Real Wedding

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

Navya Talluri was super impressed when she walked into Nikhil Patel’ Wayne University dorm room. The couple were dorm neighbors and met in an elevator 10 years before they decided to get married. Navya describes Nikhil’s room as “impressively neat and clean.” Her heart melted a little when Nikhil graciously offered her his biology log book.

This was an effortless college romance that blossomed over shared meals, long walks and even longer talks. Soon the two students became best friends and ventured into a love struck relationship. Nikhil gave Navya the best graduation day gift ever – a trip to Thailand where she could meet her favorite animal, elephants. Little did Navya know that these lovable mammals would be spectators to a splendid wedding proposal. Nikhil chose to propose to Navya when she was already having the time of her life by interacting with elephants at an elephant sanctuary. Navya recalls that she was delirious with happiness and doesn’t even remember what she said afterwards apart from yes.

For the wedding, the couple wanted to keep things simple, creative and customized so they did most of the wedding planning themselves. Navya and Nikhil decided to hold their wedding events in Detroit since all their memories of dating and love were based there. They chose The Henry Autograph Collection for their wedding venue. The hotel is named in honor of United States veteran Henry Dearborn and known for its magnificent lobby adorned with vibrant contemporary art.

The mehendi function had a unique décor theme – DIY origami paper cranes reminiscent of the cute ones Nikhil used to make for Navya back in college. The sangeet featured a feast of Indian street food arranged by cute little carnival themed food stations. And of course, the event included lots of dancing! DJ Naveen Sharma played an eclectic mix of garba music for the couple’s garba night as both the bride and groom were fans of party songs.

Since Navya and Nikhil chose to have only the wedding and not a reception, they channeled all their energy into making sure that the function was special and intimate. First, Nikhil arrived in a white horse drawn carriage to funky live music arranged by DJ Ice and Fresh Productions. The couple also created a customized monogram that they put on takeaway bags and table runners. Their unique wedding program even included crossword puzzles based on Navya and Nikhil’s life.

Although they planned to do a first look, it wasn’t possible, so the first time the two saw each other was at the mandap. Navya will never forget the look on Nikhil’s face when he first saw her. It was at this unforgettable moment that the couple realized that they would finally be married – a moment for which they waited for more than ten years.

BANQUET HALLS The Henry Autograph Collection 313-441-2000 |DECORATOR Marigold Wedding Planners 248-250-4066 | DISC JOCKEY DJ Ice and Fresh 734-320-5491 | Naveen Productions 248-797-9707 | HAIR AND MAKEUP Hair by Aysha 734-635-3687 |  MEHNDI Henna Beauty by Krupa 248-457-5318 |  PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY Strokes Photography 647-999-6838 | Capturing Arts 586-477-8161| RESTAURANT/CATERING Ashoka Indian Cuisine 248-689-7070 | Taste of India Suvai 734-327-6500| HORSE CARRIAGE Ann Arbor Carriage Company 734-663-9033 | PRIEST Prasad Bhat 734-383-1872

Navya Talluri

Nikhil Patel

Wayne University of Michigan

Trip to Thailand

Wedding Proposal Ideas

Indian wedding planning

Indian Wedding sangeet night

Garba music Provided by DJ ICE & FRESH

Indian Wedding Ceremonies

Wedding Banquet halls The Henry Autograph Collection

Wedding planners in Florida Marigold Wedding Planners

Indian Wedding Hair and make-up Specialist Hair by Aysha

Horse Carriage by Ann Arbor Carriage Company

Indian Wedding Henna Beauty by Krupa

DJ Ice and Fresh Indian wedding Disc Jockey

Indian Music DJ by Naveen Productions

 Indian Wedding Photography by Strokes Photography

Indian Wedding Videography by Capturing Arts

Indian wedding Priest Prasad Bhat

Indian Restaurant Ashoka Indian Cuisine

Indian Wedding Catering Taste of India Suvai

Funnily, Deepali, marketing specialist, and Ajay, quality engineer, each have different versions of their “how we met story.” Deepali insists they met at a cousin’s wedding in Dallas, but Ajay insists that he was first taken in by Deepali’s picture on the Shaadi.com app, and then smitten with her smile at the wedding. In fact, he re-subscribed to the app just to pursue his hopes of getting to know her. Deepali thought that guy “Ajay” holding up the sheet and serving lunch at her cousin’s wedding was “very cute,” and she tried to engage him actively in conversations.

Ajay’s proposal came just six months after the couple first met. The unique proposal  involved a treasure hunt complete with math problems and interesting questions as well as shopping and salon trips, snacking, and town hopping in a party bus. The fact that the entire family was involved in setting up the props, planning, and helping in the exciting treasure hunt made the proposal even sweeter for the couple. When Deepali finally met Ajay at the top of a staircase, he got to one knee and popped the question!

When Deepali and Ajay began wedding planning, their project management and process control skills kicked in and managed to pull off DIY decor for the mehendi, pithi and garba. The mehendi took place in Deepali’s backyard, which was elegantly refurbished with a wooden stage and a classy backdrop stand made with mirror-studded black and gold painted PVC pipes. For the pithi, the family constructed a huge tent with a peacock-embellished cloth (from India) decorated with artificial Indian marigolds to add a traditional look to the event. The garba was hosted at 502 East Event Center, and Deepali’s family constructed a gorgeous DIY centerpiece from peacock feathers, ethnic cloth and dandiya sticks. Deepali’s sister was the “mehendi wali,” and she made sure that the football loving bride got her favorite football team logos, Colts and Patriots, etched in the designs. Ajay showed off his engineering skills by creating unique snack boxes full of activity ideas to keep the guests entertained. He also created jumbo sized gold painted table numbers out of cardboard boxes that the couple later used as photo props while posing with their guests!

The “in sync” couple showed off how well matched they were at the reception with a gorgeous green-gold theme. Deepali’s mint green dress and forest green accessories complimented Ajay’s velvet green jacket. The happy couple swayed to the rhythm of Lukas Graham’s “Love Someone” for their first dance. Deepali and Ajay are the perfect example of how love can make the whole world go around!

BANQUET HALLS 502 East Event Center 317-843-1234 | CATERING India Sizzling 317-845-5500 | DECORATOR Indiana Wedding Decorators 317-590-3166 | DISC JOCKEY DJ Mavi Productions 513-885-1679 |CAKE Classic Cakes 317-844-6901 | Sweet & Savory 317-802-9004 | Dunkin’ Donuts 317-853-6581 | HAIR AND MAKEUP Bhavika Pandya 317-502-7465 | | HORSE/CARRIAGE Blue Ribbon Carriages 317-631-4169 | MEHNDI Mendhika – Creations by Krupali 317-656-7271 | PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHY DARS Photography 847-250-7613 | Visionaries Video 317-829-4010 |

Ajay and Deepali Indian Wedding in Dallas

Indian Dating App Shadi.com

Indian Wedding shopping

Indian Beauty salons in Florida

Indin wedding Mehendi by Mendhika – Creations by Krupali

Indian Wedding Ritual Pithi

Indian Wedding Ceremony Garba

Indian wedding dandiya

Indian Wedding Banquet Halls 502 East Event Center

Wedding Cakes by Classic Cakes

India Sizzling Restaurant in Florida

Indiana Wedding Decorators

Indian Wedding Disc Jockey DJ Mavi Productions

Indian Bridal Makeup by Bhavika Pandya

Blue Ribbon Carriages

Mendhika – Creations by Krupali

Indian Wedding Photographer DARS Photography

Visionaries Video