Real Wedding

Dates arranged by friends and family don’t often work out, but sometimes… well, the chemistry just might be there. It was Bansry, the cousin of Rushi Shah, who played the matchmaker in pairing him with Karishma Kadakia. Bansry and Karishma were classmates in med school, and Bansry could envision Kadakia as a potential bride for Rushi, so she invited her to her birthday party on July 13, 2018. It was here that the eventual lovebirds would first meet, date for three years, and finally tie the knot.

Rushi proposed to Karishma at a rooftop party during the Covid 19 Pandemic. He took her away from the party crowd and proposed to her at a specially decorated picturesque location on the pool deck floor. Entering a new level of the relationship, they decided to tie the marital knot in the presence of family and friends.

BANQUET HALLS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana 809-687-0000 | BEAUTICIANS Laura Franco – Chicago 984-116-4514 |  CATERING Pranama Restaurant 829-768-6262 | DECORATOR Creative Punta Cana-Mercaflor 829-712-9518 | ENTERTAINMENT desiBel Entertainment 847-873-5552 | EVENT PLANNER Xanath Banuelos +52 1 984-165-38-25 | INVITATIONS Pink Whistle Man +91 90048-97770 | MEHNDI Lemons and Mehndi  984-116-4514 |  PHOTOGRAPHER Joseph Kang Photography 847-962-0054 | VIDEOGRAPHY
Paraagon Films 847-800-2323

The duo wanted a destination wedding at a beautiful place far from the inquiring eyes of fans. They chose the beautiful Hard Rock – Punta Cana Resort on the shore of the Caribbean Sea in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Their choice was a gorgeous one, overlooking the beach, and the resort provided a comfortable stay for all 270 guests.

The celebrations began on April 21 and 22, as the lucky couple engaged in the pre-wedding ceremonies of Mehndi, Pithi, and Sangeet before the big day on April 23, 2022.

The Mehndi ceremony was combined with a welcome event for all the guests. The innovative celebration took place on a water canal at the resort, featuring a raised platform atop the pool, where guests could watch as Kadakia’s hands and feet were adorned with her special henna design. It was such a hit that the couple celebrated their Haldi ceremony in the same location with orange and yellow flowers. Finally, the Sangeet capped off the pre-wedding ceremonies with the families uniting on an outdoor terrace embellished with an Italian theme.

The Big Day finally arrived! Rushi Shah and Karishma Kadakia became husband and wife on the beach with the beautiful ocean waters as the backdrop. The couple tied the knot under a mint-colored Mandap adorned with flowers and a white canopy. Much like a prince in a fairytale,  Shah rode in on a horse.

Contemporary Hindi songs and Bhangra dominated the music selection throughout the night. The groom entered with the bride’s parents to a Tere Bina “Girls Like You” mashup song by Jeffrey Iqbal, and the bride entered to Kaise Hua. The two enjoyed their special day before leaving the beach as husband and wife in an antique Bentley.

The party was just beginning! The reception in the evening featured a Harry Potter theme. Tables boasted chocolate golden snitches for every guest. Beside each place setting lay a mini broom with a love quote from the Harry Potter books while the backdrop of the hall presented a candlelit decoration in “Hogwarts” style. Floating candles added an extra bit of romance to the Harry Potter theme. The theme, however, paled in comparison to the bride and groom’s dance performances. The couple and their families danced the night away to a melodious mix of Bollywood and Hip-Hop songs.

The beautiful destination wedding at the Hard Rock – Punta Cana was the perfect beginning to what promises to be a wonderful life for the newlyweds.

Covid 19 Pandemic

pool deck floor

marital knot

wedding banquet hall Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

Indian bridal beautician Laura Franco – Chicago

Indian wedding caterer Pranama Restaurant

Indian wedding mandap decorator Creative Punta Cana-Mercaflor

Wedding entertainment desiBel Entertainment

wedding planner Xanath Banuelos

Indian wedding invitation dealer Pink Whistle Man

Indian bridal mehndi artist Lemons and Mehndi

wedding photographer Joseph Kang Photography

wedding videographer Paraagon Films

Hard Rock – Punta Cana Resort

Caribbean Sea in Punta Cana

pre-wedding ceremonies of Mehndi

pre-wedding ceremonies of Pithi

pre-wedding ceremonies of sangeet

henna design, mint-colored Mandap adorned with flowers

prince in a fairytale

“Girls Like You” mashup song by Jeffrey Iqbal

Harry Potter theme, Bollywood and Hip-Hop songs

Jenil Jariwala relocated to Chicago in order to look for housing. He had no idea that the new city would be where he would meet his true love. He found temporary refuge in the home of Kruti Mehta’s parents and a long-term residence in Kruti’s heart. Following their meeting and friendship, they started dating in 2018. After three years, they made the decision to get married with the blessing of their parents. In April 2021, Jenil proposed to Kruti for providing her with that unique feeling.

The couple chose a “destination wedding” and set March 25, 2022, as the wedding date. In contrast to Jenil, who had the majority of his relatives in Surat, Gujarat, Kruti was born and raised in Chicago. As a result, the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort in Florida was chosen as the location.

