The Platinum Guide Blog

Welcome back, sweeties. Let me transport you to a world where love blossoms and dreams come true! Today, we will peek at Stephanie & Neal's incredible wedding. Nestled along the picturesque coastline, the Paséa Hotel & Spa set the stage for an unforgettable celebration of love. The panoramic views of the glistening ocean created a sense of serenity and awe. With its impeccable service and attention to detail, the venue ensured that every aspect was nothing short of perfection. Opal Event Planning & Design worked magic, ensuring every element reflected the couple's love story. From the enchanting decor to the seamless coordination, they created a magical atmosphere that left everyone spellbound. Capturing every heartfelt moment was One Story Weddings, their lenses weaving a tale of love through breathtaking photographs. Let your heart be swept away, and indulge in the beauty of this fantastic gallery. You will love every moment of it!

Thank you for taking the time to read this love story, Maharanis. Stay tuned for more features!

Pasea Hotel & Spa is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Pasea Hotel & Spa VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Greetings, Maharanis! Let us take you on a romantic journey of Priya & Ronak's wedding, a celebration of love and unity that left everyone in awe. The wedding began with the Baraat, where Ronak made his grand entrance, accompanied by the electrifying beats of 3D Sounds. The ceremony was at Pacific Palms Resort, a stunning venue that provided the perfect backdrop for the couple's special day. Dharmasetu Dasa led the ceremony, beautifully narrated the couple's love story, and conducted the rituals. Shilpa Patel Events was responsible for planning and design, and they outdid themselves. Our lovebirds wanted to go as traditional Gujarati as possible with the aesthetics; therefore, Tip Top Event Designs wowed them with vibrant umbrellas, street food-style stalls, and mehndi and gift stations. Our Maharani made the signs by tweaking colorful Canva templates and printing them on foam boards. Design By Shivani was responsible for creating Priya's stunning wedding attire. Beauty by Lishma left no stone unturned when it comes to bridal styling. Priya looked gorgeous in her bridal attire, with the draping and styling perfectly done. Beauty by Lishma truly exceeded all expectations regarding Priya's hair, makeup, and mehndi. Her skillful makeup application created a flawless and radiant look for the bride, highlighting her natural beauty and enhancing her features. The mehndi designs were intricate and stunning, adding elegance and beauty to the bride's look. Her attention to detail and creativity was evident in every aspect of the bride's styling, and it is clear that she is a master of her craft. The Tangled-inspired reception was just as stunning, with lanterns, lights, the single gold sun on the cake from The Cake Korner, a fantastic DJ from 3D Sounds, and incredible food by Jay Bharat and Mantra. The event was a remarkable testament to the power of love and unity. We invite you to look at this lovely wedding gallery that Lin and Jirsa Photography captured in all its beauty. It is a true reflection of love, joy, and happiness! Enjoy it!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I love Halloween (including bats), Tangled, and anything related to Japan. On a trip to Austin, Texas, Ronak took me to the Congress Bridge to watch the bat emergency at dusk, but they never came out because it was too cold! Then we walked over to Butler Metro Park, where I spotted a lantern floating into the sky. "What is that," I asked, squinting, "let's follow it!" Many more lanterns were set up on a dock overlooking a pond by Ronak's friend. At the end of the dock, Ronak got down on one knee and proposed a beautiful custom rose-gold teardrop lab diamond ring with a halo! We then ended the night at the Japanese restaurant Uchi. The proposal was the imperfectly perfect blend of all my favorite things!

What did your guests particularly love about your wedding?
Welcoming and organized feel: Shilpa Patel Events provided the most organized, smooth-running production with meticulous planning, attentive staff, and plenty of signage to guide all the guests. Our priest Dharmasetu Dasa explained everything from the ceremony in English, which was appreciated by so many of our guests. There was a breakfast and afternoon snack room for refreshments in between events and a welcome bag arranged for everyone staying at the hotel. Guests were engaged and taken care of for the whole weekend.

