe you can get a massage with one of your besties a few days beforehand, take time to relax and enjoy your spa/beauty treatments, and just find little moments on the days leading up to your wedding that you can enjoy with your fiancé, even if it's going to get your marriage license. You will probably be surrounded by friends and family on the wedding day itself, so I highly recommend cherishing the opportunities you have to take it all in with just the two of you.
We have all the details of the last event. So make sure to come back!
