Fall + Winter 2014

southasianbridemagazine.com 1

SABSOUTH BRIDEAsian

Fall/Winter2014-15Print/Digital Edition

MUGHALMAGNIFICENCE

recreating the glamour of a bygone era

2 southasianbridemagazine.com

Photos by 5 West Studios

Celebrating the art of entertaining since 1919

A Royal Estate of Affairs

On the Gold Coast of Long Island between New York City and The Hamptons

135 West Gate Drive · Huntington NY 11743 · 631-659-1400

www.oheka.com

Weddings & CelebrationsA Castle to Call Your Own with Just One Wedding a Day

32 Guestrooms & Suites · Fine Dining · Golf & Tennis

31230_AsianBridal_31230 4/13/12 1:03 PM Page 1

Our Pakistani clientele has continually inspired us with their passion

for precision & yearning for innovation. Head designer, Maier Khan,

declared 2014 “The Year of the Pakistani Bride”, & released a one of a

kind Bridal Collection titled “Heartbeat”.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY

/sahilexclusive

TO VIEW THE ENTIRE HEARTBEAT COLLECTIONVISIT /SAHILEXCLUSIVE

CHICAGO I NEW JERSEY

HEARTBEATH.B.

HEARTBEAT

“HEARTBEAT”

AS SHOT AT THE FIELD MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. AT SAHIL, WE DON’T JUST

DO IT BIGGER, WE DO IT BETTER - THE STEPS, STAIRS, GIANT PILLARS, AND COLUMNS SET A

PROGRESSIVE AMBIENCE THAT CAPTURES THE MAGIC THAT IS SAHIL.

/sahilexclusive

TO VIEW THE ENTIRE HEARTBEAT COLLECTIONVISIT /SAHILEXCLUSIVE

691 N. Cass AvenueWestmont, IL 60559

630.777.4133630.468.2869

www.charismaindia.com

Credit: nadia d. photography, | www.nadiadphoto.com, Make-up: Corinne Fairley , Location: St. Regis, Atlanta

E DITOR'S NOTE

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all those who contribute to help create South Asian Bride Magazine. The brilliant event coordinators, designers, decora-tors, florists, 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

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

I N THIS ISSUE

I N THIS ISSUE

I N THIS ISSUE

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

catwalk

WEDDINGS OF ASIAVenue: Russell Hotel, london

PHotogRaPHy: sHaHid Malik

eVent PRoduced by: Riwayat ltdHead stylist: HuMa taHiR

Make uP: taniya kHan and teaM.HaiR: sofia QayyuM and teaM

A A S M E

A Y E S H A A I J A Z

Z A H E E R A B B A S

L A J W A N T I

R A N A N O M A N

Z A I N A B C H O T TA N I

40 southasianbridemagazine.comM O N A I M R A N

king of queens

Photographer: Hasan Jamil Content Photography | www.contentphotographyhasanjamil.tumblr.comMakeUp Ar tist: Berry MUA | www.facebook.com/HollieCroucherMUA

Wardrobe: Stushh Designer Studio | www.facebook.com/stushhJewellery: Innaya Couture |www.facebook.com/pages/Innaya-Couture/192174525150

Male Model: Saran SinghFemale Model: Laura Stanford

Location: Crossbrook House, Buxton, UK

king of queens

Photography: nadia d. | www.nadiaDphoto.comClothing: Raakesh Agarvwal, Delhi | www.facebook.com/raakeshagarvwal

Jewelry: Gems and Jewels Palace, Jodhpur, India | www.royalindianjewellery.comMake up, hair and shoot styling: Nirjary Desai, Kis Cubed Events | kiscubedevents.com

Model: Shermeen KhakianiLocation: Haveli Inn Pal, Jodhpur, India | www.haveliinnpal.com

PRINCESSBRIDE

Photography: nadia d. | www.nadiaDphoto.comClothing: Raakesh Agarvwal, Delhi | www.facebook.com/raakeshagarvwal

Jewelry: Gems and Jewels Palace, Jodhpur, India | www.royalindianjewellery.comMake up, hair and shoot styling: Nirjary Desai, Kis Cubed Events | kiscubedevents.com

Model: Shermeen KhakianiLocation: Haveli Inn Pal, Jodhpur, India | www.haveliinnpal.com

