If you love cool color like blues and violets, you are going to die for this modern Indian wedding reception! What makes this so reception so memorable is its elegance: I love the candles that shimmer behind the backdrop of the sweetheart table, and how the flower bouquets from Elegant Affairs Inc. sit to big and tall upon each guest table. Major props to Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants for taking care of all these special details! And let’s not forget how scrumptious that food looks — I wish I was there!

We wish this happy New York couple the best in their new lives together! As for YOU, Maharani, don’t go too far — I’ll be back tomorrow to bring you more lovely Indian weddings!

Before we go to their modern Indian wedding reception, let’s take a moment to look at these marvelous wedding photos! The wedding party raids New York’s palatial Oheka Castle and takes Rad Photography for the ride. I’m in love with the eggplant colored dresses our bridesmaids (and mini flower girl!) are wearing, as well as the lush flower bouquets created by Elegant Affairs Inc.. Our Maharani’s long dark curls, created by Karuna Chani of KC Makeup, looks perfect against her beautiful white wedding dress and veil. The end result is magazine cover-worthy!

If you think this was picturesque, just wait until you see the reception!

After their Indian wedding ceremony, this New York bride slips into a traditional Western white wedding gown. Her smoldering eye makeup (done by the talented Karuna Chani of KC Makeup) and lovely pale lavender shoes (which I covet!) give her ensemble just a hint of color. Rad Photography takes us behind-the-scenes as she and her bridesmaids prep, nosh and go through photos of the happy couple.

Want to see that pint-sized Maharani-in-training all fitted up with the rest of the wedding party? I’ll show you in the next post!

Today’s Indian wedding is a seaside affair that just takes my breath away! Rad Photography takes us from the groom’s baraat (complete with pretty white horsey!) to an Indian wedding ceremony with a backdrop of pristine blue water and blue skies. Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants helps pull off this elegant affair, which was full of pretty details (like those blue umbrellas! Perfection!).

This Indian wedding goes a bit more Western for the next round. Stay close to see what they’ve got in store!

We’ve had an amazing couple weeks at Maharani Weddings as our community came together with internationally acclaimed henna artist Ash Kumar to name the BEST mehndi artist in the nation! Our office was flooded with hundreds of entries, and we are so grateful to all the artists who shared their amazing talents with us, as well as our dear Maharani Weddings readers who so fervently participated in the voting process!

But alas, I am so happy to announce that we have a WINNER! The 2012 Mehndi Maharani goes to…

FINALIST NUMBER 8: Neeta of Mehndi Designer!

The fabulous Mr. K explains why Neeta’s talent captured his eye:

As I had said, I was looking for unique and different creative styles in henna designing for bridal henna. Dholi, bridal figurines, faces are not what I’m looking for, I’m looking for creative works.

This artist has truly stretched her diverse thinking and I am incredibly impressed with the clarity/neatness in her line drawings and shapes.

The use of other material and mediums made the final decision for me, that this is our winner. Not just an artist, but an artist thinking differently-now that’s what I like.

WELL DONE!!!

Ash Kumar

I congratulate Neeta for her amazing accomplishment in becoming this year’s Mehndi Maharani! Your work is truly beautiful and inspired.

Again, special thanks to Mr. K, ALL our finalists and every single one of you who voted. Now let’s get back to some more beautiful Indian weddings and celebrate with a toast to Neeta!