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Love in on Online World Bijal Weds Tarish
The Internet can be a beautiful thing. Particularly when it comes to bringing people, such as Bijal and Tarish, together. The couple married on April 7, 2012, at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida.
Bijal and Tarish first met through Shaadi.com, a prominent online matrimonial site. They met in person on February 18, 2011,in Palm Beach Amidst India Fest celebrations, and after this, there was no looking back. The couple began dating and traveling often to Michigan and Florida to visit each other. It finally dawned on Bijal that it was time to deepen her relationship with Tarish, so she moved to Gainesville, Florida, to be closer to him. Tarish helped Bijal drive to her new home in Gainesville, Florida, and soon after on May 24, 2011, Tarish proposed. The proposal was rather unexpected, though Tarish did propose in the most adorable fashion over breakfast in front of his mother and sister. He did not have a ring and was certainly not dressed for the occasion. He spontaneously blurted out his intention to get married to Bijal, after which he was quick on deciding the type of ceremony function and some close friends he would like to see at the wedding. Although at first it rather difficult for Bijal to absorb the idea of a wedding so spontaneously proposed by Tarish, she eventually that she was ready to share her life with Tarish and tie the knot.Deciding on the wedding venue was not all that difficult, since the couple wanted West Palm Beach, the place where they first met, to be the setting. They decided to hire Virtues Events to take care of every detail required to organize their dream wedding.
Their events included mehndi, Sangeet, and the main wedding, followed by a reception. On April 5, 2012, the mehndi was organized at the Downtown Hyatt Palace of Palm Beach. The guests were welcomed with bags that included a wedding program, directions to the venue, and some snacks and bottles of water. The mehndi venue was well decorated with flowers and candles appropriately placed to enable dance sessions and other fun-filled moments. The sangeet and mehndi was the official start of the wedding function and signaled the fun to in a venue aptly decorated in bright colors. The mehndi artist sat on the center stage, catering to the requirements of each and every female guest at the venue for all their mehndi needs. The Bandhini theme was selected for the Sangeet function, wherein the guests danced freely to lift the occasion with perfection.
The main wedding ceremony was held at the Palm Beach Convention Center in the midst of palm trees. The environment was perfectly romantic and exuded a radiance so desired by the couple. Bijal entered the venue along with her brothers Jay, Alpesh, Kalpesh, and Rakesh. The ceremony was indeed very enticing, which enthralled every guest in attendance. The wedding ceremony was followed by vivid celebrations, in which cocktails freely flowed amongst all the guests. The caterers, Taste of India, had the most delectable Indian vegetarian snack items available in the open food bar. Apart from variety of pakoras, the food barin cluded paneer masala, chilli corn, idli masala, and samosa.The wedding ceremony was followed by an exotic reception, which was held at the same venue. The guests were eagerly crowding the dance floor to rejoice the occasion with perfection. The immediate families, bridal party, and couple also danced their way to the floor, to tunes rendered by the DJ Ace. The dinner buffet was authentic Punjabi cuisine, also catered by Taste of India. With speeches made by the bridesmaid and the groomsmen, the reception party ended on a celebratory note with thank you speeches made by the bride and the groom.
Bijal attributes the success of all her wedding events to her vendors, namely, Virtues Events, Taste of India, Ace DJ, and Divesh Photography. Even today, Bijal cherishes every moment of the ceremony, be it her photographer Nidhi assisting her in wearing the bridal outfit or eating six ras malai all on her own without sharing with anyone – not even Tarish! Such are the memories of weddings!
Photos Courtesy:
Devish Photography
954-980-4835
devishphoto@gmail.com
Vendors WEDDING PLANNER
Virtues Events 561-309-3786
www.virtuesevents.comWEDDING DECORATOR
Virtues Events 561-309-3786PHOTOGRAPHY
Devish Photography 954-980-4835
www.devishphotography.comCATERING
Taste of India 561-721-8600
www.tasteofindiafl.usMEHNDI
iBrow Studios 561-642-0501
sumaiya_waheed@yahoo.comVENUE
Palm Beach Convention Center 561-366-3029
www.pbconventioncenter.com -
Unexpected Love Preethi Weds Carlos
Often, the Often, the most beautiful moments in life happen unexpectedly, and this was certainly the case for 38 year-old Preethi and 36 year-old Carlos. On April 21, 2012, Preethi Murty and Carlos Soto were married with much pompous celebration at Ponte Vedra in Florida. Their wedding had all the necessary ingredients called for in a perfect wedding.
