Real Wedding

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. 

BANQUET HALLS Raleigh Marriott City Center 919-833-1120 | The Sutherland 919-556-0140  | CAKE Once In A Blue Moon Bakery 919-319-6554 | CATERING Bombay Grille- Indian Cuisine 704-542-3933 | Taaza Fresh Indian Bistro 336-524-0488 | Udupi Cafe Indian Vegetarian Cuisine 919-465-0898 | DECORATOR K.Scott Weddings 336-343-5488 | EVENT PLANNER K.Scott Weddings 336-343-5488 | HAIR AND MAKEUP Makeup By Jenny Le 704-458-3988 | Silver Ceilings Beauty 631-413-4339 | HORSE AND CARRIAGE Dead Broke Farm 919-812-8975 | MUSICIAN DJ Rang 919-749-2567 | PHOTOGRAPHER Rebekah & Grace Photography 813-461-4561 | VIDEOGRAPHY Afterglow Creative 804-482-1423

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

Shivani and Kunal discovered their compatibility from the beginning. The two met each other virtually through dating app, Dil Mil, and theirs was a long-distance relationship where the couple would connect further by vacationing together. Kunal’s love for dogs and the outdoors attracted Shivani so much that within a year she decided to move from South Carolina to Florida to be closer to Kunal and truly get to know him. 

Kunal proposed to Shivani in August 2019. Though his original plan was to propose during a weekend trip to visit his parents, Kunal came home from work one day and decided he could not wait. He got down on one knee ready to propose to the love of his life. Funnily, in his haste he forgot the ring! He ran to the other room to get the ring, returned, and proposed again with the ring. Shivani thought he might be joking, but he was not. Already deeply in love, Shivani had only one answer: “Yes.”

PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPH: Fine Art Production 407-979-4749 | VENUE: Kunal and Shivani’s Backyard | HAIR AND MAKEUP:  Cori Newhook Makeup | Flavors  of India Cocoa beach FL | MUSICIAN: Krish entertainment 352-299-0743 | BRIDE’S OUTFIT: Riya Boutique Atlanta 404-819-4114

The couple decided to get married January 31, 2021, but though Shivani, Kunal, and their families always dreamed of a big, fat Indian wedding, but the Covid pandemic and restrictions meant a change in plans. Instead, they planned a simple wedding with only 15 guests and no reception. Given the two were nature lovers and lived on a preserve, Shivani and Kunal chose to host their wedding in their home’s backyard in Mims, Florida. The couple did their own wedding planning with the help of their families and the bride’s sister. 

The wedding ceremony was full of personal touches by Shivani’s parents, who made sure every little detail was perfect. Her parents made customized chairs for the bride and groom and bought elephant statues and decorated them with jewels. These touches of affection and love from the parents made the wedding that much more special.

Shivani and Kunal’s love for Indian traditions showed throughout the wedding. The groom entered to the beat of a dhol. They chose to play instrumental versions of their favorite 90s Bollywood hits during the ceremony. To ensure everyone could be a part of the wedding rituals and hear the meaningful words, the music was kept to a low volume. The mandap was decorated in burgundy, green, and white with touches of gold and elephants placed all around. Not to be forgotten, the couple’s dog was even part of the first look photos looking dashing in custom Indian clothing!  

There were some lighthearted moments, like when the guests kept hitting their heads on the chandeliers. Shivani was worried about having a wedding during a pandemic, and she was worried that the guests or even herself might get Covid. Despite the challenges, the couple enjoyed planning their own wedding.  

The couple’s advice is to get personally involved in each stage of planning to make the moments special. For those live streaming their wedding, don’t forget that the video will catch everything that is said! Since there were just a few guests in attendance, it was important to the couple to focus on the photographs and videography to capture every beautiful moment. Shivani and Kunal’s wedding was a ceremony that beautifully captured the couple’s love and sense of belonging.