Personal touches: From my mom's dance with her friends at the Garba to my parents coming out on stage at the reception doing the Garba, there were several personal touches that made the wedding so special. One highlight included my last-minute choreographed dance entrance down the aisle with my "mamas" (maternal uncles). Probably the most fun personal touch was Ronak's arrival for the baraat in an open-top rickshaw from LA Rickshaw. Our reception favors were chopsticks in colorful sleeves for our love of ramen - we picked something so non-Indian, but we felt it reflected a part of us very well!

Florals: The very thick, dense flower arrangements framing the mandap courtesy of the very talented Tip Top Event Designs were one of the most impressive that our guests had ever seen. My dad surprised me by okaying in advance the jaw-droppingly beautiful peach floral Ganesh in the background of the mandap that looked like it was floating in midair; I didn't notice it until midway through the ceremony! The floral colors were very distinctly different in the evening, matching the darker theme.

And of course the food! Our food vendors truly brought their best flavors and quality, and the variety of foods was staggering. The traditional Gujarati lunch was the best some guests had ever tasted. The diversity of street food-style stalls from Indian to Mexican at the Garba kept everyone coming back for more. The Punjabi dishes by Mantra at the reception were divine. We even served the famous Cassata Slice Ice Cream by Vadilal during the ceremony and had Indian sweets from Surti Farsan to-go at the end of the night.

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.
For my Grah Shanti/Vidhi-Pithi and Mehndi, we opted for a homey feel in our family friends' backyard decorated with colorful trinkets and bright backdrops. The morning was simple and laid back, with a light lunch served. The evening was complete with song and dance, an amazing live Dosa Bar, and a tableful of sweets.

I wanted the classic, bright yellow color with the dhoti look for my Pithi. I found a modern version of what I was looking for, designed by Soman Luthria through Kynah, and added floral jewelry and a headpiece handmade in India by a family friend.

I had always wanted to wear Papa Don't Preach by Shubhika, and they had just dropped a new collection at the time I was looking for an Indo-Western look for my mehndi. I especially loved the color combination and the unique cape style.

For the Garba, we wanted to go as traditional Gujarati as possible with the aesthetics. Our decorator wowed with vibrant umbrellas, street food-style stalls, and mehndi and gift stations. I made the signs myself by tweaking existing colorful Canva templates and having them printed on foam boards. We even had one that said, "Patel-Shukla Dukaan" ("Patel-Shukla Shop") for the gift table.

I am in awe of the painstaking work that Kalpana's Creations put into my fully customized Garba choli by hand, complete with puff sleeves and an extra-large skirt circumference. A side braid and choker necklace completed the look. The most fantastic aspect of this outfit was the perfectly matching groom's kurta and vest that tied the entire color scheme and theme together.

I wanted the reception to be Tangled-inspired, just like Ronak's proposal, but with a twist of dark colors so the multitude of smaller lights really stood out. There were subtle themes of Tangled, such as lanterns and the gold sun from the movie on the cake. Then there was the obvious homage - the Tangled scene drink menus. I was inspired to find a unique version of "I See the Light" from the movie; I couldn't believe there was such a beautiful Hindi version, and we played this version while cutting the cake. After a few fun dance performances and speeches in, the party started with the huge LED screen and sparklers (glow sticks and sparklers are a must for bringing the party!). The LED screen had endless displays, including photos of the ceremony earlier in the day.

I went for a non-conventional dark-colored lehenga by Seema Gujral for my reception outfit, but it still shined because of the sequins and complemented the bold color scheme so well. I wore my hair down with striking gold eyeshadow and green and gold jewelry set to match the outfit.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Wedding ceremony decor: We decided on soft peach and green with white and gold accents for the overall color scheme of the ceremony. We had a peach rather than a white canopy to incorporate our palette in a unique way. The florals incorporated just the right amount of green leaves. I designed the programs and signage on Canva and wrote the descriptions and a blend of those provided by the priest and a cousin's previous wedding program. Finishing touches were made by Tip Top, including metal lanterns and decorative pieces.

