The Platinum Guide Blog

Welcome back, Ladies! We are glad to have you back because we are about to unveil all the beauty surrounding Fatima & Zain's enchanting wedding celebration, followed by a magical reception hosted at the exclusive Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria. This event was entirely orchestrated by Lavender Pearl, and let me tell you that you will love with all your heart how the flair and elegance overflowed from every single corner of the room. So, let's wait no more and take a look at this fantastic event through the amazing shots captured by MnM Photography. Right off the bat, we have to say that we absolutely adored the decor crafted by Dream Decors Design House, who took it into a higher level and prepared just the right stage for the right moment. Just amazing! The mesmerizing look of our gorgeous Maharani, who burst into the room looking like royalty, captivated everyone. But there is no surprise her as she was fully glamorized by Bridal Makeup & Hair by Affaf, who highlighted Fatima's natural beauty. Especially Raja Zain couldn't hide the admiration and love that he feels for his bride, and we don't blame him, as he married a real beauty! Remember that you can always relive this phenomenal moment, by taking a look at today's gallery. You will love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met at a mutual friends wedding and I knew he was the one after dating for a few months and seeing that he loves me for who I am, never asked me to change a thing, and how I could never get enough of his company!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We went to Banff and because Im a fashion blogger i wanted to shoot some couple pics on Lake Louise so I made him pack some fancy clothes, I packed a dress, and when we got to lake Louise his friend was taking our pictures and directed him to “get down on one knee” and I was totally shocked and surprised! He proposed to me at a Dream location and I didn’t even see it coming, my photo shoot turned into a proposal shoot and I still can’t believe 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.
I hired Lavender Pearl as my wedding planners and they did amazing! I shared my vision with Sonia and Arsheen and they set up meetings with vendors who could deliver my vision and they couldn’t have been more perfect. The venue was great, they were so accommodating! My hair and makeup was done by HCBridal&beauty by Affaf and she did sooo good, i looked like myself and felt comfortable all night! My outfits were from all over but my favorite was my reception look from Republic Womenswear in Lahore, all done through WhatsApp which I talk about on my blog!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I searched and searched for inspiration on Pinterest and found a picture where I fell in love with the outfit, I found the designer and they remade it for me with some changes and it was perfect.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The catering tastings & outfit planning!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
From what they say, they loved the decor, my clothes, the food, and how organized it all was.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
There’s a few - my first look with Zain, my bridesmaids pictures, Zain & I’s first dance, & at the end of the night finally being able to call eachother husband and wife.

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 mehndi, I had lots and lots of color and me and Zain wore white and gold to stand out from the colorful decor! The reception was really classy, blush pinks and gold with champagne, all matching my outfit. The dances were my favorite, so well thought out and all my best friends participated and I am so glad they made me do a surprise dance for Zain because it was so much fun!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Whatever you do, don’t stress out! It’ll all be perfect on your big day, just aim to be happy and it’ll show on your face on stage and you’ll glow!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My jewelry was all from Diamonds Unlimited, I got it custom made for my outfit and could not have been more In love! I shared the entire process on my blog - http://www.fatimaaqil.com/ & y’all can read all the questions I’ve answered there :)

If you was inspired today. Wait to see what we have prepared tomorrow. So stay tune! 

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Good morning, Maharanis! We are beginning a new week, and we know that this will be a marvelous week for you. It feels so good to be in your lovely company so we can enjoy together all the beauty surrounding Fatima & Zain's wedding celebration. In this episode, MnM Photography guides us on a visual journey through a phenomenal photo shoot before the big event at the exclusive Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria. And right on the top, we must say that we adored every single shot as our lovebirds' love created such a magical moment that we can't stop seeing. This photoshoot was organized by Lavender Pearl, who demonstrated their expertise in creating memorable moments. You will love how Fatima, our beautiful Maharani, was glamorized by the fantastic makeup and hair designs from Bridal Makeup & Hair by Affaf, who made her look like a goddess. Hands down a dreamy look for her long-awaited wedding day! If you are in the pursuit of inspiration, today, we will exceed your expectations as this fantastic event seems like taken out from a fairy tale. So don't think twice and visit today's gallery. I bet you will love every single detail captured during this photoshoot!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met at a mutual friends wedding and I knew he was the one after dating for a few months and seeing that he loves me for who I am, never asked me to change a thing, and how I could never get enough of his company!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We went to Banff and because Im a fashion blogger i wanted to shoot some couple pics on Lake Louise so I made him pack some fancy clothes, I packed a dress, and when we got to lake Louise his friend was taking our pictures and directed him to “get down on one knee” and I was totally shocked and surprised! He proposed to me at a Dream location and I didn’t even see it coming, my photo shoot turned into a proposal shoot and I still can’t believe 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.
I hired Lavender Pearl as my wedding planners and they did amazing! I shared my vision with Sonia and Arsheen and they set up meetings with vendors who could deliver my vision and they couldn’t have been more perfect. The venue was great, they were so accommodating! My hair and makeup was done by HCBridal&beauty by Affaf and she did sooo good, i looked like myself and felt comfortable all night! My outfits were from all over but my favorite was my reception look from Republic Womenswear in Lahore, all done through WhatsApp which I talk about on my blog!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I searched and searched for inspiration on Pinterest and found a picture where I fell in love with the outfit, I found the designer and they remade it for me with some changes and it was perfect.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The catering tastings & outfit planning!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
From what they say, they loved the decor, my clothes, the food, and how organized it all was.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
There’s a few - my first look with Zain, my bridesmaids pictures, Zain & I’s first dance, & at the end of the night finally being able to call eachother husband and wife.

