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Dearborn, MI Indian Wedding by Sky Films and Productions

Hello, ladies! Let's prepare for a full inspiring day by reading Bharti & Shiv's love story. This sweet couple's Indian wedding perfectly blended elegance, fun, and happiness. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, from the planning to the decor. The wedding held at The Dearborn Inn was planned by the incredible Marigold Wedding Planners. Their goal was to help Bharti have fun and enjoy every second while still adhering to the plan. With this fantastic team, you won't need to sweat the small details because they will handle everything! It was all a cornucopia of beauty and traditional flair thanks to Marigold Wedding Planners, who transformed the halls of this venue into a magical and almost surreal setting. Sky Films and Productions helped them capture the occasion with their cameras and lenses and, above all, the incredible talent resulting in the stunning shots we can enjoy in today's gallery. During the ceremony, the bride and groom dress in traditional Indian wedding attire. The bride looked gorgeous in her crimson red Sabyasachi-style lehenga with a gold embellishment after being pampered by Cecilia Kashat and Ekta Kansara. To crown Bharti's magnificent look, Radhe Henna outlined an artistic Mehndi design that was utterly impressive, not to mention that it added an extra touch of traditional flair. The reception theme was sparkle and glamour, and Lama's Florist was responsible for the incredible floral arrangements. The color themes were ivory and shades of lavender, so her outfit was an all-silver, sparkly lehenga by Seema Gujural. Bharti & Shiv got the perfect reception setup with Sky Films and Productions. DJ Vic from Sky Films and Productions had a lot of energy and got the crowd into the event. They handled everything smoothly, and the playlist was based on the guest's energy. Everyone danced with the DJ vibes and had the time of their lives! Throughout the reception, all guests enjoyed the culinary experience that Saffron prepared. Hands down, a sweet ending for this charming story! If you can't get enough of this wedding bash, check out more of this fantastic event. You will love every detail of this wedding.

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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met in Chicago through one of the most common modern ways - over a dating app. Specifically, Coffee meets Bagel. In the first couple of months of getting to know each other, we created a strong bond of friendship that helped set the foundation for our relationship. Very early on, our relationship turned into 9 months of long distance, with lots of FaceTime dates and traveling to visit each other as I completed my medical rotations all over the country. This truly put our relationship to the test. But once I was back in Chicago, I made the decision to apply for jobs locally and be close to Shiv (my husband) as he completed medical school rather than start a fresh journey in a new city. I just knew he was the one because while we were going through our long-distance phase early on, he patiently waited for me to finish my rotations while also making an effort to keep our foundation strong.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
One of my greatest desires was a boating experience on the Chicago River. With the help of friends, Shiv (my husband) tricked me into thinking that they got a boat trip set up as a get-together. The next part of the plan was convincing me that this was a fancier occasion rather than a casual boat party. So with the help of my younger sister, I was guided to wear an outfit that I had had my eye on for a while.
Then it was finally the big day. My husband wanted all our close friends and family to be there at the proposal, so he invited his brother, his brother's girlfriend, and some of my best friends for brunch before getting on the boat. Next came the yacht. We all met at the Chicago River docking station, and finally, the yacht set off on the sunny shores of Lake Michigan. Shiv got down on one knee and popped the question with the Chicago skyline gleaming behind us. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost! Shiv had another surprise awaiting. He took me to his family's home, where my parents, my husband's family, and more friends gathered to continue the celebration.

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 planning process for the wedding started about 10 months before the wedding date. We first started with finding a venue in my hometown of Detroit, MI. We wanted to keep our mehendi and haldi more intimate, so those events were planned on our own at our home. The larger events, such as the sangeet, wedding ceremony, and reception, were held at the main venue. As the bride, I was looking for something with glamour and charm. We decided on Dearborn Inn by Marriott because it has an old rustic feel with elegance. The hotel interior also made the entrance of the ballroom and lobby a spectacle to behold.

