The Platinum Guide Blog

Lauren & Kam's wedding unfolded as a mesmerizing blend of cultures, love, and celebration in the heart of the vibrant W Philadelphia. The festivities reached a crescendo, with the Monaco Experience leading the Baraat. Meticulously orchestrated by Evenings of Elegance, each detail, from the splendid decor by Abhishek Decorators to Lauren's stunning look perfected by Flawless Beauty by Pauline, contributed to the enchantment. The culinary delights by Moghul Caterers tantalized every palate. This vibrant and spirited procession encapsulated the essence of joy and community, setting the stage for a day filled with laughter, dance, and heartfelt moments. With their impeccable DJ services, Shilpa Entertainment ensured the music resonated with the couple's journey, their beats and rhythms crafting an atmosphere of unbridled joy and celebration. Capturing every glance, every smile, and the myriad of emotions that painted the day, Lightyear Studio captured every fleeting moment, every smile, and every emotion that painted the day when Lauren & Kam tied the knot. Through their masterful lens, cinematography, and photography, they documented the event and told a beautiful story of love, family, and the union of two worlds. Enjoy this stunning masterpiece of love.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I worked as a Cardiac ICU nurse and Kam was finishing up his last year of Cardiology fellowship when we first met. We both lived in Philadelphia and decided to explore the city together. Our favorite hobbies are still finding the best spots in Philly to eat at and visiting cocktail bars and wine lounges.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Kam lived in Rittenhouse his last year of fellowship and we enjoyed many days hanging out at his rooftop. When proposal time came around, he recruited my best friends to take me out to brunch. They recommended we go out to Kam's old building to see a mutual friend, and to my surprise, Kam was waiting at the rooftop with both our families and closest friends.

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 wanted a wedding that celebrated both our cultures and us as individuals. We decided to have a traditional Hindu ceremony followed by a chic black-tie reception. We chose W Philadelphia in Center City and could not have been happier. W Philadelphia provided multiple sites for our Sangeet, Ceremony, and Reception with modern elegant backdrops.

Nazranaa in Edison, NJ was crucial in helping us with our outfit selections. They went above and beyond in helping Lauren's family wear traditional Indian attire. It was a fun experience for Lauren's family as it was their first time wearing traditional Indian clothes.

Many guests complimented our DJ for the weekend, DJ Shilpa. Our Baraat down Chestnut Street with DJ Shilpa blasting music was a memory many people would never forget. Our dance floor at the reception was packed from the beginning due to DJ Shilpa.

My bridal make-up artist, Pauline from Flawless Beauty by Pauline, helped me feel like the most beautiful version of myself for all of the weekend's events.

Abhishek Decorators built the most beautiful sets for our Sangeet, Mandap, and wedding reception. They truly created the exact vision we wanted for all the events.

Nathan Dang's team from Lightyear Studio provided photography and videography. They were able to capture all the events perfectly and encapsulated the energy and love present all weekend.

And, of course, our weekend would not have turned out so well if not for Evenings of Elegance, run by Dharmi Shah, who was our Wedding Planner. We worked with her for over a year before our wedding day, and she kept us on track in meeting deadlines while navigating our hectic work schedules. Her wealth of knowledge and contacts helped us make decisions, even when we couldn't decide. Due to her attention to detail and timeliness, we were even able to start our ceremony early and finish ahead of schedule (who is able to say that!).

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
All of our guests commented on how seamlessly each event went without any hiccups or problems. This is 100% attributed to the work, dedication, and planning of our Wedding Planner/Coordinator, Evenings of Elegance. There was almost no stress on our part during the weekend, knowing we had Dharmi Shah from Evenings of Elegance in our corner.

Their wedding was not just an occasion but a vivid tapestry of love, joy, and unity.

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Hello, beauty queens! Let me take you on a journey to the most enchanting wedding. Shoma & Kirendra's wedding was nothing short of a fairy tale. The Golden Terrace Banquet Hall was transformed into a magical wonderland by the creative and talented team at Perfected by Ruma, with the help of the Ruban Events team, who provided the most breathtaking flowers and decor. Every detail was carefully thought out and executed perfectly, from the beautiful floral arrangements to the intricate table settings. The team's creative vision and attention to detail helped create the magical atmosphere that made Shoma & Kirendra's wedding unforgettable. Their professionalism and creativity were remarkable, and they went above and beyond to ensure every flawless decor element. They were the main detailer that brought every dream to life for this couple. Shoma looked like an absolute dream in her exquisite Sangeeta Narine bridal outfit with detailed patterns, complemented by the stunning hair and makeup by Blend it With AJ and Sassy Hair Vanessa. The reception at Larkfield Manor was a grand affair, with the Majestic Sound Crew playing the latest tracks to keep the guests on their feet. The J'adore Love Photography team captured every moment of this beautiful day, from the first dance to the last goodbye. Shoma & Kirendra's wedding perfectly blended tradition and modernity, with attention paid to every little detail. To all the Maharanis, check out this lovely gallery we prepared for you. Let their love story inspire you and fill your heart with joy. Enjoy!

