Welcome back, dolls! We are in the middle of the week and features just keep getting better and better. We can hardly believe it! Today, sailing from Avon, Ohio, we have the elegance, glam, and glitter of Priya & Rahul's nuptials. We are in love with this couple, especially with Maharani Priya's modern and traditional style that just took our breath away. The gorgeous bride, for the ravishing Sangeet at the Emerald Event Center and the photo shoot prior to the ceremony, chose to wear a stylish deep blue lengha with beautiful fuschia flowers gently placed in her hair. She was looking absolutely amazing! We adore the contrast between the colors chosen. The talented Kajal by Kimberly and Ashley Rogers were in charge of dolling up Maharani Priya and what a great job they did! Imagine the lucky groom's face the first time he saw her! Cherished moments for sure. Raja Rahul wore an elegant matching deep blue sherwani with golden and fuschia details for the photo shoot and the traditional gold and burgundy for the ceremony. Our lovebirds definitely have a fine taste only true Maharanis know about. All of this happening and the always on point crew from Making the Moment captured and stored every second of our couple's dreamed day. Want to get dazzled? Join us for the first installment of today's featured gallery!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I officially met Rahul in my junior year of college. We were on a fusion Indian dance team together. First and foremost we were friends. Then after we both were done with dance and finishing up school during our senior year of college we started dating. I think I knew he was "the one" when we became a long distance relationship. We put in the work and called each other every day even if it was for 5 mins. He understood me in ways that most people didn't. The biggest qualities I look for in a guy are is he personable, loyal, sense of humor, honest, and gets along with friends and family. He checked every box and the rest was history!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We got engaged on November 19th, 2016! We had been together for 6 years by then. My parents and aunt were coming into town to look at houses with us. Or so I thought. On Friday we all went to dinner with Rahul's parents. Then on Saturday afternoon, we planned on going to a restaurant downtown for lunch. Mind you the weather was all over the place it was 60 degrees on Friday and 30 degrees and snowing Saturday. The restaurant was on Fountain Square and the wind was blowing so hard so I was running towards the restaurant to get inside. Rahul was behind me with my parents. He called me to come back to show me something on the square. He got down on one knee, I thought he was tying his shoe so I was annoyed that he called me back in the cold. But when he looked up he had a box in his had and opened it to a beautiful ring! I was shocked and elated. I couldn't believe it was happening. I don't even remember what he said. I just hugged him and started tearing up and realized I never said anything. So I just started saying yes! Rahul's dad and brother were secretly taking pictures of us when we got engaged. My sister who lives in Chicago came running out and hugged me I was so surprised he had put all of this together for me! When we went inside the restaurant all our friends and family had gathered ready to celebrate our engagement with us. They had all watched us get engaged from the balcony. He did such a good job and really made it special.
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 planned my entire wedding. It was an enormous task but I definitely had help from my mom. Considering we lived in Cincinnati and the wedding was in Cleveland where my parents live. We booked our venue a year in advance. We booked the Emerald event center in Avon, it is connected to a Marriott residence inn. I wanted a cool venue with a hotel attached plus it was down the street from my parents where some events were. It's was perfect. The venue staff was very professional and when we were in danger of booking the entire hotel they arranged a nearby Marriott for additional rooms. I got all my outfits in India in Delhi and my husband got all of his in Mumbai. The trip to India was amazing it was Rahul's first time going so it was definitely an experience. My makeup was done by Kimberly from kajal by Kimberly. She was so sweet and cheerful and helped me not freak out while getting ready. Ashley Rodgers did my hair she did an amazing job everyone loved all my hairstyles. We had two different decorators for the events. Both did a great job and were easy to work with. Food was supplied by Jaipur junction they did such a good job, making fresh Naan outside. We also did some Filipino food because my husband is half Filipino. Love loved our DJ (opening minds) he did an amazing job everyone could not stop dancing. We had a day of coordinator who was also our florist too, Isa used her special talents so I didn't have to worry or make sure everyone was where they needed to be. Lastly Making the Moment was our photographer. Their attention to detail was so awesome I felt like a movie star who had a production crew following me around. The pictures came out insane!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted my bridal lengha to be traditional colors. We went to several stores around Delhi and didn't find anything in the first few days. But finally, we found one store that I got my lengha in. At the time dark maroon and peach was the style which I disliked. Then I finally found my dress with the wow factor and a dress that made me feel like a bride had threi bling and it was red.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Loved talking with our photographers it was fun planning where to take pictures and what we wanted to do. I also liked picking out my décor. I had a completely different idea when the process started then by the end we ended up with light pinks instead of the dark colors I was first envisioning. It was awesome seeing it all together. Also picking my dresses out with my mom and aunt was very special.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Majority of people said the food was amazing at every event we had. Next was the music and DJ. And last was the decor and flowers.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking down the aisle toward Rahul a seeing that he was crying as I was walking up. Second was my father-daughter dance. My dad doesn't show his emotions very often but during the dance, he was tearing up. I will never forget that.
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.
During the sangeet, we wanted a fun cool environment. We used bright colors and sat on a swing. The ceiling of the venue had different colors that could be displayed so we had fun with that. The reception was to be elegant with rose golds soft pinks and greens. I was thinking more midsummer nights dream for the theme. We had a few dances during the Sangeet which I was in one of them. Also, there was one dance during the reception that I made a surprise appearance in.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Everyone says don't stress... Well, that's easy to say but you will absolutely stress up until the day of the wedding. It's totally normal. Best decision I made was having a day of coordinator. She made sure all the things were in place on my gift table, all valuables collected and bouquets in the right places. Also at the end, you will want to re-live the entire weekend again it was a blast and didn't want it to end.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I did a white rose with red tips as my bouquet to play off my all red lengha. During the entire weekend, I wore bangles that my mom had from her mom that I never really met since she passed when I was very young. My mom loved the idea and made me feel like my Nani was there with me.
Stay with us for part two of this beautiful wedding.