Happy Thursday, Maharanis! Indian fusion weddings have something special that always makes our heart melt with tenderness and happiness, and Anika & Ian's wedding is no exception. So get ready to enjoy because today's enchanting wedding packs all the things we love, and so much more! We're starting this journey by joining this couple at the Springfield Country Club to take a look at the magical wedding ceremony that united these lovebirds in marriage. Marigold Wedding Planners, along with Ranna Goyal -Bride's Mom- took care of the conceptualization of this event, designing and executing a beautiful ceremony, very well complemented with the heavenly floral arrangements put together by Blair's Florist. This winning combo created a soothing environment for Anika & Ian 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 on her soft-colored lengha and showcasing a spectacular Mehndi designed by Henna4all by Sushma. And we love every bit of her traditional and glamorous look! After the wedding ceremony, a big reception party animated by JP Entertainment Services started, and all the guests enjoyed the delicious food prepared by 5ive Chefs Catering. For more amazing shots of this event, head over to the full gallery that we have for you today, thanks to the good friends from Intrepid Studio. It is an absolute visual delight that you don't want to miss!
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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Ian and I met during training for our Peace Corps Service in Thailand. We spent all together (with a group of other volunteers) learning the language, teaching children and spending time with our Thai counterparts and host families. Spending this much time with him and still wanting to hang out more made me realize he was more than just a friend. We traveled the country together and our relationship only grew stronger. I found comfort in Ian's friendship while being that far from home, from my friends and family, which made me realize he was "the one,"
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
During my service I lived with my host family is Sukhothai, Thailand where there was a beautiful mountain range that could be seen from my family's house. We hiked that mountain in 2017 and again in 2018 with our friends. Since our first hike was so special and memorable we wanted to do it one last time before the end of our service. January 7, 2018 was the second anniversary of the day we met and one month until the end of our service. On that morning, while watching the sunrise over the village, Ian proposed to me on the cliff of the mountain and of course I said yes!
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.
My mom, Ranna, was in charge of all the wedding planning and we are lucky to have had her doing that. She researched and found all of the vendors and together we finalized many decisions. It was very easy to work with all of the vendors since we a knew a few of them from previous events. In the end everyone worked so smoothly with one another to make for a perfect wedding weekend.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted a pastel/ light colored decor and lengha. I think I found my lengha on the second or third shopping trip in New Jersey, It was so random when we found it as we were in a store looking for other outfits. I saw the color and sparkle from the corner of my eye and immediately fell in love. I was with my mom, best friend and her mother and we all agreed it was the perfect outfit for me.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Food tasting was really fun and delicious and shopping for clothes was also enjoyable. Doing the entire planning process with my mom and family made the whole wedding experience that much more memorable.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests loved spending time together for an entire weekend and celebrating each night to its fullest. We had a lot of non-indian guests so it was very special to see them all fully immersed in every aspect of the weekend. We could feel the love all weekend long and the good weather and good food were also a plus!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Ian and I always recount the moment of our first look since that was an extremely special and intimate moment for the two of us. Ian always reminisces on the bharat and dancing away with his friends. The feeling of joy we felt by being surrounded by all of our friends and family is a feeling we will remember forever.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Make the most of the entire process since it all contributes to the special day. Don't let the fear of others' expectations and opinions get in the way of what you and your partner want. Make a food plan to ensure that you and your partner actually get to try all of the wonderful meals you picked out!
We hope you've enjoyed today's feature as much as we did! Make sure to join us tomorrow for more.