How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
My Groom and I met when we were in High School together, where we competed for the top spot in most of our classes together. We were friends first, who took the bus home together and talked on AIM Chat all evening after school. After an entire school year of talking, laughing, and joking, my now Husband, Kirendra, told me that he wanted to tutor a girl that he liked in school. Having a big mouth, I told him he couldn't do that because I liked him, to which he responded by not tutoring her and spending more time with me. I've learned over the course of 12 years of dating that Kirendra was the one for me from the days when we were best friends and every day after, as he has always been supportive, kind, and loving to me and my happiness.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
My now Husband knew that family involvement was extremely important to me and to him as well, so he organized the proposal to be a huge celebration that both sides could witness & attend. In October of 2020, Kirendra organized with his friends and family that while he and I attended a party in the daytime, they would set up his backyard with decorations, food, music, and a beautiful circle of lights that said: "Marry Me." He took me to his house after the daytime party, saying that he "forgot his wallet" and had to pick it up. When we got to his backyard, it was extremely quiet, but I saw string lights and knew something was up. Once we got inside, all of our loved ones surrounded us, and he asked me to marry him. I said the quickest yes of my life, and we partied through the night.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
For my Bridal Lengha, I wanted to do something custom that had my own touch on it. As an Engineer by trade, I really love to design and draw new ideas and wanted to incorporate that into my outfit. My custom lengha vendor (L&S Boutique in Queens, NY) worked with my sketches and color choices (Burnt Orange & Burgundy) through her vendor in India and managed to custom hand stitch my lengha over the course of 3 months. My Lengha had all the detail I wanted: Gold stonework, peacocks, elephants, geometric patterns, layered fabric, and the overall traditional look that I wanted. For my wedding dress, I wanted to share the experience with my mom, sister, and my mother-in-law. We went to Kleinfeld Bridal, where I fell in love with a Martina Liana Dress in undertones of Ivory. This dress matched perfectly with a custom ivory & floral cathedral veil that I got custom-made, so I was grateful for how the entire ensemble worked together. It is also noted that my Husband wore his father's traditional wedding garment from his wedding 29 years ago, repurposed for this wedding. Even during my husband's suit shopping at Indochino, it was a family activity, and my husband's older cousin came with us, and it was a delightful evening. Overall, the garment process served as a special homage to our families, as each piece of cloth, color, and accessory meant something to us and our families.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of planning was bouncing ideas off my Husband and doing the activities together. There was not one wedding item that we had to do that felt like a chore; everything was enjoyable as we often did custom-made things together or with the family, so it felt like a group activity, as opposed to just another thing to do. One of my favorite memories was when my Husband and I would sit in the kitchen together and leave a show on for background noise while we made 300 wax seals just to spend time together. I also really enjoyed the ability to make everything unique and custom during the planning process, as it was our wedding, and we had so many ideas to make it aligned to our personalities and past together.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
7 years ago, my best friend in life, my Dad, passed away. My dad was everything to me, serving as an inspiration to my strength, full of brilliance & wit, and a good person. When he passed, I was a sophomore in college, my Mom was still working hard, and my Sister & Brother-in-Law had just gotten pregnant with their first child. It was an extremely difficult time in all of our lives, but my Dad always valued love & family higher than everything else, and we used his principles to get through the hardship, work hard and attain our goals. This was a similar situation for my Husband, as he lost his close paternal grandfather years ago as well. For our wedding, we did two tributes to our loved ones that passed on, one directly after our Hindu ceremony and one during our first reception dance. This was extremely special to us as it brought our family together, and it was a beautiful moment that both families shared, bringing the wedding full circle to remember two of the main people in our family that gave us so much value in the past and that we remember in the present.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Every single one of my vendors was magic in their own way. The main detailer that brought every dream to life for me was my Wedding Coordinator/Decorator, Ruban Events. Ruma & Sandy from Ruban Events were persistently positive and happy to work with me to make every vision I had a reality. One of the biggest highlights I can say is the Hindu Wedding Mandap. To say it was unique, breathtaking, and unforgettable is an understatement, as they brought to life something that even I couldn't imagine. Another Vendor with pure magic was Jadore Love, our Photographer & Videographer. Efrain (Photographer/Owner) has the ability to exude kindness, professionalism, and comfort in every situation, doing his best to learn about the Bride & Groom and attest to their dream photos. His creativity and pursuit of perfectionism make the photos and memories magic, and he is a person who is more than a photographer. My other vendors were also magic: HennabyInder (IG Handle), who did my arm & leg henna in a completely unique & custom fashion, Lsboutiquebysangeeta (IG Handle), who not only custom-made the Bride & Groom Outfits but also did the majority of family members, bridesmaids & groomsmen beautifully, Majestic_Sound_Crew (IG Handle), truly the best and most attentive DJ, Emcee & expert on hot add-ons for the wedding, My beauticians, Blenditwith_aj & Sassyhairvanessa (IG Handles), who made me comfortable and relaxed during my multiple days of events & finally, My Venues & Transportation, Golden Terrace Banquet Hall, Larkfield Manor & Mark of Elegance, where the organization, communication & professionalism were appreciated.

