The Platinum Guide Blog

Welcome to the mesmerizing tale of Kiran & Ajit's wedding. Their celebration began with the Sangeet at Chateau Crystale, an evening filled with music, dance, and laughter, setting the tone for the festivities. The Sikh Center opened its doors to a ceremony that was nothing short of magical. Kiran & Ajit exchanged vows under a canopy of divine decor by Divine Decor, creating a moment so serene that time stood still. The reception at ULH Event Center was a testament to their enduring love. Henna Vative's mehndi art adorned Kiran's hands with patterns as intricate and profound as the journey of love they embarked upon, while DBI's music filled the air with melodies that echoed the couple's happiness. Aventography Photo & Video Studios, renowned for their ability to capture the essence of each moment with a blend of creativity and authenticity, brought their story to life through their lens. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, their photography and cinematography went beyond mere documentation, encapsulating the unforgettable moments of the day in a way that each photograph and video invites viewers to relive this union's joy and beauty. 

Join us tomorrow to relive sweet moments, incredible details, and emotions. See you soon, loves!

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Today, we're unfurling the vibrant tapestry of Shena & Daxesh's wedding. The Best Western Hotel & Resort set the stage for their ceremony, each corner whispering tales of romance. Shena seemed to glide thanks to the masterful artistry of Lauren Berlingeri Makeup, her beauty accentuated by the intricate patterns from Hennafly that adorned her hands like delicate lace. Captis Events by Shena ensured that every planning and design detail was steeped in personal meaning and grandeur. The floral arrangements by Mandap Milap set a magical scene, transforming the venue into a dreamscape. But what truly captured their day's essence was the Kaptured by Krunal lens. More than just photographers and cinematographers, they were the storytellers who froze moments in time, turning them into a mosaic of memories. Each photograph was a testament to their craft, encapsulating emotions and details with such clarity that they'll be transported back to those precious moments every time they gazed upon them. Relieve and enjoy the magic of this wedding.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
In May 2021, I received a connection request on a dating website. At first, I didn't answer the connection - she hadn't heard of Daxesh and wanted to find a mutual friend who might be able to vouch for him. After some time, a friend was able to confirm that Daxesh ('Dax' for short) was a great guy, very likable and well-known. Shena took the leap and, on the second connection request, clicked ‘accept.’ One connection request and the rest is history.

I knew Dax was the one after our first date. After a long few months of texting and talking over FaceTime, we decided to meet up in Washington, DC. Our first date consisted of two things we love dearly - Art and Food! After attending the Van Gogh immersive experience, we headed over to a restaurant for lunch. After our first date, I remember walking away feeling safe, feeling like I could be myself around him, and knowing that this guy would make me laugh and smile for the rest of my life…I just knew he was the one!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
R. We were planning a cabin staycation at Cloudland State Park in November 2022. As the date came near, Dax saw an opportunity to execute the surprise - and I know at certain points that week I got on his nerves with my Type A, planner personality. He had hired a photographer and dusted off his drone skills. As we went outside to look at the mountain scenery in the morning, Dax swept the drone up and smoothly landed on one knee as I turned around. It was absolutely perfect! You can see the video on my Instagram!

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.
Many know, and for those who don’t, I currently work in the corporate world, but I also am at the beginning of my journey to start my side business as an event planner. Saying that, you can imagine the crazy Type A personality I had when planning our own wedding. Leading up to our wedding, Dax and I worked hard to break down each detail and be on the same page. This really helped when talking to all our vendors and families. The effort put into the planning in the months leading up to the wedding definitely paid off during the week of the wedding!