Wedding ceremony outfit: I found Designs by Shivani by chance on Etsy after I scrolled past this floral lehenga concept that I had seen after months of scouring the internet for a unique wedding outfit. I had initially been dead-set on wearing peach (or green), but after I saw that, I asked myself when I would ever wear red like this again, I might as well feel like a real Indian bride! My mom randomly found the second magenta dupatta in a pile of spare dupattas for sale in a random shop, which was the final piece that tied the whole outfit together! The matching matte red eyeshadow was the perfect finish to the overall red look.

Bridesmaids outfits: After endless searching, I stumbled upon a bridesmaids lehenga design that I finally loved by Nazranaa, NJ, and I swapped the colors for a few pastels that were incorporated into my wedding lehenga. The outfits turned out truly flawless! My favorites to my bridesmaids and moms were Sani lounge sets which were the perfect blend of an Indian design with amazing quality and utility.

Groom sherwani and pagri: Ronak's ceremony sherwani matched the floral theme of my lehenga, and the colors were customized to our peach and green theme while still maintaining the white base for the traditional element. The peach pagri was the perfect complement to the green and gold groomsmen outfits.

Groomsmen outfits: The groomsmen kurtas were customized with Rajoo India. The deep green was a contrast to pastel bridesmaids' outfits while still incorporating the dark green shade of the leaves in the floral arrangements and in the wedding ceremony lehenga.

Loves, thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more inspiring weddings from our Maharani brides!

Beauty by Lishma is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Beauty by Lishma VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Hello, ladies! Let's prepare for a full inspiring day by reading Bharti & Shiv's love story. This sweet couple's Indian wedding perfectly blended elegance, fun, and happiness. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, from the planning to the decor. The wedding held at The Dearborn Inn was planned by the incredible Marigold Wedding Planners. Their goal was to help Bharti have fun and enjoy every second while still adhering to the plan. With this fantastic team, you won't need to sweat the small details because they will handle everything! It was all a cornucopia of beauty and traditional flair thanks to Marigold Wedding Planners, who transformed the halls of this venue into a magical and almost surreal setting. Sky Films and Productions helped them capture the occasion with their cameras and lenses and, above all, the incredible talent resulting in the stunning shots we can enjoy in today's gallery. During the ceremony, the bride and groom dress in traditional Indian wedding attire. The bride looked gorgeous in her crimson red Sabyasachi-style lehenga with a gold embellishment after being pampered by Cecilia Kashat and Ekta Kansara. To crown Bharti's magnificent look, Radhe Henna outlined an artistic Mehndi design that was utterly impressive, not to mention that it added an extra touch of traditional flair. The reception theme was sparkle and glamour, and Lama's Florist was responsible for the incredible floral arrangements. The color themes were ivory and shades of lavender, so her outfit was an all-silver, sparkly lehenga by Seema Gujural. Bharti & Shiv got the perfect reception setup with Sky Films and Productions. DJ Vic from Sky Films and Productions had a lot of energy and got the crowd into the event. They handled everything smoothly, and the playlist was based on the guest's energy. Everyone danced with the DJ vibes and had the time of their lives! Throughout the reception, all guests enjoyed the culinary experience that Saffron prepared. Hands down, a sweet ending for this charming story! If you can't get enough of this wedding bash, check out more of this fantastic event. You will love every detail of this wedding.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met in Chicago through one of the most common modern ways - over a dating app. Specifically, Coffee meets Bagel. In the first couple of months of getting to know each other, we created a strong bond of friendship that helped set the foundation for our relationship. Very early on, our relationship turned into 9 months of long distance, with lots of FaceTime dates and traveling to visit each other as I completed my medical rotations all over the country. This truly put our relationship to the test. But once I was back in Chicago, I made the decision to apply for jobs locally and be close to Shiv (my husband) as he completed medical school rather than start a fresh journey in a new city. I just knew he was the one because while we were going through our long-distance phase early on, he patiently waited for me to finish my rotations while also making an effort to keep our foundation strong.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
One of my greatest desires was a boating experience on the Chicago River. With the help of friends, Shiv (my husband) tricked me into thinking that they got a boat trip set up as a get-together. The next part of the plan was convincing me that this was a fancier occasion rather than a casual boat party. So with the help of my younger sister, I was guided to wear an outfit that I had had my eye on for a while.
Then it was finally the big day. My husband wanted all our close friends and family to be there at the proposal, so he invited his brother, his brother's girlfriend, and some of my best friends for brunch before getting on the boat. Next came the yacht. We all met at the Chicago River docking station, and finally, the yacht set off on the sunny shores of Lake Michigan. Shiv got down on one knee and popped the question with the Chicago skyline gleaming behind us. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost! Shiv had another surprise awaiting. He took me to his family's home, where my parents, my husband's family, and more friends gathered to continue the celebration.

