The Platinum Guide Blog

Welcome to Aakruti & Ravisher's wedding, a celebration of love, tradition, and culture. As soon as you step into the Motor City Casino Hotel and Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center, you'll feel the warmth and joy that radiates from the couple and their loved ones. The Baraat was lively, thanks to the talented dholi, Pally Singh. Marigold Wedding Planners did an outstanding job with the planning and design of Aakruti & Ravisher's wedding. The team ensured that every detail was carefully thought out, from the stunning floral arrangements to the intricate decor. The beautiful mandap was adorned with fresh flowers creating a breathtaking backdrop for the couple's nuptials. The reception was equally impressive, combining candles and light installations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The attention to detail by Marigold Wedding Planners truly made this wedding a dream come true for the couple and their guests. Aakruti looked stunning in her Anita Dongre and Falguni Shane Peacock bridal ensembles, complemented by the intricate jewelry from Sunita Shekhawat. Krupa Thomas did a fantastic job with the bridal mehndi, and Simona Vigh and Jahura Hobby created the bride's perfect hair and makeup look. Sky Films and Productions' lighting design was vital in creating the ideal ambiance for Aakruti & Ravisher's reception. The lighting design elevated the decor and highlighted every aspect of the wedding, from the intricate mandap to the stunning centerpieces. The warm hues created a romantic and intimate atmosphere, while the subtle lighting effects enhanced the beats from DJ Kingh. The catering by India House was delicious, and GaganHarnav Photography captured all the beautiful moments of the wedding perfectly. As you browse through the wedding gallery, you'll notice the love and happiness that these lovebirds share. It overflows with beauty and inspiring ideas you don't want to miss. So enjoy today's feature!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Ravi & I matched on Hinge towards the beginning of lockdown in 2020. We talked consistently and decided to meet up in May after both of us had negative Covid test...I know, romance at it's height! Honestly i dont know when Ravi became "the one", but everything with Ravi felt right. Our relationship started and it felt like we had been together for years! It's hard to believe this May we are approaching 3 years of being together.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Haha, our proposal! The funny thing is Ravi & I had our Roka/Rupiyo July of 2021...this was a whole year before Ravi even proposed to me! Ravi tried his hardest to surprise me with the proposal but I love a good mystery so when it seems like he is up to something I turn on my thinking cap and figure it out. Regardless of me guessing the day he was going to finally propose he still made everything special. Our day started with Ravi and I taking a helicopter tour of Downtown Detroit, i knew he wasnt going to propose at this point because he left the ring in the car console haha. After this we went to Brunch and stopped a cute boutique hotel to change into my second outfit. We ended up having a couple drinks here because is set up crew (sisters) were running a bit behind schedule haha. From here he drove us to this beautiful park and we walked to this lovely water fountain area. Ravi started acting nervous so i knew the moment was coming up. Then all of a sudden i hear old hindi songs and i start getting excited! I saw a camera set up so i knew the spot we needed to reach but because of Ravi's nerves he took me the "long route" and i saw his sisters hiding behind trees haha, He eventually got us to the sweet spot and dropped down to one knee and proposed. I wont give all the details of what he said because some things are meant to be between just us...but obviously i said YES! Then we went to the next part of our surprise. We went to paint pottery while we waited for our dinner reso. My parents and brother drove up to surprise me but when i called to show them the ring my dad was like "oh nice, we will see it soon..we are 1 hour away" hahaha. We ended that night getting picked up in a limo with both our families inside wait to celebrate with us. Went to dinner and it was the perfect end to the perfect proposal!

