Real Wedding

It seems like the power of online dating can surprise everyone or anyone. Milan and Anika connected on DilMil at the beginning of 2019. The spark was there the moment they swiped right. On October 5, 2020, in the midst of a pandemic Milan was ready to move to the next chapter of their relationship. With the blessings of Maharaj, Swami, and both of their parents, Milan proposed to Anika at the William Vale Rooftop in New York City where the skyline was as stunning as Anika. Milan got down on one knee, and of course Anika said “Yes”!

The overall planning of the wedding took exactly one year with the help of Monica Cullen, owner and lead planner of As You Wish, weddings and events. Anika and Milan decided to get married on a very special day, October 31st 2021.

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Anika had her dream wedding planned way before she met Milan. She knew since the age of 8, that her wedding venue would be at Gaylord Palms in Orlando Florida, in the beautiful atrium.

Anika first got all the venues picked out, then it was time for the most important thing for Anika, the outfits! Anika picked all their outfits months in advance so they could be incorporated in the boxed wedding invitation. On the back of each insert, Anika wanted illustrations of them in their outfits for each special event.

Both Anika and Milan had their pre-wedding celebration together. Mendhi and Vidhi was held at the Villas, giving it an intimate, and home feeling. The Garba event was held at B Resort near Disney Springs. Milan and Anika had a grand Garba, the to-be husband and wife entered on a Riksha styled bicycle with Dhol players leading the way around family and friends. Dreams to Reality did all the decorations for all 4 days. The owner, Mejoo and her team did an outstanding job. With different street food stalls which are seen in India, to the amazing Dhol players, and the incredible DJ Krish the entire night was a celebration that no one could forget. Anika planned the theme of Garba to be traditional deep rich colors of India, making it a vibrant night.

The Gaylord Palms wedding venue is situated under a beautiful glass atrium, offering natural lighting and lush landscapes.  The Wedding itself had a royal and bright feel. Anika and Milan both in light pink and lilac, their elaborate outfits by Ekta Solanki made in London UK, stole the show. Anika knew with being modern she wanted to add something traditional to her wedding outfit, so she added a bandhani duppata. With Milan’s pagh trimming to the complete the whole outfit with the bhandhani theme. It all contrasted with the venue and the colors. Milan arrived in a horse and carriage, and Anika came down the aisle with Swaminaryan Bhawgan. In between the ceremony the guests were given out Kulfi ice cream and fresh Passion fruit juice.

With great effort, sleepless nights, and dedication they successfully managed to have their dream wedding. All 350 guests from all around the states enjoyed the wedding celebration that was an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.

As medical school classmates, they were best friends and always stood by each other, no matter what the situation was. However, it was after graduation and during their residency in Philadelphia in 2017 that both Janisha and Ronak began dating each other.

The proposal came after 3 years of dating, in 2020, Ronak proposed to Janisha by giving her a “special version” of the 6th Harry Potter book cut out to a chapter titled “The Unbreakable Vow” with a ring inside. Pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed, Janisha agreed to enter into a new chapter of life with her love Ronak.

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Two years of pandemic and lockdowns delayed their wedding. Finally, the date was fixed on June 5, 2022. As both the bride and groom grew up in New Jersey, they wanted the venue close by and The Rockleigh seemed to be the perfect venue for both of them. The duo planned every detail of the wedding and the festivities and so did not hire any wedding planner.

Both celebrated the pre-wedding rituals at their parents’ place. Janisha had her Mehndi, Ganesh Puja and Vidhi at her childhood home in Rockaway, NJ. Ronak also had his Ganesh Puja and Mehndi night at his family home in Parsippany, NJ, with a decorative gate, floral Ganesh and flowers all over. The Grah Shantak was performed at Aashirwad Palace in Rockaway, NJ. The duo celebrated Sangeet together with exquisitely colorful and traditional Garba.

The wedding took place inside and the decorations were in perfect sync with the beautiful chandeliers of the Rockleigh. Both the bride and groom were dressed in white with touches of green. In perfect color coordination, the aisle was decorated with rose petals and tall candles in glass cylinders. The Mandap was decorated with garlands of fresh greenery with off-white and blush-colored flowers.

