The Platinum Guide Blog

Our hearts are exploding with joy as we peruse through a wonderful Indian wedding captured by Lin & Jirsa Photography. Beena and Jay’s sensational weekend concluded with their reception soiree that epitomized romance. The Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport was transformed into a magical wonderland by Liz Decorations who bedazzled every corner of the space in sparkling lights, lush flower arrangements, and intricate draping. The flora and fauna creatively incorporated into the decor gives us so much inspiration! Beena donned a flowing, champagne anarkali and was the radiant center of attention the whole night. Meanwhile, her dapper groom was handsome in a tailored tux. When guests trickled into the ballroom, a towering, floral adorned cake baked to perfection by Raksha's Custom Cakes was a scrumptious centerpiece. (We're loving the "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" topper. Too cute!) We wish we could reach into the screen and grab a delectable slice! As the evening came to a close, M4U Events rocked the night with the latest beats and kept guests on the dance floor. Don’t take our word for it! Head into the full gallery by Lin & Jirsa Photography for all the fun!

Have a lovely day Maharanis!

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We love Indian weddings that are full of pomp and dazzle, and Beena and Jay’s celebration at the Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport didn't miss a beat. Jay’s baraat was a wild and crazy ride led by M4U Events who ensured that every family member was dancing while making their grand entrance! We adore so many details of Indian weddings, but our absolute fave moment has to be the unveiling of the bride. Beena was the most charming of Maharanis in her chocolate lehenga, with sultry makeup and an elegant ‘do by Makeup by Mala. We couldn’t help but smile while looking through the photos of her gracefully gliding down the aisle. Also, we noticed that handsome Jay’s sherwani featured colors and embroidery that perfectly matched his bride. These coordinated ensembles were such a great touch and photographed beautifully together. The couple took their vows under a circular, golden mandap designed by Liz Decorations. We were huge fans of the red floral arrangements and the gold leaf mandap details. The post ceremony photos were absolutely gorgeous as well, as the newlyweds were showered in a garden of rose petals and whisked away in a classic set of wheels. We have all the wonderful memories tucked away in our gallery captured by the incredible Lin & Jirsa Photography.

Hurry back Maharanis! Reception deets (including a gorg cake by Raksha's Custom Cakes) coming right up!

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Suhani and Sunny’s wedding was an absolutely authentic rendition of a traditional Indian wedding, through and through! The summer ceremony took place at the Renaissance Dallas, an expansive venue that allowed for a lot of creative freedom in terms of design, for Affinity Celebrations. “We designed the area using shades like dark pink, bright yellow, gold, and tangerine, and also incorporated some lovely floral garlands to complete that traditional Gujarati look,” remarked Affinity Celebrations. They set up a lovely round mandap that was enveloped in striking tangerine tulle drapes, with bright florals woven around it. A floral Ganesh wall was set up at the entrance, which elevated the Baraat as well as the walk down the aisle. Suhani was crystal clear about the kind of red traditional outfit she wanted, and found her dream outfit in Dubai, which was all red with gold gota work. Suhani and Sunny coordinated subtly but perfectly, with Sunny donning a cream thread-embroidered sherwani, with a crimson red safa. The bridesmaids and groomsmen added a pop of blue to the event, in their matching ensembles, and made for some darling photos clicked by Bytegraph. Check out the gallery brimming with colors and exuberance! 

Before we wrap up the #OnceUponAShah nuptial shindig, here's our convo with the bride about her big day!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Sunny and I were introduced by mutual friends who thought we would make a good couple. Our first meeting didnt go so well. We went bowling and later to get froyo. thought he was shy and boring, he thought I was loud and overbearing. But 6 months later, we started talking again over Facebook at 3 am one night. He invited me to try this new restaurant with him, I said yes, and here we are 4 years later! A few months after we started dating, we went on a double date with my friends. That night, as he dropped me home, I suddenly realized that I could spend my entire life with him. He felt like family, and I felt like I had known him forever even though it had just been a few months. It was that random night that I knew he was "the one".