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.
The planning process for the wedding started about 10 months before the wedding date. We first started with finding a venue in my hometown of Detroit, MI. We wanted to keep our mehendi and haldi more intimate, so those events were planned on our own at our home. The larger events, such as the sangeet, wedding ceremony, and reception, were held at the main venue. As the bride, I was looking for something with glamour and charm. We decided on Dearborn Inn by Marriott because it has an old rustic feel with elegance. The hotel interior also made the entrance of the ballroom and lobby a spectacle to behold.

Planning our wedding was a family affair alongside our wedding planner, Tina Singh. We had a great experience using both of our families' insights and visions. We wanted to use themes for each of our wedding events and design the decor for each event accordingly. For example, the sangeet’s theme was the royal bazaar. So we went with decor that displayed a large gold swinging bench decorated with flowers, with two large life-like trees in the background. The food was set up as stations all around the entrance of the ballroom that mimicked a bazaar with bright, vibrant ethnic tents. We had a program of dances by family and friends, so we set up multicolored cots along the dance floor area for people to sit and enjoy the program. We also incorporated Punjabi and Gujarati traditions in the sangeet, so we ended the night off with traditional garba. Since this was a royal bazaar-themed event, the outfit I went with was a lehenga, which was wine purple in color with gold frame embellishments as well as peacocks and birds on the skirt. My makeup artist Cecilia (Blush Salon in Commerce township), did an amazing job by adding extensions to my hair and putting pearls into a braid to give it a unique look. She used multiple colors on my eyeshadow makeup to match sangeet vibes. She also did the makeup and hair for my sister, my mom, and my MIL’s. Everyone loved their unique touch. Shiv matched me with an Indo-western, burgundy, velvet Sherwani.

For the wedding ceremony, we wanted to use the beautiful outdoor lawn of the hotel which was decorated with greenery and fresh flowers. We set up the mandap there with fresh red, pink, and ivory flowers, and we matched our wedding outfits accordingly. Our wedding was during Labor Day weekend, and we were blessed with beautiful weather. We had so much natural scenery around us that we felt the mandap did not have to be overdone. We went with a mandap that was rustic in nature to match the outdoor scene. Our bridesmaids and groomsmen entered with matching custom sage green outfits to start the wedding ceremony, and from there, it transitioned into the traditional Hindu ceremony. Each bridesmaid carried a fresh-flower bouquet down the aisle. For the bridal entrance, my uncles and cousins walked me on a red carpet under the Phoolon ki Chadar, custom decorated by our Florists by Lama in Dearborn. My hair was put in a loose bun, while my makeup had tones of gold with a bright red lip to match my wedding lehenga. Altogether it looked stunning with the jewelry hand-picked from South Delhi Jewelers, with green and light pink beads to match the veil and gold embroiderings. Our wedding was recorded by our video team, who used multiple drones to capture the beautiful footage.