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 like majority of the girls out there i knew what i wanted for my wedding, but being that im Gujarati and Ravi is Punjabi we ended up having 2 wedding ceremonies as well as our Sangeet & Reception. It was important for us to make sure both sides of the families felt involved. I am my parents only daughter and Ravi is the only son of his siblings so the weddings were a big deal on both side. I did all of our outfit shopping in India. I worked with Tina Singh of Marigold Weddings here in Michigan for wedding planning. She and her team were great! I told her what i wanted and envisioned and she delivered where she could and found me solutions to what we couldnt do. Both my hair and makeup girls were local to michigan as well. Simona Vigh did my hair and i personally think he crushed every look. We did a half up do for the Sangeet, 2 different type of low buns for both Weddings and a high ponytail for the Reception. My MUA was JHobby. Jahura was amazing! We picked eyes or lips to make the focal point and explored different looks! All in all wedding planning wasnt stressful and i enjoyed it. It definitely had it's ups and downs but the end results were absolutely worth it!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Most of my outfits where made by a designer friends in India, Pooja & Keyur. My Hindu wedding outfit was Anita Dongre and Reception was Falguni Shane Peacock. Originally i wanted to do a non traditional hindu wedding outfit. I wanted to do a soft pastels color for that ceremony. When my mom, masi & i reached Anita Dongre we started looking and trying things on. I fell in love with their Pichhwai paint work lengha. I picked a magenta one that i really liked! My mom wanted to see me in red so i tried it on and when i saw her eyes light up i knew i had to wear red! Im the type of person where I think i look good in all colors so colors werent as important for me, it was how i felt in the outfit.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
You would have to ask my guests haha! Mostly people loved our food, desserts, dj & party favor. Our food was catered by India House in Chicago, our desserts display was HUGE. Ravi and i both love a good dessert so we wanted to have varieties. We had like 4 cake flavors and so many mini desserts! Our desserts were traditional as well as a few fusion styles. Reva Constantine-Smith did our desserts and i highly recommend her to anyone who asks! We also had to go boxes at the end of the evening at the reception, both for desserts and for the late night snacks we provided. So many people told me they loved being able to take some fries and pizza with them after a long night of drinking & dancing. Our DJ kept everyone entertained and hyped on the dance floor. DJKingh for San Fran!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Take it one day at a time. There will be ups and downs regardless of the style or type of wedding you do. Make sure you and your to be spouse dont lose yourself in the planning. Be open and honest about needs vs wants. It's hard to get everything exactly your way and usually with desi weddings both families are heavily opinionated and involved. You and your partner need to be united and remember the whole weekend is about you guys and your love. Just celebrate your love to the fullest.

See you tomorrow, loves! We have many more Indian wedding stories for you to enjoy.

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Sweeties welcome back to a new entry to your favorite blog! Today's protagonists are Apurva & Nikhil. So, let me tell you how everything started with this lovely couple! From the moment they met, Apurva knew Nikhil was the one for her. Chandai Events flawlessly coordinated every detail of the day. Their attention to detail and excellent communication skills kept everything running smoothly, immersing the couple in the celebration. From the stunning floral decor by Elegant Affairs to the breathtaking venue at Land's End Waterfront Catering. Flawless Beauty by Pauline's hair and makeup made Apurva shine on her special day. The couple's love for each other was palpable, and Urmil Dalal expertly documented every moment on film. After the ceremony, they had an epic reception filled with dancing, delicious food from Moghul Caterers, and heartfelt speeches. The lighting by Gala Productions created a romantic ambiance, while Raj Dauff's dhol playing added excitement to the festivities. Priyanca Rao's talent and passion for capturing moments in their true essence shone through in Apurva & Nikhil's wedding photos. Her ability to capture candid moments and raw emotions uniquely and creatively was remarkable. She made the couple feel comfortable and relaxed, allowing them to be themselves in front of the camera, resulting in stunning and genuine photographs. Her ability to tell a story through her lens sets her apart. Go, and check out the gallery and immerse yourself in this enchanting love story. You will have no reason to regret it!

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met Nikhil (Nik) at one of my best friend's weddings. Both of us are major foodies, so it's fitting that our mutual love of food is what prompted our initial meeting. Nik was wandering around, looking for a fork, and he happened to look my way. I smiled at him, and our connection was magnetic. We flirted and exchanged numbers. Needless to say - he forgot all about that fork.

I knew he was the "one" by our second date. There was a major blizzard, but that didn't keep us from meeting up. He picked me up at Penn Station and delivered me a pair of warm socks (mine were soaked and frozen) as I trekked my way to meet him. We found ourselves snowed in at a cozy bar with a grand total of 2 customers. We talked all night over some amazing food and drinks. He is so charming, witty, and handsome he knocked my socks off...literally and figuratively. There was no turning back.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We had been dating for 2 years. We were driving up to Cape Cod for the weekend when he randomly asked, "So when I decide to propose...how should I approach your parents?". My heart sank. Not only had he not bought a ring, but he hadn't even THOUGHT about it. I gave a simple answer, and our weekend continued, albeit grumpily from my end! He brought me to a quiet beach before a nice dinner the next evening and got down on one knee behind me while I was looking at the ocean. I turned around and saw him grinning from ear to ear, not to mention that rock! His goal was to throw me off and completely surprise me with his proposal; well, he succeeded.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
The element of nature has always been important to us when it came out to picking our wedding venue, and we especially wanted to be married off of the coast. We found this gorgeous venue on the eastern Long Island shore and thus began the desire to incorporate nature-themed colors. I concentrated our attention on natural flora colors like sage, deep greens, corals, gold, and various shades of pink, ranging from the blush pink roses to the hot pink blouse I wore for my ceremony. The colors complimented the beautiful ocean and sand backdrop.

