Spring+Summer 2015

Spring+Summer 2015 Print/Digital

the

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23 acres of gardens / multiple ballrooms for up to 650 guests authentic indian cuisine: outside catering available or prepared by the hotel’s culinary experts

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Photos by 5 West Studios

A Royal Estate of Affairs Celebrating the art of entertaining since 1919

Weddings & Celebrations A Castle to Call Your Own with Just One Wedding a Day 32 Guestrooms & Suites 路 Fine Dining 路 Golf & Tennis On the Gold Coast of Long Island between New York City and The Hamptons 135 West Gate Drive 路 Huntington NY 11743 路 631-659-1400 8 southasianbridemagazine.com

www.oheka.com

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691 N. Cass Avenue Westmont, IL 60559 630.777.4133 630.468.2869 www.charismaindia.com

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691 N. Cass Avenue Westmont, IL 60559 630.777.4133 630.468.2869 www.charismaindia.com

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I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all those who contribute to help create South Asian Bride Magazine. The brilliant event coordinators, designers, decorators, orists, lighting specialists and of course the photographers.

Thank you to all the brides and grooms who support us, share their memories with us and use SAB as their guide in their wedding planning process. We strive to live up to your expectations each and every time.

--Sadaf H. Kherani, Publisher | Editor in Chief Credit: nadia d. photography, | www.nadiadphoto.com, Make-up: Corinne Fairley , Location: St. Regis, Atlanta

spring + summer 2015 | www.southasianbridemagazine.com

photographer // S TUDIO U MA P HOTOGRAPHY // STUDIOUMA . COM planning + design + florals // A NAIS E VENTS // ANAISEVENTS . COM location // T HE F AIRMONT S AN F RANCISCO // FAIRMONT.COM/SANFRANCISCO makeup + hair // B RIDAL L OOKS BY S UMAIRA //

Spring+Summer 2015 Print/Digital

FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/BRIDAL-LOOKS-BY-SUMAIRA/102026846516990

attire // A MITA B AL C OUTURE // AMITABAL . COM jewelry // M ANJUSHA J EWELS // MANJUSHAJEWELS . COM accessories // D HILLON & C OMPANY models // L O Q IN R OMANO , E MMA M ORESI

the

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ROMANCE

SOUTH ASIAN BRIDE MAGAZINE, INC. info@southasianbridemagazine.com

ADVERTISING: 404.591.4142 | 888.956.6661 Copyright South Asian Magazine, Inc. No material herein or portions thereof may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views/Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the paper and no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof. Advertising copy and artwork are the sole responsibility of individual advertisers.

SHOP AT: www.southasianbridemagazine.com

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18 | Editor’s Note 56 | Styled Shoot

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28 | What's Hot 60 | Cover Shot

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68 | Real Wedding

43 | Styled Shoot 74 | Real Wedding

50 |Styled Shoot 80 | Real Wedding

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86 | Styled Shoot 90 | Styled Shoot 96 | Styled Shoot 102 | Styled Shoot 106 | Fashion 114 | Get the Look 116 | Jewelry

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120 | Jewelry

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126 | Real Wedding

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132 | Real Wedding

138 | Details + Decor

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FUSION

HOMESTYLE INDIAN

TAPAS

23 years of experience providing

Creative Cuisine Finest full service catering available.

Our attention to the quality and authenticity satisfy the most discerning tastes.

Voted “Best Indian” since 2006 ATLANTA MAGAZINE’S

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Our professional staff is committed to the success of your event Call 404-702-8301 to plan your Event Menu today!

t h e

M u s t

h a v e s

1

2 SpRING/SUMMER must haves!

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1. Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40, Nordstrom 2. Hair La Vie’s Revitalizing Blend Vitamins, hairlavie.com 3. Clarins 'Instant Light' Lip Comfor t Oil (Limited Edition) 4. Rusk Anti-Frizz Spray, Ulta 5. Dolce&Gabbana Beauty 'Spring 2015 - The Nail Lacquer Liquid Nail Lacquer, Nordstrom 6. Dolce&Gabbana Beauty 'Spring 2015' Smooth Eye Color Quad, Nordstrom 7. Aveda 'stress-fix composition oil™' Stress-Relieving Aromatic Oil for Body, Bath & Scalp, Norstrom 8. kate spade new york 'walk on air' body lotion, Nordstrom 9. butter LONDON 'Moisture Matte LIPPY' Lipstick, Nordstrom 10. Lafco 'Moonglow Apricot - Sunroom' Candle, Nordstrom 11. Jo Malone™ 'Sakura Cherry Blossom' Cologne, Nordstrom 12. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, Sephora