PRINCESSBRIDE

MUGHAL- MAGNIFICENCE -

Photography: Sharan Sandhu | www.sharansandhu.netJewellery: Jewels N Gems | www.jewelngem.com

WeddingReal

Versha + Arjun

Versha and Arjun met at UCLA, on the first day of freshman orien-tation. It sounds like a scene from a rom-com, but Arjun actually spotted across the campus and knew he had to meet her. Versha, however, was not so sure, so she played hard-to-get for a few months. Arjun asked her out a few times, and she kept saying no, but finally relented. When they finally went out, Versha quickly realized she was on the best date ever, and won-dered why she hadn’t said yes sooner. Since they were both young (Versha was a mere 17, while Arjun was 18), they took things slowly but exclusively, never breaking up, but taking care not to rush things. Nine blissful years later, Arjun proposed to Versha on Coronado Island (near San Diego). Versha’s entire family was in on the proposal plans, but Versha was completely unaware. “I was totally blindsided,” she recalled. Ar-jun had hired a photographer as part of his decoy plan, but Versha was to-tally clueless when the photographer first approached. “This random guy on the beach comes up and asks if he can take a photo of us,” she remembered. “So he said, 'I know a great spot for photos, and it’s right over here'.” The amused couple walked over to the spot the photographer suggested, and that's where Versha found their names in the sand. Once she saw the names, Arjun got down on his knee and proposed, while the photographer snapped away. Versha of course said yes, and then the next day, close friends and family joined together for a fabulous dinner to celebrate the engagement. When Versha set about planning her wedding, she knew her mother Poonam

Photographer: Dina Douglass & Yoshi Morimoto

Andrena PhotographyCoordinator:

Elegant Events by Nutan ShahFlorist:

Bloom Box DesignsVideographer:

Impressive CreationsDJ & Lighting:

Special Occasions Los AngelesHair & Makeup: Oscar NaranjoEntertainment:

The Jewels that RaqRentals:

Revelry, Bloom Box & Needle-Free Productions

Elephant Rental: Have Trunk Will Travel

Mendhi: Neha AssarOfficiant: Shukavak Dasa

Cake: Christopher GarrensPastry & Dessert Buffet:

Ocho Rios by Keith

would be instrumental in pulling ev-erything together, especially since Versha was in the middle of her pe-diatric residency. “The planning was definitely a collaborative effort with my mom, though she let my vision take the lead,” Versha said. “I knew I wanted a beachfront wedding, so we looked at three or four venues before I chose the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Once I saw the Ritz property, I knew I had to have my wedding there,” Versha said. To en-sure every detail came together flaw-lessly, she hired Elegant Events by Nutan Shah to handle coordination.Versha and her mom interviewed three florists and chose Fayaz at Bloom Box Designs. “I wanted something different from what I had seen in weddings before, and I kind of knew what I wanted, but I didn’t know how to execute it. I chose Fay-az because he is really good at figur-ing out what you want and making it happen. I chose creams and golds for my palette because I thought that

combination would be a perfect contrast to all the colorful Indian clothing our guests would be wearing. I really thought it would look elegant and timeless, especially at our beachfront location. We also added a tiny pop of coral as the color accent, then included mirrors and candles throughout the ballroom to add glamour.” Arjun was content to let Versha and Poonam take the lead on all the wedding details, but he had one request that was non-negotiable: An elephant for the baraat. "Watching him enter on an elephant was just incredible," Versha re-called. "He was just having so much fun." “For the ceremony, I wanted a mandap that was going to complement the beach scape, so I wanted it to incorporate elements from nature. Fayaz in-cluded greenery and flowers, along with a chandelier, on the inside of our mandap, and it was so wonderful to look up and see a little garden during the ceremony. Fayaz helped us achieve our vision beautifully.” Popular officiant Shukavak Dasa presided over the Hindu ceremony, and his presence had a lot of meaning for Versha and her family, as he'd been a family friend since Versha was just four years old. Shukavak clearly felt a personal connection with Versha and her family, too, as evidenced by the many kind words he said about her during the ceremony.

