The Platinum Guide Blog

All posts with Color "Navy Blue"

Atlanta, GA Fusion Indian Wedding by MNK Photography & Donte Rose

February 8, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Payal & Samir's love is definitely one for the books, every single aspect of their wedding reflected the perfect bond between their Pakistani and Indian backgrounds. They decided to take it up a notch and do things their way, creating a unique fusion wedding. Our lovebirds also paid homage to their parents by including a memento representing their cultures, it was absolutely heartwarming. Their reception was held at the beautiful Signature Ballroom, decorated by the fine taste of the crew from Royal Dekors and perfectly planned by Red & Gold Events. Of course our newlyweds wanted the best for their guests, so, Simply Sweet Cakes and Cafe Bombay Restaurant and Catering made sure their treats were up to the challenge. MNK Photography and Donte Rose were ready at all times to capture the moments that led to this amazing wedding liven up with DJ Jaz - GTB Productions' beats. Head to the gallery and experience Payal & Samir's fusion wedding!

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

My Husband and I met when we were in College through friends. The first time I met him I offered to drop him back off at work and as I was making a left turn onto the intersection, my car drove over the curb and people started honking at us. It was SO embarrassing! I just met this cute guy & I already made a fool of myself! But he was just so calm through it all and made sure I was okay and I was safe.

Funny enough a while later I had a dream that I was going to marry a man whose name started with the letter S and Samir was the only guy that popped in my mind. I just knew he was the one for me no matter what. Fast forward to 2018 and I married the one whose name started with an S in my dream. :)

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 absolutely LOVE planning events for other people in my life. So when it was finally my turn, I knew exactly what I wanted and how I envisioned this day to go. I know there's plenty of horror stories out there when the Bride and her mom start planning but to be honest I was the lucky one. My mom is my best friend and having her plan EVERY detail with me was a blessing. Yes, we clashed very few times but that's normal when the stress is high.

I couldn't imagine planning this wedding without my mom! Honestly, she's the reason I had such a great experience. As soon as I got engaged, we immediately started booking our vendors. I started with the vendors I 110% knew I wanted to be a part of my team. (Hair, Makeup, DJ)

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?

I got all of my outfits from India. I didn't know exactly which color I wanted but I knew for sure that I did NOT want a typical red lehenga. For some reason, it just did not feel like me. I knew I wanted a long train on the back of my lehenga which not many dresses had. So what did we do? We got it custom made and added it to my lehenga. (The beauty of purchasing from India!) I also knew the overall theme of my wedding day, I wanted it to be very regal, rich and traditional. That really helps in narrowing down your options.

The boutiques show you countless outfits, styles, colors, patterns. It's ridiculously hard to choose. Try on your top 5-10 from each boutique that fit your theme. Take pictures, walk around in it and make sure you SIT in those dresses to see how you feel. Don't be shy to ask if you can change the style of the outfit to your needs. My reception dress was a two piece and I had them turn it into a gown and add a belt at the waist!

Lucky for me, we went to 3-4 boutiques in Bombay. Tried on numerous dresses but in the end, I found my wedding dress on DAY 1 of shopping!

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

The most enjoyable process was being able to plan everything with my mom, best friend, and aunts! They truly made it such a fun experience. I mean what best friend flies to INDIA with you just to shop for your outfits?! Cherishing the smallest moments with my mom & dad and my family was the most enjoyable part.

Planning the colors, themes, photo shoots, and being pampered by everyone was so much fun! It does become a very emotional time where all you want to do is be with your family but it helps to travel if you can! I went on 2-4 trips with my bestie during the year and it was so great to unplug a few times during the planning process to regroup my thoughts and calm my anxiety!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?

Stay CALM. I know everyone says that and I didn't know how to until it was my turn.

Start with the vendors you absolutely KNOW you want for your wedding. Chances are they'll get booked very quickly!

On my wedding day, I had my jitters of course but I had my family pick up some yummy chick fil a and I made sure I was well fed. No one wants a HUNGRY bride. :)

Honestly, every inspiration picture I saved on Instagram, Pinterest, on my phone, it all went out the window when I was shopping for my dresses. Keep an OPEN mind. Especially for an Indian/Pakistani Bride when you go back to India/Pakistan to shop, there are SO many styles and options presented to you.

Try them ALL on (unless you know which dress is a hard no!). Take LOTS of pictures and you don't have to decide on the first day. Take the pampering in and enjoy the trial sessions. Come back the next day and try on those SAME dresses you loved the first day and see how you feel in it the next day.

