The Platinum Guide Blog

We’re enchanted by Shivani and Anand’s reception setup at the White House Banquet and Event Center! The entire ceiling was draped in white fabric, giving the space such a dreamy feel. It was as if the event took place in a magical cloud of elegance and romance! We also couldn’t get over the incredible light up dance floor that incorporated natural greenery and floral elements. Definitely one of the most unique we’ve seen! The planning team from Black Pearl Events and the floral and decor crew from Linens By Celina did a spectacular job pulling off Shivani and Anand’s wedding vision! The newlyweds burst into the reception hall in more custom made fashions, and we are loving Shivani’s ethereal gown and bewitching hair and makeup look created by Dolled Up by Lulu. The reception program was straight out of your fave Bollywood flick, with both Shivani and Anand participating in large group numbers! The guests were blown away by the performances, and Shivani told us that she still hears about how incredible the dances were from her guests! After a rich meal from Natraj, 3D Sounds pumped up the energy with their infectious jams! The couple’s goal was to have guests dance the night away, and their wish definitely came true! You can see all the action go down in the full gallery by Kelly Waterman Photography. Make sure to scroll below for more behind the scenes deets in our interview with Shivani!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

Our guests loved how simple, elegant, and efficient our wedding was. One of the biggest things for us was to make sure the food was good. We had catered half Indian food through Natraj Cuisine of India and half through the venue, which were tacos. Our guests loved our food, and enjoyed the different options they had. To this day, our guests still talk about the dances, saying they have never seen something so well put together and executed before.

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

I remember a couple special moments that I can never forget. I remember my walk down the aisle, and just seeing the look on Anand's face. I couldn't believe that our big day was finally here, after over a year and a half of being engaged. Another moment was the dances. I surprised Anand by joining the bridesmaids dance since he is a really good dancer. He also surprised me by joining in the groomsmen dance, and that was my all time favorite! I knew he would sneak in a dance somewhere! But one of the biggest things that I remember is just being able to spend time with my close family and friends, dancing, and having a great time!

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 our reception, we wanted to keep it very simple. Our main goal was to allow our guests to have fun, and dance the night away. We did do a choreographed dance which included both sides of the family. Although everyone was in different locations and/or parts of the country, the choreography was emailed out and everyone practiced on their own time. Both sides did NOT end up practicing together, however, the dance came out AMAZING! It was just as if it was straight from a Bollywood movie! We kept our program short and sweet, so we can get to the best part, the dancing!

Thank you so much for sharing Shivani! We'll see all you lovely people tomorrow!

Dolled up by Lulu, 3D Sounds and Natraj Catering and Restaurants are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Lovebirds Shivani and Anand had a crystal clear vision for their wedding: simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! They didn’t want anything too over the top, and Shivani wanted everything from her bridal look to the decor by Linens By Celina to reflect the couple’s down to earth nature! It was also important that they didn’t have a cookie-cutter event, and when they toured the unique White House Banquet and Event Center, they knew they’d found the perfect venue! As a professional event coordinator at Black Pearl Events, Maharani Shivani is literally a pro at pulling off dream weddings! She explained, “Discuss your vision and thoughts about your big day with your fiance before you begin the planning process. This will help keep the both of you on the same page, and will help when there are a lot of decisions that need to be made.” Such a smart way to avoid misunderstandings! Check out our interview with Shivani below for more expert planning tips. The couple looked beautiful in their custom designed wedding fashion, with Shivani’s delicate blush lehenga suiting her perfectly! Further enhancing her natural beauty was glowing hair and makeup by the excellent Dolled Up by Lulu. Meanwhile, Anand and his guests took over the streets of Anaheim with a joyous baraat with entertainment by 3D Sounds. The resulting photos by Kelly Waterman Photography can be viewed in the full gallery and prove that this was one breathtaking affair!