As for the outfits, I wanted to represent my Maharashtrian roots by wearing a traditional Marathi sari and jewelry for the ceremony.  During the reception, I wanted to stand out and wear something, not many others had worn before. I was inspired by designers like Gaurav Gupta and had my reception outfit designed and tailored for me by Magic Mirror in Mumbai.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The food tasting was SO much fun! We spent the night trying countless dishes, trying to keep track of our likes and dislikes, but all the food tasted so good that we very quickly lost. By the end of the evening, we both needed to nap off the food coma prior to driving home! Moghul Catering was absolutely fantastic, and our guests were impressed.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The energy! Our friends and family brought nothing but positive vibes and a monumental level of energy throughout the entire experience. All of our friends kept telling us, "The love was so palpable that night!" From beginning to end, it was a constant party. We are really blessed to have some amazing people in our lives. I think the DJ really brought the floor together too.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
As per Marathi tradition, the bride is brought out by her maternal uncles to the groom. Well, I have 7 of those, so they actually carried me in a traditional Dholi to the Mandap. I came out to Taylor Swift's instrumental of "Love Story," carried by my family. I felt like a princess coming out.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry so much. A wedding is a celebration of two people loving and committing to each other for the rest of their lives! Sometimes, planning can get overwhelming, and that can be forgotten. Don't feel pressured, and do what's best for both of you. The day will shine because of the love you two will bring to it.

Thanks for being with us today, and don't forget to be back for our daily and lovely updates here! 

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Welcome, loves! Let me transport you to the magical world of Heeral & Vikasi's wedding, a beautiful celebration of love that left us all speechless. We knew this wedding would be unforgettable when we arrived at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa At Gainey Ranch. Every corner of the venue was a feast for the eyes, thanks to TruElegance's impeccable planning and design and Red Mountain Florist's stunning floral arrangements. Santiago Almada Photography captured the essence of Heeral & Vikasi's love with exquisite precision, creating timeless images that will be cherished for generations to come. His keen eye for detail and ability to capture candid moments of joy and tenderness make him a true artist in photography. From the pre-wedding festivities to the last dance of the night, Santiago's work reflects the beauty and magic of this unforgettable celebration. Heeral was a vision in her Ranas Vogue Jaipur bridal gown, adorned with intricate beading and embroidery that sparkled with every step. Sachi Salon's hair and makeup team elevated her natural beauty with a romantic updo and a soft, dewy look that enhanced her features. Her bridal jewelry, sourced from The Kundan Shop, added a touch of regal elegance to her outfit. Henna by Purvi's mehndi designs was a work of art. Purvi's mastery of the art of mehndi is evident in every intricate detail of her designs, which tell a story of love, joy, and unity. Her personalized approach ensures that each bride feels unique and special on her big day, with designs that reflect her personality and style. DJ Amin's carefully curated playlist created a romantic atmosphere that set the tone for the entire evening, with guests dancing the night away to the beat of their hearts. The catering by Om Indian Bistro was a feast for the senses, with fragrant spices and rich flavors that transported us to the streets of Mumbai. And for those with a sweet tooth, SmallCakes Cupcakery and Creamery decadent desserts were the perfect way to end the night. Check out today's gallery and relive the magic! 

Maharanis, I hope this wedding will inspire you to jump aboard the wedding train. Enjoy your day! 