Today's journey is over, but the love story is just beginning! Don't miss our coming events here!

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Welcome back, ladies! Another beautiful union fills our pages today. How exciting is that! We will immerse in Akila and Chandan's Indian wedding in Dallas, Texas. Three words perfectly describe this celebration: colorful, joyful, and traditional! The magnificent events planned by the fantastic Dream GePlant displayed the couple's impeccable taste and unique ideas! MnM Photography's dream team captured the lovebirds with their brilliant eye during their pre-wedding celebrations at the SLPS Center and their wedding ceremony at the Oak + Ivy Venue. Raja Chanda arrived at the ceremony in his full splendor and majesty, accompanied not only by friends and family but by the great music of DJ Riz Entertainment. At the same time, Maharani Akila glowed in the finest Saris, thanks to Babu Sah, which paired perfectly with the intricate mehndi design that Mehndi Nirmala created for her. Finally, the reception was a grand vision that featured emerald, golden, and champagne hues created by Divine Décor of Dallas. Absolutely unbelievable! Wedding DJ experts DJ Riz Entertainment were devoted to making the best party ambiance providing the music to end this great union with plenty of revelry and dancing. View the entire photography series of Akila and Chandan's wedding in Dallas in our gallery.

 Thanks for reading, Maharanis! More great love stories tomorrow! 

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Good Morning, Maharanis! It is a pleasure to bring you an insight into the wedding celebration of Hiral & Abhishek. This is an event that you are going to love! To start, we wanted to make you feel part of the fun-loving and emotional photoshoot held at the imposing Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel. We are blown away by the decoration and the colors that Xquisit Events planned and designed for this event, and how well they complement each other to create a captivating, romantic, and fun atmosphere. Also, the art of Henna by Tanvi made Hiral look unique, with such a beautiful job. Our beautiful Maharani wore an elegant and stylish embroidered outfit with pink accents that matched perfectly with the fantastic makeup and hairstyle by Joseph A. Anthony, and she was rocking. The reception party was not the exception! Every guest was dancing and sharing happiness with the new spouses. And thanks to the excellent job of Studio KSD, we can enjoy every detail of this incredible ceremony.  So, get ready to be amazed by this lovely wedding and enjoy the gallery we've prepared.

Thanks for your visit today! Don't forget to be back for more inspirational stories every day.

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Good morning, dears! Today's entry will take us back to a cozy winter day for Jinnie & Kevin's wedding. Our protagonists had a magical celebration at the One and Only Westmount Country Club. This venue offers the intimacy and elegance every Maharani deserves for their special event. Our couple couldn't resist the alluring views they encountered here, instantly falling in love with its timeless enchantment. The venue's natural refinement played perfectly with the classy decor Dalsimer Spitz & Peck crafted. The lovely bouquets were my favorite detail. The gorgeous tones matched Jinnie's sophistication and color scheme, making her the center of attention. Our Maharani had the remarkable Color Me Rouge for her bridal party's makeup and Mona Chebli Makeup Artist for the ceremony. The two capable and experienced artists were more than perfect to embellish the already gorgeous bride! Our Maharani had a whole team of experts behind her look, and she was divine, ladies. Her traditional white dress was dreamy, and she dazzled more than one with a charming lengha later on. We cannot leave the handsome groom behind. Kevin had his full charm on display and a dashing tuxedo to shine with his marvelous partner. The lovebirds were a vision! Studio KSD didn't miss any chance to capture their love, giving them a splendid set of photographs to treasure for eternity. Jinnie & Kevin's adoration for each other is evident in every single frame! The enthralling gallery is ready for you to get creative, my dear Maharanis. Wait no more to check it out! 

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I first met Kevin at a Knanaya Jacobite Convention back in 2012. It sounds kind of crazy, but that first day I knew somehow that he was different and we hit it off. But despite the instant connection we felt, life had other plans for us and it didn't really pan out. We talked on and off a few times over the years In 2019, I guess we finally had our timing right. This time around, it stuck, and here we are, finally married over 9 years after our initial meeting.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Kevin proposed to me in December 2020 at a beautiful gazebo covered in Christmas lights. I was admiring it and the tree inside when I noticed that there was a man standing inside...Kevin. As I walked toward the gazebo, I could hear one of my favorite songs, Dhadke Jiya, playing in the background. I walked up to meet him and he got down on one knee and proposed. It was a perfect moment, captured by a good friend of ours, Ronnie Stephen. Afterward, we met up with our family and friends at Kevin's parent's house to celebrate.