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 venue was the hardest thing to find. Although I had a lot of venues in mind, I knew I did not want to have a "cookie-cutter" event in a hotel. Through lots of research and endless site visits, we found our venue, which was a banquet hall, and we were able to bring our own alcohol (which was a huge plus!)

For makeup, I wanted to go for a simple and elegant look that enhanced my natural beauty. I did not want my makeup to looked caked on, or melt off throughout the day. I didn't have any specific hair styles in mind, but I had so much confidence in my hair & makeup team that I let them just doll me up!

My wedding outfit, along with Anand's outfit, was custom designed. I actually had it made based on some of the ideas and colors that I wanted to incorporate. We did not have time to actually make a trip to India, so everything from designs to fabric selections were done via Whatsapp and email (thank god for social media)!

For the decor, we both really didn't care for stuff that was over the top. We are both very simple people. We wanted something simple, yet, elegant. I decided on blush pinks, red, and gold for the wedding, since those were the colors our outfits were. For the reception, since my reception outfit color was so unique, we did gold, whites, champagne, and some pops of orange floral. It complemented our outfits very well.

Our main goal was to have both sides of the family have a great time and come together to celebrate this special day with us. We did not want to have a long program and bore our guests, so we kept it short and sweet and got the party started early!

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

The words of wisdom I have as a past Bride (and a professional event coordinator) would be to discuss your vision and thoughts about your big day with your fiance before you begin the planning process. This will help keep the both of you on the same page, and will help when there are a lot of decisions that need to be made, especially when the parents give their input. Parents will always want to be involved, so just know what is truly important to you both, and let the other small things go. Your day will go by very quickly, so just be relaxed and enjoy the moments. These are the best memories you will have as a couple. Be aware that something always comes up on event day, but know there is always a solution. Don't stress out! Stay calm, and just let the person in charge or the coordinator solve the problems. Most importantly, have fun!

 Amazing advice! We'll see you in a jiffy with Shivani and Anand's dreamy reception details! 

Dolled up by Lulu, 3D Sounds and Natraj Catering and Restaurants are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Natraj Catering and Restaurants VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

After their ceremony, Millie & Pratik departed into the sunset using an adorably decorated golf cart - too cute! They made their triumphant entrance to their reception at the Eaglewood Resort as husband and wife, and both of them were dressed to the nines! Millie glowed in expertly done hair and makeup by Kate Johnson Artistry, and we love the sparkly flower-shaped clip she used to pull her hair back. This Maharani definitely knows how to accessorize! Her fresh orange and seafoam green lehenga by Dev Deval Designer Store was such a unique and beautiful choice! Elegance Decor once again did a fantastic job in creating a romantic ambiance in the ballroom, using candles, roses, and rosette tablecloths to create festive surroundings for guests to eat, drink, and be merry! Guests raved about the delicious food by Curry Hut Restaurant and cake by Oak Mill Bakery, and after feasting to their heart's content, they were ready to get down on the dance floor! DJ Kollision were ready to get the party started, and most guests were unwilling to leave the dance floor until the wee hours of morning! To see more action from this extravaganza, check out the full gallery by Crane's Chicago Wedding Photography. Also, make sure to read our interview with Millie, who shares so many interesting wedding details!

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

I met Pratik in high school and I guess you could describe us as high school sweethearts. He would walk over and chat with me in English class; that was always the best part of class. I knew he was the one during a terrible thunderstorm. We were in a car and had to pull over because it getting very bad. I was starting to get really scared and he leaned over and told me it would be ok and he'd keep me safe. I just knew right then he'd always be there to keep me safe.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

It was a total surprise! Pratik had been wanting to go down to Starved Rock (a state park by us) for years but we would never get the chance. So he finally convinced me that we should go down for my birthday. Little did I know what was in store. We walked through the park and finally reached our end destination, a waterfall. Then he got down on one knee and proposed, I was so shocked and of course said yes. And then he told me to look over and out pops my best friend to celebrate with us. We then drove back to Chicago and the rest of our friends were waiting for us at one of my favorite restaurants. That was definitely the best birthday I've had!

