The Platinum Guide Blog

Lauren & Kam's wedding unfolded as a mesmerizing blend of cultures, love, and celebration in the heart of the vibrant W Philadelphia. The festivities reached a crescendo, with the Monaco Experience leading the Baraat. Meticulously orchestrated by Evenings of Elegance, each detail, from the splendid decor by Abhishek Decorators to Lauren's stunning look perfected by Flawless Beauty by Pauline, contributed to the enchantment. The culinary delights by Moghul Caterers tantalized every palate. This vibrant and spirited procession encapsulated the essence of joy and community, setting the stage for a day filled with laughter, dance, and heartfelt moments. With their impeccable DJ services, Shilpa Entertainment ensured the music resonated with the couple's journey, their beats and rhythms crafting an atmosphere of unbridled joy and celebration. Capturing every glance, every smile, and the myriad of emotions that painted the day, Lightyear Studio captured every fleeting moment, every smile, and every emotion that painted the day when Lauren & Kam tied the knot. Through their masterful lens, cinematography, and photography, they documented the event and told a beautiful story of love, family, and the union of two worlds. Enjoy this stunning masterpiece of love.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I worked as a Cardiac ICU nurse and Kam was finishing up his last year of Cardiology fellowship when we first met. We both lived in Philadelphia and decided to explore the city together. Our favorite hobbies are still finding the best spots in Philly to eat at and visiting cocktail bars and wine lounges.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Kam lived in Rittenhouse his last year of fellowship and we enjoyed many days hanging out at his rooftop. When proposal time came around, he recruited my best friends to take me out to brunch. They recommended we go out to Kam's old building to see a mutual friend, and to my surprise, Kam was waiting at the rooftop with both our families and closest friends.

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.
We wanted a wedding that celebrated both our cultures and us as individuals. We decided to have a traditional Hindu ceremony followed by a chic black-tie reception. We chose W Philadelphia in Center City and could not have been happier. W Philadelphia provided multiple sites for our Sangeet, Ceremony, and Reception with modern elegant backdrops.

Nazranaa in Edison, NJ was crucial in helping us with our outfit selections. They went above and beyond in helping Lauren's family wear traditional Indian attire. It was a fun experience for Lauren's family as it was their first time wearing traditional Indian clothes.

Many guests complimented our DJ for the weekend, DJ Shilpa. Our Baraat down Chestnut Street with DJ Shilpa blasting music was a memory many people would never forget. Our dance floor at the reception was packed from the beginning due to DJ Shilpa.

My bridal make-up artist, Pauline from Flawless Beauty by Pauline, helped me feel like the most beautiful version of myself for all of the weekend's events.

Abhishek Decorators built the most beautiful sets for our Sangeet, Mandap, and wedding reception. They truly created the exact vision we wanted for all the events.

Nathan Dang's team from Lightyear Studio provided photography and videography. They were able to capture all the events perfectly and encapsulated the energy and love present all weekend.

And, of course, our weekend would not have turned out so well if not for Evenings of Elegance, run by Dharmi Shah, who was our Wedding Planner. We worked with her for over a year before our wedding day, and she kept us on track in meeting deadlines while navigating our hectic work schedules. Her wealth of knowledge and contacts helped us make decisions, even when we couldn't decide. Due to her attention to detail and timeliness, we were even able to start our ceremony early and finish ahead of schedule (who is able to say that!).

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
All of our guests commented on how seamlessly each event went without any hiccups or problems. This is 100% attributed to the work, dedication, and planning of our Wedding Planner/Coordinator, Evenings of Elegance. There was almost no stress on our part during the weekend, knowing we had Dharmi Shah from Evenings of Elegance in our corner.

Their wedding was not just an occasion but a vivid tapestry of love, joy, and unity.

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Dear Maharanis, love was in the air as we witnessed the charming union of Digisha & Ronak at the picturesque Dreams Bahia Mita. Under the expert guidance of Eunice Bravo, this wedding was meticulously planned and designed to perfection. The breathtaking floral decor by Ale Magana Art and Flowers transformed the venue into a romantic paradise. Digisha was a vision in her bridal attire. Paola Amaral Makeup worked its magic to enhance the bride's beauty, and Mehndhi by Masu created an intricate mehndi design, a beautiful ode to tradition. And what's a celebration without music? The incredible DJ Sunny P Events had everyone on their feet, dancing the night away with electrifying beats. Indian Destination Wedding, Inc. was the hero of this South Asian extravaganza since they made the process seamless for the couple and their guests. Their attention to detail was truly remarkable! Every moment of their inspiring love story was beautifully immortalized through the expert lens of Gareth Davies Photography, capturing candid moments, stolen glances, and joyous tears with stunning clarity. View the magical world of this wedding through our photo gallery. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed today's feature as much as I did! Keep coming back for more love stories!

