Real Wedding

When Kristen Wellman met Arpan Patel for the first time, little did she know that they would build a lifetime of love and two different cultures together. Arpan was immediately smitten with Kristen when he met her at a New Year’s party thrown by his friend Andrew, who turned out to play innocent matchmaker for his twin sister! Kristen and Arpan only had time for a one date before Kristen had to return to Indiana for school. During a time of her life where she was traveling to a new city every month for work, Kristen was struck by how caring and supportive Arpan turned out to be and their relationship blossomed through many FaceTimes and phone calls. His consistency won her over, and after a little over a year of dating, Arpan proposed.

Arpan’s beautiful proposal took place at the Seven Mile Beach at the Grand Cayman Islands. The idyllic holiday planned in advance by common friends of the couple and Arpan included boating escapades, surfing with the stingrays and beach bathing. On the last leg of the trip, the couple dressed up prettily for some photo sessions and Arpan urged his lady love to walk through the waters with him and at a dreamy moment, he got down on one knee and asked that magical question “Will you marry me?” For Kristen, it was a moment full of certainty and peace as she had absolute faith in Arpan. The happy couple proceeded for a romantic dinner at the lighthouse and then went for a thrilling horseback ride through the waters, the next morning.

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The couple had planned an elaborate wedding that would include several ceremonies and 300 guests. However, the pandemic made them scale down the event to a single day and thirty guests!! Their wedding planner was immensely helpful in planning the event. Naturally, there were two ceremonies and the couple jointly chose the locations for both. While the Hindu ceremony was held at the outdoor Heritage Park in Canton, Michigan, the Catholic ceremony took place at the Old St Mary’s Catholic Church at Detroit, Michigan. The location worked for them as it was a mid point for both families and a convenient distance from the airport. Though most pre wedding events were cancelled, the couple did have a beautiful rehearsal dinner after the Church wedding rehearsal. The intimate dinner at Greek restaurant in Detroit was accentuated by lovely pink blooms, glimmering candles and palm plant decorations. Kirsten and Arpan’s wedding were a respectful immersion of both Catholic and Hindu cultures with beautiful ceremonies sourced from both religions. There was a miniature Baraat event where Hindi music was played while conventional catholic music was played at the Catholic wedding. In keeping with the norms of the pandemic, the bride and groom opted for carpool with their groomsmen and bridesmaids.

The couple originally planned an elaborate wedding that would include several ceremonies and 300 guests. However, due to Covid pandemic restrictions, they scaled down the event to a single day and thirty guests! The Hindu ceremony was held outdoors at Heritage Park in Canton, Michigan, and the Catholic ceremony took place at Old St Mary’s Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan. The location worked for them as it was a mid point for both families and a convenient distance from the airport. Though most pre-wedding events were cancelled, the couple did have a beautiful, intimate rehearsal dinner at The Greek Restaurant in Detroit. The venue was accentuated by lovely pink blooms, glimmering candles and palm plant decorations. Kristen and Arpan’s wedding represented a respectful blend of both Catholic and Hindu cultures with beautiful ceremonies in accordance with both religions. There was a short, but lively Baraat where Bollywood music was played, while the Catholic ceremony featured traditional wedding music.

The couple also held a reception at The RattleSnake Club in Detroit. The couple opted to minimize Covid risks by hosting the reception at the club’s outdoor patio, which was located next to a beautiful river. Four to six people were seated at each table and the centerpieces of blooms, candy, shrubs and a gorgeous elephant name holder were handmade by the bride and her mom. Sparkling Edison lights set off reflections on the river water and accentuated the happy smiles of the small gathering filled with light and love. The couple had their dances at a small platform built in the middle of the park. While the bride and her father danced to Heartland’s “I loved her first,” the groom and his mom danced to Atif Aslam’s “Janam Janam.” The couple danced to a beautiful medley of  romantic songs “Pehla Nasha” and “Speechless” by Dan+Shay.