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303 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 1211 New York, NY 10016 212.684.3161 info@shehnaaiusa.com www.shehnaaiusa.com (price on request)

SIDDHARTHA TYTLER for Shehnaai Couture

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SIDDHARTHA TYTLER for Shehnaai Couture 303 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 1211 New York, NY 10016 212.684.3161 info@shehnaaiusa.com www.shehnaaiusa.com (price on request)

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SIDDHARTHA TYTLER for Shehnaai Couture 303 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 1211 New York, NY 10016 212.684.3161 info@shehnaaiusa.com www.shehnaaiusa.com (price on request)

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SIDDHARTHA TYTLER for Shehnaai Couture 303 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 1211 New York, NY 10016 212.684.3161 info@shehnaaiusa.com www.shehnaaiusa.com (price on request)

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SIDDHARTHA TYTLER for Shehnaai Couture 303 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 1211 New York, NY 10016 212.684.3161 info@shehnaaiusa.com www.shehnaaiusa.com (price on request)

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catwalk

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Pakistan Fashion Week 7 Event Production // Riwayat LTD Choreography // Hajira Ahmad @ EBH Photography // Shahid Malik Head Stylist // Huma Tahir Supported by Make up // Saima Kiran and Team.

Hair // Sofia Qayyum and Team Media Partners TV // ARY Digital Online // Desi Blitz

AHSAN

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FA I K A K A R I M

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GOAL, FOZIA AHMAD

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NAU R A N G

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S A H A R AT I F

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SHAZIA KIANI

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SHAZIA KIANI

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ALLECHANT BEAUTIES

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photography // S achi A n and P hotography clothing designe r // A llechant house of jewels // S amreen V ance hair & makeup // F lawless B eauty by P auline coordinator // P latinum D ream E vents , LLC venue // M amaroneck B each and Y acht C l ub model // A isha A li model // K anushree J ain

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jaypore

the pink city of Jaipur and its most prominent face, Maharani Gayatri Devi.

Gayatri Devi, was the third Maharani of Jaipur through her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and was voted among the 10 Most Beautiful Women in the World

by Vogue. Her ethereal beauty fascinated the world and her iconic style was followed by many. She was a pioneer of her times, and later revered for her philanthropic and educationist endeavors in Jaipur. southasianbridemagazine.com 61

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location // C ourtyard D’ O ro photography // N udrat O wens P hotography concept, production, planning, design // A n ais E vent P lanning & D esign florals, props // B otanica F loral & E vent D esign A n ais E vent P lanning & D esign bouquet // B otanica F loral & E vent D esign linens // A n ais E vent P lanning & D esign paper goods // S haadi P apery makeup, hair, styling // B ridal L ooks by S umaira white sari // T ouch of I ndia pink sari // T he K umari C loset jewelr y, accessories // T ouch of I ndia D hillon & C o . model // B ahaar

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SECRETS OF SPRING

photographer // R udi B P hotography makeup ar tist // P reeti R eilly - P reeti A rtistry additional makeup ar tist // W ajeeha R ashid hairstylist // W ajeeha R ashid attire // W ardrobe by M egha V erma models // P riyal D esai and S hivangi M aini 64 southasianbridemagazine.com

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c o v e r f e a t u r e

the flowers of ROMANCE

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c o v e r f e a t u r e

studio uma photography + anais events

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c o v e r f e a t u r e

photographer // S tudio U ma P hotography planning + design + florals // A n ais E vents location // T he F airmont S an F rancisco makeup + hair // B ridal L ooks by S umaira attire // A mita B al C outure jewelr y // M anjusha J ewels accessories // D hillon & C ompany models // L o Q in R omano , E mma M oresi

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Real Wedding

RAJ-ANN + PAVAN DESTINATION WEDDING // HALF MOON BAY // NIGHTINGALE PHOTOGRAPHY Pavan and I got engaged just a month before he was set to move to New Delhi to start his new job with the State Department. We wanted to select our wedding venue together and since we’re both California natives we gravitated towards the idea of doing something in a memorable natural setting. We also both have big Punjabi families in the Bay Area and didn’t want to make the venue too onerous to get to. Our vision was a “destination wedding” featuring a location people weren’t overly familiar with yet easily accessible by car.

