Real Wedding

Julie weds Manreet Destination Wedding Photographed by Viridian Images Photography

A mutual love of traveling and adventure brought Julie and Manreet together when they met through common friends in Midtown Atlanta. As true adventurous spirits, they helped each discover new passions; Reet introduced Julie to mountain biking, and Julie taught him to snowboard. During their eight years of dating, they traveled all over the world, including Reet’s Indian homeland and many countries in Europe, Africa, and Central America.

The couple’s passions help start their life’s journey together, on the day of a bike race they will never forget. After dinner not far from the race, Julie, who is a huge animal lover, noticed a lonely dog sitting on the balcony of the bar where she first met Reet. Julie rushed to find the dog’s owner, but soon realized it was none other than Reet’s dog wearing a “Marry me?” tag. When she turned around to see Reet on one knee with a ring, Julie barely managed to stop laughing long enough to say “yes”. They celebrated with champagne at home, and started the wedding planning not long after.

Reet’s family did most of the planning, and even went to India two months before the big day to finalize the details. Reet and Julie were still in the US during the planning, and his family sent them photos of venues until they decided on Pinjore Gardens in Haryana. Their guests were able sightsee before the wedding, such visit he Taj Mahal and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary. The first event, Sangeet night, was held at a park in Chandigarh, two days before the ceremony. The ladies received mehndi outside underneath a beautiful tent. The couple chose to blend their eastern and western cultures through the music, with a fun “East VS West” dance competition. The night ended with the traditional Jaggo, when they paraded through the neighborhood streets to dance and share sweets with the neighbors.

After many hours of preparation, the ceremony was held at a gurdwara. They had the traditional baarat and milni, followed a traditional anand karaj ceremony. Julie was carried out during the dholi by her brothers and male friends on a beautiful carriage.

About an hour from the ceremony venue was the breathtaking garden, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. A horse-drawn carriage carrying the newlyweds arrived to the sound of beating drums. They entered the reception tent which was draped with purple and pink flowers to create an elegant and magical atmosphere that reflected the gorgeous natural setting. The night was full of dancing, heartfelt speeches, and of course, a beautiful cake. After cutting of the cake, the happy couple and their 400 guests were wowed by a grand fireworks display. Julie and Reet were thrilled that their adventurous destination wedding went off without a hitch, and that the celebrations reflected the happiness they felt as they continued their life journey together.

Photos Courtesy

Viridian Images Photography
678-905-7545
www.virimages.com

Julie weds Manreet

Viridian Images Photography

Destination Wedding

wedding planning

Taj Mahal

Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary

Sangeet night

mehndi

dance competition

gurdwara

dholi

horse-drawn carriage

Richa weds Neal

Richa and Neal began as college sweethearts, after being lucky enough to end up at the same party one night. The two found they had much in common, and went on to date beyond college, for over six years, before Neal surprised Richa with a romantic proposal. Neal secretly invited their family and friends to Stone Mountain in Atlanta, where they watched him propose to Richa at a scenic spot overlooking a lake, and they all popped champagne with the happy couple.

Richa always knew she wanted a big hotel wedding, and ended up choosing the Marriott in Downtown Knoxville because of its proximity to her family. The couple immediately hired a wedding planner to handle all of the tedious details, like vendors, scheduling, and organization. They were grateful to have help because it prompted them to start planning early and avoid last-minute chaos.

The pre-wedding festivities began with a Ganesh Puja and Vivah Khel bhajan celebration at Richa’s Tennessee home. Richa transformed her basement into a cozy, yet elegant setting by draping colorful saris to form an umbrella design.

The following two days were just as colorful, including the Mehndi night with pink and green paisley decor, and the Moroccan-themed Garba night at a mandir in Lenoir City. Richa was also sure to add classic Indian touches to the Garba, such as rangoli and decorated clay pot centerpieces.

The grand wedding of Richa’s dreams, with 550 guests, was held in the largest ballroom at the Marriott, with the Baraat procession scheduled early in the morning to give everyone a full day of celebration. It included the festive sounds of the dhol as Neal rode in a horse carriage and jumped into a Range Rover SUV just before entering the venue with Richa’s parents. The mood transitioned smoothly for the ceremony with all instrumental versions of Richa’s favorite songs.