Kristen and Arpan made sure that everyone who could not attend the wedding in person was still able to celebrate the lovely occasion through live streaming. Kristen also surprised Arpan with a video she made in collaboration with Arpan’s friends, something Arpan will always cherish.

Kristen and Arpan urge couples to not only enjoy every moment leading up to their wedding, but also enjoy the day to the fullest once it arrives.

The couple originally planned an elaborate wedding that would include several ceremonies and 300 guests. However, due to Covid pandemic restrictions, they scaled down the event to a single day and thirty guests! The Hindu ceremony was held outdoors at Heritage Park in Canton, Michigan, and the Catholic ceremony took place at Old St Mary’s Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan. The location worked for them as it was a mid point for both families and a convenient distance from the airport. Though most pre-wedding events were cancelled, the couple did have a beautiful, intimate rehearsal dinner at The Greek Restaurant in Detroit. The venue was accentuated by lovely pink blooms, glimmering candles and palm plant decorations. Kristen and Arpan’s wedding represented a respectful blend of both Catholic and Hindu cultures with beautiful ceremonies in accordance with both religions. There was a short, but lively Baraat where Bollywood music was played, while the Catholic ceremony featured traditional wedding music.

Indian Wedding

Hindu Wedding

Hindu-Catholic Fusion wedding

Baraat Event

Hindu Ceremony

Indian Bollywood Song

Atif Aslam’s Janam Janam

Engagement Photoshoot

Proposal Photoshoot

Romantic Proposal

Heartland’s “I loved her first”

“Pehla Nasha”

Speechless by Shay

Wedding Planner

Kristen Wellman

physician assistant

project manage

Arpan Patel

ethnicities and culture

New Year party

Andrew

Wedding Matchmaker

Seven Mile Beach

Grand Cayman Islands

Beach Bathing

Photo Sessions

Beach Bathing

‘Will you marry me’

Happy Couple

Romantic Dinner

Pandemic

Heritage Park in Canton

Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Pre-Wedding Event

Rehearsal Dinner

Greek Restaurant

Hindu and Catholic Cultures

Catholic Music

Catholic Wedding

Bride and Groom

Carpool

Groomsmen

Bridesmaids

Reception

Rattlesnake Club

Eddison lights

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Sabrina Ramlall and Dillan Cothran’s wedding took place at the Dockside venue at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Their intimate ceremony celebrated their love and represented their cultures through beautiful and unique touches on their memorable day.

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?

We wanted a small and intimate wedding that incorporated the parts of a traditional Hindu wedding. The theme of the wedding was simple with the red of the traditional clothing to the simplistic white roses.

Let’s talk about wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

Our venue was so beautiful that we mainly used the natural scenery as our backdrop for the wedding. We got married in front of Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park, which was perfect for us since we got engaged directly across from where we were married. We used the simple white folding chairs for our guests, and the aisle was lined with white roses in simple glass vases.

How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

We met in the 5th grade and became friends who picked on each other. In 7th grade, Dillan asked me out during orchestra class one day, and we have been together since. We grew up through high school and college with each other and supported each other through careers and a long distance relationship. Our proposal was whirlwind because Dillan planned a lunch date in the middle of my school midterms, and I was extremely stressed and tried to cancel the date multiple times. Luckily Dillan did not let that happen! It was my first time actually walking though Piedmont Park and then suddenly he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife after 11 years of being together. It was the easiest yes I have ever said.

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

Our wedding day was actually our 12 year dating anniversary. We were both anticipating our vows because it marked us making a life long promise to love each other.

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

Keeping the ceremony as personal and simple as possible was the highlight for us. It was exactly how we wanted it and less is more. This way we both were not stressing about the logistics of the ceremony – instead we just focused on being there with each other at that moment.

Meghavi Parekh and Ketul Shah’s love story is one that is full of surprises and romantic gestures. Though the two both lived in Parsippany, New Jersey, they first met during a video conference with mutual friends in 2011. Recognizing a special connection at that virtual meeting, Ketul instantly sent a Facebook friend request to Meghavi that she accepted. The virtual friendship led to a real life one when the two started meeting in person. 