Their relationship began at a casual meeting arranged by a common friend. The meeting, which lasted over a span of four hours, drew Preethi and Carlos closer to each other and unexpectedly resulted in one year of courtship. Preethi and Carlos began dating in earnest, though the thought of getting married never occurred to either during their courtship. The relationship took a whole new turn with the arrival of Preethi’s Guruji. Preethi invited Carlos to meet her Guruji. Little did she know that this event that would spin her life into a whole new galaxy. Carlos proposed to Preethi then, and it was then that both families decided to organize a religious engagement in the presence of their Guruji.
The couple decided the wedding venue would bein Ponte Vedra, Florida. Having a vacation home in Ponte Vedra was a strong incentive to make it their wedding venue, as it was a special, intimate environment for the couple. Although the idea of making wedding arrangements seemed very easy in the beginning, its actual execution brought to light the many logistics involved in planning a big event. The couple then agreed to hand over the task of wedding planning to an established event planner, Hemant. What translated after that was a sheer dream come true!
The wedding events were held with much finesse and displayed an elegance that is usually associated with one’s special day. Whether it was their sangeet, the actual wedding ceremony, or the wedding reception, each of the events rejuvenated the entire atmosphere with a distinct grace, thus making a lasting impression on all the guests. The sangeet incorporated the traditional elements of raas garba and was celebrated with much glitz and glitter as well as a variety of food stations that ensured all guests enjoyed. The raas garba looked quite elegant, being played amidst the Jaipur lanterns dimmed to perfection. The event organizer left no stones unturned to ensure that the sangeet was a perfect beachside event. The centerpieces and the decor incorporated gave the space an air fun and frolic. There was a live band playing in the background, which included some suberb Indian singers. The deejay made his presence felt, by filling quiet moments within with music played on demand. The ambience was simply rich with palm leaves and floating candles graced the occasion to the fullest.
The main wedding ceremony consisted of two events. The first was the Indian ceremony held in the morning, while the second was a Christian ceremony held in the evening. Gallant elephants wearing golden hues and extended tusks, greeted the guests with rich fuchsia floral on both sides of the entrance. The ballroom was transformed into an indoor Rajasthan, with a Jodha Akbar Mandap adorned in rich tones of tangerine, fuchsia, and ivory. The backdrop of the event was simple elegance with crystal strands and white orchids sparkling the occasion. Likewise, the Christian ceremony held in the evening was simply beautiful. Held on the lush lawn of the Sawgrass Marriott, the theme depicted a golden era perfectly with waterfall-graced wooden bridges. Gold and ivory adorned the gate and altar injecting even more richness into the occasion. Both these events were honored with music, with a live musician as well as the deejay rendering rhythm to the occasion.
The wedding reception was exceptionally organized. Fuchsia lighting and a background masked in a smoke screen gave the reception room an exotic dim room effect. The mandap was the center stage attraction and was graced with white orchids and crystals. What was equally attractive was the massive estate table that was decked in white hydrangeas, with short glass vases and votives floating in a sea of white rose petals besideit. The guest tables were adorned in ivory linens accompanied by gold chivari chairs and gold chargers. The ambience was graced by a variety of music selections played by the deejay to suit every moment of the celebratory occasion.The wedding was perfectly planned, and their life together will follow the same destiny.

Photos Courtesy:
Fine Arts Production
732-208-0704
www.fineartsproductions.netVendors Photographer/Videographer
Fine Arts Production
732-208-0704
www.fineartsproductions.netWedding & Reception Venue
Sawgrass Marriott
904-280-7090
www.sawgrassmarriott.comPriest/Maraj
Bhanu Prakash
905-790-3645
malurbprakash@yahoo.comWedding Planner
ShivPriya Events
407-473-8852
www.shivpriyaevents.comDecorator
Suhaag Gardens
561-247-429
www.suhaaggarden.comDJ
Dudha Productions
727-418-8498
www.dudhaproductions.comHorse Rental
Avalon Carriage Services
904-814-6944
murphysbuggyshop@gmail.comHair & Make up & Sari
Beauty by Jayshree 407-430-8536
www.beautybyjayshree.comHaars (garlands)
Geeta Shekar 732-666-3512
G_shekar@hotmail.comCaterer
Memories Of India
407-804-0920
www.MemoriesofIndia.comMassala Indian Cuisine
904-268-6499
www.jaxmasala.comCeremony Musician
Eshwar & Chadesh Persaud
407-284-8205 -
Dreams Do Come True Kavita Weds Prashanth
Very few fortunate people are lucky enough to get what they want. Though everyone dreams, only a few eventually see their dreams turn to reality! Two such fortunate people, Kavita Bahl and Prashanth Kolli, recently tied the knot at one of the world’s most favorite holiday destination.Kavita and Prashanth Kolli, both aged 31, got married on February 18, 2012 amidst much grandeur and glitz. Their wedding celebration displayed the most elegant and perfect style one could desire. Thanks to proper organization that was incorporated in celebrating their wedding ceremonies and the able assistance of their wedding planner Hameant, Kavita and Prashanth were married in Orlando, Florida, with 300 guests in attendance.
