The Platinum Guide Blog

Now we'll step into Prova and Ibon's lush ceremony and reception at The Claridge Casino Hotel, photographed by Arman Bappy Photography. Only in Atlantic City would there exist a ballroom containing this amount of decadent glamour. We can't get over its stunning details, such as the massive crystal chandeliers, gold crown molding, and painted ceiling. We also love the jewel toned draping, up lighting, and sparkly staging brought in by G&R Décor and Event House to amp up the dazzling effect in the ballroom even more. Nothing was more dazzling than the adorable Prova and Ibon however, who had an emotional garland and cake-cutting ceremony. They looked so happy to finally be married after over a decade together! Guests raved about the dessert and food at the reception, which included catering from Sagar Restaurant, and a towering, frosted masterpiece of a cake from Minos Bakery. After dinner, guests enjoyed delightful music from Mahria Shah and couldn't get enough of the photo booth brought in by Snap That Photo Booth. Scroll down to read more details directly from the lovely bride Prova, or to check out the full gallery of this glittering affair!

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

We met on Aug 23, 2004 at a friend’s wedding. Back in the day, everyone used Yahoo Messenger so he asked me for my ID. Finally, we chatted and met each other one month later. I don't know how, but we just fell in love with each other by emailing, chatting, and finally talking with each other when we both bought a cell phone. He is so caring and that’s how I knew that he was the one. Now we’ve been together for 13 years!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

He came as a professional to my house and asked permission from my father if he could marry me. My father knew he was the one because he makes me feel so happy and I wouldn't marry anyone else except for him.

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.

My parents and I had to prioritize and organize all of the wedding preparations. We had to first look for a venue that had a capacity of 500 people. Thankfully, we live in Atlantic City, NJ so casinos are a big thing in that area. We went to the Claridge Casino Hotel and booked the perfect venue for my wedding on Aug, 23, 2016. Hair and Makeup was done by the best Tamanna Nurr. Outfit was by Bombay Bridal at Jackson Heights, NY. The decor/theme/DJ/video: was by G&R Decor and Event House, and photography was by Arman Hossain Bappy. My jewelry was all 22 karat gold from Amba Jewelers and Sona Chandi from Jackson Heights, NY.

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

My idea was to be a totally traditional Bengali modern bride. So I wanted my lengha to be red and gold. I bought my beautiful lengha from Bombay Bridal.

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

The most enjoyable part of the planning process was enjoying quality time with family because usually we all work and don't have much time to spend together, so when my wedding was being planned I got to spend more time with my lovely family.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

The guests loved my venue, stage and the best was the photobooth by Snap That Photo Booth.

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

A really special moment was the garland ceremony and the cake cutting ceremony.

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

Keep calm and just don't stress out! I know we are already stressed; however, enjoy every moment of wedding preparations because those days will never be back again.

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

My cake was from the famous Minos Bakery located at Pleasantville, NJ. My bouquet was all handmade by my mother.

Amazing right, Maharanis? We'll see you tomorrow!

Prepare yourself for a complete feast for the eyes! Maharani Prova and her Raja Ibon were married in Atlantic City, NJ, and this larger than life celebration definitely lived up to the city's glitzy reputation! This couple first got to know each other in the most classic of ways - IMing over Yahoo Messenger. Fast forward 13 years and they were married in incredibly lavish Atlantic City fashion, with photos gorgeously captured by Arman Bappy Photography and lux decor by G&R Décor and Event House. We knew this wedding was something special from the moment we perused the couple's pre-wedding portraits. Bride Prova was dripping in sparkles and 22k gold necklaces from Amba Jewelers, and her red lehenga from Bombay Bridal was embroidered and beaded from head to toe. We think it was such a cute idea to juxtapose Prova's over the top glamour with classic New Jersey modes of transportation like the Jitney! So creative, and the resulting images are perfection! Adding to Prova's dazzling aura was her hair and makeup from Tamanna Nur and mehndi from Shital. Our next post will cover the couple's luxurious ceremony and reception, which took place at the sensational Claridge Casino Hotel - a grand venue fitting for the couple's 500+ guests! Check out the rest of the photos in the full gallery from this blingtastic wedding!