Shivani and Kunal’s Wedding

Dil Mil App

Covid Pandemic

Wedding Ceremony

Indian Traditions

Indian wedding planning

Custom Indian clothing

Fat Indian wedding

First look photos

Favorite 90s Bollywood

Indian bride’s sister

Aklima and Mark’s wedding shone with vibrant green and gave off true organic vibes as a memorable beginning to the rest of their life together. The Covid pandemic forced the couple to reschedule their original wedding four times. The couple finally decided to plan an intimate ceremony in the backyard garden of their home in Orlando, Florida, in presence of close friends and family. 

Aklima first met when she interviewed for a job at the airport. For five years, the two worked together, and though he was a tough boss, Aklima appreciated Mark’s mentorship. She eventually moved on to a different job, but they kept in touch over coffee and drinks. By 2018, their mentorship became much more and they officially began dating. 

DECORATOR  Dreams To Reality  407-592-9261 | DISC JOCKEY DRock Media 813-405-7019 | HAIR AND MAKEUP Ruqs Salon 321-682-9273 | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Noor K Photography
407-729-0388 | PRIEST Kevin Knox 407-719-0624

Mark planned a romantic proposal as a surprise during an Eid family dinner. On the auspicious day of Eid, he presented Aklima with a bouquet of red roses and led her to a seat at the end of a red carpet by the pool. Mark got down on one knee and proposed to her in front of her entire family. Overtaken with emotion and the romantic gesture, Aklima said “yes” with tears of joy in her eyes. 

The wedding followed Covid guidelines and took place on November 7, 2020, with 25 guests in attendance. Being a natural planner and organizer, Aklima took on the task of planning on her own. Given their diverse backgrounds, the couple wanted the wedding celebration to be a fusion of their backgrounds and cultures. 

Though the original wedding was to take place at the Florida Hotel, the couple knew their backyard, a romantic oasis and place of relaxation, would be the perfect venue for their pandemic wedding. Dreams to Reality provided decor, and the result was rustic, organic ambiance in the lush garden by the pool and spa. The backyard was decorated with rustic ornaments and lighting to complement the garden. A white platform was built above the spa to serve as the Mandap/Altar. 

Though there were no pre-wedding festivities, Aklima was still able to plan a safe girl’s day with close friends, her mom, and aunt, at a spa complete with brunch.

For the ceremony, Mark arrived to “She Believes in Me” by All 4 One, and Aklima walked out to “Everything I Need” by Skylar Grey. The backdrop and theme color for the wedding was green to honor Mark’s love for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The reception struck a different tone. Aklima and Mark transformed their living room into a dance floor with a ceiling of string market lights to give guests the feeling of dancing under the stars. The couple’s first dance was to “I Do” by Aloe Blacc. Later, Aklima, who is also a trained dancer, surprised all with a Bollywood dance for her new husband. She performed to a medley of Umrao Jaan’s “Salaam” and “Pooch Rahe Hai.”  

Despite the limited guests and the pandemic, Aklima and Mark’s wedding included many personal touches thanks to the bride’s innovative and creative ideas, which included custom made masks for the guests. 

A memorable “wow” moment was when Mark saw Aklima in her wedding gown and she first saw her groom. After so much stress with the pandemic, rescheduling and cancellation of wedding plans, their bond remained as strong as ever. It was a beautiful moment when they stood together against all odds and finally tied the knot.

Aklima advice to couples planning is to be frank and open with each other about your plans and aspirations regarding marriage.

Despite their tensions and disappointments regarding wedding plans, cancellations, and the pandemic, the couple stood by one another as a rock solid support system and will always have fond memories of their luscious backyard wedding.

Aklima and Mark’s Wedding

Covid Pandemic

Indian Original Wedding

Auspicious day of Eid

Indian wedding celebration

Indian Wedding Decorator

Dreams to Reality Florida

Rustic ornaments and lighting

Romantic Proposal

Everything I Need by Skylar Grey

Having met in an inter-university Raas dance competition, Preeyal and Dishil eventually fell in love with each other. However, Dishil had to face two hurdles before he could propose to Preeyal. First, he decided to propose to her during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC in March 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic upset his plans. The second time, during June 2020, Dishil wanted to propose in Orlando. This time, he became infected with COVID a week prior–and the plan was upset once again. It was the third attempt that finally became successful. Dishil proposed to Preeyal in July 2020 at the Lullwater Park in Atlanta, their favorite hangout place. They decided to tie the knot after a year and a few months. The date was fixed for December 18, 2021. Both the bride and the groom grew up in Florida. That is why they chose Orlando to get married because it lies in the center of the state and is a convenient place for people to get to. After a thorough search, they agreed upon Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate as their venue for the wedding due to its location, ambience, and facilities.