We looked at a number of spaces in Monterey and Carmel which were unique, but we kept running into the reality that our anticipated guest list of 300+ was just too large to fit in most of the venues we liked down there. As we were driving back north to San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway we stopped for a tour of the RitzCarlton, Half Moon Bay. From the moment we saw the gorgeous rugged ocean bluffs we both knew this was the perfect setting to celebrate our big weekend with our cherished friends and families.

The coastal venue lent itself to a lovely theme which was highly personal to both of us. Visitors to my San Francisco home will quickly discover my love of sea turtles as I have a collection of them from around the world proudly on display.

Pavan is affectionately known as “shrimp” amongst his closest college friends (for reasons that remain a mystery to me).

We decided to incorporate these two beloved ocean creatures into our wedding stationery and logo, which were custom designed by Anais. They were even featured on our wedding cake by Studio Cake of Menlo Park. Our colors were drawn from a spring hue paletteI love vibrant oranges and coral, which we decided to set against a soothing sea foam green. On the day of our wedding Pavan’s male family members wore coral turbans, while mine wore the green.

We heard from so many guests how they felt magically transported away from the hustle bustle of normal Bay Area life; yet for most people it was only an hours drive to get to our gorgeous venue. For the majority it was their first time at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay and seeing them gathered and laughing around the fire pits is an image I’ll never forget. southasianbridemagazine.com 79

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v e n d o r s

photographer + video // N ightingale P hotography & F ilms planning + design // A n ais E vent P lanning & D esign venue // T he R itz -C arlton , H alf M oon B ay hair+mua+styling // M yrium henna // M ehndi D esigner stationar y // S haadi P apery dj // W icked E ntertainment

caterer // A mber I ndia cake// S tudio C ake band // I shmeet N ar ula horse // H ackney H orse & C arriage transpor tation // A valon T ransportation

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Real Wedding

Jaspreet + Nick DESTINATION WEDDING // MEXICO // PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTOKITCH Jaspreet and Nick met in early 2012. Jaspreet is a Grade 3 Teacher and Nick is employed as a Mortgage Specialist. It just so happens that they grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same schools and didn’t even know it!

About a decade later they crossed paths while on a night out with family and friends. That night changed both of their lives forever as they hit it off immediately. It did not take long for them to realize their common interests, goals and hopes for their future. Most importantly they found each other easy to have fun with and enjoy the simple things in life.

It did not take Nick long to realize that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Jaspreet. On a trip to Italy in the summer of 2013, Nick got down on one knee and asked Jaspreet to spend her life with him. Surprised and shocked, and surrounded by the excited crowd of tourists in front of the historical Trevi Fountain in Rome, she wiped away her tears of joy and said YES! Their wedding took place at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico. There they enjoyed fun in the sun with palm trees above their heads, sand underneath their feet and the welcoming smiles and laughter of 130 of their closest family and friends. This resort was chosen not only due to its luxurious and modern atmosphere, but also because of the staff's vast knowledge of Sikh religion and culture. The Moon Palace wedding department made sure every request was met at a moment's notice and even offered their own suggestions based on past Indian weddings that have taken place at this resort. All pre-wedding ceremonies including a welcome dinner, Sangeet, and Maiyan were accommodated with great care and respect of the traditions their families would expect at an Indian wedding. The wedding ceremony itself took place outdoors on a terrace underneath a grand gazebo beside the Caribbean Sea. The reception took place beneath the stars with all the necessary amenities including an open bar, LED dance floor, full Indian buffet and music provided by the one and only DJ J-Statik. The 7 days in Cancun also allowed the guests to enjoy all that Cancun had to offer including daytime excursions, Cancun's nightlife, and some much needed R&R time either poolside or at the hotel's magnificent spa. The resort also boasts about its top class Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course which did not disappoint.

All in all, the wedding was a great success, combining the culture and tradition of a typical Sikh wedding but adding a more relaxed and fun environment so that each guest could enjoy the wedding in their own way. southasianbridemagazine.com 85

v e n d o r s

photographer // P hoto K itch

venue // M oon P alace G olf & S pa R esort , C ancun , M exico makeup // M eenu B ridal B eauty travel Agency // H ype T ravel videography // D igitology sikh priest // A rjun S ingh dj // J-S tatik

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aman + aditya DESTINATION WEDDING // INDIA // BRAJA MANDALA PHOTOGRAPHY My husband and I met online while I was studying in London and he was working in USA. After talking over phone and online for a couple of months he flew to London to meet me, and that_s when we fell head over heels for each other. In spite of living seven seas apart our love for each other grew stronger and we got engaged.