The all-white mandap was accented with gold decor and pink lighting to complement the pink and white floral blanket draped on both sides of the mandap. This unique floral decoration was made of white hydrangeas, roses, and green berries, which were also used in the matching bouquets. Richa was keen on a vibrant spring color palette, avoiding using red to allow her red and gold dress to stand out.

For the reception, a starlight drape matched the starlight dance floor, accented with teal and gold décor, crystal centerpieces, and rows of white tulips in vases along the estate tables. The elegant reception setting was exactly what Richa envisioned, and was her favorite aesthetic element of the entire wedding process. The reception included a mix of modern music and Indian classics, and was a fun might of dance performances and celebration. Richa and Neal reminisce fondly on their wedding, and because they had professional help and so many well-wishing guests, they were able to enjoy every moment celebrating their love story.

Photos Courtesy

Zamana Lifestyles
678-860-2921
www.zamanaphoto.com

Photos Courtesy
BEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN Belladev Hair & Makeup Artistry www.belladevhairstudio.com 980-475-1364	PHOTOGRAPHER Zamana Photo & Videography www.zamanaphoto.com 678-860-2921
CAKE Magpies Cakes www.magpiescakes.com 865-673-0471	PRIEST/WORSHIP SERVICES Priest Bharatbhai Bhatt 678-613-0641
DECORATOR Mandap World www.mandapworld.com 678-772-0053	RECEPTION SITES Marriott Downtown Knoxville www.marriott.com/ Courtyard? 865-594-4113
DISC JOCKEY Encore Event DJs www.encoreeventdjs.com 478-231-6282	RENTAL SERVICES Angel Chair Cover & Ceilling Drapery Des www.angelchaircover.com 678-234-2477
EVENT PLANNER Envi Event Planning nilima@envieventplanning.com 404-217-6097	RESTAURANT/CATERING Cafe Bombay www.cafebombayatlanta.com 404-320-0229
FLORIST Mandap World www.mandapworld.com 678-772-0053	Thali Indian Vegiterian Cuisine www.thaliatl.com 678-705-1290
HORSE AND CARRIAGE Heritage Carriage Rides of Pigeon Forge 865-365-5130	RETAIL SERVICES Campbell Tent & Party Rentals www.campbelltent.com 865-983-3456
JEWELERS Zaveri Bazaar www.zaveribazaar.com 404-254-1330	VIDEOGRAPHY Zamana Photo & Videography www.zamanaphoto.com 678-860-2921

Meera weds Nehal

Meera and Nehal’s consider their romance to be a “city girl meets country boy” kind of love story. The two met in 2014, and began a dating tradition of having spontaneous adventures across Florida, Meera’s home state. A mid-westerner, Nehal experienced places like Cocoa Beach, Universal Studios, and St. Augustine with Meera, and he chose to incorporate their tradition into his surprise proposal. They planned a trip to Friendship Fountain, a famous Florida landmark, and Nehal gave Meera the surprise of her life when he got down on one knee. The couple was excited to continue their journey together and prepare for an unforgettable wedding.

Meera hired a coordinator for the wedding day, but did most of the planning on her own. She was relieved to have a coordinator and a team to help with the last-minute details and typical wedding day chaos, because it helped her and her guests to enjoy the special day without any hassle. The couple chose a venue near Meera’s home, The Palmetto Club, because it offered not only a ballroom, but also a beautiful veranda and garden.

Before the big day, they held several pre-wedding events in Oklahoma, Nehal’s home state. The Vidhi/Pithi was followed by a family dinner, and a henna night at home.

The Sangeet was held in Florida on the night before the wedding. The ceremony began in the early morning, with lively bhangra music announcing the entrance of the Baraat, complete with a Hummer limousine. The music transitioned into traditional Hindi wedding songs, and Meera entered to a beautiful instrumental piece from the Bollywood movie Jodha Akbhar.

The wedding venue was decorated in maroon, white, and gold, embellished with crystals, pearl columns around the mandap, and red and white rose centerpieces. Meera and Nehal chose to close off a section of the ballroom to accommodate a more intimate, theater-style seating arrangement for their guests.