VendorLIST

Photographer: Dina Douglass & Yoshi Morimoto

Andrena PhotographyCoordinator:

Elegant Events by Nutan ShahFlorist:

Bloom Box DesignsVideographer:

Impressive CreationsDJ & Lighting:

Special Occasions Los AngelesHair & Makeup: Oscar NaranjoEntertainment:

The Jewels that RaqRentals:

Revelry, Bloom Box & Needle-Free Productions

Elephant Rental: Have Trunk Will Travel

Mendhi: Neha AssarOfficiant: Shukavak Dasa

Cake: Christopher GarrensPastry & Dessert Buffet:

Ocho Rios by Keith

Versha chose to enter her ceremony in a doli because she felt like it was something that was traditional yet beautiful. "Whenever I’ve seen weddings in movies, the bride’s first step out of a doli is always such a pretty sight. It’s just so beautiful and moving, so it’s something I always wanted to have at my own wedding," she said.For her wedding outfits, Versha did her shopping in New Delhi. "My mom went to India two weeks before I did, and narrowed down all the best stores for me to look at. This was just so helpful. When I arrived in Delhi, I tried on hundreds of dresses, but the two I ended up with were the ones my mom chose for me before I even got there! I couldn’t believe it. She has such great taste, and she knows me so well."The wedding dress is from Shantanu & Nikhil, while the reception dress was made by Gaurav Gupta. The reception dress in particular was really unique, as it featured a series of petticoats for the skirt with a bejeweled floor-length light jacket serving as the bodice, sleeves and dress. It’s just two pieces, but it looked incredible and it was so easy to wear,” Versha remembered.

"For the reception, we wanted to make sure our 400 guests weren’t bored by endless speech-es, so we put a lot of thought into entertainment and performances. We found a company called The Jewels That Raq, and they offered up performers in various styles. Our guests were thrilled by a snake dancer, Brazilian dancers, tango dancers, knife dancers and belly dancers. We were so happy to be able to provide so many different styles of entertainment." Versha also took care finding the perfect wedding cake designer. "Christopher Garrens made the cake and he’s awesome. Not only was it gorgeous, but it was so yummy. He is just so artistic! He did three sketches before he came up with the design we ultimately chose, and I was just floored by how beautiful our cake was. “If there’s one piece of advice I could give to girls planning their weddings, it would be to just relax and enjoy the process. It’s so easy to stress out about every little thing, but at the end day, all that matters is that you’re marrying the love of your life, and that all your friends and family are there to celebrate with you. My wedding was the most fun I ever had. And I’m so excited to start my life with Arjun."

WeddingReal

Anisha + Hunain

M y husband says he knew “I was the one” when he first laid eyes on me at sixteen. We were young and in love, our days were spent holding hands as we walked to class and waiting on each other at lunch. As high school sweethearts, our lives had been so intertwined that life with-out him was unimaginable. But as life is cruel in its ways, we parted for college and decided to try to move on with our lives. Long distance would be too hard and we would be miserable without each other, we said. So the decision was made – we would go our own ways. I think it only took me a few days to realize that the reason I was miserable wasn’t the distance, it was because there was no Anisha without Hunain - he was my everything. Of our 9 years together, we’ve been long distance for around 7 years and our wedding planning was no different. He was in Dallas and I was in College Station, Texas. We decided to get married in Hous-ton, a central location for both of our families and loved ones. The only problem now was planning this elaborate event from hundreds of miles away, and this is where our families came in. They went above and beyond to help with all of the planning. From working with all the vendors to food/cake tasting, our families were always available to help

make decisions. And in the end, everything turned out better than we could have ever imagined. The celebrations began with an intimate ceremony with each of our families. The Haldi and Pithi ceremonies gave us a chance to really en-joy our loved ones, taking a few moments to marvel at the how much we were loved. The next day was our Sangeet, a night filled with endless laughter and dancing. Our families performed dances along the story line of how I met your mother. It couldn’t have been more perfect because both of our families had always been so involved in our relationship that they knew our love story better than us! Both our Dholi and DJ were amazing, they kept the dance floor hopping till late into the night. The next morning was our Nikkah and all of our closest family was there to witness us pledge our undying love to each other. It was a perfect day that ended with a beautiful reception. I was a bit worried that because both our sangeet and reception were held at the same venue, they’d look too similar but our decorator was amazing. It was a tropical paradise on Friday night with teals and blues and by Saturday night, the place had been transformed into an ethereal vision of heaven, filled with whites and golds,

candles and crystals. We knew our wedding would be emotional but nothing prepares you for that feeling of all-encompassing love. Throughout everything, our families were a constant source of love and support and they are the reason for our dreams of a beautiful future, our happily ever after.