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Sunny took me out to dinner one night, and since it was late, he ended up spending the night at my parent's house. The next morning he woke me up at 5 am and told a very grumpy me to go sit in the car. I fell asleep immediately in the car, and when i woke up, we were at the airport parking lot. He still wouldn't tell me what was going on, until we passed security and got to the gate. We were going to Colorado, which has always been one of my favorite places. We flew to Colorado, got a car and drove all the way up the Rockies. Once in Vail, we rode the trolley upto the highest mountain. There, at a beautiful spot called the Wedding Deck, against the magnificent mountain backdrop, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
The wedding planning was actually a lot of fun, and not as messy and stressful as I expected it to be. The toughest part was finding the perfect venue, and we researched a lot and had about 20 different meetings before settling on The Renaissance Hotel. They had a beautiful banquet hall and a perfect separate entrance for the barat. Another aspect that we spent a lot of time researching was the decor. I wanted my wedding to be traditional, with red orange and gold hues and lots of flowers. We found Affinity Celebrations through a mutual friend. My wedding theme color was blue, so I wanted blue outfits for me and my husband for the Mehndi and Sangeet events, and I wanted an all red and gold outfit for the wedding. I found all of this along with the matching gold jewelry in Dubai. It really is a shoppers paradise!

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was definitely shopping for outfits. We went to Dubai and India to shop for mine and my husband's outfits as well as the bridesmaids sarees.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The first look...Sunny saw me in my wedding dress for the first time on our wedding morning and got teary eyed. I will never forget that moment.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Just relax and have fun. Even if things aren't perfect on your wedding day (which they won't be), people will still have a good time. You dont want to go through this entire event stressing about silly little details and not enjoy the big moments. Be mentally present in every ceremony, take time out for your close family and friends and just remember that a happy marriage is way more important than a perfect wedding!

We hope Suhani and Sunny's wedding wiped away all your midweek blues! Return to the blog tomorrow where we are featuring a gorgeous Sikh wedding from Pittsburgh!

Henna by Alpa and Affinity Celebrations are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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The pomp and color galore of a Gujarati wedding is unmatchable, and we’re always excited to write about one because each wedding gives us a new perspective on vibrancy and color combinations. Suhani and Sunny’s wedding bash at Renaissance Dallas was truly a labor of love, and as is native to Gujarati weddings, started off with a Garba and Sangeet. The cream and brown damask patterned carpet in the ballroom was one element that worked in favor of the antique and wooden displays, and offset the solid hues elegantly. Affinity Celebrations and Suhani were a match made in heaven because our Maharani said that they delivered exactly what she had in mind in terms of decor. They came up with a display table with personalized pieces like the SS lettering, framed photos of the couple and their loved ones, and placed them alongside colorful Moroccan lamps, Dandia sticks, bangles, bindis, and antique centerpieces. Suhani wanted her and Sunny’s outfits to be blue and coordinated, so she donned a royal blue embroidered lehenga paired with an embellished gold blouse. Ishnae Beauty finished her look with a matte, blush tone and styled her hair in loose curls that cascaded down to her waist. The beautiful Henna design on Suhani’s hands were truly a work of art by Henna by Alpa. Sunny opted for a Butta print raw silk sherwani that looked so Nawabi and smart! The night of dancing, Garba Raas, and enjoying the delicacies from Mumtaz Indian Restaurant came to a close on a note of fun and merriment. A&A Video Productions filmed this extravaganza, with Bytegraph as the photography counterpart. Relive the moments from this gorgeous Gujarati galore by heading to the gallery!

Coming up next is the wedding ceremony of Suhani and Sunny, an event full of vibrancy and vigor! We’ll be right back, and so should you!

Henna by Alpa and Affinity Celebrations are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Back at the Hilton BWI Airport, a large Indian event had come to town and the bride and groom, finally able to relax a bit, got ready for their lavish big reception party! The Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport has provided spacious grounds for grand Indian weddings in their coveted ballroom, and Maharani Sneha’s wedding was certainly no exception. The bride wore a royal purple and gold velvet anarkali that was sheer perfection. With a loose side ponytail and minimal makeup, this bride was the personification of sultry elegance. The floral laced backdrop panel with lace draping by Palki Mandap Decorators adorning the sweetheart stage was sheer genius. The dance floor was lit up by Dynasty Entertainment who also provided the beats for the night. Before guests hit the dance floor, they were treated to chilli naan and chicken vindaloo catered by local Indian eatery, Sukhadia Caterers. Touch Touchet Bakery provided the perfect touch, assembling a velvety purple wrapped three tier cake with cream frosting. This wedding reception has come to a wrap! Head into the gallery for more photos by Channa Photography!

Looking for a great catering company out in New Jersey? Look no further, Platinum Guide Member Moghul Caterers has got you covered! Until tomorrow, Maharanis!

Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport, Channa Photography, Sukhadia Caterers and DCs Dynasty are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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