Our reception theme was all about sparkle and glamour. The color themes I chose were ivory and shades of lavender. My outfit was an all-silver, sparkly lehenga by Seema Gujural. Shiv wore a custom-designed tuxedo. For the decor, we went with gold frames on our stage, with chandeliers dangling on the sides and an ivory bench in the center. All our guest tables had fresh flowers, bouquets, and candle arrangements following the theme of ivory and lavender. We had a LED light stage in the center of the ballroom where all the performances and speeches took place. I also came up with a Photo Booth area near the entrance of the ballroom with a LED sign that said “It Was Always You,” placed on a green wall and surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Our dessert table consisted of assorted bite-size pastries decorated with a life-size white peacock with a tail made of lavender flowers. Last but not least, our DJ and photography team, Sky Films and Productions and DJ Vic did a spectacular job at all our events to capture each moment. They kept our wedding reception open dance floor flowing with energetic music so that we danced until we dropped. Even today, we keep replaying our same-day edit video and reliving our wedding each time.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I originally wanted to go with pastel colors on my lehenga. But after trying on several pieces, I decided the traditional red color looked best on me. After shopping around in New York and India, I decided on a crimson red Sabyasachi-style lehenga with gold embellishment that I found in a unique boutique in Delhi. I custom-designed a light peach veil with a wave border to match the lehenga.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was having substantial input on how each wedding event would run and planning the decorations. My wedding planner was instrumental in helping me decide which of my ideas was realistic and reasonable to bring the themes of each wedding event to life. I took pride in knowing that each event had an original touch of my personality. I also had a significant role in choreographing all the dances  I performed in. I have been dancing and choreographing for my other friends' weddings in the past, and now it was finally my turn to showcase at my own wedding.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We received numerous compliments about the high energy in the room during each of the events, how in tune and invested our guests were with the program going on, and how much detail our events were decorated. Last but not least, we received so many compliments about how AMAZING the food tasted. Our guests kept telling us how they kept going back for more.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The most special moment for me was walking down the aisle to the mandap with all the guests' eyes on me, and seeing the joyful yet somber faces of my parents, knowing that I was entering a new phase of life. That is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
To each bride-to-be:
Planning your wedding is one of the most stressful times that you and your family can go through.  At times it may seem that things are about to fall apart, and last-minute details are still not finalized. But at the end of the day, you will get to your wedding day and realize it all worked out. Trust the process and do the best you can, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Stress only causes tension in your loved ones and yourself. Enjoy each moment of planning because it always turns out beautiful, no matter what.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Venue: The Dearborn Inn by Marriott - Event Planners @ Venue: Paulette OConnell and Christie Dixon
Wedding Planner: Tina Singh (Marigold Wedding Planners)
Photography/Videography/DJ: Sky Films and Productions and DJ Vic
Reception Gown Designer: Seema Gujral (Delhi, India)
Groom's Clothing Designer: Diwan Saheb (Delhi, India)
Bridal Jewelry: South Delhi Jewelers
Hair and Makeup Artist: Cecilia Kashat (Blush Salon in Commerce Township)
Mehndi Artist: @DreaminginHenna by Sandy (Michigan)
Reception Florist/Wedding bouquets: Lama's Florist (Dearborn, MI)
Sangeet Catering: Punjab sweets and Indian Cuisine (Michigan)
Wedding Breakfast Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant (Michigan)
Wedding Lunch Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant (Michigan)
Reception Dinner Catering: Saffron (Michigan)

Getting ready for "I Do? Visit our blog tomorrow for more inspiration for your own big day! 