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

We met on Aug 23, 2004 at a friend’s wedding. Back in the day, everyone used Yahoo Messenger so he asked me for my ID. Finally, we chatted and met each other one month later. I don't know how, but we just fell in love with each other by emailing, chatting, and finally talking with each other when we both bought a cell phone. He is so caring and that’s how I knew that he was the one. Now we’ve been together for 13 years!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!

He came as a professional to my house and asked permission from my father if he could marry me. My father knew he was the one because he makes me feel so happy and I wouldn't marry anyone else except for him.

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.

My parents and I had to prioritize and organize all of the wedding preparations. We had to first look for a venue that had a capacity of 500 people. Thankfully, we live in Atlantic City, NJ so casinos are a big thing in that area. We went to the Claridge Casino Hotel and booked the perfect venue for my wedding on Aug, 23, 2016. Hair and Makeup was done by the best Tamanna Nurr. Outfit was by Bombay Bridal at Jackson Heights, NY. The decor/theme/DJ/video: was by G&R Decor and Event House, and photography was by Arman Hossain Bappy. My jewelry was all 22 karat gold from Amba Jewelers and Sona Chandi from Jackson Heights, NY.

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

My idea was to be a totally traditional Bengali modern bride. So I wanted my lengha to be red and gold. I bought my beautiful lengha from Bombay Bridal.

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

The most enjoyable part of the planning process was enjoying quality time with family because usually we all work and don't have much time to spend together, so when my wedding was being planned I got to spend more time with my lovely family.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?

The guests loved my venue, stage and the best was the photobooth by Snap That Photo Booth.

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

A really special moment was the garland ceremony and the cake cutting ceremony.

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

Keep calm and just don't stress out! I know we are already stressed; however, enjoy every moment of wedding preparations because those days will never be back again.

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

My cake was from the famous Minos Bakery located at Pleasantville, NJ. My bouquet was all handmade by my mother.

See you all in a couple hours for more from this couple's ceremony!

Welcome back Maharanis! Now, we'll take you into Steffy and Selby's breathtaking Parisian-esque, violet-hued, glittery reception extravaganza! Electric Karma did a spectacular job of planning and designing this event, and Mandap Creations once again created a romantic wonderland. The event took place at the Royal Sonesta Legends Room, with photography captured by Pixel Studio. There are so many details we loved about this event, including the bedazzling staging, with includes a candlelit backdrop and cascading, crystal chandeliers. Deep violet was such a perfect reception color choice, creating such a rich, romantic ambiance in the ballroom. We have to rave about the desserts at the event, including the tiered cake created by Deelish Cupcakes that could double as a piece of modern art. We also love the inclusion of macaroons by Heather's Desserts - yum! Guests raved about the reception meal by Bombay Brasserie, and the live Indian music by Bollywood Strings. As the dance floor opened, Desi Junction DJs played electrifying music that kept guests on their feet all night long! Guests had a blast taking crazy photos in the photo booth provided by Digital Memories Photobooth, and we hope we get to see the video by Spinning Leaf of this incredible celebration soon! Steffy & Selby's wedding celebrations looked like a sophisticated, fun-filled affair, and you can check out the full gallery to see all the action!

We will see you tomorrow Maharanis!

Mandap Creations and JJ Drapes are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Good morning Maharanis! Today, we have have a lovely wedding featuring Maharani Steffy and her Raja Selby, with photography captured by Pixel Studio Productions. This wedding features a lot of glamour and a Parisian-esque reception at Royal Sonesta Legends Room that was truly breathtaking. Electric Karma did an incredible job with the planning and design of this wedding, and Mandap Creations created decadent floral and decor for the events. We also must mention how lovely Steffy was throughout the festivities. She was a vision in her white wedding gown with makeup done by Blush & Glow and mehndi by Monalisa Salon & Spa. Meanwhile, her excited bridesmaids recieved hair and makeup services by Your Beautiful Face and wore fashion-forward black, white, and gold saris. Devo was the MC of lively baraat, while DBI provided the incredible dhol beats. The weekend's musical entertainment was provided by the talents at Desi Junction DJs. Niko Niko's and Bombay Brasserie provided the delicious catering, while Deelish Cupcakes provided an incredible designer cake! Every detail of this wedding was perfection and we can't wait to see the film by Spinning Leaf. We'll be back in a few hours to discuss the couple's reception, but in the meantime, check out the full gallery of Steffy & Selby's fun-filled weekend!