The groom arrived at his baraat in a convertible Audi R8. There was highly energetic dance to Bollywood music with occasional pop music. This was complemented by an amazing MC and Dhol player. The couple uttered their vows along with the marriage mantras.

The reception was a gala event with all the 400 guests enjoying the dance and music which was a mix of EDM, pop, Latin music, and Bollywood music. The first dance was with “Say you won’t let go” by James Arthur followed by father-daughter, mother-son and both the family’s dance performances. During the reception, the Harry Potter book from the engagement was displayed, as well as a box in which Janisha and Ronak asked guests to leave things to do to add to their bucket lists

Both Janisha and Ronak were mesmerized to see each other in their wedding attire. They were so happy to be with each other for the rest of their lives.

In the vibrant tapestry of Meera and Parthik’s love story, threads of fate wove their paths together in 2013. Despite attending different universities in Florida, their shared passion for bhangra through the Academy of Odissi Dance ignited the spark that would blossom into love. The couple embarked on a long-distance relationship, with Meera studying in Washington DC and Parthik pursuing residency in Philadelphia. Their love endured, and on their third anniversary in April 2022, against the backdrop of Maine’s serene Pemaquid Point, Parthik nervously but beautifully proposed, capturing the moment with a surprise photographer.

Following the proposal, Meera relocated to Philadelphia, marking the beginning of a new chapter. The couple signed their legal marriage papers in April 2023, celebrating their four-year journey. The culmination took place in September 2023 with a resplendent Hindu ceremony.

The wedding planning, a labyrinth of choices and decisions, was navigated with the help of a wedding planner. Meera and Parthik recommend this ally to all couples, citing the stress-alleviating magic it brings to the intricate process.

Choosing Orlando for their wedding venue, the couple drew from their familial roots in Tampa and Plant City, Florida. The Caribe Resort offered a perfect blend of proximity to the airport and delightful attractions for guests to savor.

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The pre-wedding festivities unfolded in a burst of color at the garba-sangeet, featuring vibrant decor, Bollywood performances, and a grand entrance on a flower-adorned cart. The wedding ceremony, held indoors at 10:30 am, showcased a traditional mandap with clear pillars and a floral canopy. Guests were treated to delightful surprises like candy bags and exotic milkshakes.

The reception, a dazzling affair, saw the bridal party’s grand entrance, centerpieces in neutral hues, and special effects like clouds during the first dance and sparklers for the Bhangra performance. The musical journey throughout the evening blended Bollywood, Bhangra, and American tunes, culminating in a spectacular Bhangra performance featuring old teammates and former students.

In the realm of personal touches, Meera and Parthik crafted their dummy cake, designed their save-the-dates, and concocted a unique seating chart with Florida-themed postcards as favors.

As the night drew to a close, the couple shared their first dance to Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You” and closed the evening with Chris Brown’s “Forever.” Their advice to future couples: savor the journey, don’t stress the small stuff. And, in a twist of fate, a looming hurricane threat turned into a mere sprinkle of rain, offering a chuckle-worthy twist to their wedding tale.

In the symphony of Meera and Parthik’s wedding, love’s melodies intertwined with cultural beats, creating a harmonious celebration of their journey together.

Sometimes a connection is eternal and predestined, the kind that happens all of a sudden and heralds a new beginning.  The bonding between Khushboo and Dr. Dhrudeep was just like that. It all began with Instagram, followed by a long Facetime chat. 

Through these virtual interactions, the duo discovered the common thread of compatibility between them. They began dating and finally, Dhrudeep proposed to Khushboo on a trip to Miami. Khushboo knew that she would marry Shiv (Dhrudeep), however, the proposal was exciting and pleasing for her. 

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And then the preparations for the marriage between the lady accountant and the handsome doctor began. They did not hire a wedding planner; instead, the enthusiastic couple did all the preparatory work. The marriage date was fixed on May 28, 2022. Khushboo wanted the ceremony to be held at her home, in the backyard, and both the bride and her groom wanted a small and simple wedding ceremony. However, starting with only 50 guests, the list grew bigger, reaching 140!

