Real Wedding

There was something about Shivam that made Christine feel that he was the one—her ‘Mr Right’; her partner for life. They met in 2012 when they were both in college. However, it wasn’t until 2016—when both moved to New York City—that they started dating. After dating for three years, Shivam proposed to Christine while walking together on a pier along the Hudson River. They embarked on their new journey together in this romantic place.

Both Christine and Shivam wanted a long engagement. The beautiful thing about their union was that both of them had enormous respect and love for each other’s culture, customs, and religion. That is why they wanted to have both Hindu and Christian wedding rituals followed at their wedding. During their love-filled courtship, they fixed their marriage date on May 21, 2021.

BANQUET HALLS Brooklake Country Club 973-377-2235 | The Westin Governor Morris 973-539-7300 | CATERING Moghul Caterers 732-549-7976 | DECORATOR Nirali Decor 609-703-5879 | DISC JOCKEY Kapoor Entertainment 848-448-0082 | EVENT PLANNER Blissfully So 917-830-7788 | FLORIST SK Floral Expressions
201-288-7166 | MUSICIAN Kapoor Entertainment 848-448-0082 | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Ishan Fotografi 973-934-8043 | Wedding Pro Art 302-363-8247

They organized everything in advance. Since the Hindu ceremony was scheduled for the morning, they booked the hotel Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, New Jersey so that the guests could rest and change for the Christian ceremony followed by a reception in the evening. The venue for the reception was set for Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, just 10 minutes away from the venue for the wedding itself.

The venues had originally been booked for January 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the wedding had to be postponed for over a year. In March 2020, they had to cut the guest list to half. As responsible citizens, Christine and Shivam insisted that all their guests be vaccinated before the marriage. Their initiative was successful—and more than 90% of the guests were vaccinated before the wedding.

Pre-wedding ceremonies included Mehndi, Vidhi, and Pithi. They had a Mehndi night in the backyard of Shivam’s house. It was an informal and intimate reunion with close friends and family. Christine loved the traditional Indian rituals of Vidhi and Pithi so much that she happily joined in celebrating these rituals.

The Hindu wedding ceremony took place in the morning, in the open air. Nirali Décor created a wonderful Mandap with pink and white flowers. Christine has great admiration for the concept of baraat, and that is why she hired a three-wheel convertible Polaris Slingshot for her groom. Happy and ecstatic, Shivam danced with his parents. And at the end of the baraat, both Christine and Shivam surprised all 170 guests with some ‘flash-mob-style’ dances. Shivam’s sister helped the couple with the dance moves.

The reception, too, was delightfully beautiful and utterly enjoyable. Spring flowers, a fog machine, and colored lights created the perfect ambience for a dreamy reception. “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys was their first dance song; and they entered by playing “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, a top favorite of both. Christine displayed framed pictures of her parents and grandparents as a mark of respect.

Christine was mesmerized by the colorful traditions and rituals of the Indian wedding. For her, becoming a part of this rich cultural heritage was literally a dream come true. This respect became the foundation of their bonding for life.

Indian Wedding Banquet Halls

Brooklake Country Club

The Westin Governor Morris

Indian Wedding Catering

Moghul Caterers

Indian Wedding Decorator Nirali Decor

Indian Wedding Disc Jockey

Kapoor Entertainment

Indian Wedding Event Planner Blissfully So

Indian Wedding Florist  Sk Floral Expressions

Indian Wedding Musician  Kapoor Entertainment

Indian Wedding Photographer Ishan Fotografi

Indian Wedding Videographer Wedding Pro Art

Christine and Shivam’s wedding

Hudson River

mehndi ceremony

grah shanti vidhi

pithi-haldi ceremony

flash-mob-style dances

Spring flowers, a fog machine

colored lights

God Only Knows song

It was the veggie burger made by Arushi that played the role of Cupid in the love story of Arushi and Akshay. He had gone to her place during lunchtime to have burgers together. However, it was not just the burgers, but also the chef, that Akshay fell for—and they started dating in 2016.

The lovebirds returned home to Atlanta, GA in 2020 due to the pandemic. Akshay received a blue blazer as a gift from Arushi’s parents. He also gifted Arushi a matching blue dress for her birthday. Finally, on October 23, 2020, the couple went to Piedmont Park to take photos in their matching outfits. The casual outing turned out to be a memorable event when Akshay proposed to Arushi. The beautiful fall weather and the pleasant surprise made Arushi ecstatic.

