Welcome to Maharani Weddings

Check out the heart-stirring journey into the enchanting world of Ananya & Peter's wedding day at the breathtaking Mount Palomar Winery. Ananya looked ethereal, adorned in exquisite bridal fashions by Shyamal & Bhumika, Shop by Kynah, and Seema Gujral, each ensemble telling a tale of cultural heritage and contemporary flair. Her glow was enhanced by the expert touch of Dolled Up by Lulu amidst a floral paradise created by Deepti Chandani, whose blooms painted every corner in vibrant hues of love. The meticulous planning and design by Subham Events ensured that every moment was steeped in splendor. The air buzzed with melodies from DJ Scorpio LA, setting a rhythmic heartbeat to the incredible night. Mantra Indian Cuisine and Catering provided the guests with an exceptional culinary experience. Lin & Jirsa Photography immortalized each smile and tender glance with their lenses, crafting memories that promise to last a lifetime. Enjoy today's feature.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met Peter in a lecture at USC. We were friends first and dated a year later in my senior year of college. I can't remember a singular moment when I knew he was the one; I knew he was the one from all of the ways he made me feel loved, seen, and understood, and all of the big and small ways he showed up for me consistently, just because he cared.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Peter told me to keep a specific Sunday free in December of 2021; he drove me to USC's campus, and we walked to the building where we first met. He handed me a notebook, and the first page was a handwritten note about meeting me for the first time. For a few hours, he walked with me around campus and stopped at specific spots where we shared memories, and he had a handwritten note for each moment he chose. 

After this, we drove to Santa Monica where we had shared our first date and our first kiss, where we had talked on the sand until 4 am. He pulled out the notebook again during sunset and there was one more note. After reading it, I turned around and he was down on one knee. It was a perfect day, and one of my favorite days of my life.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Getting to spend time with my bridesmaids and the way they each made me feel so loved and cared for in their unique, individual ways. My matron of honor planned a phenomenal bachelorette and kept me sane through the wedding planning process, my maid of honor choreographed a reception dance and helped me stay on time with all of the planning tasks, my sister-in-law threw a gorgeous and warm bridal shower, and each of my friends supported me in different ways through it all.  I've been blessed with the BEST best friends in the world and an incredible new sister-in-law who is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Keep the focus on what's most important to you. If that's celebrating the relationship you've built with your future spouse, let that be your guide, and everything else will work out.

Darlings, we invite you to wander through our daily features to inspire your love story. Enjoy!

Welcome to a mesmerizing tale woven with love and dreams at the heart of Salona & Niraj's wedding on the serene Pier Deck. Niraj's Baraat was a joyous extravaganza, the beats of Pavan Events stirring everyone's hearts, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. Salona, a vision in her Sequinze & Ladlee couture, pledged her love to Niraj. The meticulous planning by Unique Stories transformed their day into a fairy tale, with Pentaflor's blooms arching overhead like rainbows crafted from the finest flora. As Salona's laughter mingled with the breeze, her locks styled flawlessly by Sara Tamargo and her henna by Loto Mehndi tell tales of ancient love scripts. The transition from day to evening was a magical experience at the El Dorado Ballroom, where the air was filled with the melodies of the talented Pavan Events. Amidst this enchanting setup, Bollywood performers choreographed by Anavi Sharma captivated all with grace and poise. With Shaadi Destinations at the helm, every journey to this wedding was an enchanting and memorable event. Let each Sweet Caribbean Photo & Video photo take you through a journey of emotions and unforgettable moments.

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 actually booked all my vendors in the peak of COVID-19. We specifically wanted a great group of people, so we made sure to book them 1.5 years in advance to secure them. we are so happy we did because they were absolutely the best group of vendors we could have asked for. They literally made our wedding. Our planner, Cristina, helped with organizing our decor and turning our vision to life while also staying within the budget, which is super important.
We knew we wanted the majority of our events to be outdoors so guests could enjoy the views of the ocean. I think the most enjoyable was our rooftop sangeet. We had an Arabian night type of vibe, and the mix of all the colors plus the ocean breeze on top of a roof was a memorable experience. For our ceremony, we knew we wanted the ocean to be seen, but we wanted to make sure our guests were as comfortable
as possible, so that was done at the pier finally, for our reception, we kept that in the ballroom as we wanted some sort of floral rigging structure! We chose not to have a stage or sweetheart table as we wanted to enjoy our dinner sitting with our favorite people instead!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted something not too heavy as I wanted the option to re-wear pieces of it in the future, so I decided to go heavy on jewelry! I saw this dress and tried it on. it was so light and comfortable and looked absolutely stunning against the blue oceans of Mexico!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved every moment of the planning process as crazy as it sounds! Cristina and her team made it so much fun! They were highly communicative and were so easy to bounce ideas and options off each other! I also am a DIY so I enjoyed pulling out my Cricut and allowing myself to add small little touched to our special weekend!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our ballroom reveal! After having such a crazy weekend, we were both excited about this event! We closed our eyes and were led into the ballroom hand in hand as "Ferrari" was playing, and we smelled all the gorgeous flowers! When we opened our eyes, we were in awe at how beautiful the setup was, and we were both just soaking everything in! That moment and that song hold a special place in our hearts!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Give yourself enough time to actually enjoy the planning process! Bounce ideas off your planning team and see what sticks! If something doesn't seem in the budget, don't be afraid to ask your planner what an alternative would look like, as a great planner will find ways to make your vision come to life ( I know mine did <3) lastly, do yourself a favor and hand your phone to your MOH or Bridesmaid that morning of the wedding. Be as stress-free as possible, enjoy the getting ready part, and let your planner take over!!!

