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Liz weds Vikram
Vikram and Liz were lucky to be living in the same city when they met online after Vikram reached out. They met up for wine and cheese on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in St. Louis, and bonded over their mutual love of 90s music and the same TV shows. What began as good conversation between new friends turned into two years of love and, finally, a surprise marriage proposal. 
While visiting Liz’s friend in Baltimore, the couple went on a food tour, joined by her friend and Vikram’s sister. Vikram insisted on finding the perfect spot for a photo on the boardwalk, making Liz a little suspicious until he got down on one knee with a ring. Liz was very surprised, and both were happy to begin a new journey together.
They began planning a Palm Desert wedding, near Liz’s parents at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.With the help of the venue’s event planner and on-site caterer, the couple arranged for a Sikh ceremony, non-denominational ceremony, and evening reception to take place on the same day.
Before the wedding day, they held a Sangeet night in India at Vikram’s grandmother’s home. Vikram’s aunt decorated with lights and flowers, and it was an auspicious beginning to the wedding events. 
First was the morning Sikh ceremony, or Anand Karaj, in which Liz entered with her eight closest girlfriends and the newlywed couple exchanged garlands of red and white carnations.
This was followed by the non-denominational ceremony in which the bride and groom walked down the aisle with their parents instead of a traditional bridal party. The natural setting of the desert was so breathtaking that there was no need for extra decorations, which Liz and Vikram appreciated.
They exchanged personal vows before their guests with Liz’s older sister as the officiant, even though they were initially hesitant to share such an intimate moment in front of so many people. But most of their guests were in tears by the end, and Liz and Vikram agreed it was worth it. 
They estimated that the ceremony would last for an hour, but it finished in a quick 20 minutes; the caterer and bartender had to work quickly to set up cocktail hour for their 130 guests, and thankfully, they were able to make it an enjoyable two hours.Liz and Vikram recommend having the ceremony recited aloud during rehearsals to avoid this kind of last minute hustle. They also held a second reception one week later in Coral Springs, Florida for 300 additional guests, and Liz defended her doctorate dissertation just three weeks after the entire wedding affair. Liz and Vikram were glad they made the concerted decision to enjoy themselves before the wedding, and they were able to make precious memories with their loved ones while celebrating their love for one another.
Photos Courtesy Photos Courtesy BANQUET HALLS
Coral Springs Marriott
954-227-4122
www.marriott.com/fllmcJEWELERS
Timekeepers Jewelers
314-991-0994The Living Desert
Z00 & Gardens
760-346-5694
www.livingdesert.orgPHOTOGRAPHER
Baljit Singh
+91-981-411-5265
www.baljitphotography.comCAKE
Robbie E Custom
Cakes & Pastries
954-775-2633
www.recustomcakes.comRESTAURANT/CATERING
Punjab Indian Restaurant
561-392-8000
http://www.bocapunjab.com/DECORATOR
Anand Event Services
754-581-0074
www.anandphotoandvideo.com -
Sarika weds Kishan
Mutual friends from Alabama brought Sarika and Kishan together, who dated for four years until their surprise engagement. Sarika had just taken her first CPA exam, and the couple was enjoying a well-deserved Florida beach vacation when Kishan surprised Sarika with the big question. He set up an elaborate sand sculpture on the beach, complete with rose petals and the words written in the sand, and Sarika was overjoyed to say yes. 
The couple prepared to plan a large wedding celebration with 800 guests, with help from Kishan’s three older sisters and other family members who had prior experience with weddings. Sarika and Kishan chose a convention center in Georgia, not too far from Sarika’s hometown in Tennessee and a large enough venue to accommodate their many guests. Sarika and Kishan each had their own mehndi events, pujas, and sangeet nights. Keeping the events separate allowed each celebration to reflect the bride or groom’s unique individual style.
For the wedding ceremony and reception, Sarika and Kishan chose classic elegance, including traditionally decorated mandap, large gold centerpieces with white flowers, and a mirror-topped estate table wrapped with flowers. Kishan arrived in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by his friends and family dancing in the baraat procession. 
A musical group from India played live music during the ceremony, while Sarika and Kishan chose a variety of dancing music for the reception, from old school to the latest Bollywood hits.
Their first dance as a newlywed couple was to “You and Me” by Lifehouse, and Sarika’s sister planned a flash mob including all of Kishan and Sarika’s cousins and friends.
It was a fun and surprising addition to the reception celebration. Sarika and Kishan are glad they began the planning process early, because they had so many guests and didn’t want to celebration to pass by too quickly. They suggest delegating tasks to family and friends who are willing to help, because it will relieve stress on the wedding day and allow the bride and groom to enjoy every precious moment. 