BANQUET HALLS Westin Atlanta Perimeter North 770-395-3900  | BEAUTICIANS Blush Beauty By Nadia 678-435-5322 | Forever Beauty By Manisha 678-900-7846  | CATERING Café Bombay 404-320-0229 |  DECORATOR Beautiful World Events 678-457-8457 | DISC JOCKEY DJ Ameet 770-355-7695 | EVENT PLANNER Divine Occasions 678-458-1199 |  HORSE CARRIAGE Nottingham Shire & Carriage For Hire 404-622-0526 | MEHNDI Forever Beauty By Manisha 678-900-7846 |  PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Oak and Gold Studios
678-964-4993 | PRIEST Pandit Giri 678-665-2301

The wedding date was fixed for October 23, 2021, exactly a year after the proposal. Since both of them had grown up in Atlanta, GA, they chose the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North venue both for the marriage and for the reception. The Hindu wedding rituals were celebrated in the morning; and the evening featured a reception party and banquet.

The pre-wedding ceremonies were a perfect blend of homely celebrations and flashy festivities. Haldi and Mehndi were organised at Arushi’s house. These intimate events (with only the bride and groom’s closest friends and family present) were beautiful and lively.

The couple held the Sangeet ceremony at the Westin. The color theme was light pink and hot pink (tinged with magical golden light from lanterns), and dazzling white and blush pink flowers as centrepieces matching with a blush pink stage. The bride and the groom, both experts in Bollywood dance, put up an excellent dance performance together.

The stunning Mandap for the marriage was decorated with white and light pink flowers. Arushi was beautifully bedecked in red Lehenga and Akshay in traditional outfits. To make the sunny day look beautiful and to create a sharp contrast with the duo’s red dress and turban, the couple requested that their guests sport clothes of pastel shades.

Instead of recorded songs, there was a violin player who serenaded them with tunes as the bride, bridesmaids, and groomsmen entered. Akshay came on a white horse with Punjabi Bollywood music. There was a Dhol player also.

The reception was a grand party where they entered with their favorite Bollywood songs. There were games, and the music was a fusion of Bollywood and American pop songs. Instead of asking their invitees to sign a guest book, the couple gave Polaroid cameras for everyone to take a selfie or a picture. All 200 guests had a great time.

After the reception, Arushi and Akshay revisited the site of their marriage and walked down the aisle together as a married couple. It was a magic moment for the perfect couple who danced slowly to the song “Love Story” by Taylor Swift—sung by their guests.

Indian wedding Banquet Halls

Westin Atlanta Perimeter North

Indian Bridal Beauticians

Blush Beauty By Nadia

Forever Beauty By Manisha

Indian wedding Catering

Café Bombay

Indian wedding Decorator

Beautiful World Events

Indian wedding Disc Jockey

Dj Ameet

Indian wedding Event Planner

Divine Occasions

Horse Carriage Nottingham Shire & Carriage For Hire

Mehndi Forever Beauty By Manisha

Indian wedding Photographer

Indian wedding Videography

Oak And Gold Studios

Priest Pandit Giri

Atlanta

Piedmont Park

Pre wedding ceremony Haldi

Pre wedding ceremony Mehndi

Sangeet ceremony

traditional outfits

Punjabi Bollywood music

Dhol player

fusion of Bollywood and American pop songs

Polaroid cameras

Love Story

Taylor Swift

When Pavitra Jaiswal, an engineer and dance school owner met Devjyoti Sen, a healthcare MBA with a flair for music and photography, there was an instant attraction. The two creative minds collaborated beautifully to plan a dazzling wedding that was the culmination of their ideas and desires.

Pavitra and Devajyoti were part of a South Asian club named Nirvana. Devjyoti was the president of the club while Pavitra was the vice president and choreographer. Each was impressed by the other’s artistic flair and sparks quickly flew.

Pavitra and Devajyoti were two very organized and focused individuals who had over a year to plan their wedding. Instead of hiring a wedding planner, the couple relied on a day of coordinator. All the hard work and wedding planning was done through family WhatsApp groups, video chats and  weekend dinners. During these times, the couple and families brainstormed ideas and decided on the final plans. The couple chose the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach for their wedding and reception venue as they loved the atmosphere and the convenience for both their families.