Our wedding could not have been possible without our amazing vendors! Each one of them took such care in helping us plan out each detail, and when the weekend came, they showed up with their A-game. Each of our vendors was easy to work with and stayed flexible when things changed! Leading up to the event, they worked hard with us to make sure they could achieve our vision (and within budget). My coordination team took all the details I had planned and executed everything perfectly! I think I am one of those rare brides who didn’t stress about if things were getting done because the coordination team was always on top of it, even when there were last-minute changes.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Call me weird, but I did not want to go with the traditional red. Anyone who knows me well knows that when it comes to Indian outfits, I like to wear stuff that is unique. Dax and I looked for inspiration for months. We finally found a color that we really wanted to incorporate into our outfits - sage green. Walking into Thakur’s, I knew I would have to keep an open mind. We didn’t have much time to get custom-made outfits, so I would have to choose something ready-made. After looking at a few outfits, the lengha, which was brought out last, was the one I fell in love with. It had a sage green color and incorporated the red brick color as well.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved the planning process! I believe my favorite part was planning the small details. We really wanted to make sure that our guests enjoyed the weekend. Guests at any event remember two things the most - the food and the experience. Dax and I made sure we thought about those two things in the most detail when planning. We had an in-depth conversation with our caterer to build a menu that was different for each meal. We wanted to make sure there was variety the entire weekend, and being foodies ourselves, it was important to us that our guests enjoyed the food!

For experience, we tried to have meaningful experience-related pieces throughout the entire weekend. We wanted to showcase our favorite things throughout the weekend while adding the element of guest experience. We planned unique event signs (our love for art and design), flower pithi (our love for fun and fresh floral), sparkler exit, baraat dances (our love for music and healthy competition, as we had a dance-off between both families), late night games (our love for board and card games) and much more! I’m so happy we put time into detailing these pieces because it made the weekend much more enjoyable and memorable.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Even today, the two things I hear the most about from our wedding guests are that the food is some of the best food (if not the best) they have had at a wedding in the US and that they have never been to a wedding which has had been as punctual and organized as ours. Everyone had a blast and was able to enjoy the moment!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Obviously, it is hard to choose just one moment. Of course, the entire weekend revolved around my husband and I, and each of those moments was special. However, there is one special moment that stands out to me. Over the past few years, I have been giving this piece of advice to my friends, family, and bridal clients:

During your wedding, choose a random chunk of time and walk around the venue. Use this as a moment in time to observe and let the emotions soak all in. I chose to do this twice, once on the Wednesday before my wedding and once on the Friday before. These moments will remain so special to me because walking around I saw all the individuals - family and friends - who came together just for Dax and I. Each one of them worked together to help make our weekend possible. These moments showed me that the weekend was about Dax and I, but it was also about the relationships we have forged with each guest who attended. I will be forever grateful for these relationships and remember these moments!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
When you look back at your wedding and the months leading up to it, you don’t want to be reminded about hating the process. Wedding planning can be stressful, but only if you make it more stressful than needed. There is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding. Plan your wedding with the method that works best for you and your fiance because it will make the process that much easier. If you wanna get all the easy stuff done first and then work on the large pieces, do that. If you want to plan the little things and have a planner do the large pieces, then hire a partial planner. If you don’t care much about certain things and want to hand them off to family members so they can help, then communicate that and get the help. If you need help from others, get the help. At the end of the day, do what works best for you!

Obviously, Indian weddings have a HUGE family element to them, and for many, that could be the stressful part. However, always remember that communication is key. Keep everyone on the same page on what you and your fiance envision and what the budget is/should be. Also, take the time to understand the different ceremonies and traditions.

Lastly, I have seen a lot of brides recently becoming stressed during wedding planning because they keep thinking about what others will think. Always remember that the weekend is about you and your fiance. Plan the details in a way that showcases your relationship.

Join us in reliving this majestic celebration, where every moment is a story and a testament to love.