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Greetings, Maharanis! Let us take you on a romantic journey of Priya & Ronak's wedding, a celebration of love and unity that left everyone in awe. The wedding began with the Baraat, where Ronak made his grand entrance, accompanied by the electrifying beats of 3D Sounds. The ceremony was at Pacific Palms Resort, a stunning venue that provided the perfect backdrop for the couple's special day. Dharmasetu Dasa led the ceremony, beautifully narrated the couple's love story, and conducted the rituals. Shilpa Patel Events was responsible for planning and design, and they outdid themselves. Our lovebirds wanted to go as traditional Gujarati as possible with the aesthetics; therefore, Tip Top Event Designs wowed them with vibrant umbrellas, street food-style stalls, and mehndi and gift stations. Our Maharani made the signs by tweaking colorful Canva templates and printing them on foam boards. Design By Shivani was responsible for creating Priya's stunning wedding attire. Beauty by Lishma left no stone unturned when it comes to bridal styling. Priya looked gorgeous in her bridal attire, with the draping and styling perfectly done. Beauty by Lishma truly exceeded all expectations regarding Priya's hair, makeup, and mehndi. Her skillful makeup application created a flawless and radiant look for the bride, highlighting her natural beauty and enhancing her features. The mehndi designs were intricate and stunning, adding elegance and beauty to the bride's look. Her attention to detail and creativity was evident in every aspect of the bride's styling, and it is clear that she is a master of her craft. The Tangled-inspired reception was just as stunning, with lanterns, lights, the single gold sun on the cake from The Cake Korner, a fantastic DJ from 3D Sounds, and incredible food by Jay Bharat and Mantra. The event was a remarkable testament to the power of love and unity. We invite you to look at this lovely wedding gallery that Lin and Jirsa Photography captured in all its beauty. It is a true reflection of love, joy, and happiness! Enjoy it!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I love Halloween (including bats), Tangled, and anything related to Japan. On a trip to Austin, Texas, Ronak took me to the Congress Bridge to watch the bat emergency at dusk, but they never came out because it was too cold! Then we walked over to Butler Metro Park, where I spotted a lantern floating into the sky. "What is that," I asked, squinting, "let's follow it!" Many more lanterns were set up on a dock overlooking a pond by Ronak's friend. At the end of the dock, Ronak got down on one knee and proposed a beautiful custom rose-gold teardrop lab diamond ring with a halo! We then ended the night at the Japanese restaurant Uchi. The proposal was the imperfectly perfect blend of all my favorite things!

What did your guests particularly love about your wedding?
Welcoming and organized feel: Shilpa Patel Events provided the most organized, smooth-running production with meticulous planning, attentive staff, and plenty of signage to guide all the guests. Our priest Dharmasetu Dasa explained everything from the ceremony in English, which was appreciated by so many of our guests. There was a breakfast and afternoon snack room for refreshments in between events and a welcome bag arranged for everyone staying at the hotel. Guests were engaged and taken care of for the whole weekend.

Personal touches: From my mom's dance with her friends at the Garba to my parents coming out on stage at the reception doing the Garba, there were several personal touches that made the wedding so special. One highlight included my last-minute choreographed dance entrance down the aisle with my "mamas" (maternal uncles). Probably the most fun personal touch was Ronak's arrival for the baraat in an open-top rickshaw from LA Rickshaw. Our reception favors were chopsticks in colorful sleeves for our love of ramen - we picked something so non-Indian, but we felt it reflected a part of us very well!

Florals: The very thick, dense flower arrangements framing the mandap courtesy of the very talented Tip Top Event Designs were one of the most impressive that our guests had ever seen. My dad surprised me by okaying in advance the jaw-droppingly beautiful peach floral Ganesh in the background of the mandap that looked like it was floating in midair; I didn't notice it until midway through the ceremony! The floral colors were very distinctly different in the evening, matching the darker theme.

And of course the food! Our food vendors truly brought their best flavors and quality, and the variety of foods was staggering. The traditional Gujarati lunch was the best some guests had ever tasted. The diversity of street food-style stalls from Indian to Mexican at the Garba kept everyone coming back for more. The Punjabi dishes by Mantra at the reception were divine. We even served the famous Cassata Slice Ice Cream by Vadilal during the ceremony and had Indian sweets from Surti Farsan to-go at the end of the night.

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 my Grah Shanti/Vidhi-Pithi and Mehndi, we opted for a homey feel in our family friends' backyard decorated with colorful trinkets and bright backdrops. The morning was simple and laid back, with a light lunch served. The evening was complete with song and dance, an amazing live Dosa Bar, and a tableful of sweets.

I wanted the classic, bright yellow color with the dhoti look for my Pithi. I found a modern version of what I was looking for, designed by Soman Luthria through Kynah, and added floral jewelry and a headpiece handmade in India by a family friend.

I had always wanted to wear Papa Don't Preach by Shubhika, and they had just dropped a new collection at the time I was looking for an Indo-Western look for my mehndi. I especially loved the color combination and the unique cape style.

For the Garba, we wanted to go as traditional Gujarati as possible with the aesthetics. Our decorator wowed with vibrant umbrellas, street food-style stalls, and mehndi and gift stations. I made the signs myself by tweaking existing colorful Canva templates and having them printed on foam boards. We even had one that said, "Patel-Shukla Dukaan" ("Patel-Shukla Shop") for the gift table.

I am in awe of the painstaking work that Kalpana's Creations put into my fully customized Garba choli by hand, complete with puff sleeves and an extra-large skirt circumference. A side braid and choker necklace completed the look. The most fantastic aspect of this outfit was the perfectly matching groom's kurta and vest that tied the entire color scheme and theme together.