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Darlings, we hope you are ready because a full flair traditional love story is coming! So, please sit back, relax, and enjoy Astha & Chintan's wedding. As the radiant sun adorned the sky, the groom arrived in a grand procession, his Baraat led by majestic horses from Seaton Hackney Stables. The Legacy Castle was the perfect setting for this ceremony and reception. Urvashi Mishra, Wedding & Event Planner, crafted a masterpiece, flawlessly weaving traditional elements and modern aesthetics together. The venue was transformed into a haven of luxury, radiating warmth and grace in every corner. Wedding Design worked its magic, adorning the space with exquisite floral arrangements that mirrored the bride's ethereal beauty. The skillful hands of Flawless Beauty by Pauline elevated Astha's beauty to new heights. Mehndi by Anuja delighted everyone's taste buds with their sumptuous culinary creations. With a carefully selected playlist blended traditional tunes with contemporary hits, M4U Events had every guest grooving and moving to the rhythm. Their expertise and passion for music elevated the wedding experience, leaving the guests with memories of a night filled with non-stop entertainment and exhilaration. Memories Studio, the ever-talented photographers were present, capturing the essence of love and happiness. Experience the magic through their gallery. 

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
So it was March 19th, 2021, our two-year dating anniversary, and Chintan said he planned a special dinner in NYC. He told me we were going to stop by at our favorite rooftop in Jersey City (Rooftop at Exchange Place) and then make our way into the city. So we get ready and head over to the rooftop, and as I enter, I hear music, and I get a glimpse of all our loved ones waiting for us on the other side. Then Chintan takes my hand and walks me to the center of the room, and immediately breaks into dance! He planned a whole flash mob Bollywood-style proposal with my favorite songs and favorite people dancing! All of my family and friends joined him for some songs, and he ended the dance with “Marry Me” by Bruno Mars. He took me to the front of the room and proposed with the New York skyline as our beautiful backdrop and with our family and friends cheering us on!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So we went to Mumbai for my wedding shopping because my family is from there so we had a lot of stores to visit in mind. My mom had this dream of me wearing a Sabyasachi lehenga, and I told her if I loved something, I would definitely consider it. So we enter the store; the beautiful surroundings and vibes are definitely enchanting! We look at a couple of outfits, and I see this red outfit that my aunt and mom selected for me. I was actually against wearing red because I didn’t like that color much, and the outfit they showed me was red, but I decided to try it on anyways. I try it on, and the rest is history! I bought that outfit right away, and I ended up wearing a beautiful red lehenga for my wedding :) everything changed when I wore it, so I’d definitely recommend trying different colors even if you don’t like them. I only tried one bridal outfit, and that’s all it took for me!