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.
Kevin and I decided rather quickly that we wanted to get married, and we came to this decision during the pandemic. We ended up calling over 30 venues and visited 12 or 13 venues in one weekend. It was exhausting, but we picked our venue that same weekend. We chose the Westmount Country Club because they had experience with Malayalee Indian Weddings and because they had an incredible food spread. They were also very easy to work with. Once we had our venue and the date, we started reaching out to vendors, starting with finding a church, photo and video, DJ, and HMUA for myself.

We got married at St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Paramus, NJ. The church itself was stunning, with beautiful high ceilings and lots of natural light. It was clean and elegant, and Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun was so welcoming and kind.

I knew early on that I wanted to book Mona Chebli for my hair and makeup; I had been following her on Instagram for years.

We spoke to a lot of different photo and video teams but ultimately chose Studio KSD because we loved their work and felt comfortable with Tina.
We chose M4U for our DJ Team and DJ Vik and MC Vik really know how to host a party. They set such an amazing vibe and had the whole room going.

We chose our florist/decorator based on recommendations from the Westmount Country Club. John from Dalsimer Spitz and Peck was so easy to work with, and understood the vision I had for my wedding decor and florals so clearly, and brought it to life.

Keys2Vocals, led by our friend Vineeth Thomas, handled the choir details for our wedding ceremony and gave us all the feels on the day of.

I had the most fun designing my bridesmaid's outfits. I worked with Chinnu from Amayaa Collections in India, and she brought my vision to life.

MehndiKalogie did my bridal mehndi and brought the vision I had for my mehndi to life.

Colour Me Rouge did hair and makeup for my bridesmaids and their team was excellent.

PleatsBySher did draping for my mom and MIL, as well as my manthrakodi draping and she was so easy to work with and made me feel absolutely beautiful in my saree.

Eventify was our DOC for the weekend and hands down the best decision we made with regards to the day. Aji, Jino, Tina, and Rupali were our dream team for the weekend and took so much of the stress out of the day. We knew after our first call with Aji and Jino that they were the team that we wanted with us on the most important day of our lives, and they did not disappoint.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So I always knew for the church portion of the wedding, I wanted to wear a white gown. I had SUCH a hard time finding "the dress." Everything I thought I would love (lace, long sleeves, A-line) ended up being everything I hated. I finally figured out that I was a satin girl all the way, and that less is more. I tried on over 30 dresses at so many bridal salons before I finally found my dress at L&H Couture in Doylestown, PA....5 minutes from my house.

My Manthrakodi was purchased in Cochin, Kerala, India from Seematti Silks. As per tradition, my parents and I went shopping with my mother-in-law and father-in-law to purchase the sari. I didn't have much of an idea in mind but both moms had their hearts set on traditional red, which is what we ended up picking out.

My reception outfit was purchased at Made by Milan, in Cochin, Kerala. This lehenga was an absolute dream and was my favorite outfit of the entire day. It was all the sparkle and drama that I wanted in a reception outfit. Big skirt, tons of sparkle, a ruffled dupatta, and all in shades of white, ivory, and silver that made me feel so incredibly bridal.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why? 
I think for me, the best part of wedding planning was all the time I got to spend with my family and Kevin's leading up to it. From planning pow-wows to dance practices, it was such a fun time to get together with the people I love, and even though it wasn't always easy, I still have such awesome memories of some of these times.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
My husband and I chose our wedding venue based on the food, and sure enough, that was what my guests RAVED about after our wedding. We heard so much about how much our guests enjoyed cocktail hour and the endless options they had.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
There were so many moments throughout the day that I replay in my mind. If I really had to choose one, I think it would be the moment in the morning when I read Kevin's letter to me. It was probably one of the only quiet moments I had during the day, and honestly, his words were exactly what I needed to hear before walking down the aisle to him. It centered me.

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.
The night before the wedding we had our traditional Mylanchi and Chantham Charth, but we decided to have them together at the same venue, since we both had so many guests come in from out of time, especially extended family. Masato Events designed our staging for the event in peacock colors. It was a fun night filled with Knanaya traditions, and family dances. I did a traditional look for this event, and got all glammed up by Swara Kasbekar from Artistry by Swara Kay.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Try to soak as much of the day in as you can, and try not to worry about all the details the day of. Things will inevitably go wrong, but everything works out in the end. The whole day passes in a blur so really try to be present in the moment and enjoy the day.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Cake - Palermo's

All right, darlings, I hope you are feeling inspired. Keep coming back for more romance!

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