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

Sky Films and Productions VIEW PORTFOLIO

Marigold Wedding Planners VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Hello, sweeties! This time, we will join Khushbu & Akash at their wedding celebration, and we are sure you will love every detail of it. You will be captivated by it, and you will feel how this event makes your imagination and inspiration flow hard! This couple wanted an exquisite and modern look within a budget, and their vendors could give them everything and more for every event. So without any further ado, we'll take you to Shree Umiya Mataji Mandir Temple to witness this magnificent wedding. We love how the talented crew from Mandap World demonstrated all their expertise and showed all the essential aspects of their culture in this celebration! Simply amazing! All this could not have been possible without Ardour Events, who took care of the planning and design of this wedding bash, delivering nothing but utter perfection. Our gorgeous Khushbu looked breathtaking, thanks to the stylish and exquisite makeup that Anisha Shajan created for her. In case you were wondering, Custumise designed her incredible outfits. And they are a dream come true! They created an outfit with exceptional designs, premium quality, and phenomenal craftsmanship. Every detail enhances our lovely bride's delicate and natural beauty. They are the ones you need if you want to look like a goddess! We also love the exquisite jewelry that Kiian Silver selected for Khushbu since this praised her while giving her a perfect touch of elegance and style. Every one of the guests had a great time, and we are sure that you will also have a great time while looking at the fantastic gallery captured by Bhowmik Dave Films & Photography. So get ready to enjoy this love story! 

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met my husband (Akash) through his older sister (Bhumi), who was my best friend at the time. I had known her for many years but only knew of Akash through stories. I never really got to see him much because she was married and living with her husband when we met. We stayed friends but didn't get to see each other as often because I had moved to Atlanta for college. I was very introverted and never really wanted to be social or go out and do the "college" things, but after a few years or lots of studying and working a job, I realized that I needed to push myself to be more open to new experiences and enjoy life. Right around this time, Bhumi called me and invited me to a Beyonce concert in Atlanta very last minute, and I decided to go because this would be the perfect start to my new journey plus, Beyonce is my all-time favorite artist, so it was perfect. Akash ended up coming as well, and this was the first time I started crushing on him, but I tried to play it off because I wasn't looking to be in a relationship at the time, and I also felt like he was too good of a catch and that I was way in over my head. A few weeks later, Bhumi called me and invited me on a weekend trip for her birthday. I was very tempted to decline and just take the weekend for myself, but I knew that I would never get those experiences if I didn't push myself out of my comfort zone, so I decided to say yes. Akash ended up coming on the trip as well, and apparently (according to his cousins), was flirting with me the whole weekend, though I never realized it. I knew he would be the perfect guy for me on this trip because we just connected so naturally, and it felt comfortable, and fireworks exploded at the same time. I still didn't say or do anything because I wasn't sure if he liked me. On the last day of the trip, we had our cheesy Bollywood moment when we hugged goodbye, and our keychains interlocked and tugged us back together as we were coming out of our hug. I left and got back to Atlanta when I noticed that he had texted and asked me on a lunch date. I was so upset that I didn't check my phone while I was driving because he lived about 3 hours from Atlanta. Thankfully a week later, he ended up having some job interviews in Atlanta and asked me to dinner. We went and knew that we were the ones for each other and, a week later, introduced our families and never looked back.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I had told Akash that I didn't want to know anything about the proposal and that I wanted it to be a complete surprise. He definitely kept me on the edge of my seat as we had already set a wedding date, and he still hadn't proposed. Finally, when there were only seven months left before the wedding, the big day came. This worked out well for him because I had so many moments leading up to the day where I thought he was going to propose but didn't so by this day, I was more in the mindset that it was not going to happen anytime soon. It was Valentine's Day weekend, and he told me that he had planned a surprise getaway for us. He told me to go ahead and get dressed up as he had reservations for us at a fancy restaurant once we got there. He told me what to pack, and we spontaneously hit the road. I began to have some suspicions that he could propose but was not sure of any details or that it was even going to happen. We reached a cabin on the lake, and there was a steep heel down, so I told him I was just going to change into my slide while we unpacked the car and then change back for the restaurant, but he told me to keep my heels on and at this moment I had a strong suspicion that it was about to happen. He ended up helping me down the driveway and told me to wait in the front while he went to "grab the keys." A few minutes later, my sister and Bhumi (now sister-in-law) opened the front door, and that's when I knew it was happening. We all burst into tears and had our little moment before they walked me down to a spot on the deck while the sun was setting, where I watched a video Akash had put together. I made my way down the hill onto a deck on the lake where Akash was waiting for me. We had our special moment, and then I turned around and saw all of our family and friends waiting on the porch. It was the perfect celebration with our loved ones and is one of the most memorable days of my life
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was getting together with family and friends to do small things here and there, such as making gift bags, signing invitations, etc... It was so much fun getting together and goofing around. Watching my favorite people come together with Akash's favorite people and all have so much fun together was so nice and fulfilling. Dance practices were also one of my favorite things, as it was another way to get everyone together. Just seeing all of the love and support we had from our family and friends and watching how excited they were to be a part of this process was amazing.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
The best advice I got from everyone was not to stress about the small things and that no one is going to know that something didn't go as planned if you never tell anyone. Any big event is bound to have some things that don't go exactly as you planned but don't allow this to ruin your big day because, at the end of the day, the purpose of a wedding is for you to create memories with your lifelong partner, family, and friends that you will cherish for the rest of your life. Looking back, those things that didn't go as you planned will be minuscule to the joy you will have from your big day.
And that's a wrap for today, lovely Maharanis. I'll see you tomorrow for the next grand romance!