The first event, the Grah Shanti, was held at the groom’s home while a mehendi event was organized at the bride’s home the next day. The simple and elegant use of flowers and lights accentuated the beauty of these ceremonies. Pavitra’s gorgeous mehndi was applied by Sumaiya Waheed. The sangeet was also held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center with the help of SIMz Event Planning, who designed decor including a beautiful swing with orange, purple, yellow and red accents. Noosh Creations’s Nala Babbolal set up a henna corner, where there was also an exquisite flower adorned wall for photo ops. The artistically inclined families enjoyed a variety of music and dance performances including a comedy skit performed by the famous Chitra Sultana and a dance by members of Pavitra’s dance school. Fayyazz Hoodboy from Sangeet Productions played tunes that kept everyone dancing into the night.

The groom danced his way to the Mandap via a mobile baarat created by Infinite Soundz Entertainment who played Bollywood hits while the bride swirled gracefully to “Teri Ore.”

The wedding theme was white, gold and red and was designed by Suhaag Garden who set up a gorgeous Jodha Akbar style mandap in the empty space outside the convention Center. A huge Ganesha, red flower adorned gate, Radha Krishna statue and a swirling petal pattern strewn down the aisle were highlights of this gorgeous event. A traditional Hindu wedding ceremony was performed by Pandit Kalyan Chakravarty.

The groom drove up in a  Rolls Royce convertible for the reception., dressed to the nines in a gorgeous pure white sherwani with handcrafted embroidery made by Amin Ismaily. The bride wore a resplendent red and gold Bangladeshi banarasi gifted by her mother-in-law. Suhaag Garden created a fantasy inspired blue, white and gold stage with an exotic golden lounge seat for the wedded couple. Gorgeous candelabras and beds of floating candles swathed everything in pure fairy light. The guests took turns posing for selfies on a colourful rickshaw outside the ballroom at the Convention Center. Later the groom changed into a snazzy Zegna Italian fabric suit while the bride wore a long trailed exquisite gown for their performances. As the couple swayed to “Om Shanti Om,” they realized that they found peace in each other’s arms!

The couple advises that you use a blend of DIY and event coordinators to keep your wedding personal and so that you are not overstressed in managing every small detail. Don’t forget to recruit the help of friends and family – they are a huge support!

BANQUET HALLS Palm Beach County Convention Center 561-366-3029 | BEAUTICIANS Sumaiya’s iBrow Studio 954-304-4958  | CAKE Ladybug Cake Creations 561-299-1539 | DECORATOR SIMz Events Planning 561-255-7330 | Suhaag Garden 888-366-8250 | DISC JOCKEY Dudha Productions 727-418-8498 | Infinite Soundz Entertainment 862-686-8283 | EVENT PLANNER Nithya Kannan 954-536-0780 | INVITATIONS Regal Cards +91-94250-63281 | MEHNDI Sumaiya’s iBrow Studio 954-304-4958  | Noosh Creations 954-478-9269 | MUSICIAN Sangeet Productions 305-794-0747 | PHOTOGRAPHER Haring Photography 786-444-9743 | PRIEST Priest Chakravarthy 954-353-4543 | RENTAL SERVICES MPH Club 786-681-3969 | CATERING Bawarchi Indian Cuisine 954-344-3544 | Salma Minu Catering Services 561-577-3169  | VIDEOGRAPHY ARK Photography 915-543-0499

beautifully planned indian wedding

dazzling indian wedding

South Asian club

Indian wedding Grah Shanti

Sumaiya Waheed Mehndi

Wedding Banquet Halls

Palm Beach County Convention Center

Indian wedding Beauticians

Sumaiya’s Ibrow Studio

Indian wedding Cake

Ladybug Cake Creations

Indian Wedding Decorator

Simz Events Planning, Suhaag Garden

Indian wedding Disc Jockey

Dudha Productions

Infinite Soundz Entertainment

Indian Wedding Event Planner

Nithya Kannan

Indian Wedding Invitations

Regal Cards

Indian Wedding Mehndi

Sumaiya’s Ibrow Studio

Noosh Creations

Indian Wedding Musician

Sangeet Productions

Indian Wedding Photographer

Haring Photography

Indian Wedding Priest

Priest Chakravarthy

Indian Wedding Rental Services

Mph Club

Indian Wedding Catering

Bawarchi Indian Cuisine

Salma Minu Catering Services

Indian Wedding Videography

Ark Photography

When physician recruiter Jesika Jonalagada, and Human Resource Information System Manager John Roach met each other for the first time in Dallas, Texas, they felt an instant recognizable chemistry and it gradually became apparent that they were destined to be together.

