Dream CELEBRATION

A bride and groom mix worlds and cultures at a lavish wedding reception at The Boca Raton

BY NILA DO SIMON PHOTOS BY MUNOZ PHOTOGRAPHY

IT SEEMED THAT STEPHANIE AKEUNG and Nirmal Sukhram were destined to connect. Each time Stephanie returned to her family’s home in Guyana, she and Nirmal, a Guyanese entrepreneur, would somehow run into each other, whether it was at the bistro where she was working or at a mutual friend’s baby shower or at another random location within the capital city of Georgetown.

After nearly three years of long-distance dating—which included Nirmal frequently visiting Stephanie at her South Florida home, and Stephanie flying to Guyana—Nirmal proposed to his future wife at dinner at Gianni’s Restaurant in Miami’s Villa Casa Casuarina with the words “Will you marry me?” strewn across her dessert plate in rose petals.

In selecting the venue for their May 16, 2022 wedding reception, the couple wanted a backdrop that would complement their Hindu ceremony held the day before at a nearby temple. Whereas the temple offered them an auspicious place to perform their rituals for a blessed marriage, The Boca Raton allowed them to have, in their words, “a dream Guyanese reception.”

“Being from the Caribbean, our food and music tastes are very different,” Nirmal says. “And The Boca Raton embraced that. They allowed us to fly in our favorite performers, some of whom were of Guyanese background, and gave us flexibility with our vendors.”

After the couple prepped for the wedding in their respective quarters, which included

Floral Design

Few things have the power to transform a wedding like flowers. As the team at Boca By Design puts it, “They create a different atmosphere and fulfill the dream the bride has,” says Lisa Coccoli, the director of sales and operations at Boca By Design. “The vision and aromas last forever.”

Led by Floral Manager Adriana Macias, the floral design team sources the finest flowers from all over the world, including Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Bangkok, New Zealand and Australia. The unique arrangements grace a range of events at The Boca Raton, from weddings to private ceremonies to Club events.

Boca By Design also hosts a monthly floral design workshop at the Club, where attendees can learn techniques that will allow them to make arrangements at home and tips to care for the flowers so they last longer. Each class gives guests a basic understanding of how to make an arrangement from beginning to end, as well as create their own style. The way Macias sees it, floral arrangements are a tangible way to display individuality: “Flowers reflect the insights of each person, their personality, their feelings and their emotions. And they are beautiful.”

BRIDE’S GOWN: Frida Xhoi & Xhei / BRIDE’S SHOES: Jimmy Choo / BRIDE’S JEWELRY: Heirloom ruby, pearl and diamond necklace and earring

BRIDE’S HAIR ACCESSORIES: Jennifer Behr / BRIDE’S HAIRSTYLIST: Pharis Luxury / BRIDE’S MAKEUP ARTISTS: Chontelle Sewet and Simmi Sola

GROOM’S TUX: Tom Ford / GROOM’S SHOE: Tom Ford / GROOM’S TIMEPIECE: Rolex / CAKE: Elegant Temptations / FLORALS: Boca By Design

OFFICIANT: Pandit Rudra / LIGHTING AND SOUND: All Access Event Service / ACROBATS SERVING WINE: Event Studio Production an elaborate brunch along with dressers and valets, they moved to The Cathedral room, where Stephanie’s mom and micropoodle, Louie, awaited to walk her into the magical space. Throughout the night, the entire room—filled with 250 of their closest friends and family—exploded with entertainment, including by Ravi B, a Trinidadian chutney musician; Jeffery Iqbal, a Bollywood singer; Raymond Ramnarine, a chutney soca and Bollywood singer from Trinidad & Tobago; Savita Singh, a singer who won season two of Guyana’s “Emerging Voices” contest; and belly dancer Valentina Geraldo.

The self-described foodies wanted the night to be a display of their love of flavor and eclectic palates, which included lamb, chicken, salmon, and vegetarian foods like Asian-inspired fried rice. Stephanie emphasized to the culinary team how important it was for Nirmal, a vegan, to be blown away by the meatless options. “America can have a scarcity of flavorful vegan meals, but The Boca Raton chefs took my opinion and made my husband very happy,” she says. “In addition, I was also able to offer my guests a great menu with delicious options that catered to everyone’s dietary restrictions and preferences.”

A year after their wedding and after some time to reflect, the couple still looks back at fond memories of the evening. “We wouldn’t change a thing about it,” Nirmal says.