BANQUET HALLS Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort 727-298-1494 | BEAUTICIANS Michele Renee The Studio and Salon 813-531-7770 | CAKE The Cake Girl 813-360-0909 | CATERING Khasiyat Indian Restaurant 407-252-8756 | DECORATOR Maharani Designs 813-569-9052 | DISC JOCKEY Dudha Productions 727-418-8498 | EVENT PLANNER Apsara Events 727-687-8185 | MEHNDI Unnati Shah 847-301-4124 | PHOTOGRAPHER Celebrations Of Tampa Bay 813-657-2238 | VIDEOGRAPHY Shalin Photo 847-371-1325 | PRIEST Acharya Ramesh Mehta 813-453-9334

Kruti and Jenil celebrated the pre-wedding customs of mehndi, grah shanti, and pithi in their respective homes in Schaumburg and Port Richey, respectively.

Outdoor wedding ceremonies were held on North Beach, also known as Clearwater Beach. It was decorated with welcome bags, chocolate-filled organza bags, flower-adorned seats with custom-made mason jars, a wooden boardwalk, and a Mandap with hanging white wisteria and colorful poles with flowers and greenery.

They did not have the westernized idea of bridesmaids and groomsmen because they were deeply rooted in traditional Indian culture. Instead, everyone shared equally in the festivities. In a blue Mercedes convertible, Jenil arrived. With the pehlu pehlu song for pheras, ullam paadum (from 2 states) for the mangal sutra ritual, shubharambh (from Kai Po Che) for the groom entry, and raatan lambiyaan (from Sher Shah) for the bride entry, the wedding morning music was the ideal blend of Bollywood dance music and Garba.

On the Sandpiper Terrace, there was a reception. Green, white, gold, and rose gold served as the color scheme for the rustic and simple décor. The magic was generated with a gold and white couch with a gold hexagon background, small tables with centerpieces of lanterns and candles, and fairy lights. With beautiful music playing, both parents entered the room. The pair danced as a couple to Tyler Shaw’s With You. From evening to dawn, all 100 guests had fun.

The couple and their guests truly liked the unobtrusive and traditional ceremony.

The strength of love ultimately triumphed over a set of misfortunes and accidents, and the wedding of Nikita and Sunny turned out to be a flawless and joyful occasion.

An accident the couple experienced six months before their wedding day, during a pre-wedding photo shoot in Iceland, caused fractures and wounds, but they soon healed. Another obstacle occurred during the week of their wedding, when a catastrophic hurricane hit New Jersey. And even though the bridegroom, his family, and all of the guests traveled to the wedding destination by car from stormy New Jersey to Florida, everything went off without a hitch.

BANQUET HALLS Hilton Melbourne 321-768-0200 | BEAUTICIANS Atlanta Makeup Artist 678-933-4802 | C Minerva s Looks 813-830-3323 | Henna Allure 321-444-5911 | CAKE Tru-Cakes 407-473-5849 | CATERING Flavor Of India 321-613-3715 | Saffron Indian Cuisines 407-674-8899 | DECORATOR Myar Decor Inc 404-268-7342 | DISC JOCKEY Awaaz Entertainment 407-902-9639 | HORSE CARRIAGE Misty Blue Acres407-433-1099 | MEHNDI Tejal Henna 407-415-7994 | PHOTO BOOTH Snapshot Orlando 407-818-9810 | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Fine Art Productions 407-979-4749 | PRIEST Bhavin Bhai 407-808-1819 | RENTAL SERVICES Central Florida Wedding Warehouse Inc. 407-791-6660 | Orlando Wedding And Party Rentals 407-595-1065 | WEDDING SERVICES Corsa HQ Exotic 305-401-1741 | Hoover Audio Visual Inc 321-749-4455

Sunny Shah and Nikita Patel met each other via the dating app Dil Mil. Since Sunny is from New Jersey and Nikita is from Florida, their romance was a long distance one. In Kona, Hawaii, in front of a setting sun at the beach, Sunny proposed to Nikita. When she noticed the words “Marry Me” and a heart written in the sand, Nikita was both shocked and moved. She happily accepted the proposal.

November 12, 2022, was chosen as the wedding date. The best location was determined to be the Hilton Melbourne in Florida because it was close to Nikita’s home. Both Nikita and Sunny applied their Mehndi at home during the pre-wedding rituals, using a handmade backdrop and varied colors. As Sunny’s Pithi was postponed due to the hurricane, Nikita had her Pithi at home. The Garba had a hip vibe.

The indoor ceremony was held in the morning. At the entrance was a Ganapati idol. A pink mandap and pastel-colored floral border and ribbons complemented the pink color scheme. The bridegroom and his sister arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, and Nikita arrived with a flower Chaddar held by her four maternal uncles.

There was dancing and happiness all around as the DJ spun cheerful, exuberant music. The groom’s family was welcomed by the bride’s side.