Shiv’s parents are based in Canada and his brother is in India. With the longer guest list the couple decided the wedding venue would be the Peoria Hindu Temple in Illinois, close to Khushu’s home. Pre-wedding ceremonies of Mehndi, Gruh Pooja and Pithi were celebrated at Khushboo’s home and backyard. Mehndi was a close family affair, with the bride pampering herself with a warm get-together and dancing. Gruh Puja had traditional and minimalistic décor with marigolds. The Puja was observed for both Khushboo and Shiv. Pithi or Haldi, too, was celebrated by the couple at the bride’s home.

The wedding took place in the morning and the couple wanted only natural flowers for décor. Since it was outside, on the lawn of the Hindu Temple, they used pastel-shaded florals to contrast with the lawn’s natural greens. Khushboo had two entries: one to welcome her groom and exchange garlands, and the other, a ceremonial entry. For the first entry, she climbed down beautiful steps accompanied by her niece.

The ceremonial entry was with phoolon ki chadar, the floral canopy held by brothers and grandparents, and with pictures of her departed grandparents accompanying her. Her aunts held their palms for their beloved girl. Music was a blend of popular Bollywood songs along with Gujarati songs. The stage was open, illuminated by natural lights and with Moroccan poufs and low chairs.

The reception party in the evening was full of surprises and fun. Khushboo’s in-laws put up a surprise performance to welcome her. Her brothers and sisters also danced for her and there was a speech about her childhood given by her sister.

The couple kept it minimal and enjoyed every moment of the ceremonies. It was a thoroughly wonderful event to begin their journey together.

It took Parth Dave four long years to begin dating Brindusa (Brin) Dumitrascu. However, with slow but steady effort, Parth ultimately won the heart of his lady love. They met through colleagues and hung out a bit in 2014. They met again in 2018 and began dating. 

Contrary to the popular holiday outing proposal in some picturesque place, Parth proposed to Brin by asking if she wanted the two of them to buy a house together. The cat-lover Brin said “Yes,” with approval from her kitten, named Kindle. 

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The couple decided not to hire a wedding planner and instead made all of the arrangements themselves. It was a cross-cultural marriage, as Brin is Romanian and Parth is Indian. With love and respect for each other’s cultures and traditions, they decided to have an Indian wedding and a western-style reception. Brin, being a beach-lover, found the Ole Hanson Beach Club at San Clemente, Calif., and it seemed the dream location for the wedding. They tied the knot there on February 5, 2022.

Among the pre-wedding ceremonies, Mehndi and Pithi were done on February 3 and 4 at their house in Glendora, Calif., with simple floral decorations. The wedding took place in the afternoon on the beach club’s lawn overlooking the ocean. The groom arrived in a Vanderhall Venice along with his family and friends. They all danced their way to the wedding venue, including Parth, who got out of the three-wheeled roadster and joined the dance.
There was a gold mandap, with white and gold chairs for the bride and groom. A white canopy was set up to cover the guests, since it was a warm, sunny day, and the couple wanted everyone to be comfortable. Traditional Indian decorations of gold and red were placed along both sides of the aisle. The bridal party consisted of Brin, her mom and her brothers.

The reception featured a purple and silver color theme. Each table had potted purple orchids and silver candles as centerpieces, as well as gifts for the guests. The sweetheart table was surrounded by different sizes of purple candles and a gold arch stood in the background. The dinner took place outside and there was dancing in a room decorated with purple lights.

The first dance was an Argentine tango called Asi Se Baila El Tango, by Veronica Verdier. The music was a blend of Indian, Romanian and top 40 music, and Parth’s family members put up dance performances. The couple made gifts for each of the wedding guests. Purple and silver necklaces handmade by the bride were gifted to the ladies, while the men received a coaster with a picture taken by Parth in Utah.

Looking at each other in their wedding outfits was a moment of joy for both of them. They happily recall the fun and fond memories of the wedding.