Planning our wedding was a family affair alongside our wedding planner, Tina Singh. We had a great experience using both of our families' insights and visions. We wanted to use themes for each of our wedding events and design the decor for each event accordingly. For example, the sangeet’s theme was the royal bazaar. So we went with decor that displayed a large gold swinging bench decorated with flowers, with two large life-like trees in the background. The food was set up as stations all around the entrance of the ballroom that mimicked a bazaar with bright, vibrant ethnic tents. We had a program of dances by family and friends, so we set up multicolored cots along the dance floor area for people to sit and enjoy the program. We also incorporated Punjabi and Gujarati traditions in the sangeet, so we ended the night off with traditional garba. Since this was a royal bazaar-themed event, the outfit I went with was a lehenga, which was wine purple in color with gold frame embellishments as well as peacocks and birds on the skirt. My makeup artist Cecilia (Blush Salon in Commerce township), did an amazing job by adding extensions to my hair and putting pearls into a braid to give it a unique look. She used multiple colors on my eyeshadow makeup to match sangeet vibes. She also did the makeup and hair for my sister, my mom, and my MIL’s. Everyone loved their unique touch. Shiv matched me with an Indo-western, burgundy, velvet Sherwani.

For the wedding ceremony, we wanted to use the beautiful outdoor lawn of the hotel which was decorated with greenery and fresh flowers. We set up the mandap there with fresh red, pink, and ivory flowers, and we matched our wedding outfits accordingly. Our wedding was during Labor Day weekend, and we were blessed with beautiful weather. We had so much natural scenery around us that we felt the mandap did not have to be overdone. We went with a mandap that was rustic in nature to match the outdoor scene. Our bridesmaids and groomsmen entered with matching custom sage green outfits to start the wedding ceremony, and from there, it transitioned into the traditional Hindu ceremony. Each bridesmaid carried a fresh-flower bouquet down the aisle. For the bridal entrance, my uncles and cousins walked me on a red carpet under the Phoolon ki Chadar, custom decorated by our Florists by Lama in Dearborn. My hair was put in a loose bun, while my makeup had tones of gold with a bright red lip to match my wedding lehenga. Altogether it looked stunning with the jewelry hand-picked from South Delhi Jewelers, with green and light pink beads to match the veil and gold embroiderings. Our wedding was recorded by our video team, who used multiple drones to capture the beautiful footage.

