Hi, darlings! We've Sonali & Aditya's enchanting tale to share with you. Guided by the expertise of Our Day Events by Anisha Nina, this celebration was a testament of love. The wedding was at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. With its regal architecture and sophisticated ambiance, this venue exudes an air of exclusivity that beckons couples to create their most cherished memories within its walls. DMV Decor transformed the venue into a kingdom of dreams with soft petals of blooms adorning every corner, casting an aura of romance. Salon SBS turned Sonali into the epitome of elegance and grace. Adorned with jewelry from Lagu Bandhu and Tanishq, every piece told a story of tradition and modernity intertwined seamlessly. Bhavna Naik's mehndi designs represented the promise of a beautiful future. The celebration burst into life with the melodious tunes of ShiVish Entertainment, their beats echoing the rhythm of hearts in unison. Bollywood Bistro tantalized every palate with a feast that was a fusion of flavors. Akbar Sayed Photography captured each moment with finesse, immortalizing the raw emotions that flowed freely. Their lens turned fleeting glances into timeless pieces of art, reflecting the depth of their bond. Enjoy the fantastic shots we compiled!
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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
The first time I met Aditya was at a mutual friend's wedding reception, where he was called on stage to sing alongside another one of his female friends, and I promptly fell in love... with his friend's angelic singing voice. Although I may have been oblivious to him, his talent and good looks, however, were not lost on the eyes of the Maushya (aunties) present at this wedding, including my mother, who was quick to mention his name on the car ride home.
Fast forward to a few weeks later when our matchmaker and fellow maushi called upon my parents to say, "Aga! Sonali single ahe ka? (Is Sonali single?) I have a boy for her." After some social media stalking, I agreed to let my mom share my number with the maushi to send over to Aditya. Aditya wasted no time and messaged me later that evening and then asked me out on our first date within the week.
Our first date was the stereotypical dinner and drinks, followed by ice cream and a walk around the local town center. I was immediately taken aback by his gorgeous eyes, and conversation flowed smoothly throughout the course of the evening. Things were going great, so naturally, I had to ask him to do something ridiculous, walk through the sprouting fountains. Without missing a beat, Aditya handed me his phone and walked casually through the fountains, emerging completely soaked with a grin plastered on his face the whole time. It was at this moment I knew that he would always keep me laughing and continue to make my life entertaining.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Aditya and my 2 best friends planned a "girls' day" brunch at a winery in April of last year. However, NOVA weather being its finicky self, the weather was fluctuating that whole week from 40 degrees to 65 degrees, and my friends were insistent that we go wearing cute dresses. I am not a cold-weather girl, so I was extremely unhappy about the dress code my friends were enforcing on this brunch, but after much grumbling on my end about my sweatpants idea being shot down, I complied.
After the brunch was over, one of my friends told us that she had booked an experience through an app to get a tour of the winery, followed by a wine tasting. I had been mildly suspicious all day because of the way my friends had been acting, but it was at this point I was getting progressively more suspicious. During this time, Aditya and I were sharing our location with each other, and I decided to check where he was. However, Aditya being a tech guy, had changed his location from his phone to his iPad, which showed he was still at his condo. We went on this winery tour which took us down into the cellars that opened up with double doors to their vineyard. To my surprise, Aditya was waiting on the other side of the double doors, waiting to ask for my hand in marriage!
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 overall wedding planning process was alright. We hit a lot of bumps in terms of negotiation with price and trying to figure out what we needed and how much. But our wedding planner, Anisha Ninan, was really helpful with it throughout the whole process. Some of the vendors I knew I wanted as soon as Aditya and I got engaged, so having those people in mind helped to kickstart the vendor hunting.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I wore a Paithani Sari for the ceremony, which is a typical Maharashtrian-style sari. Traditionally, the bride will wear a mango yellow-colored sari given to her by her uncle, so I was looking for something in the yellow color scheme. However, once I saw this particular sari, I knew I had to have it. I had a deep rich purple sari with pink and green peacocks with a lovely gold thread border from Pratha by Kavita Koparkar.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the wedding planning process was towards the end when things started falling into place and you could really start conceptualizing how things would pan out. It's very exciting watching your vision come to life!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I would say that people seemed to really love the food and decoration at our wedding. They also seemed to enjoy the various details we had for them to partake in, such as the Polaroid selfies and 1-year and 5-year advice to the couple jars.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
When Aditya and I performed our first dance! We had learned and practiced that dance sporadically over the span of 2 weeks, and each time we practiced, we kept messing up. However, when it came time for the actual performance, all of the stress melted away, and we had a perfect run! We just enjoyed being with each other and basking in the love of all of our guests.
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.
Sangeet night was definitely my favorite night out of everything. Each side performed so well and really put their best foot forward. I loved watching everyone display their talents and, most importantly, have a ton of fun. My close family friend group managed to make a really funny dance routine, complete with fake beards and a totally random song choice that got everyone laughing. It was also in that same dance that my brother fell flat on his face but recovered so well and got up right on the beat that everyone thought it was scripted! Another amazing performance was Aditya's. He serenaded me with a beautiful rendition of Nervous by John Legend, which brought the whole room to tears.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
The whole week is going to be so crazy and stressful but doesn't forget to pause with your spouse and soak it all in. Everyone attending your wedding is there because they love the two of you and wish you both immense happiness. Make sure to try to bask in all of that love! Try to take a couple of moments with your partner during each event to take a beat and watch everyone enjoy all of the festivities.
Alright, Maharanis, I hope you enjoyed this story. Keep coming back for more romances and tips!