It all began nearly two years ago, when the couple started dating. The sound of wedding bells soon began ringing melodiously for the couple. After a year and a half of courtship, Prashanth proposed to Kavita. What followed was the engagement of Prashanth and Kavita, with a wedding six months down the line. The time line certainly called for meticulous wedding planning to be done with the help of a proficient wedding planner. Hameant was introduced to the family, and he helped enable smooth functioning of the whole process.
Kavita’s dad took charge of the big picture such as hiring of vendors and managing of time lines, while her mother took interest in managing more articulate things for their beloved’s daughter’s wedding. Contrary to everyone’s belief, the wedding was planned in a short span of six months.
Hameant was instrumental in picking a suitable venue as the wedding destination for Kavita and Prashanth. The Orlando Marriott World Center is one of the largest amongst the Marriott chain of hotels, and was appreciated by the entire family as the ideal wedding venue for the couple’s wedding. With the large ballrooms and entertaining space the Orlando Marriott World Center offers its clients, the family had many options from which to select for various ceremonies. Apart from the restaurants, pools, golf courses, and spas housed within the premises of Orlando Marriott World Center, its location fasc-inates one and all. Situated right outside the world famous Disney World, guests could enjoy every moment of their stay while the wedding festivities were not being conducted.The pre-wedding function started with a bang with the sangeet held in the most elegant manner. The arrangements made the sangeet exude sheer grace, thus rejuvenating the whole atmosphere. Jyoti Patel of Delightful Events, Orlando, handled decor for the sangeet and all other ceremonies.
The sangeet function, as is usually the case, was held in a smaller ballroom of the Marriott. The decoration was very subtle, conveying traditional extravagance in the simplest manner. The tables and chairs at the venue were formidably covered in white cloth. While the white cloth covering the tables contained colorful cloth squares with lanterns and tea lights standing erect upon them, the white covers on the chairs were decorated with golden bows. In the most traditional manner one could sight, a mehndi artist was situated under a white and teal umbrella with a variety of seating placed before her for the guests. The food bar was transformed into a ‘dhaba,’ rendering its guests four types of ‘dhaba’ servings. The guests’ dhaba options included Asian, Mexican, Indian, and Italian. The stage was the center of attraction with a traditional jhula, well decorated in tandem with the overall decor of the ballroom, on which Kavita and Prashanth sat.
The theme wedding ceremony was elaborately decorated to exude the exclusivity rendered to suit the overall ambience of the venue. The afternoon wedding was an outdoor ceremony with a Jodha Akbar mandap occupying the center of the venue. Situated just across a golf course and overlooking a pond, the venue was lit with an enhanced natural grandeur, as rightly so desired by its organizers and the couple. The venue comprised of a wooden terrace decorated by gold and salmon colored draping. The aisle contained an arch along six Jodha Akbar pillars with large rose centerpieces creatively placed on each side. Although the wedding ceremony was intended to be simple initially, the ample space provided by the venue helped Jyoti Patel manufacture last minute detailing and insights into the whole decor, making the venue look simply superlative and fascinating.The guests, who were seated on white garden chairs adorned with vertical salmon colored sashes, were sure to have a splendid time of their life! The ceremony was conducted by an event management company from India, taking care of every detail in the arena of music and entertainment. DJ Gaurav played a variety of music, from soothing Enya to happy Indian Vidai music from Khal-nayak. In fact, immediately after the arrival of the baraat, Prashanth walked down the aisle alongside Kavita’s parents to the tunes of ‘Sajanki Gharaaye’ from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The ambience was simply enthralling with one the most joyful moments experienced by each of the invites. Alongside the beat of the music, cocktails flowed freely, foreshadowing the fun and frolic to come.
The wedding reception added more glory and displayed the best party theme of the entire event. The newly married couple was introduced to the song ‘Deewangi’ from Om Shanti Om, followed by ‘Run like Hell’ from Pink Floyd. When the guests were seated, the first official dance was performed by Prashanth and Kavita setting the stage on fire to the tune of “All my life’ by K-Ci and JoJo.