Meghavi and Ketul began dating in earnest in September of 2012. After dating for five years, Ketul proposed and Meghavi happily accepted! Meghavi was overwhelmed by the way Ketul proposed, which took place in phases. First, the couple went on a sunset helicopter trip of New York and witnessed the mesmerizing sights together. The next weekend was the eventful one.

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Ketul sent a surprise package to Meghavi, a box on which “I love you” was written in 10 different languages. There was a beautiful red dress in it with a note to be ready by 12:30pm. The blushing Meghavi dressed in red went on a lunch date with her true love. Just after lunch, Ketul hurried to a ferry ride in New York. Just when they reached the pier, Meghavi was awestruck to find all their close friends carrying a banner that read “Baku (my dear) will you marry me?.” Meghavi was sincerely touched by Ketul’s romantic gesture and the presence of friends during the great moment of her life.

The couple decided to marry in May 2019. Meghavi and Ketul did not want a wedding planner, and instead, they decided to plan the details themselves with the help of their family and close friends. The couple wanted to enjoy every bit of the planning, and according to Meghavi, it was a huge task, but the process and the successful execution of the plans made them truly content. 

They chose a venue close to Parsippany as both families and their friends lived nearby. Just like their personal chemistry, the choice of venue also stroked a chord of unity and romanticism together. During their search for the perfect venue, Meghavi and Ketul visited The Mansion at Mountain Lakes and were overwhelmed by its rustic elegance. The two agreed that it was the perfect location for their dream marriage.

Friends and family offered references for different vendors, and the couple they met with them personally. Impressed by their genuine wishes to plan everything themselves, the vendors extended exceptional cooperation in all aspects of planning. 

Before tying the knot, the couple visited India to shop and for a pre-wedding shoot. Finally, the big day arrived. Three pre-wedding ceremonies – the Kickoff Party, Mehndi and Pithi – were celebrated at home. The Kickoff Party and Mehndi were celebrated together, while the Pithi took place at the bride and groom’s respective homes.

Meghavi is a henna artist herself, so she designed her own mehndi. Her henna artist fulfilled her expectations more than perfectly. The pithi jewelry was handmade by Meghavi’s aunt, who also made floral jhumkas and veils for the same event. At the Mehndi, a swing was decorated with floral veils. It was an intimate ceremony with the participation of the family members along with touches of love everywhere.

The wedding ceremony was in the morning and inside the venue. The couple loved the venue so much that the decor was simply meant to complement the existing ambiance and grace of the room. The mandap was draped with pink fabric with a chandelier in the center and a floral hedge with white hydrangea and pink and peach roses adorned the top.

Ketul arrived on a horse carriage to the festive occasion. Hit dance numbers were played for the baraat, and during the marriage ceremony, the music choice was traditional Shehnai and Gujarati Lagan geet to fully embrace culture and heritage.

The reception continued with the simple, yet elegant theme. The couple’s love for white hydrangea and pink and peach roses continued here too with the stage centrepieces made of these flowers. There was beautiful silk fabric draping for the backdrop adding to the romantic ambience perfectly. The centrepieces of the guests’ tables included silver crystal goblets with votive candles inside and pink rose petals around the base.

A fog machine was used for the first dance number to create a surreal feeling of dancing on the clouds. Songs included the title track from film Dhadak and “Ek Ladki ko Dekha to Aisa Laga.” The 250 guests partied along with the bride and groom into the night as top dance numbers along and remixes played throughout the reception. 

The reception featured dance recitals by the family and friends. There were even three surprise performances from the groom, his family and the bride’s family. It was indeed a pleasant surprise for Meghavi and the other guests. The couple was overwhelmed to see the beautiful decor at the reception and happily thank the decorators for bringing their ideas to life. 

Simple but elegant was what Meghavi and Ketul hoped for their wedding, and they were happy it came about through their planning. Cherishing the beautiful and happy memories of their wedding, the couple advises everyone not to get too stressed or occupied by the planning process. There is stress, but couples’ should not forget to enjoy the fun of beginning a new journey in life.

