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

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. 

BANQUET HALLS Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel 813-803-5600 | DECORATOR Maharani Designs 813-569-9052 | DISC JOCKEY Volcanik Entertainment 201-240-9080 | DHOL PLAYER Dhol Boys 425-829-4798| CAKE Macarons: So Flo Dough 813-618-3488 | CATERING Khasiyat Restaurant 407-888-2147 | EVENT PLANNER Big Guava Events 571-241-4405 | HAIR AND MAKEUP Bridal Makeup by Jigna Patel 813-493-0625 | JEWELERS Malani Jewelers 404-298-7811 | MEHNDI Jimisha Tailor 813-409-8864  | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER Fine Art Production 407-979-4749 | PRIEST Guru Dutt 813-962-6890 |  Rajan Bhatt 813-900-0190 | RENTAL SERVICES Cole’s Classic Cars LLC 407-963-9089

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

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