Following the ceremony, the venue was transformed for the reception, with a new color scheme of teal, maroon, gold, and silver. The centerpieces were a pleasant surprise for the couple, because they allowed their designer to have free reign, and they were impressed with every detail of his finished work.

Each centerpiece features a gold candle vase draped in crystals and adorned with blue orchids and vases lit with LED lighting and glowing water. They were the perfect complement to the teal backdrop and gold drapes hung around the room, and set a lovely mood for the celebration.

Their DJ played a combination of Hindi, Pujabi, Bhnagra, and American music, to please all of their guests, and everyone danced throughout the night. The reception even included three choreographed dances by the bride’s friends and family, and also Nehal’s cousins who did a surprising and unique performance using jump ropes.

Meera and Nehal’s wedding went off without a hitch, and the couple is so grateful for the support of not only their loving friends and family, but the designers and event coordinators who helped make their special day unforgettable.

Photos Courtesy

Sona Photography
407-694-6032
www.sonaphotography.com

Photos Courtesy
BANQUET HALLS The Palmetto Club www.thepalmettoclub.com 407-398-6308	JEWELERS Myyraa 732-218-8407
BEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN Michele Renee Hair & Makeup Artist Grp www.michelereneehairandmakeup.com 813-531-7770	MEHNDI Alisha The Henna Lady alishaladha@gmail.com 813-407-1202
BOUTIQUES Om the Origin 732-404-1445	PHOTOGRAPHER Sona Photography www.sonaphotography.com 407-694-6032
DECORATOR Maharani Designs maharanidesignz@gmail.com 813-569-9052	PRIEST/WORSHIP SERVICES Pandit Rajan Bhatt 813-900-0190
DISC JOCKEY Blazin DJs 813-569-9052	RENTAL SERVICES Taylor Rental 813-685-4551
ENTERTAINMENT Mobile Baraat 813-569-9052	RESTAURANT/CATERING Puff n Stuff Catering & Events lucille@puffnstuff.com 813-657-0062
FLORIST Flowers By Hina Patel 941-524-9807	VIDEOGRAPHY Riant Films www.riantfilms.com 407-603-6955
	WEDDING SERVICES Instyle Events www.instyleeventservices.com 832-819-1427

Meera weds Nehal

Narissa weds Nirmal

Narissa and Nirmal were friends for several years as University of Central Florida students, while Narissa was also working at a nearby bank. Nirmal cleverly came in to open an account one day, giving him a reason to see Narissa regularly and work up the courage to ask her on a date. Narissa’s “yes” turned into a beautiful romance that led up to Nirmal’s surprise proposal in the Bahamas.

While vacationing there with friends, the couple discovered a lovely spot on the beach where they could climb out onto the rocks.

Nirmal suddenly pretended to fall on the rocks, but he was disguising his attempt to get down on one knee to ask Narissa the big question.Through the surprised and excited tears, she managed to say “yes”, and they were able to celebrate the occasion with their friends during the rest of the cruise.

Their engagement party kicked off the wedding planning, which was going to be a big endeavor because they planned to have 250 guests. Narissa and Nirmal used the help of a wedding planner to secure vendors, and also relied on decorators and caterers on the wedding day.

The couple knew they wanted to be married in their temple in Orlando, because it had personal meaning, and could also accommodate their guest count. The reception venue, a hotel near Narissa’s workplace in Lake Mary, was suggested by their wedding planner, and it even included a talented chef who catered the event. Most of their friends and family were locals, but many came from New York, Canada, Trinidad, and Guyana for the big day. Prior to the ceremony, they held a Mehendi night for the bride, and a Haldi night for both bride and groom.

For the ceremony, the mandap was draped in blue, white, and silver, and the aisle was lined with white elephants that complimented the floral arrangements of blue orchids and white carnations. The same color scheme carried over to the cocktail hour and reception décor, with jeweled vases, blue stones, and intricate silver tablecloths.