Meghavi Parekh and Ketul Shah’s love story

Romantic gestures in Indian Weddings

Beautiful Red Dress

Pre-wedding Ceremonies

Kickoff Party

Mehndi

Pithi Jewelry

Dream Indian Wedding

Romantic ambience at indian wedding

Beautiful silk fabric draping

Henna Artist

Intimate Ceremony

The Mansion at Mountain Lakes

Floral Jhumkas

Mandap

Indian Wedding Mandap

Little did Pooja Makam, dentist, and Robert Weston, lawyer, know that a college friendship would blossom into much more. Though both are from Raleigh, North Carolina, the two did not meet until they were introduced by a mutual friend while students at the University of North Carolina. At the time, their relationship was just a friendship with no cupid in sight. 

In 2016, the two met again through a dating app, and that is when cupid struck. The couple grew to love each other, and soon they planned a trip to Hawaii together. two of them fell in love. Robert wanted to propose Pooja and therefore planned a trip to Hawaii. The trip was nearly cancelled due to an active volcanic eruption, but Robert quickly changed locations to visit Kona. Such was his determination to propose to the love of his life.

The beautiful beach and sand cliffs in Kona made for a picturesque backdrop when Robert proposed to Pooja. The proposal, made amidst exquisite natural beauty overlooking the manta rays, was one Pooja could not refuse judging by her enthusiastic yes! 

Pooja and Robert celebrated their engagement with long walks along black sand beaches, snorkelling with sea turtles and watching the sunset from the top of Mauna Kea with vows of a new beginning. To top it off, the two enjoyed delicious food and even got to see the lava.

The couple married on September 14, 2019.  The wedding was a celebration of two cultures and the couple chose to hire wedding planner Keisha Scott of K.Scott Weddings to ensure the wedding was organized, hassle-free, and truly reflected both their backgrounds. 

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Pooja and Robert wanted to be sure their 450 guests enjoyed the festivities. Due to the size of their guest list, desire for restaurant catering, and the fact that September is wedding season, the couple compromised and split the events at different venues. Since both families live in Raleigh, Pooja and Robert chose The Sutherland in Wake Forest as their wedding venue and the Raleigh Marriott City Center as the site of their reception. 

The festivities began with a Mehndi/Sangeet celebration decorated in bold Moroccan style and colors. Pooja’s love for flowers united the two mothers, who both toured the local farm from where the centerpieces would be selected. The event was informal and fun with newlywed games, chaat food stations, and a s’mores bar that was built by Robert’s father. 

Pooja, a romantic at heart, took her love for florals one step further with a garden-style outdoor wedding. In order to celebrate the couple’s joint cultures, there was a synchronization of Hindu and Christian weddings. The wedding planner worked wonders and it was a perfect union of two cultures. 

Robert arrived at the wedding riding on a white horse, dressed in a traditional Indian Sherwani. The baarat was a joyous start to the ceremony with a musical extravaganza that was a blend of 90s-2000s hip hop and Desi hits, specially selected by the groom himself. 

The reception continued with the garden theme with an extra touch of glamour and elegance. The decorator and wedding planner added touches of gold, sparkle, peacock feathers, a garden wall, globos, and even ice sculptures to give the final festival a glamorous spark.

The party went on with a perfect blend of both Bollywood and western hits. Pooj and her father danced to “Ninnantha Appa Illa” from the film Devatha Manushya, while Robert and his mother danced to Stevie Wonder’s “You are the Sunshine of My Life.”

The couple was so shocked to learn that friends and family secretly practiced a dance for weeks leading up to the wedding. Pooja and Robert were so touched with everyone’s enthusiasm and it was one of their most memorable moments. With unique and personal touches from the marriage vows to the customized welcome bags, Pooja and Robert’s personalities shone through all the details. The customized welcome bags for out-of-town guests included snacks, but also a monogrammed travel toothbrush courtesy of the dentist bride! 

