Real Wedding

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.

BANQUET HALLS Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront 386-954-8007 | BEAUTICIANS-COSMETICIAN Beauty By Ami 407-257-8646 | DECORATOR Abhishek Decorators 732-535-4139 | DISC JOCKEY JP Entertainment 732-903-JPDJ | EVENT PLANNER Elite Dream Creations 407-733-2597 |  PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Fine Art Productions 407-979-4749 | PRIEST Mahesh Gor 321-297-6167 | RESTAURANT/CATERING Mast Masala Caterers 407-816-6000 | WEDDING SERVICES Universal Wedding Cards 91 141 236 1591

They married in Florida because Krishna’s family is from Daytona Beach. Also, Amish’s mother’s family is from Florida. Elite Dream Creations, a full-service wedding planner, was recruited because a large group of 800 guests was expected at Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.

Indian Havelis’ elaborate façade inspired the wedding’s decor, which included staggered stone buildings that recalled medieval mysticism. The bride, groom, and their closest family members sat in crystal seats of various kinds on a lofty mandap.

Hindu weddings have multiple ceremonies, and handcrafted décor set the mood for each. The bride’s lehenga had orange, hot pink, and green curtains and ornaments for the Mehandi ceremony. Since music is so important in weddings, multiple Hindi, English, and Punjabi songs were played concurrently at the groom’s, bride’s, and other main ceremonies.The garba event and wedding day had live singers and live band to add to the overall ambience of the event.

For the same reason, Grashanti, Garba, the Havan Kund, and the dining and visiting rooms required specially engineered decorative structures. Since the wedding was held early in the day, the lighting was natural and warm with a tint of gold, and votive lights were placed throughout the room to create a lucky environment. Arches and banisters covered with flowers and lighting gave the space a dreamy atmosphere. Sleek, attractive, and mobile food carts were installed.

CO2 smoke fog gun were used to cool guests in the Florida heat. As the photographer was Amish, photo sessions were hilarious and confusing. Guests partied until 4:30 AM, long after the main events ended.

The photographer’s and guests’ mobile devices captured the memorable elegant wedding.

Yousuf and Farjana connected through mutual friends in 2016 and they began dating in 2017. Four years later, Yousuf stunned Farjana by popping the question to her in front of both of their families and friends.

So Farjana Rahman Pireya Malik, a human resources professional from Bangladesh, and Yousuf Amin Malik, an electrical engineer from Pakistan, became engaged. Their chemistry has a distinctive quality, and with their marriage they were able to celebrate the customs and cultures of one another’s nations.

BANQUET HALLS Cherry Blossom Banquet Hall 703-444-0080 | Friends Meeting Of Washington 202-483-3310 | The Renaissance 804-649-3373 | BEAUTICIANS Makeup By Afshan Instagram: @makeupbyafshan | Makeup by Shazia 571-525-8784 | CAKE Cake Man’s Bakery 804-591-7850 | Ferhana Khan 571-279-9036 | CATERING Al-Medinah Restaurant 804-562-9470 | FLORIST Americas beautiful florist and decor 301-251-0500 | MEHNDI
Madiha 202-733-8292 | MUSICIAN DJ Hercules Entertainment 888-435-4372 | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Arazo Studios 703-707-2519 | PRIEST Imam Abdur Rafa 703-433-1325

For a year, Farjana and Yousuf observed the pre- and post-wedding customs. According to Bangladeshi/Pakistani custom, the Islamic wedding ceremony, or Nikkah, is performed at the bride’s hometown. Since Farjana is a native of Washington, D.C., the couple had their Nikkah on May 16, 2021, at a mosque nearby the district. It was a religious event with 100 attendees.

The couple observed Gaye Holud, or Haldi, on May 29, 2022, in accordance with Bangladeshi tradition. With the help of Yousuf and his groomsmen, Farjana and her bridesmaids, and the other guests, the event featured vibrant colors, delectable Bengali food, a bangle bar, cocktails, dancing, and endless fun. The pair received a beauty treatment using turmeric paste.

The wedding and reception took place on June 12, 2022. The Renaissance at Richmond served as the location. Red and gold were the dominant colors, with hints of coral, peach, and beige. Background music for the ceremonies included a mix of Bangla, Hindi, and English hits. “Mere Sohneya,” a song in Hindi, played as Yousuf entered. The Bangla song “Jhoom” played when the groomsmen and bridesmaids arrived. Farjana and her father entered to the tune of “O Mon,” a Bangla ballad.

The celebration also included a well planned event that showcased the best of both nations. The best performance was the couple’s dance to a popular Bangla song. In addition to savoring the greatest dishes from both nations, each of the 200 guests received a chocolate bar wrapped in red foil with the words “a sweet finale to our new beginning” written lovingly on it.

That sums up Farjana and Yousuf’s love tale as they nostalgically recall the day of their new beginning.