Our reception theme was all about sparkle and glamour. The color themes I chose were ivory and shades of lavender. My outfit was an all-silver, sparkly lehenga by Seema Gujural. Shiv wore a custom-designed tuxedo. For the decor, we went with gold frames on our stage, with chandeliers dangling on the sides and an ivory bench in the center. All our guest tables had fresh flowers, bouquets, and candle arrangements following the theme of ivory and lavender. We had a LED light stage in the center of the ballroom where all the performances and speeches took place. I also came up with a Photo Booth area near the entrance of the ballroom with a LED sign that said “It Was Always You,” placed on a green wall and surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Our dessert table consisted of assorted bite-size pastries decorated with a life-size white peacock with a tail made of lavender flowers. Last but not least, our DJ and photography team, Sky Films and Productions and DJ Vic did a spectacular job at all our events to capture each moment. They kept our wedding reception open dance floor flowing with energetic music so that we danced until we dropped. Even today, we keep replaying our same-day edit video and reliving our wedding each time.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I originally wanted to go with pastel colors on my lehenga. But after trying on several pieces, I decided the traditional red color looked best on me. After shopping around in New York and India, I decided on a crimson red Sabyasachi-style lehenga with gold embellishment that I found in a unique boutique in Delhi. I custom-designed a light peach veil with a wave border to match the lehenga.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was having substantial input on how each wedding event would run and planning the decorations. My wedding planner was instrumental in helping me decide which of my ideas was realistic and reasonable to bring the themes of each wedding event to life. I took pride in knowing that each event had an original touch of my personality. I also had a significant role in choreographing all the dances  I performed in. I have been dancing and choreographing for my other friends' weddings in the past, and now it was finally my turn to showcase at my own wedding.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We received numerous compliments about the high energy in the room during each of the events, how in tune and invested our guests were with the program going on, and how much detail our events were decorated. Last but not least, we received so many compliments about how AMAZING the food tasted. Our guests kept telling us how they kept going back for more.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The most special moment for me was walking down the aisle to the mandap with all the guests' eyes on me, and seeing the joyful yet somber faces of my parents, knowing that I was entering a new phase of life. That is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
To each bride-to-be:
Planning your wedding is one of the most stressful times that you and your family can go through.  At times it may seem that things are about to fall apart, and last-minute details are still not finalized. But at the end of the day, you will get to your wedding day and realize it all worked out. Trust the process and do the best you can, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Stress only causes tension in your loved ones and yourself. Enjoy each moment of planning because it always turns out beautiful, no matter what.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Venue: The Dearborn Inn by Marriott - Event Planners @ Venue: Paulette OConnell and Christie Dixon
Wedding Planner: Tina Singh (Marigold Wedding Planners)
Photography/Videography/DJ: Sky Films and Productions and DJ Vic
Reception Gown Designer: Seema Gujral (Delhi, India)
Groom's Clothing Designer: Diwan Saheb (Delhi, India)
Bridal Jewelry: South Delhi Jewelers
Hair and Makeup Artist: Cecilia Kashat (Blush Salon in Commerce Township)
Mehndi Artist: @DreaminginHenna by Sandy (Michigan)
Reception Florist/Wedding bouquets: Lama's Florist (Dearborn, MI)
Sangeet Catering: Punjab sweets and Indian Cuisine (Michigan)
Wedding Breakfast Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant (Michigan)
Wedding Lunch Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant (Michigan)
Reception Dinner Catering: Saffron (Michigan)

Getting ready for "I Do? Visit our blog tomorrow for more inspiration for your own big day! 

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GUIDE
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Traditional
Romantic
Contemporary
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DJ: Sky Films and Productions | Planning & Design: Marigold Wedding Planners | Floral & Decor: Marigold Wedding Planners | Photography: Sky Films and Productions | Baraat: Sky Films and Productions | Cinematography: Sky Films and Productions | Lighting: Sky Films and Productions | Photo Booths: Sky Films and Productions | Live Music: Sky Films and Productions | Sangeet Venue: The Dearborn Inn | Ceremony Venue: The Dearborn Inn | Reception Venue: The Dearborn Inn | Event Planner at Venue: Paulette OConnell | Event Planner at Venue: Christie Dixon | Reception Florist: Lama's Florist | Wedding bouquets: Lama's Florist | Hair & Makeup: Ekta Kansara | Hair & Makeup: Cecilia Kashat | Reception Gown Designer: Seema Gujral | Groom's Clothing Designer: Diwan Saheb | Bridal Jewelry: South Delhi Jewelers | Mehndi Artist: Dreaming in Henna | Mehndi Artist: Radhe Henna | Wedding Breakfast Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant | Wedding Lunch Catering: Krishna Catering and Restaurant | Reception Dinner Catering: Saffron | Sangeet Catering: Punjab Sweets


Puerto Rico Indian Wedding by Alex Dali Weddings

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! 