Photos Courtesy Photos Courtesy BANQUET HALLS
Dalton Convention Center
706-272-7676
www.daltontradecenter.comFLORIST
Weddings In Style
678-907-6547
www.weddingsinstyle.netCAKE
Sugar Chic Bakery
(423) 421-6151
www.sugarchicbakery.comPHOTOGRAPHER
Zamana Photo & Videography
678-860-2921
www.zamanaphoto.comDECORATOR
Weddings In Style
678-907-6547
www.weddingsinstyle.netRENTAL SERVICES
Dalton Convention Center
706-272-7676
www.daltontradecenter.comDHOL PLAYER
Indaglow Productions
404-734-6534
www.indaglowproductions.comRESTAURANT/CATERING
Rajbhog Foods
201-395-9400
www.rajbhog.comDISC JOCKEY
Indaglow Productions
404-734-6534
www.indaglowproductions.com -
Nisha weds Aamir
When old friends finally have children of their own, oftentimes their children grow up together and can become even more than friends someday. For Nisha and Aamir, their parents were childhood friends, and the two grew up seeing each other often at family parties and get-togethers. But it wasn’t until 15 years after their childhood days that they felt a connection; a connection that soon blossomed into love. 
Aamir surprised Nisha with a proposal in New York, where she thought they were celebrating her best friend’s birthday. But the couple instead arrived at a private area on the beach, where a song recorded by Aamir was playing and he presented her with a love note and, of course, the big question. Nisha found herself very emotional at the romance and happiness, and the proposal was completed with a surprise celebration with their friends and family.
Soon after, Nisha began planning the wedding herself, without the help of a professional planner.
It was an especially challenging undertaking, because the couple decided on a destination wedding in Boca Raton. They chose to host all of the wedding events at a hotel where their guests could also stay, making it a convenient yet memorable three-day vacation for their family and friends.
For the Sangeet ceremony, Nisha chose a traditional Indian theme with lanterns, a swing, and a dhol player. Right before, Aamir and his friends and family had a Baarat procession outside, and they entered the Sangeet individually. Their guests all received personalized sunglasses on this night to set the mood of the destination wedding in the sunshine state
Nisha wanted to evoke a mood of serenity and peace during the wedding ceremony, which included her white sari contrasted by the pink bridal party attire. The newlywed couple exited the ceremony in a horse and carriage, and a unique Thai ice cream was served with lunch. The reception began with the bridal party entrance and a cute “How We Met” film about Aamir and Nisha’s love story. The happy couple finally entered and they went straight into their first dance. Their wedding cake was a beautiful ombre design, and they also had a chocolate fountain to go with it. The elegant pink and navy blue reception theme was accented with large flower bouquets in tall vases and orchids with floating candles. The couple’s love story was again told with an endearing skit performance by the bridal party, and their guests spent the rest of the night dancing and celebrating Nisha and Aamir. 
Photos Courtesy Photos Courtesy BANQUET HALLS
Embassy Suites Boca Raton
561-994-8200 www.bocaratonembassy.comHORSE – CARRIAGE
Every Kids Dream LLC
561-201-4680 everykidsdream@comcast.netBEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN
Ibrow Studio
954-304-4958
www.sumaiyas.comPHOTOGRAPHER
Sona Photography
407-694-6032 www.sonaphotography.comCAKE
Two Fat Cookies
561-265-5350
zoey@twofatcookies.comRESTAURANT/CATERING
Taste Of India
561-721-8600 tasteofindiawpb@gmail.comDECORATOR
Pavan Events
954-494-3567
www.pavanevents.comVIDEOGRAPHY
Riant Films
407-603-6955
www.riantfilms.com -
Brittany weds Francisco
Brittany and Francisco were lucky to meet each other through work, and their six year relationship led up to a beautiful surprise proposal and, of course, an unforgettable wedding. Francisco proposed on the 4th of July, which also happened to be their anniversary. He took Brittany to a restaurant in Miami Beach where he asked the big questions, and she was surprised and excited that she forgot to say “yes”! Their evening ended with a beautiful fireworks display and excitement about planning the wedding. 
Brittany and Francisco, with the help of Brittany’s mother and aunt, were able to plan the entire affair themselves. It was a challenge without a professional planner, but Brittany was able to personalize every aspect of the wedding, from the napkin ring holder to the gift boxes, and it made her feel more in touch with the celebration. They chose a venue in Ft. Lauderdale that provided a beautiful view and also allowed them to use their own vendor for Indian food, which is often difficult to find. Because most of the bride and groom’s family live nearby in Miami, the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 was an ideal choice.
Before the wedding, they held henna and sangeet nights, using décor brought from India, including pillows, fabric draped across the ceilings, hanging lights, and lanterns.
The henna artists came all the way from Canada, because Brittany had fallen in love with her work on Instagram and knew she wanted the same designs for her special day.
When the wedding day arrived, Brittany and her bridal party were chauffeured to the ceremony in a party bus, while Francisco arrived at the church with his family. The ceremony décor was simple, with flowers and lanterns that didn’t distract from the ceremony itself.