Later, Kavita danced with her father to Paul Simon’s ‘Father and Daughter.’ Many other father’s and daughter’s from the invites later joined Kavita and her dad. Prashanth also danced with his mother to Josh Groban’s ‘You Raise Me Up.’ The reception party became increasingly flamboyant as the evening faded, with music including bhangra as well as American chart toppers being played throughout the night. The dhol player rendered the best support to the overall flavor of music, making the beat more stupendous.
The party ended on a very promising note, but Kavita certainly has a few pointers that couples should consider when making their wedding plans. First, if certain minor things cannot be completed, one should refrain from worrying about them, as they will not be noticed in the midst of fun and frolic. She encourages couples to take advantage of professional wedding vendors, as they simplify much of the work making the entire process much more enjoyable. Kavita and Prashanth’s dream wedding came true mostly due to their wedding planners.
Photos Courtesy:
Digital Dream Video & Photo Studio
407-791-6064
www.DigitalDreamStudio.comVendors Ceremony and Reception Site
Marriott World Center
407-238-8702
www.marriottworldcenter.com
Photography and Videography
Digital Dreams 407-791-6064
www.Digitaldreamstudio.comWedding Planner
Shiv Priya Events 407-473-8852
www.shivpriyaevents.comMandap Decorator
Delightful Events 407-497-1053
www.imakeevents.comHair and Make-up
Sangeeta Patel 407-257-3271
www.spbridalservices.comPriest
Hindu Society of Central Florida
407-699-5277
www.hindutempleorlando.orgCatering
Darbar Restaurant 321-287-6176Catering
New Punjab 407-352-7887
www.newpunjabrestauarant.comMUSIC DJ
DJ Gaurav 732-261-2208
www.djgaurav.com -
Where Are They Now?
Many of our readers often wonder how the featured wedding couples are doing long after gracing the pages of Desh-Videsh. Beginning with this wedding issue, we visit with Desh-Videsh wedding story couples to find out about life after marriage!Nilu and Jay Patel
March 27, 2010
(July 2010 cover)Since being featured in Desh-Videsh, Nilu and Jay became proud parents to Niam Patel, born on September 4, 2011 at 8 lbs 12 oz. Much of the last year was spent preparing for their little boy and enjoying every moment with him. They moved out of their downtown Chicago condo and bought their first beautiful home in the Chicago suburbs. Before Niam, they enjoyed traveling around the U.S., Hawaii, and Canada. Jay continues to enjoy success with his construction company, building and remodeling hotels in the Midwest. Nilu managed to find some time after the wedding to win first place in the regional Fogana competition as a part of a raas group, and is now back to work in the health administration field. Most of all, the couple are enjoying all the time they have had with each other, their baby, families, and friends.
Attention Desh-Videsh wedding couples:
Desh-Videsh invites you to share your accomplishments and life passages to be published in the “Where are They Now?” section in the June 2012 wedding resources issue. Please submit a 100-200 word update along with a recent family photo via e-mail to raj@deshvidesh.com. Updates may include: births; new jobs and career changes; honors, awards and community involvement; and current location.

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Shalini Weds Randy
Your first love, whether in adolescence or adulthood, is never forgotten. Often, puppy love does not last very long, and we tend to move on in life. It is rare for a first love to be the last and eventually culminate in marriage, but in the lucky instances that it does, life can be nothing short of perfect. In this story, you will find that friends become lovers and life partners, but also experience the joy that finding true love in your first crush can bring.Shalini Vijaya Persad met her true love Arron Randy Ramlogan when she was only thirteen. They met at Randy’s sister’s sixteenth birthday party, and once they set eyes on each other from across the room, they could not look away. A few days later Randy called Shalini and asked her out. This was the first step they took together and that made for the strongest foundation to their relationship.
Their relationship only grew with time. Growing steadily to become more than lovers, Shalini and Randy found companionship, solace, friendship and counsel in each other. They shared everything they dreamt of, thought about, and felt. Endless hours of talking and countless meetings only made them realize how intense their love was for one another. Randy and Shalini ensured that they spent every birthday, Diwali, Christmas and Thanksgiving together.