When Jesika and John met at Jesika’s first day at work, even their colleagues could see the sparks flying. Soon, running into each other developed into a relationship and marriage came as a natural next step. Jesika always dreamed of a romantic proposal so John formally popped the question after a visit to his parents house and a lovely bird sanctuary. John got down on one knee and Jesika immediately said yes. The happy couple celebrated at the Republic of Texas Steakhouse.

Jesika and John chose to have their traditional church wedding at the Dallas Texas Royal Lane Baptist Church and their reception at the Omni Las Colinas Hotel. The couple even designed their own wedding website and made sure that their wedding was completely stress-free.

Jesika and John wanted to stick to their traditional spiritual values and follow local guidelines for hosting a wedding during the pandemic. The couple decided to host the festivities in Dallas as that was where John grew up and the two dated. John’s parents also live nearby making the locale convenient.

The couple chose a traditional church wedding complete with white accents right from the church’s white steeple to the pews strewn with white tulle and beautiful floral wreaths. A church organist played “Here Comes the Bride” and the “Wedding March.” COVID restrictions meant that there was a restriction on the number of guests, but this did not deter the couple from celebrating every moment. The immediate family arrived at the wedding avenue in a gorgeous white Rolls Royce.

The reception was held in a gorgeous ballroom decorated with a three-paneled backdrop adorned with floral accents and beautiful drapery. The white wedding theme continued and the stage and dance floor were sparkling white. Gorgeous floating candles and romantic centerpieces added to the ethereal aura. There was an abundance of white hydrangeas, and the couple’s initials were monogrammed with gold on menu cards and place mats. There was a gorgeous sweetheart table and matching King and Queen chairs for the happy couple. While the couple was dancing, the DJ choreographed some stunning “dancing on the cloud” moments complete with confetti and lights! As Jessika and John danced to “A Whole New World” and “Hum Tum,” they embraced the most beautiful bond of marriage forever.

Think hard about what you really want for your wedding, prioritize and then set a budget before shopping! Avoid overspending and always do a lot of research.

BANQUET HALLS Omni Mandalay Hotel 972-869-5527 | BEAUTICIANS All Things Glam By Jee 469-386-8736 | For Beauty Sake 214-282-4500 | CAKE Fancy Cakes by Lauren 214-828-9030 | DECORATOR Blissful Celebrations 469-442 0155 | DISC JOCKEY Dhol Beat International 281-808-3328 | EVENT PLANNER Deana Pueblo Weddings & Events 817-300-8578 | Royal Lane Baptist Church 214-577-8058 | MEHNDI Bridal Henna Mehendi & Makeup by Zohra 469-226-9800 | MUSICIAN Dr. David Weigel 214-452-3122 | PHOTOGRAPHER Magdiel Photography & Films 214-282-1378 | PRIEST Thomas C Crook 214-394-0351 | RENTAL SERVICES Hamilton Transportation 972-877-8953 | CATERING India 101 972-623-4101 | VIDEOGRAPHY Moondance Wedding Videos LLP 469-580-7560

Clinical Recruiter

Human Resource Recruiter

Dallas, Texas

Romantic Proposal

Lovely Bird Sanctuary

Republic Of Texas Steakhouse

Traditional Church Wedding

Dallas Texas Royal Lane Baptist Church

Omni Las Colinas Hotel

Wedding Website

Traditional Spiritual Values

Covid Restrictions

Rolls Royce

Wedding Theme

Dancing On The Cloud

Song Hum Tum

Song A Whole New World

Indian Wedding Banquet Halls

Omni Mandalay Hotel

Indian Wedding Beauticians

All Things Glam By Jee

For Beauty Sake

Indian Wedding Cake

Fancy Cakes By Lauren

Indian Wedding Decorator

Blissful Celebrations

Indian Wedding Disc Jockey

Dhol Beat International

Indian wedding Event Planner

Deana Pueblo Weddings & Events

Royal Lane Baptist Church

Indian Bridal Mehndi

Bridal Henna Mehendi & Makeup By Zohra

Indian wedding Musician

Dr. David Weigel

Indian wedding Photographer

Magdiel Photography & Films

Indian Wedding Priest

Thomas C Crook

Rental Services

Hamilton Transportation

Indian Wedding Catering

India 101

Indian wedding Videographer

Moondance Wedding Videos LLP

When social enterprise consultant Nafessa Kassim and business coach Michael Williams met each other for the first time in Los Angeles, little did they know that they were on the path to a long courtship and wedding straight out of a fairytale.

