The Platinum Guide Blog

Flower crowns, gemstone hues and hanging blooms played a vital role in Maharani Teja’s garden inspired fusion Indian wedding at the Zhou B Art Center. Surrounded by priceless pieces of art by the world-renowned Zhou Brothers, the spacious quarters was the perfect fit to celebrate Teja and Joe. Teja’s decision to ensure that her Indian roots were reflected on her big day was a big one. Her bridal look was one that paired simplicity with elegance in an orange pink and gold silk sari hand plucked from India with matching gold jewelry. The stage that housed a naturalistic mandap was warm and welcoming, covered in rich greenery and colorful shrubs. Virginia Wolff Inc. brought a unique and beautiful approach fusing Indian traditions with a modern touch. After the ceremony commenced, exclusive caterer LM Catering partnered up with India House to provide guests with delectable cuisine - the best of both worlds! Wedding planner Simply Elegant Group was the superb choice for creating a picturesque wedding with a design focus in mind. Tap into your artistic side and take a trip into Maharani Weddings very own gallery with the creative artwork of Pat Furey Photography! We caught up with the bride and she spills the details on her party planning process below! 

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

We met at a backyard barbecue in our third and final year of residency training in Rochester, NY. My husband cold called me to ask me out one month later and due to our schedules it took another month before we actually met up again. I probably knew he was a keeper after about 6 months.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

We spent a lovely winter day outdoors and later that night, skied around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis as part of the "Luminary Loppet" event. My husband had meant to propose while out on the lake. However, when we were leaving my apartment it was starting to sleet and he thought it wouldn't be romantic if we were miserable and wet. It cleared right up when we got to the lake much to his dismay. He proposed later that night after dinner in my kitchen. He couldn't wait any longer. We then broke out a bottle of bubbly that we had saved since our time in Rochester, NY to celebrate.

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 had already sort of had ideas swimming around in my head for a while and after we got engaged, we picked a date and I went into a planning frenzy since I only had 6 months to do it all! I managed to get venue and photographer set right away and the rest fell into place slowly after that. I also decided to include a wedding planner and that was by far the best decision ever. I went dress shopping with a friend about two weeks after our engagement and made a decision that day.

Since we were doing a fusion wedding I wanted to find a way to bring the vibrancy and color from traditional Indian weddings and merge it with a more modern vibe. It worked brilliantly to have our venue be a modern art gallery which quite literally was the perfect blank canvas to make our colors pop.

The outfits for the Hindu ceremony were picked out in India; my parents, husband and in-laws took a 2 week trip to India to meet my extended family, do an engagement ceremony there and go on a wedding shopping spree!

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

I went with a large entourage of aunties, my husband, his parents and my parents. My mom had already scouted out some places and we just had them pull saris until one stood out. My husband actually also gave it the thumbs up. It just happened to coordinate well with our colors.

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

I loved the creative aspect of wedding planning and it was just so amazing to have the visions in my head translated so beautifully into real life.

What did your guest particularly love about your Wedding?

They all really enjoyed being able to experience both ceremonies and the food of course! The dance party was the best one I have ever been to! People were on the dance floor before the dance music even started and it was full all night long.

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

The sparkler exit was an awesome end to the day.

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.

We took private lessons for our wedding dance. My husband did so well and the song was perfect. Jason Mraz - Love Someone.

The celebration continues at the breathtaking Zhou B Art Center! See you in a bit!

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Suhani and Sunny’s wedding was an absolutely authentic rendition of a traditional Indian wedding, through and through! The summer ceremony took place at the Renaissance Dallas, an expansive venue that allowed for a lot of creative freedom in terms of design, for Affinity Celebrations. “We designed the area using shades like dark pink, bright yellow, gold, and tangerine, and also incorporated some lovely floral garlands to complete that traditional Gujarati look,” remarked Affinity Celebrations. They set up a lovely round mandap that was enveloped in striking tangerine tulle drapes, with bright florals woven around it. A floral Ganesh wall was set up at the entrance, which elevated the Baraat as well as the walk down the aisle. Suhani was crystal clear about the kind of red traditional outfit she wanted, and found her dream outfit in Dubai, which was all red with gold gota work. Suhani and Sunny coordinated subtly but perfectly, with Sunny donning a cream thread-embroidered sherwani, with a crimson red safa. The bridesmaids and groomsmen added a pop of blue to the event, in their matching ensembles, and made for some darling photos clicked by Bytegraph. Check out the gallery brimming with colors and exuberance! 

