Engagement Session Week kicks off!

Happy Monday!  I am so excited for this week's editorial features. We have been working hard for about a month gathering just the right features for this week, because we are doing something we have never done before.  We are dedicating the entire week to engagement sessions.  I never did an engagement session, largely because I thought they were going to be shots of Anand and I running barefoot on the beach awkwardly staring at each other.  At the time, I didn’t realize how creative, artistic, and lovable the pictures could be.  So, my team and I have searched the globe for some of the best engagement sessions to try to inspire you (and your photographer) to think out of the box and come up with something that is uniquely YOU. 

Our groom-to-be is an energetic/full of positive energy/ live life to the fullest kind of guy, so it is no surprise that he grabbed his fiancé and took off to Miami & the Bahamas for their engagement shoot. (Insanely fabulous with a borderline of jealousy, I know.) G + H Photography along side Film Style Weddings joined the couple to document part of their love story which shown at their upcoming wedding reception in August.

 
 

And, to top it off, we even have the engagement highlights video from Film Style Weddings. 

How lucky are Ausra & Deepan?!  Bravo G + H Photography and Film Style Weddings!

Maharani Loves Our South Asian Wedding Partners

Maharani Weddings is thrilled to have partnered with some fantastic advertisers. We only partner with the best in class South Asian wedding vendors and are excited to introduce them you…

Exquisite Events : Nikki Khan, of Exquisite Events, always brings a level of sophistication and opulence to any South Asian wedding celebration. She has a fantastic eye for décor and design and takes pride in bringing events together beautifully.  We strongly agree with Nikki when she says, “Make sure you hire someone whom you can trust and is reputable in the industry. Enjoy your day to the fullest and let your coordinator handle all the details.” I always know that the brides who choose Exquisite Events to handle their wedding are in exquisite hands.

2Create Designs : My favorite featured Indian wedding to date this year was the work of 2Create Designs quickly making them one of my newest favorite florists.  Saman and her team has set the bar higher for all South Asian design studios, and constantly is out doing herself with new details and accessories for South Asian wedding décor.  From her adorable parasols to modern floral mandaps, we are delighted to have partnered with her!

 
  

Krishna Sandhu Cake Toppers : A absolute must have for any detail-oriented South Asian bride, these cake toppers will be the icing on the cake.  They come in a variety of shapes, themes and sizes with a line exclusively for the Indian bride! Love that! They are all hand made and make a wonderful memory from your special day.

Megan Stark Photography : Anytime I get a wedding submission from Megan Stark, I know that I am in for a treat!  Megan has her own feminine style that she brings to South Asian wedding photography, and has this tip for brides to be:

From Megan : I always recommend doing an engagement session.  It's the perfect opportunity to work with your photographer in a low stress, informal situation before the big day. I get learn how you and your fiance interact with each other and your comfort level in front of the camera before arriving at your wedding. I've been told from past brides that it eases their anxiety of the formal photo session at the wedding because you've done it once before. There is a certain familiarity to it, so taking direction from me is much more natural and relaxed. The wedding day is usually so formal and you can be hindered by the weight of the bridal lenghas and jewelry, so the e-sessions are a great time just to run around, laugh, have fun and get some amazing photos in the process.

Thank you to all of our partners, and for more of Maharani's hand selected Vendor Recommendations check out The Platinum Guide.  See you Monday!

Honeymoon Trousseau for the Indian Bride

When I was a bride, I was overly consumed by the wedding, and I hardly had time to plan my honeymoon.  Let alone think about what to wear while I was there!  In order to help our South Asian brides carry their chic bridal style into their honeymoons, we pulled together the list of essentials just for you.  Don’t leave home without ‘em!