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Welcome to Reena & Nachiket's wedding at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, filled with tradition and love. A Country Wagon's baraat horse, a symbol of tradition, pranced to rhythmic heartbeats of attendees. Janel Ellfsen of Occasions LLC weaved magic, transforming every corner into a sanctuary of elegance and charm. M&M Decorations' created an elegant atmosphere with their floral artistry and decor. Reena displayed ethereal beauty with every strand of her lustrous hair and stroke of makeup crafted by the talented Gurpreet Kaur. Her hands were adorned with exquisite mehndi artwork by Jazz by Henna, telling tales of enduring love. The aromas of delicious dishes from Saffron Restaurant filled the air, promising an unparalleled culinary experience. DJ Rocky's melodies guided the souls present through moments of exuberance, reflection, and unutterable affection. Moments by Shubha didn't just capture images; they immortalized emotions. She weaved the ethereal essence of love and unity into visual symphonies, with each masterpiece photograph encapsulating the intricate dance of emotions and colors unfolding in real-time. Shubha transforms the ephemeral into the eternal, ensuring that every glance, smile, and tear of joy is forever engraved. Check out the gallery and enjoy!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
The stars were aligned, and who knew what fate had in store for these two hopeful romantics?! It was early September 2018, and Reena and Nachiket happily swiped right on each other's pictures, and the conservation began. Reena’s opening message was an amazing one-liner that reeled Nachiket in. For those who want to use this message in their future endeavors, it was ‘Hi, How are you?’ This one-liner worked so well that they met up about 2 weeks later, and the journey began.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Nachiket asked Reena to go hiking on a hot summer day. He took Reena to one of their earliest date spots, Seattle's famous Discovery Park. After hiking in the heat, Nachiket got down on one knee in a picturesque spot on the beach and popped the question! To Reena's surprise, along with strangers who were cheering and clapping, jumping out of the bushes came some of their closest friends, whom Nachiket had invited to join for the celebration!

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.
Our overall experience went mostly pretty smoothly once we figured out the venue that the groom and I were really excited about hosting our wedding. We found the DJ (Rocky Virk, @rockthedhol), and Photographer (@momentsbyshubha) very early on, and they recommended our wedding planner, Janel Ellefsen (@occasionsllc), and decorator (@mandmdecorations). I found the makeup (@thepreetartistry) and henna (@hennabyjasmin_seattle) artists on my own on IG. The decor theme came along naturally as we looked at pictures and fabric samples. We decided on a white mandap with white flowers and draping as the wedding was outdoors, and we went with a Blue and Gold overall color theme for the reception, which our guests really loved.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
We went to sample wedding outfits, and I decided I liked their traditional pinkish-red lengha with gold embroidery and peacocks. I saw an outfit I really liked, standing on a mannequin, and I knew that was the one I wanted. My mom got the bride and groom's name embroidered on my lengha as a surprise!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
People really loved: 1) the Venue, the Hyatt Lake Washington, as it was pretty unique compared to most Indian weddings due to its location on the Lake Washington waterfront with picturesque Pacific Northwest scenery. 2) The Bride and Groom's entrance prior to the Baraat on a boat, as this was a unique Pacific Northwest touch to an Indian Wedding that almost none of the out-of-town guests had witnessed before. 3) The wedding was held on Seafair weekend, and people loved the Blue Angels airshows that continually happened around the time of the ceremony. And lastly, 4) people absolutely LOVED the catering from Saffron Grill (located in Seattle's Northgate neighborhood), and 5) the overall party and festive atmosphere, which was greatly accentuated by the amazing job done by DJ Rocky Virk (@Rockthedhol)

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
There was no single special moment, just the entire week and wedding weekend experience with family and friends who were here to celebrate with us from all over the globe! Many of our friends and family told us this was the best wedding they'd ever been to! Having the bride's grandma being able to fly over from the United Kingdom was extra special for her as she was the only grandparent able to attend the ceremony!

My darlings, I hope you enjoyed reading about our Maharani brides and their inspiring weddings! 