Until next time, Maharanis!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Fusion
Contemporary
season
Autumn
color

Atlanta, GA Fusion Indian Wedding by MNK Photography & Donte Rose

February 8, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

It is time for a new featured wedding, Maharanis! Today, we dive into Payal & Samir's grand fusion wedding. Maharani Payal followed a traditional path where the dreamy Casablanca Banquet welcomed her with her special guests for the always exciting Sangeet night. It surely was a beautiful bonding celebration that prepared her for one of the most important days of her life. On her ceremony day, Maharani Payal was looking incredible thanks to SM Hair Couture and Glam by Ruthie, these beauty experts captured her style and turned our Maharani into a beautiful Bollywood princess. Behind the lenses, MNK Photography and Donte Rose teamed up to bring you the enchanting moments you are about to witness and that surely will remain forever in their hearts. So, let's enjoy Payal & Samir's unique series of celebrations in our full gallery!

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

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.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?

Lucky for me, we went to 3-4 boutiques in Bombay. Tried on numerous dresses but in the end, I found my wedding dress on DAY 1 of shopping!

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

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?

Stay CALM. I know everyone says that and I didn't know how to until it was my turn.

Start with the vendors you absolutely KNOW you want for your wedding. Chances are they'll get booked very quickly!

On my wedding day, I had my jitters of course but I had my family pick up some yummy chick fil a and I made sure I was well fed. No one wants a HUNGRY bride. :)

Do not forget to come back for their reception!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Fusion
Contemporary
season
Autumn
color

Austin, TX Pakistani Wedding by A&A Video Productions

January 18, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Hey there, loves! We have prepared a beautiful two-part inspiring treat today, featuring Salva and Farhan! Today’s couple had a fabulous traditional Pakistani wedding celebration, fully captured by A&A Video Productions. For now, I’m excited to share the couple’s vibrant Sangeet night! This splendid event was held at the Hyatt Regency Austin and it was a dazzling pre-wedding function of traditions and color. Here, the couple and their loved ones danced amidst lavishly-draped kaleidoscopic fabrics designed by the celebrated décor firm Wedding Decor By Faiza. Our Maharani Salva enlisted Ms Painted Lady to create a romantic loose hairstyle that simply looked enchanting with her delicate hairpiece and her stunning emerald green attire. Guests filled up their cups with Austin Chai Wala’s delicious beverages that complemented perfectly Taj Palace’s traditional food and that together made an unforgettable combination! Relive all the best of this vivid celebration in our full gallery!

Our bride and groom are ready to celebrate right after their Mehndi night! Follow along for more details of the reception!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Mehndi
Pakistani
season
Winter
color

DJ Riz Entertainment and Events by Faiza are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Events by Faiza VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Newport Beach, CA South Indian Wedding by Peter Nguyen Studio

January 15, 2019 Posted by: Shawna Comments

Peter Nguyen Studio gives us a peak of his photographic skills and talents and takes us back to the Renaissance Newport Beach to witness the grand celebration of Monica and Naren’s nuptials! It was time to celebrate and the beloved newlyweds turned heads as they made their big entry and had a romantic first dance looking mighty regal! Our showstopping bride, Monica went for a dazzling Shyamal & Bhumika design that allowed her to show off her intricate mehndi design from Dream merchants while dapper Nareen was effortlessly elegant in a sharp blue tuxedo! The wedding stage was decked out by Ethnic Essence Couture Events with a unique combination of shiny backdrops, candle lights and they embellished every last table top with tall floral centerpieces. Shilpa Patel Events ensured every detail was in place so these two had the time of their lives! Fill your heart with some serious inspiration by visiting our full gallery!

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

We met back on Thanksgiving 2012, when I studied for 3 months in D.C for undergrad. This was the first time I was meeting the Sridhar's. The parents had a hidden agenda for the evening, which included setting up my older sister with Naren's older brother. Safe to say, that didn't work out. I instantly felt a spark upon meeting Naren, but was dating someone else at the time. The evening and weekend were filled with a ton of local beer, home-cooked food, and sightseeing in D.C.

A month later, I was in San Francisco and ended up having a tourist day with Naren and his brother. This is the weekend where the true magic happened. After a trip to a local speakeasy, I made the first move and grabbed Naren's hand while crossing the busy streets of San Francisco. That's when we knew that the feelings were mutual.

After a congenial couple of emails between family friends, we slowly started texting every day. We stayed up for hours on end, sending silly pictures and emojis to each other. We got to know each other better, virtually, over the next few months. In my last year of college, I went through a terrible roommate situation, and Naren ended up being there, by phone, through it all – whether it was to listen to me vent or to make me laugh.

Later in June 2013, Naren was in Southern CA for his best friends wedding and asked me to accompany him to the wedding, as friends. We took silly photo booth pictures, danced the night away to Spice Girls, and had an amazing time together. We eventually went outside to catch the Disneyland firework show, for which we missed it since they were on the wrong side of the building. We ended up talking outside for some time, at which time Naren asked me out.