Row 1 : Thong - Cute & comfy, and essential to all honeymoon clothing, make sure you take a few extra too! And a hint for all bridesmaids, a few of these in bright colors make the perfect bachelorette party gift! A great wedge - Keep your feminine bridal style throughout your trip. These shoes are perfect for daytime or night, site seeing or lunching a good wedge like this one by Seychelles will be the perfect complement to any outfit. Nightie - This super sweet night dress is sexy enough for evening, but modest enough to enjoy coffee on your balcony.

Row 2 : Swimsuit - Show off your hot bridal body with this reversible bikini from ABS.  Two looks in one suit, so you can thrown an extra pair of shoes into your suitcase! Sunglasses - Your honeymoon is the perfect excuse to let that inner Jackie O come out.  Get a pair of sunglasses that are a little bit bigger, and a bit more glamorous than you normally wear.  After all, you are still the bride! Tory Burch Aviator Sunglasses
Strappy Sandal - Whether you are going to a bar, dinner or disco, these sexy heels will set the mood for a fun night.  The Maharani in me loves these by Gucci, but shopstyle.com has about a thousand to choose from.

Row 3 : Earrings - Your honeymoon is not the place to take your bridal jewelry.  I know it is amazing, but trust us, leave it at home.  Instead, opt for a few pairs of dangling earrings that will highlight any ‘do. Thong Sandal - The other thong that is essential to your trip is this easy, breezy shoe that ads an element of beachy style to any outfit.  And a bonus they can be worn with lenghas after your honeymoon! Robe - Super soft and comfy, it is the perfect thing to put on after a long day of sun-ing.  Tip: a cute robe is the perfect thing for an Indian bride to get ready in on her wedding day!

Row 4 : The Cover Up - Every bride needs an amazing cover up.  This one by Make + Model comes in seven different colors and is less than $40 bucks.  What a deal! Bracelet - This spectacular cuff bracelet will be the perfect thing to wear on your wrist as you stroll hand in hand to honeymoon dinner with your new hubby. Floral Dress - Ultra feminine in a charming print.  Something that you will have fond memories of wearing to parties, bridal showers or lunches…the dress from your honeymoon!

Bags packed, passport in hand, and all you have to do is grab your new husband and you are off! 

We have been working hard on putting together something extra special for next week.  So, enjoy your weekend and if you missed any of Maharani this week, make sure you take a second to check out this amazing décor idea, by 2Create Designs and this absolutely must see wedding movie,City of Lakes, by Pacific Pictures.

What's your fantasy Indian wedding?

I apologize for the late post today, a family emergency landed me in LA unexpectedly, but I am back and things are under control.

I wanted to talk about fantasy weddings today.  I have about a million dream weddings dancing around in my head on any given day…the church wedding with the 17 foot veil, the winter wedding with the horse drawn sleigh, clearly I am obsessed!  Well, one of my many fantasy weddings is the outdoor tent wedding.  I just love the décor ideas, and when I saw these tents from Mosaik rentals, I knew exactly what I would do. I would have an Arabian nights meets Bollywood theme to the celebration that I know would be a hit.

 
 
So, I wanna know…what’s your Indian fantasy wedding?

Now Presenting...City of Lakes

Good things come to those who wait!  I am very excited and honored to feature...CITY OF LAKES, by Kevin Shahinian, of Pacific Pictures.

From Kevin : In the fall of 2009, Melissa & Samir embarked on an incredible journey to Udaipur, India, to fulfill a lifelong dream of having their wedding in the country of their ancestry. This transcendent place, affectionately called the “CITY OF LAKES,” located in the breathtaking region of Rajasthan, would be the setting for their extravagant, three-day marriage celebration, and the backdrop of our unprecedented film production - shot entirely on-location. We believe this to be the first ever live event/scripted concept production ‘hybrid’ film produced on this scale.

 

Stunning, amazing, and brilliant, all seem like understatements don't they?! Pacfic Pictures brings a whole new level to wedding cinema.  Kevin and his team continually push the edge of creativity and I am always amazed to see what they have around the corner.  Congratulations to Pacific Pictures on a video that will go down as a Maharani all time favorite.