VendorLIST

Photography - Midnight Chai PhotographyVideography - Doodle Studio Wed - Deography

DJ - DJ Scoop (Desi Junction)Band - Major Seventh

Food - Aga's and SavoyCake and Dessert - Alphorn Bakery

Venue - Sugar Land Banquet Hall/Tempura GrillVenue - Bayou City Event Center

Decor - Decor One by Nalini

WeddingReal

Ameeta + Bobby

I t all started with a friend request. In 2008, Bobby added Ameeta on Facebook, and sent her a quick mes-sage, to which he received no response. One day, while “spring cleaning,” her friend list, Ameeta came across Bobby’s profile, and figured he was cute, but too young, and so she deleted him. Fast forward to 2010, Bobby attended a Sikh conference in NJ, where all of Ameeta’s friends just happened to be. Bobby, being the artsy, photographer that he is, took pictures at the conference and posted them on Facebook. Ameeta, being the nosey girl that she is wanted to see more pictures of her tagged friends, so of course, she sent him a friend request. Bobby being the persistent guy that he is, sent her another message, to which she finally replied, a month later, Ameeta hopped on a Bus from NJ to VA to meet Bobby & the rest is history. 3 and a half years later, and more in love than ever, they tied the knot.Ameeta had dreamt about this day from the day she can remem-ber her first Punjabi wedding. She knew that she would be no ordinary bride, and refused to wear red. Before jet setting to India to shop for the big day, she made spreadsheets of shops to visit, vendors to meet, and saved hundreds of inspiration pictures to her computer. When she got to the airport, how-ever, she realized the carry on with her laptop was still at home! There she was, going to a foreign country, with nothing in hand, but that didn’t stop her. She knew what she wanted, and she was determined to get it.

All of her shopping was done in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi. While most people told her CC would be the last place she would find anything, she found everything from her wedding trousseau to her bridesmaids outfits in the small galis of Chandni Chowk. Both of Ameeta’s outfits were custom made and designed from small boutiques in Chandni Chowk, both of which took 4 months to make!Both of Bobby’s outfits, and brother’s sherwanis were custom designed and made by Prateek Sahni a family friend who is also in New Delhi.Planning was no easy task, with Bobby in Virginia, and Ameeta in New Jersey, itw as almost impossible to do the planning together. With a spe-cific vision in mind, Ameeta knew exactly what she wanted for the New Jersey portion of the wedding and reception, and left the Virginia plan-ning up to him and his side of the family. Bobby and Ameeta were spending the weekend together in NJ when they decided to look for some venues. Ameeta had a few in mind, and when they went to check them out, they found out they were all booked for the long weekend. Bobby just happened to Yelp and came across The Grove, which Ameeta fell in love with the moment she walked in.Pink, pink pink, is Ameeta’s favorite color, if you haven’t already noticed. So it was a no brainer that her outfit would be neon pink, and so would Bobby’s matching paghri. She always dreamed that her wedding would be a royal affair, and wanted the details of her wedding to reflect just that. From the pearls on Bobby’s sherwani, the flowers cascading down Ameetas hair, to the strands of crystals dangling from their centerpieces. “I look at my wedding anarkali a year later, and I’m more in love with it now than I was then.” - AmeetaAmeeta wanted to incorporate the east and west, so she walked in with her face veiled for the ceremony, and had a bouquet while entering the reception. She kept things traditional with her nath, kundan jewelry, and arm filled henna.Bobby was in charge of photography, and he knew, even before he knew Ameeta was the one, that Banga was the one for his big day photography needs. As you can tell, it was probably one of the best decisions, as they captured every moment of their special day perfectly. The cake was a last minute add in, but Ameeta is so glad she did so. She worked closely with Sonam from Chocol8kiss, 2 weeks before the wedding, and her vision came to life. Her cake had 3 flavors to cater to every taste bud. Pineapple Mango, Carrot, and of course her favorite, chocolate oreo.