Before we wrap up the #OnceUponAShah nuptial shindig, here's our convo with the bride about her big day!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Sunny and I were introduced by mutual friends who thought we would make a good couple. Our first meeting didnt go so well. We went bowling and later to get froyo. thought he was shy and boring, he thought I was loud and overbearing. But 6 months later, we started talking again over Facebook at 3 am one night. He invited me to try this new restaurant with him, I said yes, and here we are 4 years later! A few months after we started dating, we went on a double date with my friends. That night, as he dropped me home, I suddenly realized that I could spend my entire life with him. He felt like family, and I felt like I had known him forever even though it had just been a few months. It was that random night that I knew he was "the one".

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Sunny took me out to dinner one night, and since it was late, he ended up spending the night at my parent's house. The next morning he woke me up at 5 am and told a very grumpy me to go sit in the car. I fell asleep immediately in the car, and when i woke up, we were at the airport parking lot. He still wouldn't tell me what was going on, until we passed security and got to the gate. We were going to Colorado, which has always been one of my favorite places. We flew to Colorado, got a car and drove all the way up the Rockies. Once in Vail, we rode the trolley upto the highest mountain. There, at a beautiful spot called the Wedding Deck, against the magnificent mountain backdrop, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
The wedding planning was actually a lot of fun, and not as messy and stressful as I expected it to be. The toughest part was finding the perfect venue, and we researched a lot and had about 20 different meetings before settling on The Renaissance Hotel. They had a beautiful banquet hall and a perfect separate entrance for the barat. Another aspect that we spent a lot of time researching was the decor. I wanted my wedding to be traditional, with red orange and gold hues and lots of flowers. We found Affinity Celebrations through a mutual friend. My wedding theme color was blue, so I wanted blue outfits for me and my husband for the Mehndi and Sangeet events, and I wanted an all red and gold outfit for the wedding. I found all of this along with the matching gold jewelry in Dubai. It really is a shoppers paradise!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was definitely shopping for outfits. We went to Dubai and India to shop for mine and my husband's outfits as well as the bridesmaids sarees.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The first look...Sunny saw me in my wedding dress for the first time on our wedding morning and got teary eyed. I will never forget that moment.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Just relax and have fun. Even if things aren't perfect on your wedding day (which they won't be), people will still have a good time. You dont want to go through this entire event stressing about silly little details and not enjoy the big moments. Be mentally present in every ceremony, take time out for your close family and friends and just remember that a happy marriage is way more important than a perfect wedding!

We hope Suhani and Sunny's wedding wiped away all your midweek blues! Return to the blog tomorrow where we are featuring a gorgeous Sikh wedding from Pittsburgh!

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The pomp and color galore of a Gujarati wedding is unmatchable, and we’re always excited to write about one because each wedding gives us a new perspective on vibrancy and color combinations. Suhani and Sunny’s wedding bash at Renaissance Dallas was truly a labor of love, and as is native to Gujarati weddings, started off with a Garba and Sangeet. The cream and brown damask patterned carpet in the ballroom was one element that worked in favor of the antique and wooden displays, and offset the solid hues elegantly. Affinity Celebrations and Suhani were a match made in heaven because our Maharani said that they delivered exactly what she had in mind in terms of decor. They came up with a display table with personalized pieces like the SS lettering, framed photos of the couple and their loved ones, and placed them alongside colorful Moroccan lamps, Dandia sticks, bangles, bindis, and antique centerpieces. Suhani wanted her and Sunny’s outfits to be blue and coordinated, so she donned a royal blue embroidered lehenga paired with an embellished gold blouse. Ishnae Beauty finished her look with a matte, blush tone and styled her hair in loose curls that cascaded down to her waist. The beautiful Henna design on Suhani’s hands were truly a work of art by Henna by Alpa. Sunny opted for a Butta print raw silk sherwani that looked so Nawabi and smart! The night of dancing, Garba Raas, and enjoying the delicacies from Mumtaz Indian Restaurant came to a close on a note of fun and merriment. A&A Video Productions filmed this extravaganza, with Bytegraph as the photography counterpart. Relive the moments from this gorgeous Gujarati galore by heading to the gallery!

Coming up next is the wedding ceremony of Suhani and Sunny, an event full of vibrancy and vigor! We’ll be right back, and so should you!

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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!

Lanier Islands Resort is a member of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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