BANQUET HALLS Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate 407-238-6539 | BEAUTICIANS Henna Allure 321-444-5911 | Kristy’s Artistry Design 407-766-3335 | CATERING Khasiyat Indian Restaurant 407-252-8756 | Saffron Indian Cuisines 407-674-8899 | DECORATOR Dreams To Reality 407-592-9261 | DISC JOCKEY M4U Events 732-771-9649 | EVENT PLANNER Elite Dream Creations 407-504-1499 | FLORIST ZOZO Flower Shop & Events 407-250-6844 | Floral Creations By Ranjan 407-438-6094 | HORSE Misty Blue Acres LLC 407-433-1099 | INVITATIONS Indian Weddings Cards 888-742-8555 | Konnect Me Animation +91-989-865-9586 | MEHNDI Henna Allure 321-444-5911 | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY MnM Photography 281-202-9080 | PRIEST Mahesh Gor 407-699-7966

Preeyal had the pre-wedding ceremonies of Mehndi and Vidhi in the hotel ballroom. (Only minimal decorations were added because the ballroom itself had spectacularly beautiful decorations–including majestic chandeliers.) Family members and close friends were present at these ceremonies. Dishil held the Vidhi ceremony at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida. The wedding ceremony was held inside a ballroom. A cherry blossom theme, which signifies rejuvenation and new beginnings, was chosen. Apart from that, Preeyal and Dishil wanted to recreate the Cherry Blossom Festival that they had missed due to COVID. The Mandap had sparkling clear pillars with pink and white flowers on top. There was a raised aisle that led to the Mandap, with arches decorated with flowers. The decoration created an effect of floating flowers. The groom arrived on a horse-drawn carriage with his cousin. Upon meeting his family, Dishil got off the carriage and joined everyone in dancing. Dishil entered the wedding ceremony with Preeyal’s parents, and Preeyal entered with her four maternal uncles and a cousin. The couple did the pheras (or rounds) together, to traditional songs. They left in a bright blue convertible corvette. The reception had the color themes of champagne, pink, white, and some touches of royal purple. There was a diamond-shaped starlight dance floor surrounded by four estate tables for the duo’s close family members to enjoy. There was a beautiful first dance, father-daughter dance, mother-son dance, and a 20-minute surprise skit by the siblings of Preeyal and Dishil, describing their love story. In the end, there were surprise performances by both the bride and groom. All 475 guests thoroughly enjoyed the colorful and soulful evening. A bevy of flowers, colors, and blessings marked the beginning of the new journey of the two lovers.

Indian Wedding Banquet Halls

Indian Bride Beauticians

Indian Wedding Catering

Indian Wedding Decorator

Indian Wedding Disc Jockey

Indian Wedding Photographer

Indian Wedding Videographer

Indian Wedding Invitations

Indian Wedding Event Planner

Horse For Indian Wedding Baraat

Indian Wedding Priest

Indian Bridal Mehndi

Indian Wedding Florist

Omni Orlando Resort At Championsgate

Henna Allure Mehndi Artist

Kristy’s Artistry Design

Khasiyat Indian Restaurant

Saffron Indian Cuisines

Dreams To Reality

M4u Events, Elite Dream Creations

Zozo Flower Shop & Events

Floral Creations By Ranjan

Misty Blue Acres Llc

Indian Weddings Cards

Konnect Me Animation

Henna Allure

Mnm Photography

Priest Mahesh Gor

Inter-University Raas Dance Competition

Cherry Blossom Festival In Washington

Lullwater Park In Atlanta

They took their wedding vows beside the water, with a carpet of flowers strewn over their path. As man and wife, they welcomed their guests in a magical ambience. Creative and imaginative, Daisy Gandhi began her new journey of marital bliss with Anup Solsi with beauty, elegance, and style (from head to toe). Their martial journey began on the first day of 2022.