As they grew older, both Shalini and Randy understood that they would need to chart their own life and destiny. They decided to explore themselves and life. With all of the traveling, learning, building their careers, making friends, and developing hobbies, the one thing that remained constant in their life was the love they had for one another. Seven years later, Shalini received the fateful call from Randy, which brought the couple, their love, and magic back together.Randy proposed in style by taking Shalini to the Viceroy Hotel Miami for dinner. Only, it was not in the restaurant, but on the terrace that had been booked only for them. With appetizers, drinks and the main course already ordered and served, Shalini and Randy then proceeded to take a walk on the pretext of getting a better view of Miami. Randy, however, had other plans. As the restaurant manager and waiter came in with a bottle of champagne and tray, Shalini was floored with an exquisite ring and the sight of Randy proposing from down on one knee. This was the perfect beginning of their journey together and a night Shalini will never forget.
The first wedding event happened to be the hardi ceremony and intimate gathering shared with friends and family in Shalini’s backyard. With tents, decorated mandaps and music, it may have been causal, but it was certainly very enjoyable. The hardi ceremony may have been short, but was conducted beautifully. Shalini walked in escorted by her mother, creating a surreal moment. The ceremony was conducted by the family’s guru, Dr. Pundit Prakash Prasad. A scrumptious dinner followed, and then it was time for uninhibited fun and entertainment, with singers and dancers sweeping the guests off their feet.The next event was the mehndi the following night. Beginning in the afternoon, the joyous occasion went on for several hours in order for the artists to have enough time to create ornate designs on Shalini’s arms and legs. Guests trickled in later in the afternoon, and the festive mood from the evening before continued full force. Shalini found great joy in seeing not just traditional and contemporary designs, but also Randy’s name incorporated into the pattern.
The wedding ceremony began on January 29 and took place at the Marriott Coral Springs Hotel – Golf Club and Convention Center. The atmosphere in the hotel inspired love at first sight as well as a refreshing drive down Heron Bay. The ballroom was attractive in design and layout. Chandeliers and lighting created a grand ambiance. As Shalini walked down the aisle, she felt excitement and anticipation, eager to get a glimpse of Randy. She simply could not stop staring when her eyes met his. The tempo picked up, and Shalini found herself savoring every moment – the ceremony, friends and family, decor, colors and clothes. The love between the bride and groom was obvious –Randy and Shalini laughed, talked, and held hands showing just how comfortable they were making this all important transition. For the over 470 guests in attendance, this was a wedding on which they would think of fondly for a long time.
The wedding reception followed in the same ballroom, which was transformed for the festive occasion. In the meantime, appetizers were served, and Randy and Shalini took the time to change into their reception ensembles. Dinner was the first treat of the evening while a slideshow played in the background with music provided by the DJ. Randy and Shalini entered after dinner to a lively bangra number. They enjoyed their first dance, after which they got to mingle with guests and relatives, while also taking many pictures. Everyone then enjoyed a slideshow that chronicled the journey of their life together, followed by speeches made by close friends and family.The wedding was certainly not a breeze or cakewalk, but rather a carefully planned event. Though Jilna Patel of Suhaag Garden took the helm with planning and implementation, the whole family pitched in with their contributions. Months of meticulous work went in to ensure everything went smoothly. In retrospect, Shalini believes that being organized is what helps you get through with little stress. Working together on all decisions as a team will enable both bride and groom to take in the moment together and feel the same passion. This is just how you learn to share every moment of your future life together.
Photos Courtesy:
84 West Studios
954-236-9000
www.84weststudios.comVENDORS WEDDING SITE
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs
954-227-4122
www.marriott.com/fllmcRECEPTION SITE
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs
954-227-4122
www.marriott.com/fllmcPHOTOGRAPHY
84 West Studios
954-236-9000
www.84weststudios.comVIDEOGRAPHY
S&S Video Productions
954-854-2808
www.ssvideopro.comPANDIT
Pt. Prakash Persad
Pt. Teeluckram MaharajMANADP DECORATOR
Suhaag Garden
813-478-9283
www.suhaaggarden.comWEDDING DRESS
Le Trend Boutique
407-288-3304
www.letrendboutique.comHAIR-MAKEUP
Sumaiya Waheed
954-304-4958
sumaiya_waheed@yahoo.comJEWELRY
Chhabra’s Fashions
954-578-0093
chhabrasfashion@hotmail.comINVITATIONS
Invites & Events
954-797-8022
www.invitesandevents.comFLOWERS
Suhaag Garden
813-478-9283
www.suhaaggarden.comMUSIC DJ
DJ Chris
fldjchris@gmail.comCATERINGPriyas Roti Shop
954-471-9550Lucky City Restaurant
954-972-1880SINGERSNeil Persad
954-851-9559Neera Maharaj
954-649-1534Shalini Weds Randy