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

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DJ: DJ Riz Entertainment | Bollywood Performers & Instructors: Soni Choreography | Sangeet Venue: Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico | Ceremony Venue: Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico | Reception Venue: Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico | Planning & Design: Rosalina Torres Momentus | Floral & Decor: Jat Lozano - Flowers & Events | Hair & Makeup: Christopher Feliciano | Cinematography: Santana Wedding Films | Photography: Alex Dali Weddings | Mehndi Artist: Henna Stella PR


Princeton, NJ Gujarati Wedding by Dk Photofilms

Hello, darlings! We are happy to share Seema & Pavil's love story in today's feature. They had a wonderful wedding day, with lots of laughter and love, surrounded by the people they love the most, and the morning kicked off early, with a very excited baraat party accompanying the groom. First impressions are unforgettable, and this is what guests said about Pavil arrival in a Baraat horse from Equishare Baraat Horses, Rickshaws, and Carriages. At the same time, the bride could see the incredible procession from the bridal suit from the imposing Hyatt Regency Princeton, where the guests participated in the charming and intimate wedding ceremony that united Seema & Pavil in marriage. This elegant venue, with exceptional service and catering, made their wedding memorable! And all we have to say is that this love-dripping ceremony was beautiful. It was a unique ceremony since a priest and priestess, a husband-wife duo, performed the wedding ceremony. The incredible planning and decor by Penguin Events set the mood for this ceremony, making it ultra special. Maharani Seema donned a lengha styled by Color Me Rouge, an expert in pleats and placement of Dupatta or Saree while keeping comfort in mind. But that is not all! The incredible and well-done makeup by Color Me Rouge made her look glamorous, vibrant, mesmerizing, and stunning. She took her bridal look to the next level with the artistic Mehndi by Vanita Kalsariya, which added an extra touch of beauty and traditional flair to the overall look. One of the most memorable parts of the wedding was the jewelry. Pavil's father is Dia Jewels Inc.'s jeweler, and he designed the bride's rings, evening jewelry, and mangalsutra. It made wearing those pieces feel special! For the reception, Seema wore a white dress from Paisley Bridal. Hawaii inspired the cake and sunset decoration from Cramer BakeryDJ Darsh Entertainment made everyone dance with friends and family; guests enjoyed the fantastic music, and the dance floor was packed until the night's end. They decided to bring Dk Photofilms on board, which was a great decision! They went above and beyond, capturing shots from every angle, resulting in a set of visual masterpieces we cannot stop seeing! Visit today's gallery to delight yourself with the fantastic photos captured during this celebration. Enjoy! 

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Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
The proposal was beautiful: We went on vacation in Maui, and just towards the end of our trip, he surprised me with the proposal as we were taking a walk on cliffs overlooking the ocean.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The food and music were fantastic; our guests generally had a great time, and we heard very positive things about that in particular.

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.
Our reception decor was based on summer sunset colors (a connection to our proposal story). One unique piece of the decor was the centerpieces: We alternated tables with beautiful floral arrangements with tables of vases filled with oranges.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
One of the most special parts of our wedding was the jewelry. My husband’s father is a jeweler (DiaJewels Inc.), and they designed my rings and evening jewelry, as well as my mangalsutra. It definitely made wearing those pieces feel special. We also truly could not have done it without our coordinator Penguin Events; they made everything (even amid inevitable day-of crises) run so smoothly!

My loves, that's it for this entry. Remember that we have inspiring stories every day. I will see you!

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GUIDE
style
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Romantic
Contemporary
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Summer
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Hair & Makeup: Color Me Rouge | Venues: Hyatt Regency Princeton | Baraat: Equishare Baraat Horses, Rickshaws and Carriages | Draping/Styling: Color Me Rouge | Planning & Design: Penguin Events | Floral & Decor: Penguin Events | Catering: Moghul Caterers | DJ: DJ Darsh Entertainment | Bridal Fashions: Paisley Bridal | Bridal Jewelry: Dia Jewels Inc. | Cake & Treats: Crame'rs Bakery | Cinematography: Dk Photofilms | Registry: Zola | Tuxedos: The Suit Spot | Catering: Vatan | Photography: Dk Photofilms | Mehndi Artist: Vanita Kalsariya