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Welcome, ladies! This love story continues its journey into Trisha & Tanuj's happily ever after, and we are here to bring you all the details you want to know! Brandon Andrews Photography masterfully documented the emotions and essence of the occasion. Their lighting, composition, and storytelling expertise allowed the couple's love to shine through the lens, creating a cinematic masterpiece. With their impeccable skills, he ensured that every frame was a work of art, capturing the purest emotions and preserving them in time. The Stovehouse Event Center provided the perfect backdrop for their celebration. Palino Events meticulously planned and designed every detail, providing a breathtaking experience. Prashe Decor adorned the venue with magnificent floral arrangements, transforming the space into a whimsical wonderland. Maleigh Artistry + Danni enhanced Trisha's radiant beauty with their expert touch. Complementing her stunning look was the exquisite bridal fashion and jewelry by Priyanka Singh Designs. Tanuj looked dashing in his impeccably tailored tuxedo from Oxford Street Menswear, exuding confidence and sophistication. And let's remember the intricate mehndi that Horizon Henna skillfully crafted, adding an element of cultural richness to her bridal ensemble. The culinary experience was an absolute delight, courtesy of the talented team at Art of Flavors. Setting the mood and keeping the energy alive throughout the night was DJ Anis Ali of M1 Sounds, who spun the perfect blend of music that had everyone on their feet, dancing the night away. Capturing with artistic precision was William Bichara Photography, whose keen eye for detail and ability to capture raw emotions documented every precious moment of the couple's special day. His dedication to his craft and ability to capture the most intimate moments with authenticity and artistry make him a true gem in the world of wedding photography, ensuring that these memories will be cherished forever. Check out the gallery and let your hearts be swept away by their love story!

Thanks for joining us today. Remember to come back here to be updated on new love stories!

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Darlings, we hope you are ready because a full flair traditional love story is coming! So, please sit back, relax, and enjoy Astha & Chintan's wedding. As the radiant sun adorned the sky, the groom arrived in a grand procession, his Baraat led by majestic horses from Seaton Hackney Stables. The Legacy Castle was the perfect setting for this ceremony and reception. Urvashi Mishra, Wedding & Event Planner, crafted a masterpiece, flawlessly weaving traditional elements and modern aesthetics together. The venue was transformed into a haven of luxury, radiating warmth and grace in every corner. Wedding Design worked its magic, adorning the space with exquisite floral arrangements that mirrored the bride's ethereal beauty. The skillful hands of Flawless Beauty by Pauline elevated Astha's beauty to new heights. Mehndi by Anuja delighted everyone's taste buds with their sumptuous culinary creations. With a carefully selected playlist blended traditional tunes with contemporary hits, M4U Events had every guest grooving and moving to the rhythm. Their expertise and passion for music elevated the wedding experience, leaving the guests with memories of a night filled with non-stop entertainment and exhilaration. Memories Studio, the ever-talented photographers were present, capturing the essence of love and happiness. Experience the magic through their gallery. 

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
So it was March 19th, 2021, our two-year dating anniversary, and Chintan said he planned a special dinner in NYC. He told me we were going to stop by at our favorite rooftop in Jersey City (Rooftop at Exchange Place) and then make our way into the city. So we get ready and head over to the rooftop, and as I enter, I hear music, and I get a glimpse of all our loved ones waiting for us on the other side. Then Chintan takes my hand and walks me to the center of the room, and immediately breaks into dance! He planned a whole flash mob Bollywood-style proposal with my favorite songs and favorite people dancing! All of my family and friends joined him for some songs, and he ended the dance with “Marry Me” by Bruno Mars. He took me to the front of the room and proposed with the New York skyline as our beautiful backdrop and with our family and friends cheering us on!

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
So we went to Mumbai for my wedding shopping because my family is from there so we had a lot of stores to visit in mind. My mom had this dream of me wearing a Sabyasachi lehenga, and I told her if I loved something, I would definitely consider it. So we enter the store; the beautiful surroundings and vibes are definitely enchanting! We look at a couple of outfits, and I see this red outfit that my aunt and mom selected for me. I was actually against wearing red because I didn’t like that color much, and the outfit they showed me was red, but I decided to try it on anyways. I try it on, and the rest is history! I bought that outfit right away, and I ended up wearing a beautiful red lehenga for my wedding :) everything changed when I wore it, so I’d definitely recommend trying different colors even if you don’t like them. I only tried one bridal outfit, and that’s all it took for 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.
So I was always clear on what kind of styles and themes I wanted for all my pre-wedding events, and because I’m a classically trained dancer and loved dancing and choreographing, I planned out all the dances, songs, and the whole program of all the events. My first event was the Mehendi which I wanted to be a “mela,” bright, colorful carnival style! We had lots of gifts, giveaways a whole Chudi bazaar full of bangles, turbans, bindis, purses, earrings, and many more items. They all were customized with our hashtag, and our guests loved it and took everything home! I did two dances in the mehendi, and my friends performed “mere yaar ki shaadi hain,” which was so fun! The Sangeet was that night, and we had a live singer Rex D’Souza who set the dance floor on fire! Everyone had the best time of the whole weekend on the Sangeet night! He was singing non-stop for 4 hours, making everyone dance which was an absolute blast! We also had 9 performances in the Sangeet with all our family and friends, and it was a complete Bollywood-style Sangeet. Chintan and I have loved Bollywood since we were kids, and we knew we had to incorporate it in our wedding, so we chose a whole Bollywood theme with a red carpet and all the decor being posters of Bollywood movies as well. The Sangeet truly was a Bollywood dream come true! For my haldi, I decided to do something a little different, I decided to do an entry song with all the uncles and aunties that I’ve grown up with and chose to dance with each couple for a few seconds as I entered the hall. Choreographing this and all 15 of us dancing together was such a memorable memory that I’ll never forget!