Bhowmik Dave Films & Photography is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Bhowmik Dave Films & Photography VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

My beloved Maharanis, get ready to be dazzled by Sai & Sai's wedding. After an extensive three months, this lovely couple found their dream and most memorable venue, The Plaza Resort and Spa Daytona Beach. This venue offers first-class services to all guests, especially those about to start a new life together. Accompanied by Forever Flowers Events LLC's divine adornment and the prolific 5th Element in charge of the catering services, the lovebirds took everyone to dreamland for the day. Our enchanting Maharani is here to enchant you! Sai looked glorious in her outfit by Tasya Couture, complemented by Dolly Nahal's graceful mehndi art. The Style by Mounika experts flawlessly accentuated Emily's delicate features for the day while the handsome groom dazzled the guests with his garments from Men’s Wearhouse. With Stories by Suraj Randheer's phenomenal skills with the camera, no instant went by without being captured for our lovely couple to relive whenever they please. We have their fascinating photographs in this splendid gallery for you to boost your imagination. Dear ladies, I am sure you will love the sweetness of this magnificent event. Enjoy it!

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
We were classmates in college and were working on a class project together. That was a foundation for all of it. I liked how things were going between us, and l always admired his behavior and how he talked. But it was more of a friendship still by the end of our project and college. Later we both went into different jobs but were still in touch at the surface level. After 1.5 years, by sheer coincidence, we both decided to pursue masters in the USA. He went to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and I went to the University of North Carolina Charlotte. By the time we started in the USA, we were looking for each other, given that we both had no friends. We became much closer by texting each other all through the day and late at night while still being busy with our student lives in a new country. In all those chats, being there for each other and with the already existing friendship between us, eventually, I figured out he would be the right partner for me.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
As mentioned, we became closer and attached in the masters; it was funnily in the WhatsApp chats that I proposed to him, and to which he replied that he had the same thought in his mind.
Tell us how you planned your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all the other essential details.
Planning for our wedding has been an extensive three-month process.  But later realized that was very short compared to what most couples do. So with the wedding date in May, we started planning in January by looking for wedding venues (the biggest to-do). It was almost a three-week search, and we first realized that people serve wedding venues as early as 18 months. Another interesting fact we learned is that venues charge per guest rate even without including food catering. That changed the way we searched for media. Right from the beginning, we wanted to pick a platform that could offer a destination wedding theme rather than a regular banquet hall. So finally, we found our dream and most memorable venue "The plaza" at Daytona Beach, FL. We can proudly say The plaza was the best thing that happened at our wedding. Now, after the wedding venue search, we had to look for places for other accompanying events like Haldi, sangeet, etc. Since we stay in Sanford and the wedding venue is in Daytona beach, we wanted these venues for Haldi and sangeet to be in and around Sanford. Luckily we found a great Airbnb (it allowed us to have the event) and a banquet hall, "The Lair Venue," for Haldi and sangeet respectively.  Being in Florida, searching for makeup artists suitable for south Indian style weddings was little challenging.  