Rockleigh, NJ Hindu Wedding by KetaNuva Studios

Good morning, Maharanis! I am so glad we can meet again. This time we will have a chance to check out Ambika & Sonny's incredible wedding. No venue is more elegant and appropriate for starting a beautiful life together in New Jersey than The Rockleigh, where every detail is meticulously crafted to bring a dream Indian wedding to life. The exceptional service and breathtaking backdrop created a magical and unforgettable celebration of love. This venue and the fabulous ceremony decor are proof of that. Our Maharani Ambika showcased her excellent taste with an extensive collection of striking ensembles. Her outfit for the ceremony was incredible, thanks to Ritu Kumar, and it paired perfectly with the intricate mehndi design that Henna By Shweta created for her. And we cannot stop admiring the incredible makeup of Divine Beauty by Vaishali. Our gorgeous Maharani's beautiful and elegant palette reflects her passion for makeup, expertise, and creative knowledge. And what is a reception party without music? We want to shout out to the great Dj Suraj's fantastic music that made everyone dance! And big kudos to the Luxe Event Group team for setting the mood for the fascinating reception; hands down, it was a night to remember! Highly talented photographer KetaNuva Photography understood the couple's vision delivering awe-inspiring images of the wedding celebrations you will enjoy in our complete gallery! And remember that if you want to capture and preserve authentic stories and moments quickly and straightforwardly, 4K Weddings is the best ally! This couple loved the individual experience and passionate service they provided for their wedding video. Believe us; you will enjoy today's feature! 

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

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Hair & Makeup: Divine Beauty by Vaishali | Venues: The Rockleigh | DJ: Luxe Event Group | Cinematography: 4K Weddings | Sangeet Venue: New York Country Club | Haldi Venue: The Tarrytown House Estate | DJ: Dj Suraj | Bridal Fashions: Meghan & Jigar | Bridal Fashions: Ritu Kumar | Bridal Fashions: Abhinav Mishra | Mehndi Artist: Henna By Shweta | Tuxedos: Meghan & Jigar | Photography: KetaNuva Photography


Newcastle, WA Indian Wedding by Rouge Studios

Hello, ladies! Today, we are excited to share the romantic and lovely wedding of Sangeetha & Shekhar. This celebration of love is one you will enjoy as it includes all the things we love: elegance, mixed emotions, beauty, and, above all, lots of bliss. So, get ready to start this journey! This lovely couple planned a magnificent celebration, beginning with a Sangeet at the Empire Banquet Hall, then a traditional Hindu ceremony, followed by an incredible reception. The storybook wedding spot Sangeetha & Shekhar chose was The Golf Club at Newcastle, a perfect place with stunning panoramic views and a majestic English Manor-style clubhouse. A truly spectacular location! We love how each event honored the bride and groom's culture, faith, and love for each other! And we know that planning a wedding ceremony is not easy, so we want to give Little Wedding Blush a big shoutout for the perfect planning and execution of all wedding events. Sangeetha trusted her beauty needs to Arianna Scott Makeup Artist, and Lalit Dalmia designed her wedding attires. She wore dazzling jewelry from Goodwill Collections and Much-More to crown her stunning looks, adding a traditional flair to her different attires. And oh, boy! We cannot stress how much we loved her different looks! For the reception party, our Maharani wore an incredible outfit from Chhabra. It was amazing! We must remember the beautiful melodies that Dj Adi used to set the ambiance for this reception. This lovely couple shined on the dance floor thanks to the Bollywood Dance with Akanksha and the welled choreographed dance. At the same time, the guests watched in amazement how a series of fireworks put together by PyroSpec enlightened this event. We have compiled the most beautiful moments captured by the incredible Rouge Studios! Head to our gallery for more. 