One thing Pooja laughs about now is that her father forgot the wedding garlands. He called his friend to pick them up from the temple at 7 am, and Pooja remained blissfully unaware of the snafu. Now, they all laugh at it, but she is glad that she did not know about it as it would have definitely made her nervous!

Pooja’s advice to would-be couples is to hire a wedding planner and photographer well in advance to remain stress-free through the process.

Customized Welcome Bags

Indian wedding planner in Raleigh North Carolina

University of North Carolina

K.Scott Weddings

Raleigh Marriott City Center

Mehndi Decoration

Sangeet Celebration

Moroccan style colors

Hindu and Christian Weddings

Traditional Indian Sherwani

90s-2000s Desi Hits

Ninnantha Appa Illa

The Film Devatha Manushya

Indian Wedding Photographer

For Puja Solanki and Raj Gone, the airport is a magical place. Their story begins with a chance encounter at Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD), where the two were flying through on the way back to Florida from India. Raj noticed Puja was wearing a USF sweatshirt, the university both attended at the time. They struck up a conversation that lasted the entire layover, and as they say, the rest is history!

In honor of their first meeting, Raj decided to propose to Puja in the spot where they met – at Chicago O’Hare! Despite Puja’s questions as to where they were going, and Raj’s nervousness about the weather delays, it all worked out in the end and Puja said yes! The couple flew back to Tampa, where they were able to celebrate with family and friends.

Puja and Raj really wanted to hold a destination wedding, but Covid changed their plans. Due to the pandemic, the couple decided to host a wedding and reception at the Hyatt Place in their hometown, Wesley Chapel, Florida. The couple planned many details of their wedding but relied on wedding coordinator Big Guava Events to organize logistics and details during the wedding. 

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As part of the pre-wedding ceremonies, Raj had Mangal Snanam and Puja had a Mehndi, Ganesh Puja and Pithi/Haldi. Both ceremonies were attended by only close family members and friends. The night before the wedding featured traditional Garba dancing with colorful floral decorations, a traditional swing and Radha-Krishna idols.

The decor theme at the wedding included blush and pastel shades of fresh flowers with floating candles down the aisle to the Mandap. The baraat included festive Hindi and Telugu dance numbers. Raj arrived in a vintage Chevy convertible and was accompanied by his parents down the aisle. Puja, accompanied by her male cousins and uncle, walked down the aisle to the song “Duniya” from Luka Chupi. 

The reception theme featured a classic and elegant look with white and gold. Florals complemented the ambiance perfectly and were in the centerpieces as well as part of the backdrop wall. The backdrop also included candles with a custom, homemade P and R in light up marquee letters. One unique touch was a caricature painting of Puja and Raj posing as the iconic Raj and Simran from a famous Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge poster. 

The reception had the guests dancing to a mix of top hits as well as Hindi and Telugu songs. The first dance song was a blend of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” from Frankie Vallie and “Enna Sona” from OK Jaanu. The couple was touched by a surprise video of friends and family in India and around the United States who were not able to attend the wedding due to Covid restrictions. 

Given that the couple is easy going, they just went with the flow during the planning process. Puja had the usual bride nightmares of not being ready on time, but none actually came true. The couple advises those planning to be sure to spend some time with their partner not discussing the wedding! Enjoy this time together. 

Despite the pandemic, Puja and Raj’s wedding was a beautiful event shared by friends and family. Their love for each other overcame all even a pandemic.

Colorful Floral Decorations

First Dance Song

Usual bride nightmares

Close family members

Ganesh Puja

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Indian Wedding Coordinator

Indian Destination Wedding

Indian Wedding Ceremonies

Chicago O’Hare Airport

Wesley Chapel Florida

Mehndi

Ganesh Puja

Pithi/Haldi

Radha-Krishna idols

Vintage Chevy convertible

Duniya from Luka Chupi

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge poster

Hindi and Telugu songs

Beautiful Indian Wedding Event