While thinking of where we would have our wedding we decided to tie a knot in Delhi India, where both of our families still live. We thought it would mean more to us to get married in the place where we both grew up and our families were thrilled when they found out we would be coming back to India to get married. The day before our wedding we were able to take photos in Lodi Gardens, the same place where Aditya use to play in when he was a young boy. The large structures in the gardens and the twilight skies were magical and allowed us to catch our breath the day before getting married while setting a beautiful tone for our wedding day.

Our wedding day was a full day of events starting with both of our haldi's in the morning and the cocktail party in the afternoon at the Leela Palace Hotel. One of our favorite decor items were the large elephants covered in white, yellow and pink flowers. The two floral elephants that were constructed measured over 6 feet tall. Flowers also covered the staircase and over the archways of the seating areas. Next to the bar area we had a lotus flower that was constructed and covered in white flowers, but the floral elephants were the hit of the party.

Aditya's bharat took place on the streets of Delhi close to 11pm at night. Aditya was accompanied by a marching band with trombone players, drum players and a group of men carrying lights on their heads to light the path of the bharat.

The bharat stopped first at the temple Aman and his family would frequent then they made their way to the Taj Palace Hotel for the wedding. Our actual wedding ceremony took place at 1am in the morning. We recited our vows to one another under the stars of Delhi's sky and had all of our wedding moments beautifully captured by Braja Mandala. southasianbridemagazine.com 91

v e n d o r s

photographer // B raj a M andala P hotography venue // T aj P alace , N ew D elhi shoes // C hristian L ouboutin

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photographer // D j amel R amoul P hotography hair + makeup ar tist // M ichele R enee T he S tudio attire // L e T rend B outique elephant handler // N v E vents flowers // B okay F lorist props // T wo L adies and E vents

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BLOOMING BEAUTY

photography // k atie S later P hotograPhy

styling, hairstyling and makeup // d an a B artone & c o . (d an a , r en a , l auren ) coordination and table // c eleBrationS By c hriStin a wester n attire // e Verthine B ridal B outiQue indian attire // S ariS and t hingS floral // d atura , a m odern g arden and g reen d ahlia jewelr y // S yn a ' S c ollection video // e Pic F ilmmakerS tables, chairs, tablescape and wares // t aylor r ental venue // S t . c lement ' S c aStle southasianbridemagazine.com 101

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desertromance photography // JSK P hotography henna // N eeta S harma , M ehndi D esigner makeup // V eiki B ains , N ir van a C reations hair // S anj ay S ingh Indian attire // S aris and T hings attire // SARA D esign S tudio by R ashi models // A ngel H us J aan , A man J hajj southasianbridemagazine.com 107

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f a s h i o n

f a s h i o n

B ELSIS

COLLECTION

+

P OSHAAC

SECRET Garden

photography // A bhik K ar (AK P hotography ) jewelr y // R iddhi F azal , B elsis C ollection designer // P remal B adlani , P oshaac coordinator // U shma D esai makeup // M ia M i M i J ohnson + S ophie W est hair // Y olanda S terling henna // N argis N ikki K arimi model // R upal P atel

f a s h i o n

f a s h i o n

Z a r a

CITY

of

s h a h J a h a n

GARDENS

f a s h i o n

photography // M uzi S ufi designer // Z ara S hahj ahan hair + makeup // R aan a K han model // A mn a B ab ar set design // C ontours D esign S tudio

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FACE

EYES

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l o o K FACE

LIPS

NIDA NAFEES Nida Nafees is a freelance makeup artist with over 8 years of experience and is based out of Northern California. She has had the opportunity to work with several Bollywood celebrities, pageants and broadway shows. She is passionate and creative about makeup techniques, styles with a special focus on enhancing the eyes.

w w w. n i d a n a f e e s . c o m

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Original Formula MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC 30 Anastasia Beverly Hills Concealer LA Girl Concealers for Contour & Highlight MAC Studio Fix Powders to set contour and highlight zones Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit LIpS MAC Lip Liner Soar Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Fuchsia CHEEKS MAC Blush in Desert Rose on cheek bones Girlactik Face Glow in Natural for Highlight EYES TOO FACED shadow insurance eye primer MAC Eyeshadows in Silver, Purple, Blue Inglot Eyeliner Gel 77 (black) LA Girl Feline Eye liner Pen Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Glamrock Inner Eye Liner - MAC Feline eye pencil Lower Lash Line - Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in ACDC Lancome Hypnose Drama Waterproof Mascara House of Lashes in Starlet Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ebony

makeup + hair // N ida N afees photography // A vni B id model // R aji R andhawa

jewelr y // R achdee D esigns

by

R achn a D umra

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j e w e l r y

FLORAL JEWELS Suhaag Garden was star ted as a torrid love affair with all things wedding décor, which slowly evolved into all things unique and beautiful. Since flowers are typically such an integral par t of wedding designs, Suhaag Garden began experimenting with them and exploring new ways to enhance the overall impact. What star ted as a simple wish, culminated into an extension of tje company: tAnirika.