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 mehndi, I had lots and lots of color and me and Zain wore white and gold to stand out from the colorful decor! The reception was really classy, blush pinks and gold with champagne, all matching my outfit. The dances were my favorite, so well thought out and all my best friends participated and I am so glad they made me do a surprise dance for Zain because it was so much fun!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Whatever you do, don’t stress out! It’ll all be perfect on your big day, just aim to be happy and it’ll show on your face on stage and you’ll glow!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My jewelry was all from Diamonds Unlimited, I got it custom made for my outfit and could not have been more In love! I shared the entire process on my blog - http://www.fatimaaqil.com/ & y’all can read all the questions I’ve answered there :)

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Welcome back, Maharanis! We've reached the end of another fabulous week, and as promised, we have the fabulous outcome from Avani & Matthew's wedding festivities. In our previous installment, we featured the traditional Hindu ceremony from our lovely duo. In this episode, we will show you a second ceremony. This time we are laying our eyes in the marvelous Christian ceremony hosted in the beautiful gardens of The Merion. You will love how these phenomenal gardens were perfectly decorated by Anderson Wedding Flowers, who took the beauty of this backdrop and leveled it up. If you are wondering who was the mastermind behind the fabulous look of our beautiful Avani, we have the answer for you! It was no other than Makeup By Karishma who assisted our Maharani with her different beauty needs throughout the entire festivities, highlighting her natural beauty and making her look like a princess. Such an outstanding job! As you scroll down, you will admire the fantastic talent from the good friends at PhotosMadeEz, who captured all emotions and memorable moments of this event and transformed them into a magnificent gallery. So make sure to check it out!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We both are CPAs and we met at work six years ago. Our initial conversations were mostly on the topics of tax and accounting . Over the years, we became very good friends over coffee breaks, lunch breaks, and our special "non-sense" time! Our conversations during "non-sense" time went from opening up a restaurant named Pesto Fry Fusion... to buying a Helicopter. 

One day Matt asked me out on a date, and I neither accepted nor declined. This got repeated many times. Matt was persistent and I finally said YES to go out on a date.

Our first date was at one of our favorite restaurants IndieBlue, followed by an episode of Game of Thrones! We started enjoying each other's company. One of our favorite weekend activities is to cook a meal together (I am the head-chef and Matt is a sues-chef). Matt got me more into watching sports and playing in fantasy football league. I got him into exploring new restaurants Philly has to offer.

Despite cultural differences, we found similarities in values they were raised with. We connected well with each other's family, which was very important for both of us to move to the next stage in our relationship.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It was a Saturday in February. We were working that day (tax season ). Matt went home early to prepare for dinner for both of us. When I reached his home, to my surprise, I saw it was decorated with candles and rose petals. I followed the signs and markings on the floor, leading up to where Matt stood wearing a traditional Indian outfit. By this point I was completely overwhelmed with excitement and emotions. He got down on his knee and asked, "Avie, will you marry me?"  I said, "Yes!!!" with the biggest smile on my face. 

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.
Matt and I both wanted a fall wedding. We wanted to have two ceremonies, Hindu and Christian, to honor both of our cultures. Soon after we got engaged, we toured four local venues. We fell in love with the Merion in Cinnaminson and booked it three weeks after our engagement. It offered everything we were looking for (outdoor wedding space, beautiful ballrooms, delicious menu, and impressive service!). Both ceremonies were held at the Merion and they catered for both ceremonies. Yes, the Merion chef catered an Indian wedding and they prepared vast varieties on Indian appetizers, entrees and dessert!!! I did not need a wedding planner because my event manager Jolene Cross and other staff were so good that I didn't feel the need to hire one.

We booked all other vendors a month after we booked the venue. My hair & make up team, Makeup by Karishma, was a recommendation from my friend. I had seen Karishma Mehta's excellent work at a friend's wedding and I knew I did not need to search further. She made me look stunning as a bride at both weddings!!!

I found my Photo and Videographer team, PhotosMadeEZ, from vendor search on Maharani.com. Mou Mukherjee is very passionate about her work and just from the phone conversations, I realized that I can trust her to capture the most important day of my life!