When Nafessa and Michael met for the second time at a Washington conference, sparks flew and a beautiful friendship developed organically. After a month of long phone calls and a 4.5 year old courtship period, Michael finally popped the question on the rooftop bar of W hotel with a special ring. Nafessa delightfully accepted and the couple went off to gorge on Chinese food and chocolate chip cookies with two of their friends recording all the action.

Nafessa and Michael chose to host their wedding at the Zama Beach Club at Isla Mujeres Mexico with Jewell Event Design helping them plan the event. The couple even designed their own wedding website and made sure their different ethnicities were reflected in a perfect combination at their customized ceremonies. 

Given the wedding would be a mixture of South Asian and western traditions, the couple wanted to encompass the diverse religions and ethnicities of their guests. Nafessa and Michael showcased the beauty of accepting a diverse array of cultures and so chose an eclectic mixture of events – pithi, mehndi, welcome party, holi and beach games. Their choice of venue was one that was a beautiful vacation spot apart from being a boutique establishment small enough to offer them the privacy they needed.

The welcome party was a simple and sweet party with rooftop drinks. Both the bride and groom participated in the pithi and enjoyed the gorgeous spread of food, while for the mehndi, Rajasthani umbrellas and ethnic sarees were used as décor accents. The beach games party was a fun event as the couple used memorabilia from their long pre-wedding trip as props and guests all wore t-shirts saying “love is a journey.” The sangeet was very festive with a light adorned background with Indian accents. The table centerpieces were a variety of different artifacts with candles inside while a soft semi transparent gold runner decorated the table. The couple showcased their faces on frames of old and classic Bollywood posters along the table. The bangle and bindi counter lent some pizzazz to the entire event.

The couple chose a beach wedding as both feel a deep connection to water. The ceremony setting was a sandy beach with a beach background and pretty flower petals on the ground.

Instead of a typical religious function, the couple planned a beautiful spiritual blend – the bridal party read quotes from various religions along with a meditation session. The wedding was right before sunset with the beautiful rays of the sun shining behind the couple.

The beautiful beach reception featured tables dressed with a white diaphanous material and glittering chandeliers and bistro lights bathing everything with incandescent light.  The centerpieces included gold votives with candles inside and cards bearing the country name, a picture of the couple in that country, and a poem or quote from the country, in the native language. The beautiful star-studded night sky with stars and the sound of waves created a romantic atmosphere as the couple danced to Dave Matthews Band’s “You and Me,” Sir Mix A Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” and even “Aati Kya Khandala” from the movie Ghulam. Later, There was a fun dance party with glow sticks and a mix of Indian and western music and even a Chuuro midnight party. Nafessa and Michael made sure that everyone (including themselves) had a blast at their wedding!

The couple advises that you think hard about what you love about weddings and then try incorporating that in your own wedding. Don’t forget to take into account the preferences of guests and family while also prioritizing and creating a special experience that will work for you!

BANQUET HALLS Zama Beach Club +52 998 888 07 50 | CATERING Izla Mujeres Hotel +52 998 689 12 63 |  DISC JOCKEY Disco Movil Cancun +52 1 998 189 83 06 | DHOL PLAYER Drums in Paradise +52 998 251 49 77 |EVENT PLANNER Jewell Event Design 720-515-1793 | HAIR AND MAKEUP Tania Tagle Makeup & Hair +52 998 820 15 98    | HORSE SunHorse Wedding Services 507-216-5700 |  MEHNDI Carolina Bellavista & Co +52 998 165 32 77 | MUSICIAN Eder Alejandro Campos +52 1 998 895 04 51 | PHOTOGRAPHER Cossu Photography +52 1 984 106 00 92  |   VIDEOGRAPHY Becker Wedding Films +52 998 860 49 56

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Dazzling indian wedding

South Asian club

Indian wedding at the Zama Beach Club

Jewell Event Design

South Asian Wedding

Wedding website

Wedding table centerpieces

Mehndi

Indian wedding Banquet Halls

Zama Beach Club

Indian wedding Catering

Izla Mujeres Hotel

Indian wedding Disc Jockey

Disco Movil Cancun

Indian wedding Dhol Player

Drums In Paradise

Indian wedding Event Planner

Jewell Event Design

Indian Bride Hair And Makeup

Tania Tagle Makeup & Hair

Indian wedding Horse

Sunhorse Wedding Services

Indian Bridal Mehndi Carolina Bellavista

Indian wedding Musician

Eder Alejandro Campos

Indian wedding Photographer Cossu Photography

Indian wedding Videographer Becker Wedding Films