The Platinum Guide Blog

At Maharani Weddings, we love when we get to cover Midwest weddings, and ones from the Windy City are extra special to us. Sonam and Harpreet were in good hands with Rahul Rana Photography, who captured ethereal, editorial-worthy photographs of every special moment. Meanwhile, cinematographers at Wynn Films captured video footage of the events, and you can find out even more detail below as Maharani Sonam fills us in on her special day. The bride was armed with a top notch beauty team throughout the festivities, with hair and makeup done by Diem Angie and mehndi by Unnati'Z Art. Together, Sonam and her fierce bridesmaids made a formidable-looking group of women, who looked more than ready to get the ceremony started! Sonam and Harpreet's sangeet was held at Ashyana Banquets, while their ceremony and reception were held at the Doubletree by Hilton Chicago – Oak Brook. Sonam knew that she would have to look no further than Yanni Design Studio to make her wedding vision come to life, and the decor house definitely held up their stellar reputation as they assembled a golden paradise in the Doubletree's ballroom. JSM Entertainment also did a fabulous job creating romantic lighting that added to the royal decor. When we return later this morning, we'll dive into the adorable couple's beautiful ceremony. In the meantime, check out the full gallery and the fun interview we had with Maharani Sonam below!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?

Harpreet and I met through mutual friends in medical school. I knew there was something special about him from the moment we met and I quickly realized he was "the one" for me.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

Harpreet surprised me with a beautiful proposal overlooking the stunning Chicago skyline in Millennium Park. He strategically had my sister and best friend go on a walk through the park, where he was secretly waiting. Once we got closer, I saw him, wearing a suit, in the middle of Lurie Garden. I realized what was happening and couldn't believe it! He had emptied out the garden so he could propose right in the center. He had a table and chair set up for a private celebration with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. The surprises didn't stop there. After he proposed, he had all of our friends and family, including visitors from around the country, waiting to surprise me to kick off the celebrations.

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 was so excited to plan my wedding but was so nervous since I didn't have any wedding planning experience. After talking to several friends who were recently married, I made my to-do list and got to work first picking the dates and major vendors, then the details. I absolutely loved my wedding and reception venue, the Oak Brook DoubleTree by Hilton. Their wedding specialist, Khulood Alfadhel, worked closely with me to ensure the wedding and reception were as organized and stress free as possible. Hair and makeup with Diem Angie and her team for the Sangeet, Wedding, and Reception was so much fun. Her team also did hair and makeup for my bridesmaids for the wedding.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?

Picking my decor company was easy as Yanni Design Studio took my breath away with all the beautiful weddings they have done. Working with the team at YDS was my favorite part of the wedding planning process. Shari really helped my vision of an elegant, pink, gold, and sparkly wedding and reception come to life.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?

Walking down the beautifully decorated aisle, with my dad at my side. I truly felt the love in the room for Harpreet and I, and I was so excited to be marrying him. I really felt like it was a moment straight out of a fairy tale.

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.

The mendhi function was held in a tent in my backyard for close friends and family. We had a dosa station and extravagant dessert table. All of the ladies got their mendhi done by Sonal Dhanani, who was great.

I wanted the Sangeet to be bright and colorful and full of dance. The garba centerpiece was unique as it was something my mom, neighbor, and some aunties helped build. We had great performances by one of our 3 year old ring bearers (he even pulled me in to dance with him), the Lungi Dance by my dad's friends, a garba dance by my Mom and her friends, and so much more.

The Reception was the part of the wedding I was most excited about. I wanted it to be full of sparkle, crystal, gold manzanita trees, and beautiful candlelight. We wanted to incorporate some fun surprises for the guests so we had a red carpet photo booth with a backdrop, selfie sticks on all the guest tables, and pink light up sunglasses distributed on the dance floor. The entertainment at the reception left me speechless and full of love. There were exciting dances, heartfelt speeches, and hilarious videos.

Aww, that all sounds amazing! Check back soon to relive the couple's ceremony!

Rahul Rana Photography and JSM Entertainment are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Today’s Maharani on our Platinum Guide blog knew that she wanted the best of both worlds! If you haven’t read about her blockbuster Sikh and Hindu wedding, click here! Planning two different ceremonies and multiple days of celebration required more coordination than your average wedding. However, when Exclusive Events takes a hold of the reigns, you know you are going to experience a celebration of a lifetime. Melinee was absolutely breathtaking in an elegant, subtle fit gown that showcased sparkling beads and a flowing train. The Jericho Terrace was bathed in sophisticated illumination with Exclusive Events NY spearheading floral and decor. The sweetheart stage included satin backdrops and a crystal chandelier with two peacock pillars on each side. Guests dined on cuisine and desserts baked in house at the Jericho Terrace, a win win for all! Melinee ensured that the Midas touch was the theme for her wedding cake that included gold, hand rolled flowers that toppled a fondant infused multi tiered cake. The dance floor was the place to be after guests were fed fine cuisine and decadent desserts with DJUSA on the turntables. The couple’s elegant wedding invitations were designed at Parekh Cards. Head into the Pinterest inspired gallery for all the images shot by Events Capture.