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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Our story:
Shekhar moved to New York in February of 2020, completely unaware that his NYC experience would not pan out the way that he had imagined. While the rest of the world was sanitizing their vegetables, Shekhar was sitting alone in a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, swiping on a dating app.
Sangeetha's once bustling life in the city came to a screeching halt during the pandemic, when she moved back home to Queens and became a country bumpkin. In an effort to revive her social life, she hopped on Coffee meets Bagel, not expecting what was going to happen next.
When they matched, Shekhar was looking forward to dropping the first line. He asked "Hey, hey, how's your isolation going?? Catching up on any fun shows?". Sangeetha responded with "This might be a little odd, but I'm actually watching a Korean drama." Little did she know that Shekhar was also in the same boat, and the rest is history.

They are currently on their 19th K-drama.

How did I know he was the one?
He once asked me if it was his pictures that got me to swipe right for him on the app. To his surprise, it was actually the part of his profile that said, “enjoys deep conversations.” Let’s just say I’m a skeptic so I was pleasantly surprised when that turned out to be true. We can have conversation that lasts hours about literally nothing and he’s my best friend. To me, that’s the hallmark of a great relationship.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Shekhar had to work extra hard on the proposal because I love being a detective. He rented out the rose garden at the New York Botanical Gardens from 5-6pm (this detail is important later). The plan, as far as I knew, was for me to meet my best friend, Nandhana, for brunch and kill some time in the city while Shekhar picked up his sister, who was visiting from Toronto, from the airport. We planned for the four of us to meet afterwards at the botanical gardens to see Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit, and head to a nice dinner afterwards.

For some reason, I didn’t think that Nandhana would be in on my proposal, so as soon as I met up with her, I tell her, “I think Shekhar is proposing to me today.” I really put her through the wringer because I showed up in black pants and a T-shirt and practically confessed that I knew he was proposing. I let her know that after our brunch, we should head back to my apartment so I can change into my dress. She was doing her best to get me out of the apartment as quickly as possible because I really wasn’t supposed to be there at this time. I wasn’t aware that Shekhar’s parents were in town for the proposal and that they all needed to be back at our place to get ready. They were now running late because of me.

Fast forward, Nandhana and I reach the botanical gardens at 5pm. Nandhana is “showing them our tickets” and for some reason, they kept saying we needed tickets although Nandhana mentioned we were going to the rose garden. Nandhana eventually typed a message for them saying, “she’s being proposed to at the rose garden. Her boyfriend rented it” and they proceeded to read the first half of that message aloud, but I didn’t hear where. For the sake of Nandhana’s sanity, I pretended not to hear anything they said. At around 5:20 pm, they finally let us in and it takes a little over 10 minutes to walk over to the rose garden.

He was waiting for me in front of the gazebo and I asked him where his sister was because I didn’t see her anywhere. To be honest, I didn’t expect that he would be proposing in the rose garden itself so I was surprised when he got down on one knee in front of the gazebo. Then his parents came out to us out of nowhere and I was definitely surprised and confused because I thought it would be his sister. I was completely overwhelmed by emotions and I was sobbing, and then I saw my parents also came out of hiding. So, despite me knowing that he was going to propose to me, he still somehow managed to surprise me.
My parents held a surprise party for us at their place afterwards. It was an amazing day for me, and a chaotic day for everyone else.

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 destination wedding and decided on Seattle because Shekhar lived there for a few years and Seattle holds a special place in his heart. We hired our wedding planner, Maddy (Little Wedding Blush) to help with figuring out which vendors to book for our wedding. I had done my own research for the makeup artist for myself and my bridesmaids and had decided on Arianna and her team. We visited Seattle a year before our wedding to choose our venue and fell in love with the view at the Golf Club at Newcastle.