May you allow your hearts to be captivated by the unforgettable weddings we share, just as we were.

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Greetings, loves! Today, we're thrilled to bring you the enchanting tale of Sadaf & Aaron, whose wedding celebrated their decade-long journey together and beautifully fused two distinct cultures in a symphony of love and unity. The festivities began at the splendid Aashirwad Palace, setting a regal tone for the Sangeet. The elegance of Dream Moulders' floral and decor encapsulated the couple's dream. Sadaf was a vision in her intricately designed ensemble by Aisha Imran, her radiance further enhanced by BEAUT by FAR, where meticulous attention to detail in her hair and makeup made her look nothing short of a royal. Roushan Ahmed Henna Squared LLC created stunning patterns that told stories of their upcoming union. Aaron looked elegant in a tailored tuxedo from Suit Supply. The reception at Meadow Wood Manor was a testament to their love, catered exquisitely by Shahnawaz Palace. DJ USA Events ensured the dance floor was never empty. Fidai Photography masterfully captured every tender look and joyful moment, creating memories they will cherish forever. Enjoy!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Aaron and I met through work; he was actually my boss for a couple of years. For that and many other reasons, I don't think either of us imagined a semblance of "the one" in the other. Over the years, and separated through other job opportunities and state lines, we remained consistent friends but the adaption of our romantic relationship and figuring out we were meant for each other wasn't totally linear. The first time, it dawned on me that he could be "the one" when I was at a family reunion surrounded by my favorite people but had this consistent nagging feeling like something was missing - him.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Aaron proposed near Mt. Rainier in Washington as we were going about our daily lives and just having casual conversations with each other. The peacefulness of it was perfect for us after working so hard to build our relationship and bring our families and cultures together.

We were also very intentional about the design of my ring, which is a toi et moi style featuring two stones and two people coming together in a beautiful way. Each of us chose a stone; the tilted pear-shaped diamond signifies compromise, both of us leaning into each other and what makes each of us different, and the upright radiant diamond signifies our pride in proclaiming our love for each other. The ring has so much meaning for both of us, and we love that it tells our story of an improbable and unlikely love.

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 planned the wedding in 6 months - and it surprisingly wasn't all that stressful, I think largely because Aaron and I both come from the event management industry. Vendor and venue selection was hands down the hardest part because they can really make or break the experience. There's so much talent out there, but finding people who align with your overall vision and mesh well with your personality is key. We got so lucky from that perspective. Considering we had a mixed wedding, we really wanted vendors - from our DJ to our caterer to our Imam - that understood we didn't want to single out either culture or experience at all but really mesh them both together in the best ways.

We mostly relied on other couples tagging vendors in the instagram wedding photos to find what we were looking for. If the photo had the right vibe to it, I went through their vendors to understand who they worked with to achieve that vibe. Slowly but surely, that allowed us to build up our dream team of vendors for the weekend.

Once you find your vendors, take care of them as much as they take care of you! My mehndi artist, photographer, and hair and make-up artist, in particular, felt like family throughout the planning process because they were engaged in the months leading up to it and wanted to talk about inspo photos and meet to discuss the little details consistently. It made the experience so much more fun when we got to the actual big day - it felt like they were just as invested as we were!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part for me was the time spent with my mom - planning a wedding with her was such a unique bonding experience, especially as an only child, and it was bittersweet having it all come to fruition after talking about what it could look like our whole lives.

The next best part is along the same veins - but the time spent with my family who came together with so much love in their hearts to decorate our home, put together favors, and travel in days early to help support and coordinate the details so that I could relax and play bride is something I will never forget or take for granted.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
For me, there are a few moments that stick out - but watching the culmination of our two cultures embracing each other was the best of it. Seeing our friends wear desi clothes for the first time, my childhood friends performing a dance to Desi Girl, and Aaron's family learning our traditional rasams was just heart-warming and made me feel so loved.