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 think that the first thing we decided was that we needed to find a venue and that would help dictate everything else that we needed. We both knew we wanted something with large windows, natural light, and some place with good scenery for pictures. We searched for a long time and finally found the perfect golf resort; it had large windows in the ballroom, a large patio for cocktail hour, and beautiful grounds for pictures. From there, we let the golf course dictate the other things we needed by trying to pick themes that fit with it. I picked a modern garden theme with blush tones and mixed metallics. For everything else pinterest was my best friend. I didn't quite know what I wanted so I would pinterest until I found the hair & makeup and outfits that I liked.

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

A lot of Indian Brides tend to pick a red and white bridal outfit. But I have never liked wearing white dresses so I knew from the very beginning that I wanted something red and gold. We went to India to buy our outfits and while at the store I had a good idea of what I wanted. Once I saw that one I knew it was the dress. It was the first one I agreed to try on and it was perfect.

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

Definitely the cake tasting. Who doesn't like getting to try lots of different cake. We were lucky enough to get the our cake from the bakery that I had been going to since I was a child. All our special event cakes would come from there so I was super excited to have them make my cake!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

We had numerous guests tell us that it was one of the most fun weddings they had been too. That made us so happy to hear because we didn't want to take ourselves too seriously so people could enjoy themselves. I walked down the aisle to Marry Me by Bruno Mars, the Brahmin cracked jokes to keep guests engaged, and the minute the dance opened, people ran out and refused to leave until the venue told us that we had to leave the room. So knowing that people had a blast makes me so happy because it makes all the hard work worth it.

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

There was a moment during the ceremony where you have to hold hands and we both looked up at enough other and knew this was it. We finally made it and got to be 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.

I wanted to add little details that would make me smile in case I felt like I was getting overwhelmed. So for example, I love wearing heels so I bought a blush toned cake server that looks like a shoe. Just the thought of using it would make me smile.

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

Let other people help you. I was afraid to ask for help because I didn't want to be labeled a Bridezilla. But it'll lift a weight off your shoulder if you don't feel like you have to do everything yourself.

Have a great rest of your day Maharanis!

Kate Johnson Artistry and Eaglewood Resort and Spa are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Kate Johnson Artistry VIEW PORTFOLIO

Eaglewood Resort and Spa VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

The photos of Millie & Pratik's sunshine filled wedding celebrations bring smiles to our faces! These high school sweethearts have the sweetest love story and were so excited for their big day! They were married at the beautiful Eaglewood Resort and Spa, with the ceremony taking place outdoors in a luxuriously draped tent, while the reception took place in the grand ballroom. The weather was perfect during their weekend celebrations, and the excitement in the air was palpable! The ceremony day began with excited Millie arriving at the Eaglewood Resort to get ready for her Maharaja. She was a vision in impeccable makeup by the artists at Kate Johnson Artistry, a summery red and gold lehenga by Aso Palav, and intricate henna by Sumeyya. We admired everything about Millie's look, and were inspired by her perfect accessory choices! Her face was framed by a delicate maang tikka, and she had the prettiest anklets and hathphools (which can be translated to "flower jewelry for the hands"). We adored the couple's first look portraits, in which Crane’s Photography captured the love between Millie & Pratik so perfectly! We love a good bridal party here at Maharani Weddings, and Millie & Pratik's posse was one of our faves - We can tell this is such a close group of friends. The airy and colorful feel of the event continued throughout the ceremony, in which the couple were married surrounded by white florals and pink draping masterminded by Elegance Decor. Join us in a bit when we take you into the newlyweds' elegant reception! In the meantime, check out the celebrations in the full gallery!