After an extensive search across Instagram, Facebook, and different friends,  I found "stylebymounika" from Atlanta. We chose "Forever Flowers Events" for our decoration at the wedding venue. We are really thankful to them for making the event most beautiful and memorable for us. It was very easy to find them, and we stuck with them even before picking our venue. Regarding outfits, apart from my husband's sangeet outfit, the rest were all brought by my family from India. Most of the dresses/sarees and other outfits were done by boutiques, and we had to choose the design and the right colors.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I visited India a couple of months before and had shopping in Hyderabad(India) for wedding dresses. The main saree is pink in color on which I had all the rituals performed before actually getting the knot tied. It is bought from the 'SAI KANCHI' store in banjara hills. I always have a special place for Purple and pink colors, which made me choose the second saree, a mix of gold color and purple border. I wore this saree for all the rituals to be performed after getting the knot tied and becoming Mrs. Sunkara. 
All the other outfits for the Bridal ceremony, Sangeet, Mehendi, Haldi are from boutiques like Tasya Couture, Kadhambari Studio.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Having to plan and spend everything was the most exciting part of the planning process. Because, unlike our scenario, in most weddings, the parents and family work hard during weddings. But in our marriage, we were the hosts, and we worked hard and enjoyed every moment of planning and coordination. It was a meticulous process, as everything had to be so perfect and also beautiful. So I would say making every decision ourselves and having to do all the planning ourselves was the most enjoyable part.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
As said earlier, The plaza was the most beautiful thing that happened at our Wedding. Also, the wedding decor combined with the beach-themed venue was one thing that all our guests loved about our wedding.
Also, as said above, planning and setting up every event meticulously was another thing all our guests loved and praised.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
R. We are also really thankful to all our friends for making our dream come true. Without their help, we couldn't have pulled it together.
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.
All the events other than the wedding ceremony are performed at Airbnb and Lair Venue(Banquet Hall in Sanford, FL). We have chosen our decoration backdrop ideas and provided them to a local decorator contractor. Dances, fun, and games are organized only with the help of friends. There used to be many sleepless nights having dance practice sessions, and organizing things. We enjoyed every bit of it. Those were the most unforgettable memories.  Also, we planned our pre-wedding shoot a month before in Newyork which turned out really well. Those pictures were very cute, and we still cherish them.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Don't ever stop dreaming and planning for your marriage. No matter how good things may get or how bad things may seem, just keep working at it. Plan ahead all the things. This is a special moment in your life. This is a unique group of people that you will have in one location at one time. Enjoy every bit of it.
When it is all said and done, your flowers may not be perfect, and your sangeet party may be hung over from the night before but once you walk down the aisle, you will forget about all of that and have the best day of your life. Cheers to all the Brides-To-Be.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Jewellery shopping is from India. Mehendi was beautifully done by 'Gokulshennaart.' The cake is from 'Bake A Wish -Orlando Cakes.'It was 2 step cake with mixed flavors of chocolate and Pineapple flavors.
We hope that you have enjoyed this journey as much as we have! Remember to stay close for more! 

The Plaza Resort and Spa Daytona Beach and Stories by Suraj Randheer are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

The Plaza Resort and Spa Daytona Beach VIEW PORTFOLIO

Stories by Suraj Randheer VIEW PORTFOLIO

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