The reception featured a starry theme with LED pillars, glass globes, and flowers. Special songs were performed during the arrival of the bride and groom, their relatives, bridesmaids, and groomsmen.

Everyone participated in dancing, watching the shows, and dining on the delectable cuisine. All 350 guests enjoyed the wedding and reception despite the earlier mishaps and disasters.

Both Lily Huynh and Rushabh Shah were working at the same company in Irvine, California, when they first met and began dating. They soon found themselves falling in love. Later on, Rushabh found a job in his native West Los Angeles and relocated there, while Lily remained in Orange County.

They lived rather far apart from one another, but it never seemed to be an issue because they frequently drove to visit each other. After eight years together, Rushabh proposed to Lily during a picnic in the Newport area. Lily, astonished and happy by the turn their relationship had taken, accepted his proposal.

BANQUET HALLS Irvine Marriott Hotel 949-553-0100 | BEAUTICIANS-COSMETICIAN Luong Lasting | CAKE Heavenly Sweet Impressions 714-867-4533 Vans Bakery 714-590-1888 | EVENT PLANNER Stephanie Chin Events 626-251-6142 | FLORIST A Touch Of Lavender 714-860-2226 | Kumba Entertainment
714-533-0061 | INVITATIONS Minted 888-828-6468  | MUSICIAN Special Occasions DJ & Lighting 714-253-3118 | PHOTOGRAPHER D Park Studios 714-538-5234 | RESTAURANT/CATERING Jay Bharat 562-924-3310 The Lime Truck 949-232-0690  Top Catering 714-878-3789 

On August 13, 2022, the couple tied the knot at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum, which also hosted the wedding reception. Lily and her family are from Northern California, while Rushabh’s is from Chicago. Because of its proximity to both the airport and the Irvine Spectrum Center, the Marriott hotel served as the perfect setting for the event.

Given that neither set of parents had met before, they held a Mehndi ceremony and reception at Lily’s home two days before the wedding. An upbeat and celebratory preamble set the tone. A dinner party for close friends and relatives was held the following day at the hotel.

There were two ceremonies at the wedding. First there was a colorful Indian wedding at the hotel, complete with a baraat. The baraat’s soundtrack was a seamless fusion of American and Indian styles. Then, before transporting all 160 guests to Garden Grove for the church ceremony, drinks and lunch boxes of Indo-Chinese food were offered.

The reception was colorful and glowing, but not overpowering. The couple hoped that their guests from India and Vietnam would be able to take part in and learn from one another’s traditions and customs. Entertainment featured a dhol musician and there was music with influences from India, Vietnam, and Latin America. The couple frequently changed their attire, donning a variety of Indian, Vietnamese, and American clothing. The cuisines of the two countries were combined.

The love tale of Lily and Rushabh was a beautiful and harmonious blending of two cultures, and the wedding ceremonies happily reflected their sense of unity.

Miami holds a special place in the hearts of Gautam Muthusamy and Mariah Lewis.

Throughout their college years, the couple had been acquainted with each other via mutual friends, and spent many years as close friends before they started dating. During a chilly walk after six years of dating, Gautam proposed to Mariah. She responded “Yes,” feeling both happy surprise and deep emotion. Soon after, the couple took off for Miami to celebrate their engagement.

BANQUET HALLS Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables 305-445-8066 | BEAUTICIANS Dayana Denis 786-547-0444 | CAKE Cloud 9 bakery 786-250-4672 | CATERING Madras Catering + Event Production 561-249-7168 | DECORATOR Avant gardens 305-554-4300 | DISC JOCKEY Pavan Events 954-494-3567 | EVENT PLANNER
EBJ Events 305-333-8878 | INVITATIONS Truly Engaging 763-786-9400 | MEHNDI The Henna Company Miami
786-368-2034 | PHOTOGRAPHER Solo Mio Photography 305-942-0978

At their destination wedding on October 14, 2022, Miami was once again the setting. They decided to have their wedding and reception in the magnificent, historic, and luxurious Biltmore Hotel to escape the chilly weather at home in Michigan. They enjoyed Mehndi and Sangeet with close relatives and friends during the pre-wedding rituals. The beauty of the Biltmore Hotel and its tropical themes were enjoyed by all who attended.

The wedding ceremonies were held outside at mid-day. Gautam arrived on a horse-drawn carriage. The music during the baraat included a dhol player and was a fusion of American, Latin, and Indian music.

White and blush flowers and tropical vegetation were the main decorative elements of the reception. The groomsmen joined the bridesmaids on the dance floor after the entire bridal party had entered and started dancing together. Once more, there was a blend of Spanish, American, and Indian music.

The couple danced to Ray LaMontagne’s Hold You in My Arms. The groom and his mother danced to Tera Ungli Pakad Ke Chalaa by Unknown Boys, while the bride and her father danced to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Mariah was in awe as she approached the end of the aisle and saw Gautam, her soul mate. She felt doubly happy because the wedding date also was her father’s birthday, and all 125 guests wished him. The couple thoroughly enjoyed the wedding planning process, and they were thrilled to start their new life together as a married couple.