As the hottest new trend to hit Indian weddings, brides are waking up to smell the roses found on their very own custom floral jewelry. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted using a wide range of florals including, red berries, gold medallions, red roses and fuschia orchids — and accented with semi-precious stones, studded pendants and pearls.

From the whimsical hairpieces to exotic necklaces, each bride's unique style challenges us to create something fresh each and every time. We find our inspiration in nature’s raw beauty – whether it’s hidden in vibrant orchids, luscious berries, green. w w w. s u h a a g g a r d e n . c o m

j e w e l r y

gaciel santana photography

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CHITRA + PETER DESTINATION WEDDING // MEXICO // HARING PHOTOGRAPHY How we met…..It’s kind of a funny story actually. My older sister was having her engagement party the day before her birthday so we went out that night to celebrate. Naturally, the groom’s brother was in town for the party and decided to join us for her birthday celebration, and well, that’s how two brothers ended up marrying two sisters.

Our Destination Wedding……We love to travel, but don't often take “leisurely” vacations. When we finally took a trip to Puerto Vallarta the spring break after our engagement we fell madly in love and decided on the venue during our stay. We had two ceremonies, three days of events, 80 guests, and 1 detail oriented bride so there was a lot of planning involved!

With the help of the my parents, we actually flew out for a tasting a few months before the wedding, taking bags of traditional Indian décor, spices, and raw food materials with us. The Westin was absolutely amazing and accommodating and helped us pull off an incredible fusion affair, with delicious authentic Indian food to boot.

We kicked off on Wednesday with a photo shoot in downtown Puerto Vallarta, ending the day with bridal mendhi and releasing baby turtles into the ocean. Thursday we held the mendhi & sangeet party at an outdoor space in the Westin hotel; and with lots of dancing, food and drinks it was arguably more fun than the wedding! On Friday, we enjoyed a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, Victor's Tacuba, and our guests from all over the world got a chance to mingle.

Saturday morning began early, with the Hindu ceremony, followed by lunch. At sunset, we exchanged vows during our spritual ceremony which was officiated by Chitra's brother. When the cocktail hour began, the DJ couldn't believe that every single guest was on the dance floor instead of eating and drinking. It was looked like so much fun, Chitra decided to skip the hair and make up change and the new couple made their firework accompanied entrance early.

It was, without a doubt, the perfect way to celebrate our love and begin our journey as a married couple. Having a destination wedding was perfect, as it foreshadowed exactly what marriage would be like: serious hard work, compromises, lots of joy and laughter!

v e n d o r s

photographer // H aring P hotography venue+flowers+food // W estin R esort & S pa , P uerto V allarta invitations+stationar y // C hitra P D esign dance floor+mandap // E ventos del P acifico videography // F resh S ox dj // DJ USA (S harad B havn ani ) henna // H enn a B y H eather

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NEHA + SAMEER DESTINATION WEDDING // MIAMI // DUKE PHOTOGRAPHY A close friend of mine from college had made a few mentions in the past that she had an older brother she wanted to introduce to me. I never paid it much attention thinking "those sorts of things never really work out". It was early summer and I had just started dental school when she emailed me saying he had matched for residency in Boston and was starting in a few weeks. Four years later, in the cool Miami moonlight, we were swaying to John Legend with wedding bands on our fingers.

From the moment we got engaged, our wedding was a labor of love. Throughout the process, we found so much joy in the small details. From water-coloring each invitation by hand on the floor of the kitchen I grew up in, to hand pouring honey with my parents that my dad had cultivated from our backyard bees into individual favors, to illustrating our silhouettes for the wedding programs, to doing the calligraphy on our custom bar menus, to designing our own website, to sketching designs of the bridesmaids and groomsmen outfits in a tiny tailor's room in India ... the bespoke details were what made wedding planning so special to us.