I wanted the reception to be Tangled-inspired, just like Ronak's proposal, but with a twist of dark colors so the multitude of smaller lights really stood out. There were subtle themes of Tangled, such as lanterns and the gold sun from the movie on the cake. Then there was the obvious homage - the Tangled scene drink menus. I was inspired to find a unique version of "I See the Light" from the movie; I couldn't believe there was such a beautiful Hindi version, and we played this version while cutting the cake. After a few fun dance performances and speeches in, the party started with the huge LED screen and sparklers (glow sticks and sparklers are a must for bringing the party!). The LED screen had endless displays, including photos of the ceremony earlier in the day.

I went for a non-conventional dark-colored lehenga by Seema Gujral for my reception outfit, but it still shined because of the sequins and complemented the bold color scheme so well. I wore my hair down with striking gold eyeshadow and green and gold jewelry set to match the outfit.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Wedding ceremony decor: We decided on soft peach and green with white and gold accents for the overall color scheme of the ceremony. We had a peach rather than a white canopy to incorporate our palette in a unique way. The florals incorporated just the right amount of green leaves. I designed the programs and signage on Canva and wrote the descriptions and a blend of those provided by the priest and a cousin's previous wedding program. Finishing touches were made by Tip Top, including metal lanterns and decorative pieces.

Wedding ceremony outfit: I found Designs by Shivani by chance on Etsy after I scrolled past this floral lehenga concept that I had seen after months of scouring the internet for a unique wedding outfit. I had initially been dead-set on wearing peach (or green), but after I saw that, I asked myself when I would ever wear red like this again, I might as well feel like a real Indian bride! My mom randomly found the second magenta dupatta in a pile of spare dupattas for sale in a random shop, which was the final piece that tied the whole outfit together! The matching matte red eyeshadow was the perfect finish to the overall red look.

Bridesmaids outfits: After endless searching, I stumbled upon a bridesmaids lehenga design that I finally loved by Nazranaa, NJ, and I swapped the colors for a few pastels that were incorporated into my wedding lehenga. The outfits turned out truly flawless! My favorites to my bridesmaids and moms were Sani lounge sets which were the perfect blend of an Indian design with amazing quality and utility.

Groom sherwani and pagri: Ronak's ceremony sherwani matched the floral theme of my lehenga, and the colors were customized to our peach and green theme while still maintaining the white base for the traditional element. The peach pagri was the perfect complement to the green and gold groomsmen outfits.

Groomsmen outfits: The groomsmen kurtas were customized with Rajoo India. The deep green was a contrast to pastel bridesmaids' outfits while still incorporating the dark green shade of the leaves in the floral arrangements and in the wedding ceremony lehenga.

Loves, thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more inspiring weddings from our Maharani brides!

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Hello, loves! Let's enjoy Sangeetha & Siddhartha's romantic wedding—the stunning Renaissance Dallas Hotel provided the perfect backdrop for the couple's big day. The wedding festivities started with the vibrant and lively Baraat, which DJ Riz Entertainment led. Sangeetha looked stunning in her outfits from Swati Couture and Casipillai Sarees. At the same time, Kiya Jewelry provided incredible jewelry items to crown her look. Her bridesmaids were elegantly draped in sarees by Elegant Saree Draping, who perfectly tailored each saree to the wearer, ensuring a comfortable and flawless fit. Their attention to detail was evident, with every fold and crease perfectly aligned. Joan Lis completed the bride's look with her flawless and elegant hair and makeup. Mehndi by Myda designed the intricate and stunning henna designs on Sangeetha's hands. Myda paid close attention to the bride's requests and created a unique and beautiful design that perfectly matched her personality and style. Her precision and skill in creating delicate patterns and intricate details were impressive, and the result was breathtaking. The ceremony was a sight to behold, with Elegant Affairs Inc's stunning floral and decor arrangements creating a romantic ambiance. This couple exchanged vows in the presence of their loved ones, with A&A Video Productions capturing every precious moment. The planning and design by SQ Consultancy were impeccable, ensuring that every detail was perfect. The reception was grand, with Sneha Dama's Bollywood performers and instructors entertaining the guests. The venue was beautifully lit by DJ Riz Entertainment's lighting setup, creating a magical atmosphere. The guests enjoyed the delicious food from Peacock and Desi District, and DJ Riz Entertainment kept the party going with his impressive music selection and exceptional talent. His professionalism and energy truly made him the life of the party. Enjoy the gallery of this wedding!

Thank you for joining us today, sweeties, and we hope you enjoyed this romantic tale of love.

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