I also found my DJ team, Doom Events, from vendor search on Maharani.com. I was looking for a DJ who can throw an exciting party at a mixed wedding. They had a large portfolio and testimonies of the mixed fusion weddings. I booked them because the owner Milin Jani & team were very professional and easy to work with. They had everyone dancing at the baraat and at the reception!

I met my florist and decorator, Anderson Flowers and Weddings, at a Dulhan Expo. The owner Howard Kramer has an amazing personality and has an in-depth knowledge about Indian culture and wedding rituals. He even explained Indian wedding rituals to Matt! Hiring him was an easy decision!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I purchased Hindu Wedding lehenga through a video call to Asopalav, Ahmedabad, India. They have an excellent bridal lehenga selection. Their service was great and fitting was perfect! My lehenga had green and red color with gold design. I fell in love with it when they showed it to me!

I purchased my Christian Wedding gown from Bridal Garden in Marlton, NJ. I was looking for a gown that's body hugging and comfortable enough to dance. My gown was champaign color with lace design. When I tried it, I knew that was it!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I enjoyed the wedding planning process from start to finish. I did not have a specific vision, but it started coming together during the planning process and seeing it come alive was an amazing feeling. I could not have done it without the help from our family and hard work by all vendors!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests loved Merion's food, open bar and excellent dessert hour. The DJ team kept the dance floor full the entire evening. We had several guests mentioned that ours was the most fun wedding they've ever been to.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Matt and my first dance on "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" by Frankie Valli just keeps replaying in my mind!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Don't go crazy during planning stage. Focus on the big picture and stop stressing about details. Trust your vendors. It's your big day that goes fast. Have fun and enjoy it!

Please visit us tomorrow. You will love what we have prepared just for you!

PhotosMadeEz and Makeup By Karishma are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

PhotosMadeEz VIEW PORTFOLIO

Makeup By Karishma VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Welcome back, Ladies! As promised, we are back with all the details and insights of Avneet & Raymon's beautiful wedding celebration. For this final installment, we are taking you to the grand Plainview Gurudwara, a perfect Sikh Gurdwara temple chosen by our lovebirds to swear their eternal love. Underneath a beautiful Mandap, our lovebirds promised undying love, and everyone contemplated, in between sighs, this beautiful moment. Avneet, our dazzling bride, enhanced her natural beauty during the festivities thanks to the talent of Kanwal Batool, who took care of her beauty needs, making her look like royalty. For the fashion department, Bhumika Grover showed off why they are the go-to-guys when looking for someone who takes your fashion game to the next level. And we can't forget the fantastic Mendi design created by Mehndikalogie. Once the ceremony ended, all guests headed over to the phenomenal Villa Lombardi's for a grand wedding reception, and let me tell you that everyone had a blast! And we want to take a moment to appreciate the decor that Exclusive Events NY crafted, creating such a magical environment for this gala. We also want to give a big shoutout to the talented folks from A.S. Nagpal Photography, who share the marvelous photo captures of this grand wedding celebration so we can enjoy them in today's gallery. Remember, you can also check the visual masterpiece created by With This Ring Wedding Films by clicking here.

Kanwal Batool, A.S. Nagpal Photography, Mehndikalogie, Exclusive Events NY and With This Ring Wedding Films are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Kanwal Batool VIEW PORTFOLIO

A.S. Nagpal Photography VIEW PORTFOLIO

Mehndikalogie VIEW PORTFOLIO

Exclusive Events NY VIEW PORTFOLIO

With This Ring Wedding Films VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Happy Monday, Maharanis! We were dying to get back to you with more inspiring ideas, and that is why we have prepared a little surprise, just for you. Today, we are double featuring Avneet & Raymon's wedding festivities, we not only have the fantastic shots down below but we also have a mesmerizing film created by With This Ring Wedding Films that you can check here. So, you will have plenty of beauty and finery to admire today! But let's get this started by taking a peek at the phenomenal imagery captured by the talented and fully experienced team from A.S. Nagpal Photography, during the Sangeet ceremony. This well-known photographic studio exceeded all expectations immortalizing every detail surrounding this pre-wedding celebration with so precision and charm that we were left speechless! The Sangeet was hosted at the grand Hilton Melville, in a perfect decorated hall with kites hanging from the ceiling over the dance floor, where everyone had a blast. Avneet, our Maharani, looked so spectacular that she completely stole the show once she burst into the room! But there is no surprise here as the distinguished style from Kanwal Batool, the detailed fashion from Bhumika Grover, and of course, the artistic Mehndi design from Mehndikalogie created a winning combo that we can't stop seeing! Visit today's full gallery for more amazingness!

Kanwal Batool, A.S. Nagpal Photography, Mehndikalogie, Exclusive Events NY and With This Ring Wedding Films are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Kanwal Batool VIEW PORTFOLIO

A.S. Nagpal Photography VIEW PORTFOLIO

Mehndikalogie VIEW PORTFOLIO

Exclusive Events NY VIEW PORTFOLIO

With This Ring Wedding Films VIEW PORTFOLIO

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