In my mind, I always felt like Naren was the one for me. We have similar interests, are comfortable enough to be a little quirky, and even with the distance, every time we got to see each other, it didn't feel like we were starting anew.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

In April 2017, Naren started actively shopping for an engagement ring.

He already knew what shape the ring was going to be, from a text of a bus advertisement he received a few months prior. In July 2017, he had finally found the perfect ring, while shopping with his mom and brother, Navin, in Seattle.

Naren had thought about proposing at various points throughout July & August 2017, but none of them seemed like the perfect moment. Due to the fact that I'm really into food, Naren knew the perfect location to propose would be one of my favorite local restaurants - on a totally random Wednesday night! It was just like another weeknight, Naren's dad was making a surprise trip to Seattle for work and wanted to have dinner with us. Little did I know, that was all a setup and a perfect one at that.

We got seated at the best seat in the house, the Chef's table. Shortly after being seated, Naren purposefully left his wallet in the car, so he could sneak away from the table to go retrieve it. Eventually, Naren came back to the restaurant while finishing up a call with his dad on the phone. Naren abruptly walks into the restaurant, and says, "Sorry. My dad isn't coming to the restaurant", at which point I gave him a very concerned look on my face. At that point, I knew this was all staged!

With the biggest cheek to cheek smiles on both of our faces, Naren got down on one knee to propose to me. The whole restaurant, with a mere 28 seats, waited in anticipation for my answer. I, of course, said yes, but with all the noise in the restaurant and my soft voice, Naren didn't hear me. Naren promptly got off his knee, and handed me the entire ring box, without putting the ring on my finger (he blames the adrenaline). Caught in the moment, Naren eventually did put the ring on my finger, only after I requested it. :)

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 of our dream wedding was such a group effort! We had a WhatsApp group called "Team Narmony" where we discussed everything from what we were going to wear, to vendors, to who is staying in which hotel. There were many nights of family conference calls as well - which was a challenge when dealing with people in different time zones.

My mom was crucial in tapping into her network to secure the most amazing hair & makeup artists, outfits, decorator, and photographer/videographer. Both of our families worked so hard to make this the wedding we always wanted, while also making it an effortless experience for friends and family. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything!

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

We had our Big Day in Southern California but currently live in Seattle, WA. Seattle holds a special place in my heart and I have so many vendors and restaurants I love in this city. I loved finding unique ways to incorporate this wonderful city into my SoCal wedding. Some examples of how I incorporated were: bridal robes, Welcome sign, Reception Guest Book, Table Numbers, and Reception Party Favors. I even had the Seattle skyline drawn into my bridal henna.

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

My first look with my now-husband was so special, but the one that I constantly look back at is the first look with my dad. I was wearing my paternal grandmother's wedding jewelry and was decked out in a traditional Paithani (Marathi) sari. We did our first look on a secluded balcony of the hotel, and the moment my dad turned around, we both starting tearing up. I'll never forget the way my dad looked at me, so proudly and admiration. My dad and I haven't lived in the same house for over 10 years, but I've always been very close to my dad. It was just the feeling of daddy's little girl really growing up and moving on. It really hit me at that point that I was getting married, but I knew that my dad was always going to be the first man I loved.

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 the reception, we didn't have a wedding party and didn't do the traditional entrance with bride and grooms, mom and dad. We changed it up and allowed the mom's, dad's, and sibling to enter together. Each pair could pick their own song, which led to some fun entrances and music choices. To us, it really portrayed the melding of our families.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?

You have got to get through it! There will be disagreements, tears, and so much more - but I promise you it is so worth it in the end!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)

We didn't have a cake at our wedding. We instead did freshly baked cookies from a local Orange County company and had some delicious Indian ice cream from Saffron Spot. The dinner was so decadent, that it was nice to have something simple for dessert.

See you, Maharanis, tomorrow!

STYLE
GUIDE style
Ballroom
Romantic
season
Summer
color

Ethnic Essence Couture Events and Peter Nguyen Studio are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Ethnic Essence Couture Events VIEW PORTFOLIO

Peter Nguyen Studio VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Huntington Beach, CA Pakistani Wedding by Matei Horvath Photography

January 7, 2019 Posted by: Aleetha Clanton Comments

Happy Monday loves! I welcome you back to Nida and Sami's fabulous Pakistani wedding that is all things glam. The bride donned a lengha that was a mixture of pink and navy blue hues embellished with gold motif designs. There are countless reasons to get married at the Hyatt Huntington Beach and when paired with a dynamic décor team, the possibilities are endless. Kismet Event Design ensured that each quarter of the ballroom was bathed with unlimited luxury. The classic, romantic ambiance of the spacious quarters was a wedding dream come true! Behind the cinema lens was Avec Lumiere Productions with the video being featured on film blog today! 3D Sounds served as the sound technician of the night, ensuring that guests filled the dancefloor all night long. Discover true romance in our gallery captured by Matei Horvath Photography.