Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta has been decked out in the most brilliant reception floral and decor by Events InStyle by Beenish, and you're in for a real treat! Once again, Dina Marie Makeup brought her A game and gave Maharani Shafina hair and makeup looks that were super on point with her beautiful bridal style, and complemented her dazzling ivory and purple reception lengha impeccably! Our South Asian bride is the picture of perfection from her head down to her flawlessly mehndi'd toes — courtesy of the uber talented henna artist Beauty You Deserve. This Modern Love Photography captured all the most candid and memorable highlights from the evening, which included a festive fare catered by Cafe Bombay, and splendid wedding cake from Cake Hag. Don't miss out on even more fantastically festive details from this reception in the complete gallery!
The bride, on her wedding style:
"I wanted my wedding to be simple, modern and elegant. My theme was inspired by my favorite colors – blue, pink, and purple. With purple as my absolute favorite, I decided to make the reception centered around that. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t too much purple all at once so I chose certain things around the room that would bring the pop of color. This included the tablecloths, the lighting, and the favors. I then matched my lengha and Karim’s vest and tie to this color. We used blue and pink the day before the wedding at the Mandvo ceremony. The background to the stage was blue and pink, and we used brightly colored lanterns on the tables."
On choosing her dream lengha(s):
"Going in to choose my lengha, I only knew two things – I wanted it to be purple, and I didn’t want something very heavy. I went in to a few different local Indian stores, but couldn’t find the perfect outfit. After days of looking, I was able to find a lengha that was the exact color I wanted so I decided to try it on. It was heavier than what I wanted, but putting it on and seeing myself in the mirror for the first time was all I needed to change my mind. It made me feel beautiful and special, and when I walked out to show it to my family who had come with me, they felt the same way. I was worried it would break the bank, but when I found out that it was on clearance, I bought it right away. With my wedding sari, I found one in a store with beautiful beading that took my breath away. It was in gold though, so I had to convince the storeowner to order one for me in white and silver. When it came in, it was even better than I imagined, and gave me the same feelings my lengha had."
On her hair and makeup:
"I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis, and my hair is almost always in a ponytail. When it came time to decide on hair and makeup, I was clueless. I wanted something very natural, that would enhance instead of overpower, and that I would be able to wear throughout the day from the beginning of the wedding to the end of the reception. My sister and Dina Marie, my makeup artist, worked together to come up with a palate that included warm browns and golds that made me look natural and glamorous at the same time. A simple hairstyle finished the look, and made me feel like myself for the entire day."
On her and her Raja's first dance song selection:
"Karim and I are both fans of Shania Twain, and when it came time to choose the song for our first dance, it was a no brainer. We both picked “From This Moment On” because the lyrics say it all. They were perfect to start our life together."
On the roll family and friends played:
"Both of our families were incredibly helpful. They made sure all the little details were taken care of, not letting anything be overlooked, and never letting us worry about anything. They made sure we had something to eat, and decorated our honeymoon suite. As a final present, they sent us to Punta Cana for our honeymoon, giving us a trip of a lifetime that we will never forget."
More from the bride:
"I wanted to make sure I had a beautiful wedding without spending an exorbitant amount of money. I knew it was impossible to save on the big items so I tried my best to save money on the small details. During the hors d’oeuvres hour, I framed pictures of Karim and I from birth to teenage years and put them on the highboys. They were a great way to decorate the area as well as great conversation starters between our guests. For our favors, I ordered candy wrappers and wrapped the bars myself instead of having the company do them. They turned out great and were a big hit with our family and friends. I found a bakery that would make a plain, tiered wedding cake, and to decorate it, I enlisted a friend to put ribbon and flowers on it. Instead of going to a flower shop for boutonnieres, I ordered them from a local farmers market, which was a big money saver. With these tricks, I was able to throw an elegant, expensive looking wedding without emptying the bank account."
Hope you loved this enchanting wedding event, Maharanis! We'll see you all tomorrow!
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