My family and I flew out to Seattle a few months later just to try the food, as it was important to both of us and our families that the food tastes amazing. We wanted the cuisine to both represent Shekhar’s culture, whose parents are from Delhi, and mine, who are from Kerala.
Although planning a wedding from a distance was stressful at times, the rest of the wedding planning such as the decor theme, floral arrangements, cake design, etc. came relatively seamlessly as we decided to coordinate them with our outfits.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Shekhar and I decided to travel to India to do our wedding shopping. I was more or less set on choosing a cream colored lehenga with pastel embroidery. When we got to India and I started trying on lehengas, I soon found that those colors didn’t love me as much as I loved them. We just so happened to be walking around in Pitampura in Delhi and the Lalit Dalmia store caught our eye. I had already made the decision to get sage-colored sarees and kurtas for our wedding party. So when I tried on my wedding lehenga, which was a combination of maroon and sage, it just felt right despite it being a drastic change from everything I had envisioned until then. It felt like fate.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Shekhar and I had a large wedding party and we both had men and women in our respective parties. While getting the kurtas for the men were a breeze, it was very difficult to find 13 sarees that are sage green with just two of those thirteen sarees being a lighter shade than the rest, for our Maid of Honor and Best Woman. My mom and I ultimately made the decision to go to a fabric store to find the material for the blouses and the sarees. We had eleven of them dyed to a sage-green color while two were dyed to be a lighter pastel green. We then went to the bazaar to buy the borders for the sarees and the blouses. After we received the dyed material, we took everything we had, along with everyone’s measurements to our tailor. Although doing all of that work felt chaotic in the moment, I was happy to give our wedding party something that I had designed from scratch. I think I loved it because I felt like I was pouring my soul into giving our friends my best.

We did something similar for our wedding favors in creating our own personalized masala chai blend that was packaged into mini mason jars, along with specific instructions to brew the perfect tea. We wanted to put in effort to add a personal touch to the wedding favors that means something to us, that we hoped our guests could use and enjoy as well. It was also very validating for us to have people message us after the wedding for the chai recipe.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Shekhar and I really pride ourselves on being good hosts. Our happiness comes from making sure others are having a great time and I think our guests enjoyed all aspects of the wedding. For a lot of our friends, it was their first Indian wedding, so we wanted to make sure that we represented our culture well. We focused on having great food—a South Indian fare during our ceremony, and a combination of North and South Indian cuisine for our cocktail hour and dinner. We put together more than 300 songs that represented who we were and our dance floor was bumping all the way till the end of the night.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I think walking over to see the fireworks show that we didn’t tell our guests about, was the most memorable moment. It was the closest I’ve ever been to fireworks of that scale, and it was such a beautiful moment to share with all of my loved ones around me. I really think everyone was taken aback, and the night ended up being more than I could have ever asked for.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Definitely make a list of all the things you expect to have photographed, so your wedding planner and photography team can focus on getting those things done, as opposed to you having to remember and worry about those little things on your wedding day.

In the grand scheme of things, nothing matters more than you marrying the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with. I think it’s better to go in with the mindset that something might not go as the way you had planned it, in order to set yourself up for any disappointments that may or may not happen. Make sure to be present in the moment because everything just happens so fast, and it’s all over before you know it. Ultimately, none of the little things truly matter in comparison to you getting married to the person you love.

Maharanis, that is all for today! Come back tomorrow for more romantic stories and incredible tips!

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Venues: The Golf Club at Newcastle | Sangeet Venue: Empire Banquet Hall | Planning & Design: Little Wedding Blush | Floral & Decor: Country Bouquets Floral | Hair & Makeup: Arianna Scott Makeup Artist | DJ: Dj Adi | Bollywood Performers & Instructors: Bollywood Dance with Akanksha | Bridal Fashions: Lalit Dalmia | Bridal Jewelry: Goodwill Collections | Bridal Jewelry: Much-More | Cake & Treats: South Fork Baking Company | Cinematography: Snapkraft Productions | Bridal Draping/Sari Tying & Styling: Arianna Scott Makeup Artist | Fireworks: PyroSpec | Mehndi Artist: Rinis Henna | Photo Booth: Drunken Pixel | Bridal Fashions: CHHABRA | Photography: Rouge Studios | Catering: Rajan


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