What a gorgeous union! Join us next Monday for a fab feature that is a MUST see! Have a great weekend, Maharanis!

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A self-planned wedding is an impressive one as it is, but when it looks as good as Zahra and Nazim’s, we become somewhat speechless! Zahra is seriously some kind of superwoman because how else would you explain such a flawless Nikkah and ceremony?! The civil ceremony at Van Pugh North Park was the epitome of romance, with Zahra in a striking red fish cut gown, and Nazim matching subtly in a black suit and red bow tie. The chic, outdoor altar featured a simple, rustic setup with an emphasis on dark florals. Events InStyle elevated the sandy outdoors by adding hints of crystals to the altar as well as the food table. The cozy Nikkah was hosted indoors in the company of close family and friends, where Zahra donned an elegant tulle ivory sari draped by Enhance Makeup Artistry. Nazim’s textured grey suit which he paired with a colorful tie was particularly noteworthy. The couple then jetted off to Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta to celebrate with their family and squads at their reception. Turns out all that glittered was gold, with the stage gleaming in carefully picked shades of gold, and expertly balanced with a majestic white floral wall. The ivory backdrop was drapery at its finest by Events InStyle! Makeup by Shazi further glammed up Zahra with a stunning grey smokey eye and a coral glow overall. Cafe Mozart Bakery made a glorious, velvety three tiered cake that looked so very scrumptious, as did the delicacies by Naan & Curry. DJ Sonny Productions was the complete entertainment package with their live music and dance floor beats, making this wedding a total blockbuster. FengLong Photography captured this multi-event fete through photos and film both, to which you now have insider access through the gallery! 

Sigh! This gorgeous and well-executed bash was the perfect end to our week, and we hope it ended yours on a great note, too! Come back on Monday for more gorgeousness from Maharani Weddings!

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There are some weddings where even a pre-wedding event looks like the big day, and the #Nazara celebration was exactly the kind. Boy does it take a ton of planning and scrutiny to put up such a stellar show, but since the bride, Zahra, was thoroughly invested in it, it turned out to be a smashing success! For the Pithi and Sangeet at the Alnoor Banquet Hall, a royal blue and teal color scheme dictated the decor. Events InStyle perfected the look with stunning drapery, including a dome-style drape on the ceiling above the swing that seated the couple. Generous touches of gold came through the antiques on the stage area, flimsy metallic drapes, as well as the Matkas which were central to the centerpieces. Zahra and Nazim contrasted beautifully in their turmeric yellow ensembles. Zahra looked like a doll in her yellow Bandhni lehenga paired with an orange tulle dupatta, from Seasons India. Loved how Hair by Aliza Babwani gave Zahra a loose side braid woven with fresh jasmine flowers. Moving forward, the carnival-style Mehndi was a visual feast, and was planned to the T with a Paan Dabba stall, Bombay Style Vada Pav, Pani Puri cart, a Chat corner, and a Gola Gadi. Events InStyle decorated the indoors in a regal color palette of purple, gold, and red. The stage area brought in a textural contrast, with silk purple drapes, Butta-print red drapes, and gold splashed all over in sequins. You could tell that Zahra and Nazim truly enjoyed every part of the day. Zahra twirled pretty in a tulle sky blue lehenga ensemble, finished with lovely thread work floral embroidery. We loved her intricate Mehndi design done by Manisha’s Mehndi Design. Nazim’s au courant metallic olive green bandhgala perfectly matched the accents on his bride’s outfit. “We spent countless hours going through wedding videos of couples that had recently married. After speaking to Zach of FengLong Photography, we felt very comfortable and knew that our wedding photography was in the right hands,” recalled Zahra. Well, what are you waiting for? Head to the gallery to revel in the festivities of Zahra and Nazim! 

This joyous couple had a civil ceremony as well as a Nikkah, followed by a reception, and we can’t wait to share it with you! Return to the blog for all the details on their wedding!

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The evening reception of Chandana and Sadashiv was hosted at Jade Studios in Treasure Island. The couple spent some time outside their venue soaking in picturesque views of the city skyline and the Bay Bridge, indulging in a photo session with close friends. Chandana opted for a red beaded georgette gown with her hair in a loose side bun with soft make up by TM's Makeup Artistry, and Sadashiv was in a black tuxedo, accessorized with a red floral lapel pin that matched his wife’s outfit. The venue was a cozy warehouse style space, featuring a bridge archway at the entrance that was beautified with string lights and white drapes. Within easy access of the white vintage chairs and tables was a photo booth that added an element of fun. There was a special table set up with champagne gold sequined linen, which seemed like a game setup for the newlyweds. With choreographed dance performances from the guests, the evening ended on a note of fun and frolic. Check out Chandana & Sadashiv's gallery for more pictures by Rhythm Krishna Mohan from their relaxed reception. 

Come back soon to check out more fresh and exciting wedding content! 

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