For Aaron, the moments that replay for him are seeing my wedding dress for the first time, taking our photos in the snow during sunset (we had really wanted a snowy wedding), our families coming together and dancing the ENTIRE night.

A key piece for both of us, though, was when Aaron's son, Hudson, presented us both with rings that he handmade for us before our ceremony. It was the sweetest gesture, and we wore his rings alongside our new wedding rings all night.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
There are so many wedding trends out there - don't worry about any of them. The moments that are unique to you and your groom, or your culture, or your family, will be what you remember the most and end up being the most sentimental.

Maybe you'll feel that delightful pinch of realizing how wondrously love can intertwine destinies.

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Dear Maharanis, Nitika & Dominic's amazing wedding is on today's Platinum Guide Blog. Check it out!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?

My husband, Dominic, and I actually met while in graduate school at Caltech. He was working on his PhD in electrical engineering while I was working on my PhD in astrophysics. We had many shared interests that brought us closer -- we loved spending time on long hikes in the mountains together, experimenting with new baking recipes, and listening to Taylor Swift. It wasn't very long before we both just felt like each other's best friends, which we both think is the cornerstone to a wonderful marriage :)

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Dominic proposed at Cliffside Park in Santa Barbara, California. He had colluded with both of our families to plan and set everything up. On the day of, we were supposed to be heading out for a nice dinner and he suggested watching the sunset over the water before dinner. We walked to a pretty overlook point where there were fairy lights strung on the trees and flowers and a table set up with music playing in the background. After he got down on one knee (and of course, I said yes!), our parents and sisters jumped out from behind the trees where they were hiding to celebrate with us :)

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
For our wedding reception, I ended up choosing an Aisha Rao lehenga. We wanted me to wear something white for the wedding reception, and I knew I wanted to wear something unique. As a nature lover, when I saw this Aisha Rao lehenga, I was so in love with the embroidered trees and birds, and I loved the pops of color it brought to the outfit. It felt like an incredible fit to my personality, so I was thrilled with it.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our wedding ceremony was a traditional Hindu ceremony, but we decided to exchange some personal vows in the middle as well. It was really special to us to be able to express our commitment to each other in our own words and to share the depth of our love with our friends and family. And I know we both nailed it with our vows because both of us kept insisting the other person's vows were the best ones :)

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
In the midst of the stress of wedding planning, it's so easy to feel like lots of little details are SO important - what color palette we should pick, which h'orderves we should serve, how I should arrange the seating chart, etc. The truth is, those things are not what makes the wedding special at the end of the day. Sure, of course, people notice that your decor is pretty and the food is yummy and such, but the #1 thing folks who attended our wedding told us was how obvious it was to them that we were over the moon to be together and that the love was tangible in the air. As a couple, that's what you'll remember too, just the joy of sharing that day together and then sharing forever together. Don't let all the little things bog you down!

We invite you to enjoy the stories that are available on our blog. Prepare to be swept off your feet!

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Welcome to the mesmerizing tale of Anisha & Kaustubh's wedding in today's Platinum Guide Blog.  

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met on Hinge, and I knew within a week of chatting he was special. It was only a matter of months after getting to know to each other that I knew he was “the one.”

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It was a surprise engagement during a trip to Jamaica. The events leading up to the proposal were a comedy of errors. The groom had a wardrobe malfunction, and we got caught in a major rainstorm and were soaking wet. But, despite the evening not going how he wanted it to, the skies cleared up, and it was the perfect setting for the most perfect proposal.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Luckily for me, I knew exactly what I wanted. I found a designer local to Atlanta, GA, Binari Art, who helped me design my wedding outfit from design detail to fabric and colors. For my reception, I knew I wanted a Seema Gujral outfit. I visited Panache by Sharmeen in Houston, TX. My appointment there was one hour, and within that hour, I found my reception and sangeet outfits right away. There was no doubt in my mind once I put them on that they were the ones.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
A year later, we still have guests tell us how much fun they had at our wedding. It was very important to me and my husband, and we brought a lot of energy to our events. As a result, our guests would feed off our energy and were equally having as much fun as we were. The tequila in Mexico helped as well! The other two things we kept getting feedback on were how much our guests loved all the food and music.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
The wedding comes and goes so fast! The best thing any bride-to-be can do is make sure the entire process is as stress-free as possible. Appoint someone to be your “go-to” so that any questions anyone has to go through them before you. And if you’re needed, you only have one person bothering you! It’s going to give you the best shot at being the most relaxed and truly getting to enjoy your big day!

Darlings, don't miss out on the exclusive content that showcases the best weddings. See you soon!

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