As the evening transitioned into the reception, the bride and groom entered with a dhol player to begin the celebration. The theme for the reception was crystal elegance, with crystal accents and jewels complementing the purple, silver, and white rose centerpieces on every table.
To reflect the union of their two very diverse cultures, there was a mix of music including Bollywood, reggaeton, and hip hop. Brittany’s four cousins surprised her with a dance performance, and the happy couple and their 160 guests enjoyed a night of dancing and celebration. Brittany is glad that she planned the wedding herself and began far in advance, because everything went according to plan and she was able to enjoy her special day without any worries.
Photos Courtesy Photos Courtesy DISC JOCKEY
Power Parties
954-530-6136
bigwill@powerparties.comPHOTOGRAPHER
Fine Art Productions
732-662-5555
www.fineartproductions.netFLORIST
Fantasy Designers
305-823-1215
www.fantasydesigners.comReception Sites
Hyatt Regency
954-414-8504
allison.barnett@hyatt.comMEHNDI Sonia Sumr
647-997-8695
soniashenna@gmail.comRESTAURANT/CATERING
Delicacecy Gourmet
786-587-9981PANDIT/WEDDING DECORATOR
Bhai Sahib Makanjit SinghWEDDING SERVICES
Gloria Pelo
786-942-8819
www.gloriapelobrides.com -
Kaniksha weds Atman
Kaniksha and Atman’s first meeting was a blind date at the Jacksonville Zoo arranged by family friends, and it went so well that almost two years later, they were engaged. They immediately discovered they had much in common, from their love of traveling to hiking and trying new restaurants. While dating, they went on many vacations together and eventually, took a trip to Costa Rica, where Atman proposed. At sunset, they went to a private area on the beach, where Atman had arranged a five-course dinner and prepared a love letter in a glass bottle. After asking Kaniksha the big question, they enjoyed dinner and watched the sunset while dreaming about their wedding plans. 
Kaniksha and Atman hired an onsite wedding planner for the mendhi event, wedding ceremony, and reception. They chose a beautiful hotel location in Orlando that could accommodate nearly 500 guests, and it was also a sentimental choice because it was the site of one of the couple’s early dates. They held the vidhi and pithi nights at home, where they decorated with a yellow and pink theme accented with bright and colorful flowers. At the hotel, the theme transitioned into a Mediterranean feel with a hookah bar and mehndi stations during the mendhi and sangeet night.
The wedding ceremony was held at the hotel in the late morning, and the entire ceremony was streamed online so that family members in India could also watch. Atman and his family were met outside by Kaniksha’s male relatives, and then carried up the stairs to the hotel by his groomsmen. Kaniksha arrived in a doli carried by her brothers and uncles, and there was an elevated walkway to the mandap decorated with fragrant jasmine flowers. The décor was peacock themed, with two floral peacocks on either side of the mandap with coral and white flowers, draped gold fabric, and a crystal chandelier in the center. Kaniksha and Atman wore beautiful outfits designed by the famous designer Shyamal and Bhumika from Ahmedabad.
The reception was also held at the hotel, after the bride and groom left the ceremony in a limousine for a much needed ice cream break before returning to the hotel to prepare.
Kaniksha and Atman had a dramatic entrance onto the stage, complete with falling curtains, after being introduced by the DJ. The reception theme was a winter wonderland, and the couple chose a combination of Indian and American music for their guests to dance the night away. 
During the wedding, there were a few minor disasters, like Kaniksha’s mehndi outfit coming undone and their golf cart running out of gas while going uphill near the hotel! But overall, the couple was pleased with their success and beauty of their special day, especially because of the help of their decorators and planner. 
Photos Courtesy Digital Dream Studio
407-791-6064
www.digitaldreamstudio.comPhotos Courtesy BANQUET HALLS
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
407-597-5500 www.waldorfastoriaorlando.comEVENT PLANNER
Event Fully Yours
407-489-7699
www.eventfully-yours.comBEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN
Preranas Boutique
407-240-7353
www.preranasboutique.comFLORIST
Occasions By Shangri-La
407-614-2977 www.occasionsbyshangrila.comCAKE SOFELLE
Confections
407 579-1962 http://sofelleconfections.wix.com/sofelleMEHNDI
Preranas Boutique
407-240-7353
www.preranasboutique.comDECORATOR
Occasions By Shangri-La
407-614-2977 www.occasionsbyshangrila.comPHOTOGRAPHER
Digital Dream Studio
407-791-6064
www.digitaldreamstudio.comDISC JOCKEY
Krish Entertainment Service
352-299-0743 www.facebook.com/officialkrishRESTAURANT/CATERING
Tabla Bar And Grill
407-248-9400
www.tablabar.comPRIEST/WORSHIP SERVICES
Pandit Ramesh Shastri