Maharanis, check back later this morning for more from Steffy & Selby's incredible celebration!

Mandap Creations and JJ Drapes are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Mandap Creations VIEW PORTFOLIO

JJ Drapes VIEW PORTFOLIO

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

Welcome back Maharanis! In this post, we revisit Payal & Michael’s reception extravaganza, photographed by Joseph Kang Photography, with cinematography by R.E.M. Before making their grand entrance, the newlywed couple posed for some stunning moonlit portraits, with a beautiful raindrop-filled background. This resulted in some of the most striking wedding photos, teaching us that rain on your wedding day might actually end up being lucky since you’ll be able to take amazing photos like these! The reception venue, Stonegate, was transformed by blue and pink draping and glittering crystal garlands by Rami’s Mandap. Delicious food was catered by Gaylord Cuisine, with incredible music performed by DJ Krush and DJ Oz that kept guests on their feet all night long! In between dancing to the energetic beats, guests had a blast taking photos in the photo booth provided by The Photo Booth Group. Once again, Payal looked perfect in a bold, orange gown by Aso Palav, dewy makeup and hair by Diem Angie, and mehndi by Kamini's Mehandi. While we love so many aspects of Payal & Michael’s incredible weekend, we especially adored all the thoughtful wedding details sprinkled throughout the reception. Guests were asked to leave the couple advice on prescription pads, the couple’s favorite drinks “Pandya Punch” and “The Ocampoloco” were specials offered at the bar, and meaningful photos of Payal & Michael were displayed adorably on clotheslines. Click below to check out the full gallery to see all the vibrant photos from the couple's weekend! 

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

Michael and I met in Boston, MA while we attended the same graduate program. He was in the class one year ahead of me and we would frequently bump into one another as we studied in the same student lobby. I couldn't help but think about what an advantage it was to befriend an upperclassman! As our friendship continued, I quickly realized that the late night study sessions and laughter we shared was something more! Michael moved back home to California and I moved back home to Chicago after completing the program. We continued our relationship and as the saying goes "distance makes the heart grow fonder.” In between all the air miles we earned traveling to see each other, the phone calls, texts and FaceTime sessions, we both came to realize that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

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.

As stressful as wedding planning was, it was equally as thrilling and exciting. Planning the wedding while continuing our long distance relationship definitely was a challenge but we made the best of the situation by frequently reminding one another that the big day was the start of an amazing life together! I researched vendors prior to committing to their services. I wanted to be sure we found vendors that we connected with and that shared our excitement with us. If that connection was lacking, I decided to continue searching.

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

I knew I wanted to follow tradition and incorporate the red, green and white color combination. We went to India to shop for the wedding. Although the choices were overwhelming, I knew which dress I wanted when I tried it on! It made me feel confident and beautiful and to see the reaction on my parent's face said it all. I didn't have a particular color in mind for the reception dress but definitely knew the style that I wanted. After shopping at several stores, I tried on a dress and when I looked in the mirror it was immediately "love at first sight!”

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

One memory that's still so vivid is when I prepared to walk down the aisle. In that one instant, it all became so very real! Hearing the prelude play on cue, seeing the faces of all our guests looking back at me with cameras in hand ready to take pictures, seeing the faces of my parents filled with joy and happy tears, and seeing the wide and bright smiles of the bridal party will forever be a special moment.

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

Remember that the wedding day is just the beginning of your happily ever after. Enjoy the ups and downs that wedding planning consists of. Enjoy the planning process with friends and family. Prioritize and budget accordingly. Keep in mind that at the end of the day, your wedding day will be what you make of it. Most importantly, be sure to enjoy every moment on the big day as you've spent lots of time planning it. Simply live in the moment and take a few seconds to take it all in!

We'll see you tomorrow Maharanis!