We had decided early on that we wanted our wedding to be a getaway with our loved ones. It was amazing to escape Boston at 19 degrees and land in Miami to a 70 degree ocean breeze. Florida was sentimental since it was the first of many places we had traveled together. It was during that trip that we have our first memories of truly falling in love and have been back to vacation there many times since. We knew we wanted an intimate setting - secluded but sexy, chic yet relaxed, glamorous but cozy. We fell in love with the Bath Club's mix of old world charm and contemporary edge.

That was our biggest goal: to find a balance between old tradition and modern day flare. We tried to infuse that blend throughout the weekend. Both my father and my uncle walked me down the aisle, we had a traditional Hindu ceremony but abridged and explained in English, both Sanskrit Hindu vows and ones we wrote to each other, we wore traditionally bright Indian colors during the ceremony but changed into black for our reception. The whole weekend, we felt like with our family and friends, that we were the only people in the world.

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photographer // D uke P hotography venue // T he B ath C l ub , M iami floral+design // K arma G oddess lighting // I ll umene videography // I magique dj // L iquid D js hair+mua // M akeup by M arz catering // M adras C afe

r e a l w e d d i n g

KRISTIN + VIKRANT DESTINATION WEDDING // INDIA // ANDRENA PHOTOGRAPHY When MIT grads Kristen and Vikrant decided to get married, they knew that they wanted their destination wedding location to have a sense of history and magic. Like many couples, Kristen and Vikrant had a long road to their big day, dating for seven years before Vikrant proposed at Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand. After so much time together, they both knew that they wanted a unique celebration in a gorgeous location that would be something neither they nor their friends would ever forget.......Enter Vikrant’s native India, which they both knew would be the perfect place to create a destination wedding for the ages.

To find the perfect venue, the couple embarked on a road trip to look at different venue possibilities in India. As Kristen recalls, “We looked at a lot of places, but when we drove through Samode Village and saw Samode Palace, we knew that this was the place.” She recalled that the village was very atmospheric and beautiful, while the palace was well maintained yet steeped in history and grandeur.

The wedding itself involved a full year of planning, though the couple only visited the actual venue twice – once when they chose the venue, and one more time before the wedding. Kristen says that the coordinator at Samode Palace was able to arrange everything, including the baraat, the mendhi and the sangeet, as well as all the food, entertainment, tents, mandap and florals. The only vendors Kristen personally hired were her photographer, videographer, and the hair and makeup teams. The mendhi took place mid-day at the beautiful Samode Bagh, while the sangeet took place on nearby sand dunes. The sangeet was spectacular, with red tents nestled in the dunes and fire pits lighting up the night. Kristen and Vikrant entered the sangeet in a camel-drawn cart, sari-clad women cooked chapatti over the open fire pits, and guests danced late into the night on a festive dance floor.

More than 150 guests attended the wedding celebration, which included a lavish baraat complete with a band and elephant from the Amber Fort, an evening dinner reception and a Punjabi Hindu ceremony that started at 11:30 p.m. Only the most dedicated guests stayed for the full ceremony, as it lasted well past midnight. But the guests who did stay were treated to a romantic and beautifully personal ceremony that took place under a flower-lattice mandap made of thousands of marigolds.

The next day, the couple did a day-after session in Samode Village with their photographers – Dina Douglass and Yoshi Morimoto from Andrena Photography in Los Angeles. Hundreds of villagers followed the couple around as the photographers led them through the village, and several people remarked that no other photographers had ever brought a bride and groom out into the village for photos. After all the photos were done, the couple departed for a few days in Udaipur.

Several months later, they went on a safari honeymoon in Tanzania.

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photographer // D in a D ouglass and Y oshi M orimoto , A ndren a P hotography (L os A ngeles , C alifornia ) location, catering + flowers // S amode P alace (J aipur , I ndia ) event planning +design // V ivek Y agnik (J aipur , I ndia ) videography // V ivek Y agnik (J aipur , I ndia ) hair + makeup // C handni S ingh (N oida , I ndia ) henna // M een a B azaar (N oida , I ndia ) invitations // TCS D esign G roup , LLC (G ilbert , AZ) save the dates // V illage I nvites (N ew Y ork , NY)

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photography // N adia D. P hoto planner // E vents by H ala location // R itz C arlton , N ew O rleans floral // E legant A ffairs videography // P acific P ictures cake // C ake D esigns by M eg music // B ollywood S tring Q u artet + J ay S ean dj // DJ R ocky caterer // M adras P avillion rentals // L awson E vent R entals hair + makeup // C at V o