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I think the biggest thing I would say to all future brides is to have a clear vision of what you want and work towards fulfilling that. Because there are so many options, so many vendors, and so many small details to get overwhelmed and confused over, the sooner you can make firm decisions quickly, the sooner you can get to planning all the fun stuff and not be overwhelmed! I also advise you to prioritize what you and your partner want, from decision-making to incorporating small details in the wedding, like writing your own vows or giving gifts to each other before the wedding. At the end of the day, it’s the wedding of you two, and you should be perfectly content and happy with everything you choose to do. On the day of the wedding, if something goes wrong or doesn’t go according to plan, the best thing to do is to just move on and not let it affect your mood/smile because the camera captures everything! The photographers are always going to be with you, and everything gets captured, so if you let one thing affect you, everything will fall apart, including your pictures!

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
The first thing we locked down for our wedding was our venue! We absolutely loved The Legacy Castle and just knew that’s where we wanted to get married! Our hashtag comes from that venue as well! It’s AC which stands for Astha and Chintan, and ki Legacy means “their legacy,” which was a word play on the venue and also the beginning of our legacy! #ACkiLegacy. We even decided to do an outdoor jai maala on the legacy castle terrace, which had never been done before! We tried to do something unique and make the most of our venue, which turned out to be a beautiful ceremony with the drones above us capturing every moment! Our planner Urvashi Mishra was amazing from the beginning of our whole process! She was with us since before Chintan even proposed and helped him out with those details, along with our engagement party, bridal shower, and wedding! She took care of everything during those events over 2 years, and it made wedding planning a breeze! Our amazing photo video team, Memories Studios, has been with us since our engagement party, our engagement photo shoot, and the wedding! They brought their whole team and went all out! They showed off their amazing skills with the same-day edit in the reception, and everyone was left stunned! Our caterer, Moghul Caterers, knocked every meal out of the park! Food is something that is so important in every wedding, and we managed to incorporate almost every cuisine during the whole weekend, and they pulled it off beautifully! For our decor, we had Ravi from wedding design and decor, who took all of my visions and brought them to life! I drew out every single decor setup from the mehendi to the Sangeet to the haldi and wedding and reception, and he did it exactly as I had imagined! Having a vision of what I wanted for all the setups was extremely helpful because all he had to do was just explain to me how it was going to work and then just do it. For my makeup and hair, I had the amazing Pauline, who was my partner in crime for 4 days! Waking up and keeping me awake and excited at 4 am is no easy task, and she did it so effortlessly, along with also working and giving me 4 beautiful looks! Anuja, for my mehendi, was amazing! She also took my vision of what I showed her from a photo and made it come to life. She was so calm, and we had the best time together ordering our pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks at 3 am! Sheraton Parsippany was a great venue to host all of our guests and to have all of our pre-wedding events! It was the best idea to have everyone stay in one place for 4 days, and all the events be in the ballrooms of the same hotel. Super convenient and stress-free because traveling was completely eliminated!

This lovely wedding was such a pleasure to see. I enjoyed every minute of it! See you tomorrow.

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