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.
So I was always clear on what kind of styles and themes I wanted for all my pre-wedding events, and because I’m a classically trained dancer and loved dancing and choreographing, I planned out all the dances, songs, and the whole program of all the events. My first event was the Mehendi which I wanted to be a “mela,” bright, colorful carnival style! We had lots of gifts, giveaways a whole Chudi bazaar full of bangles, turbans, bindis, purses, earrings, and many more items. They all were customized with our hashtag, and our guests loved it and took everything home! I did two dances in the mehendi, and my friends performed “mere yaar ki shaadi hain,” which was so fun! The Sangeet was that night, and we had a live singer Rex D’Souza who set the dance floor on fire! Everyone had the best time of the whole weekend on the Sangeet night! He was singing non-stop for 4 hours, making everyone dance which was an absolute blast! We also had 9 performances in the Sangeet with all our family and friends, and it was a complete Bollywood-style Sangeet. Chintan and I have loved Bollywood since we were kids, and we knew we had to incorporate it in our wedding, so we chose a whole Bollywood theme with a red carpet and all the decor being posters of Bollywood movies as well. The Sangeet truly was a Bollywood dream come true! For my haldi, I decided to do something a little different, I decided to do an entry song with all the uncles and aunties that I’ve grown up with and chose to dance with each couple for a few seconds as I entered the hall. Choreographing this and all 15 of us dancing together was such a memorable memory that I’ll never forget!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I think the biggest thing I would say to all future brides is to have a clear vision of what you want and work towards fulfilling that. Because there are so many options, so many vendors, and so many small details to get overwhelmed and confused over, the sooner you can make firm decisions quickly, the sooner you can get to planning all the fun stuff and not be overwhelmed! I also advise you to prioritize what you and your partner want, from decision-making to incorporating small details in the wedding, like writing your own vows or giving gifts to each other before the wedding. At the end of the day, it’s the wedding of you two, and you should be perfectly content and happy with everything you choose to do. On the day of the wedding, if something goes wrong or doesn’t go according to plan, the best thing to do is to just move on and not let it affect your mood/smile because the camera captures everything! The photographers are always going to be with you, and everything gets captured, so if you let one thing affect you, everything will fall apart, including your pictures!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
The first thing we locked down for our wedding was our venue! We absolutely loved The Legacy Castle and just knew that’s where we wanted to get married! Our hashtag comes from that venue as well! It’s AC which stands for Astha and Chintan, and ki Legacy means “their legacy,” which was a word play on the venue and also the beginning of our legacy! #ACkiLegacy. We even decided to do an outdoor jai maala on the legacy castle terrace, which had never been done before! We tried to do something unique and make the most of our venue, which turned out to be a beautiful ceremony with the drones above us capturing every moment! Our planner Urvashi Mishra was amazing from the beginning of our whole process! She was with us since before Chintan even proposed and helped him out with those details, along with our engagement party, bridal shower, and wedding! She took care of everything during those events over 2 years, and it made wedding planning a breeze! Our amazing photo video team, Memories Studios, has been with us since our engagement party, our engagement photo shoot, and the wedding! They brought their whole team and went all out! They showed off their amazing skills with the same-day edit in the reception, and everyone was left stunned! Our caterer, Moghul Caterers, knocked every meal out of the park! Food is something that is so important in every wedding, and we managed to incorporate almost every cuisine during the whole weekend, and they pulled it off beautifully! For our decor, we had Ravi from wedding design and decor, who took all of my visions and brought them to life! I drew out every single decor setup from the mehendi to the Sangeet to the haldi and wedding and reception, and he did it exactly as I had imagined! Having a vision of what I wanted for all the setups was extremely helpful because all he had to do was just explain to me how it was going to work and then just do it. For my makeup and hair, I had the amazing Pauline, who was my partner in crime for 4 days! Waking up and keeping me awake and excited at 4 am is no easy task, and she did it so effortlessly, along with also working and giving me 4 beautiful looks! Anuja, for my mehendi, was amazing! She also took my vision of what I showed her from a photo and made it come to life. She was so calm, and we had the best time together ordering our pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks at 3 am! Sheraton Parsippany was a great venue to host all of our guests and to have all of our pre-wedding events! It was the best idea to have everyone stay in one place for 4 days, and all the events be in the ballrooms of the same hotel. Super convenient and stress-free because traveling was completely eliminated!

This lovely wedding was such a pleasure to see. I enjoyed every minute of it! See you tomorrow.

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Lovely ladies, let's enjoy the beautiful tale of Melissa & Mushfik's wedding. Beginning with a mesmerizing Sangeet ceremony at the exquisite Crowne Plaza Princeton, bathed in twinkling lights and adorned with delicate blooms. Events Capture Photography & Cinematography expertly captured each moment, preserving the essence of Melissa's infectious laughter & Mushfik's loving gaze in timeless frames. The grand wedding ceremony occurred at The Marigold, where love blossomed like the most exquisite flowers. All Event Decorators worked their magic, creating a breathtaking ambiance that transported guests to a realm of pure enchantment. Farzana & Samiul Amin orchestrated every detail flawlessly, ensuring that every celebration aspect was perfect. The skillful hands of Divine Beauty by Vaishali enhanced Melissa's ethereal beauty, who took charge of her hair and makeup, ensuring that every detail was flawless. With precision and artistry, they created a stunning hairstyle that perfectly complemented her bridal ensemble. Also, her expertise in bridal draping and sari tying brought an extra elegance to Melissa's attire, ensuring that every fold and drape fell gracefully, making her a vision of grace and beauty on her special day. Her bridal ensemble from Style World was a masterpiece, and Natalia Zamparini's artistic mehndi designs were outstanding. The celebration reached its zenith with the delectable cuisine provided by Moghul Caterers, leaving hearts satiated. Finesse Entertainment set the mood, enchanting the guests with vibrant beats. M&R Photo Factory skillfully captured every fleeting moment, immortalizing the joy and love that permeated the air. Enjoy the shots we have compiled for you today! It's stunning.