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

I met Pratik in high school and I guess you could describe us as high school sweethearts. He would walk over and chat with me in English class; that was always the best part of class. I knew he was the one during a terrible thunderstorm. We were in a car and had to pull over because it getting very bad. I was starting to get really scared and he leaned over and told me it would be ok and he'd keep me safe. I just knew right then he'd always be there to keep me safe.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

It was a total surprise! Pratik had been wanting to go down to Starved Rock (a state park by us) for years but we would never get the chance. So he finally convinced me that we should go down for my birthday. Little did I know what was in store. We walked through the park and finally reached our end destination, a waterfall. Then he got down on one knee and proposed, I was so shocked and of course said yes. And then he told me to look over and out pops my best friend to celebrate with us. We then drove back to Chicago and the rest of our friends were waiting for us at one of my favorite restaurants. That was definitely the best birthday I've had!

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 think that the first thing we decided was that we needed to find a venue and that would help dictate everything else that we needed. We both knew we wanted something with large windows, natural light, and some place with good scenery for pictures. We searched for a long time and finally found the perfect golf resort; it had large windows in the ballroom, a large patio for cocktail hour, and beautiful grounds for pictures. From there, we let the golf course dictate the other things we needed by trying to pick themes that fit with it. I picked a modern garden theme with blush tones and mixed metallics. For everything else pinterest was my best friend. I didn't quite know what I wanted so I would pinterest until I found the hair & makeup and outfits that I liked.

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

A lot of Indian Brides tend to pick a red and white bridal outfit. But I have never liked wearing white dresses so I knew from the very beginning that I wanted something red and gold. We went to India to buy our outfits and while at the store I had a good idea of what I wanted. Once I saw that one I knew it was the dress. It was the first one I agreed to try on and it was perfect.

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

Definitely the cake tasting. Who doesn't like getting to try lots of different cake. We were lucky enough to get the our cake from the bakery that I had been going to since I was a child. All our special event cakes would come from there so I was super excited to have them make my cake!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

We had numerous guests tell us that it was one of the most fun weddings they had been too. That made us so happy to hear because we didn't want to take ourselves too seriously so people could enjoy themselves. I walked down the aisle to Marry Me by Bruno Mars, the Brahmin cracked jokes to keep guests engaged, and the minute the dance opened, people ran out and refused to leave until the venue told us that we had to leave the room. So knowing that people had a blast makes me so happy because it makes all the hard work worth it.

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

There was a moment during the ceremony where you have to hold hands and we both looked up at enough other and knew this was it. We finally made it and got to be 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.

I wanted to add little details that would make me smile in case I felt like I was getting overwhelmed. So for example, I love wearing heels so I bought a blush toned cake server that looks like a shoe. Just the thought of using it would make me smile.

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

Let other people help you. I was afraid to ask for help because I didn't want to be labeled a Bridezilla. But it'll lift a weight off your shoulder if you don't feel like you have to do everything yourself.

See you soon Maharanis!

Kate Johnson Artistry and Eaglewood Resort and Spa are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Kate Johnson Artistry VIEW PORTFOLIO

Eaglewood Resort and Spa VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

We’re awestruck by the transformation from Mehwash and Sohail’s rainbow hued sangeet to their golden ceremony at Venuti's Banquets and reception at The Empress Banquets. Amer Design Studio showed their artistic mastery with their decor of the venue that resembled a gold gilded palace. The couple oozed sophistication in their ceremony looks. Mehwash was picture perfect once again in a royal red gown by Rimjhim and queenlike hair and makeup created by Mehwish Khalid. The Baking Institute created a majestic, five tiered cake that perfectly fit the decor and colors of the event. We also heard amazing things about the meal catered by ANMOL and the music performed by DJ Alladin. It sounds like Mehwash and Sohail’s wedding was perfect from beginning to end! We also loved that Maharani Mehwash created the wedding favors. Such a thoughtful touch! Personalized gifts are always the most memorable to guests, and we're sure the favors created by Mehwash were so appreciated by all! Maha Studios captured stunning photos of the newlyweds, and you can peruse all the gorgeousness in the full gallery below!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Amer Design Studio and Anmol Catering are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Anmol Catering VIEW PORTFOLIO

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