Daisy and Anup met on the dating app Dil Mil. After dating her for a year, he proposed to her during a trip to Malibu. And then, the preparations for marriage began with great enthusiasm. Daisy had had a fascination with the idea of a wedding by the waterside. So, they chose Charlotte Harbor Conference Center at Punta Gorda, as it had a waterfront.

BANQUET HALLS Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference 941-833-5452 | BEAUTICIANS Michele Renee The Studio and Salon 813-531-7770 | CAKE Black market cakes 941-286-4934 | CATERING India’s Grill – Fort Myers 239-931-6751 | Khasiyat Restaurant 407-252-8756 | DECORATOR Prashe Decor 972-980-4483 | ENTERTAINMENT Rhythm of Dreams 281-932-8933 | EVENT PLANNER Elite Dream Creations 407-504-1499 | MEHNDI Henna by Gayatri 813-445-9496 | PHOTOGRAPHER Digital Dream Studio 407-791-6064 | PRIEST Acharya Ramesh Mehta 813-453-9334 | RENTAL SERVICES Tech-Tronics 239-939-5463

They celebrated Pithi, Grah Shantak, and Sangeet among the pre-wedding rituals. Each ceremony had its own color theme and mood. Pithi had a color theme of pristine white, and it was followed by a splash of colors like the festival of Holi. Grah Shanti had the colors of marigold and fuchsia flowers. The happy couple celebrated Sangeet on New Year’s Eve. It was a totally fun fiesta, recreating an Indian street market.

The following day, the wedding was held in the morning. It was a grand outdoor ceremony featuring a whole host of unique and innovative ideas by Daisy. She came to the wedding venue in a horse-drawn carriage, together with her two maternal uncles and aunts. The wedding Mandap was given a floating touch, with acrylic pillars and hanging flowers on top and flowers spread on the floor.

The bride gave touches of creativity to the bridesmaids’ dresses. The bridesmaids wore Indian-style jumpsuits designed by none other than Daisy! Everyone in the family, including the women, wore turbans or safa. The bride’s side wore emerald green safa, and the groom’s side wore navy blue safa.

Daisy looked ethereally beautiful in a spectacular red lehenga, and Anup looked dashingly handsome in a beautiful hand-worked white sherwani with an emerald green dupatta and matching necklace. He arrived in a blue Corvette. Daisy wore a 10-foot long red dupatta with the 7 vows (satapadi) embroidered around the edges.

Baraat came with a flashy musical mix of dance numbers and party songs comparable to a blend of “Sajan Ji Ghar Aaye” and “Mehndi Laga Ke”. Other songs and mixes were played for the bride, groom, and others.

The reception was a dreamy ceremony held at night. All the guests entered as two groups representing the bride and groom’s sides of the family. The centerpieces had white and blush flowers and a mix of candles. The head tables were canopy tables bedecked with hanging flowers and candles. The dance floor was overhung with leaves and wisteria flowers in white, pink, and purple colors. There was music, dancing, and a touch of romanticism and magic everywhere. All 500 guests thoroughly enjoyed the marriage ceremony of Daisy and Anup.

Indian Wedding Banquet Halls Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference

Indian Wedding Beauticians Michele Renee The Studio And Salon

Indian Wedding Cake Maker Black Market Cakes

Indian Wedding Catering India’s Grill – Fort Myers

Indian Wedding Khasiyat Restaurant

Indian Wedding Decorator Prashe Decor

Indian Wedding Entertainment Rhythm Of Dreams

Indian Wedding Event Planner Elite Dream Creations

Indian Wedding Mehndi Henna By Gayatri

Indian Wedding Photographer Digital Dream Studio

Indian Wedding Priest Acharya Ramesh Mehta

Indian Wedding Rental Services Tech-Tronics

Pithi ceremony

Grah Shantak

Sangeet night

wedding Mandap

spectacular red lehenga

emerald green dupatta

Sajan Ji Ghar Aayesong
Mehndi Laga Ke song

dreamy ceremony