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
Our story is pretty simple and not unusual: we met at work.
We were employed at the same financial consultancy, but he reported in New Jersey, and I was in New York.  One year, we had a serendipitous meeting at our company holiday party, making a connection that would last years. We were very curious and smitten with each other, but we decided to build our friendship first as that was most important to us. We knew we had something exceptional after chatting on the phone countless nights and attending several concerts together. I don’t have a specific moment when I knew he was the one. It just happened slowly, organically, and over some time. When he proposed, we were leveling up into something beautiful, realistic, and worth living for.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
The proposal was lovely and endearing. He planned the proposal on our dating anniversary, which would give him an excuse to make plans. I could tell he was fussy and nervous that day, and it crossed my mind that a proposal might happen. We spent the afternoon walking along the shore near our apartment; the view was fantastic. When we stopped to admire the sunset, he spoke to me and then dropped to one knee! After I said yes, we went to a spa for a couples' massage, and then we went to a nice dinner. It was perfect because it felt easy.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
There was a lot of pressure to keep things super traditional, so a red sari was the only way to go. The dress was purchased overseas, so I didn't choose it, but I was delighted with the selection.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The design process was a lot of fun. Working on the color schemes and the decor and visiting the vendors was exciting. The best part is the day of the wedding when the vision comes to life. You get to see the completion of your hard work; it's satisfying.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests told us our wedding was fun because it was relaxed and unpretentious. We ensured the essential aspects, like the food, music, and entertainment, were top-notch. We released fun-loving, playful energy that day; maybe it rubbed off on our guests.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
My best advice is to remain as flexible and open-minded as possible. Your special day is full of moving parts, and there is always a chance that something can go in a different direction than initially intended. On your wedding day, focus on the rest of your life instead of the rest of your day.
Darlings, I hope you enjoyed today’s feature. Leave us a comment, and keep coming for more stories!

Divine Beauty by Vaishali and Events Capture are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Hello, sweeties! Are you ready to venture on a trip? Today, we will take a trip to the northern coast of beautiful Puerto Rico to join our gorgeous couple, Malary & Kishore, at their wedding celebration—three days filled with beautiful memories, laughter, happy tears, and many colors. We will start this journey in the best possible way with a Haldi celebration followed by an Indian wedding ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico. With the sea and the sunset as the background, and with the lovely ornaments and floral arrangements that Jat Lozano - Flowers & Events put together, there is no denying that this was the perfect scenario to say "I do" in front of their family and friends. The outstanding work of Rosalina Torres Momentus created an elegant atmosphere that set the mood for this reception. And thanks to the talent and effort of Alex Dali Weddings, we can enjoy and be part of these special moments. There was so much elegance all over the place, but nothing compared to Malary's stunning look! She was a vision of beauty thanks to Christopher Feliciano, who cared for her hairstyle and makeup needs. Malary got a beautiful Mehndi design from the talented Henna Stella PR to crown her look. And for a fabulous reception and party, they allied with DJ Riz Entertainment. This wedding celebration was one that everyone enjoyed and felt welcomed, and they put everyone on their feet with the latest Bollywood hits! It was a fantastic celebration. If you want to dance confidently, an incredible choreography for luxury wedding and event dance performances, Soni Choreography, is the best and most accurate option. She helped our lovely couple make custom concepts for the routines to set them apart.  And what a great dance! You cannot miss this feature if you want to be splashed with more details of this sweet and romantic story! You can peek at the gallery we have prepared for you. It's a visual delight. You will love it! 

Remember that we have inspiring stories every day, so make sure to join us tomorrow for more!

DJ Riz Entertainment and Soni Choreography are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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