As a car enthusiast, Nirmal drove a rare Nissan R34 to the ceremony, while the bridal party arrived at the temple in a limousine. Once inside, Narissa walked down the aisle with her parents to a beautiful song from Jodha Akbar. After the ceremony, the reception kicked off with Narissa and Nirmal’s favorite dance music, including Soca, Chutney, Tassa drums, and Bollywood songs. The bridal party performed a choreographed routine, and Nirmal’s niece and nephew also presented a touching poem about the newlyweds that brought a tear to everyone’s eyes. The reception was a lovely mix of celebration and sentimentality, and Narissa and Nirmal have only fond memories of their special day that went off without a hitch.

Photos Courtesy

Fine Art Productions
888-494-7909
www.fineartproductions.net

Photos Courtesy
BANQUET HALLS Marriott Orlando Lake Mary 407-995-7009	FLORIST Enchanting Event Designs & Planning enchantingeventdesigns.com 407-288-0269
Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir capildeo.jadonath@ocps.net 407-341- 9076	JEWELERS Bombay Bridal Boutique www.bombaybridal.com 718- 426-0600
BEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN Cristi Miranda 407-361-5745 Shalini Brijmohan 407-325-2775	MEHNDI Mehndi by Priya Ramdahein priyar290@yahoo.com
BOUTIQUES Bombay Bridal Boutique www.bombaybridal.com 718- 426-0600	PHOTOGRAPHER Fine Art Productions www.fineartproductions.net 888-494-7909
CAKE Cupcake Crazy Factory www.cupcakecrazy.com 407-804-0229	RENTAL SERVICES Longwood Events & Rentals www.longwoodweddings.com 407-339-6344
DECORATOR Enchanting Event Designs & Planning enchantingeventdesigns.com 407-288-0269	PRIEST/WORSHIP SERVICES Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir capildeo.jadonath@ocps.net 407-341- 9076
DISC JOCKEY DJ Devlish djdevlish@gmail.com 973-953-9630

Narissa weds Nirmal

Shelly weds Amit

Dynamic opposites, Shelly Tiwari, 26, and Amit Shah, 30 met through mutual friends in 2010 and dated for five years. Amit planned a romantic proposal by Amit on his birthday in March 2015 with the help of Shelly’s sister and best friend. She said yes, and wedding prep began shortly after.

Amit’s parents took charge of wedding planning, though always paid attention to feedback from the couple. Since Shelly and Amit are from Orlando, they both jumped at the suggestion by Amit’s father to hold events at the Sheraton Lake Buena Vista. All other places paled in comparison. A few of the pre-wedding ceremonies were held at Amit’s parents’ house.

Two large tents with Indian décor were set up in the backyard to accommodate 250 guests. Creating a mystical Rajasthani ambience, golden centerpieces with glass centers were illuminated with LED lighting and spotlights on the outside and a red rose floating inside.

For the ceremony, a beautiful blend of traditional and modern set the ambiance for the ballroom. The runway for the bridal walk to the stage was raised and decorated with candles and roses that illuminated the pathway as well. The mandap was uniquely made from ceramic, and the transparency of it was adorned by red roses. Remmal from Occasions by Shangri La ensured that the setup met the requirements and had the right romantic feel that AD would make all go weak in the knees.The Volcanik Entertainment team lead by Rahul created an amazing mix of music for the baraat, wedding and reception. While Amit arrived to the ceremony in a Limo, the newly wed couple left in a Rolls Royce. The romantic appeal carried over to the reception. Centerpieces with glass vases and floating metal balls acquitted ethereal quality with lighted candles and colored LEDs under the vases.

With the starry night theme backdrop, the cumulative effect was of a romantic winter night. The romance was heightened with beautiful blend of American and Indian music crafted by the Volcanik Entertainment. They mixed Hindi music with top 40. couple’s first dance was to Jason Mraz and Colbie Calliat’s “Lucky.”

A highlight of the evening was the group dance by Amit’s parents to a blend of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” and “Gangnam Style.”

Today, Shelly fondly remembers her nightmares of a costume disaster on the altar, and the panic created by the loss of Amit’s wallet the night before the wedding.

Despite the nightmares, Shelly wisely asks to-be-wed couples to simply enjoy the most beautiful milestone of marriage.

Photos Courtesy

Sona Photography
407-694-6032
www.sonaphotography.com