VendorLIST

NJ Photography: Banga Studios

Sound, Lighting & DJ: Dj Sunny EntertainmentDecor: Design House Decor

Catering: Moghul CaterersHair & Makeup: Flawless Beauty by Pauline

Video: Fine Art ProductionVenue: Sri Guru Singh Sabha & The Grove

Car: Signature Car CollectionDC

Photography: Banga StudiosLive Performance: MANJ Musik (Formerly RDB)

Sound, Lighting & DJ: EventEQCatering: Jaipur CuisineDecor: Liz Decorations

Video: Blue Sky FilmsVenue: Fox Chase Manor

Car: Chariots for Hire

With friends and family from all over the world, and across the country flying in, the wedding was surely a happening affair. Both Bobby and Ameeta had their sangeets, mendhis, and haldis in their resepective states, but both sides came to-gether for the wedding and not one but two receptions. The wedding in NJ had about 350 people and the reception in Virginia 750.Ameeta wanted to keep the ceremony traditional, and always wanted to have it at the Gurudwara where she grew up. Her brother’s walked her in, her father gave her awayThe lunch reception in NJ was full of performances, speech-es, love, dancing, and laughter. It ended around 5pm, where Ameeta her family, and Bobby with his immediate family pro-ceeded to her house for the Doli. The of them along with her new family hopped on the chartered bus, and drove off to VA.The VA reception was the next day with hues of Royal Blue and Red. The hall looked elegant with towering roses, crys-tals, and a cascading roses down the tiered red velvet cake. Ameeta wore a 25 lb lengha, and Bobby wore a custom made sherwani. RDB’s very own Manj, Bobby’s very good friend, surprised Bobby and Ameeta with a performance, and the crowd went wild!

"It’s been a year and 3 months, and the memories of that day are still so vivid in our minds. The emotions I felt while walking towards my now husband gush back to me everytime I close my eyes and rewind back to that day. While I wish I could get married and experience our wedding over and over again, I’m happy I got to experience my dream wedding once, and with my dream husband." - Ameeta

WeddingReal

Ketti + Arpit

I met Arpit at a mutual friends birthday din-ner just a few months after moving to New York City. I was sitting outside a Thai restaurant, waiting for my friends, and speaking on the phone with my parents. I remember looking up and seeing Arpit, who had also arrived a few minutes early, looking my way - and myself just focusing on my phone conver-sation since I wasn't sure who he was. Once introduced to him. I distinctly remember thinking that he seemed unlike a lot of the guys I had met so far - he was confident, completely at ease in a social setting and funny in a very playful way. He was also sweet - I broke the zipper of my purse within 5 minutes of us meeting and he immediately helped me fix it (this set the tone for the rest of our relationship!). We chatted throughout dinner, and I have to admit, I was intrigued. He kept in touch following the dinner, but I was so work-minded I didn't really reciprocate! However, after telling my close friends about him, they urged me to go on at least one date. I called him the following day and we made plans to go to the Gansevort hotel rooftop for drinks. Needless to say, the rooftop turned into a restaurant hop around the city, and by the end of the night I was hooked. I can say with all confidence it was the best date I had ever been on! A year and a

half later, he sent me on a whirlwind scavenger hunt around the city, starting at the Thai restaurant where we first met and ending at Central Park, where I found him on one knee. He surprised me again with a celebratory brunch with all of our closest friends following the proposal and a trip home to celebrate with our families the next day. That weekend exemplified one of the best parts about Arpit - no matter how busy he is, he is so thoughtful, sincere and caring about the way he treats other people. Needless to say, I said yes and into wedding planning we went!I would say that our wedding was a real reflection of Arpit and myself. We had strong ideas about the type of experience we wanted each of the wed-ding events to be for ourselves and our guests, but we think our day turned out even better than we expected, partly because we were so happy the day had finally come. We were ready to party! Our events were an accumulation of effort from ourselves, our amazing families and our incredible vendors. Our wedding had special touches that I think made it 'us' - from the vintage wedding day photos of our parents that were set up on the Ganesh table, to the elephant buggy that my parents hand-painted for my nephew to ride down the aisle in, to the 'phoolan ki chaadar' I walked under, to the spe-cial 'beet rice' based off my mother's recipe we served at the reception, to the vintage NYC taxicab that we used as our getaway car. Though I think we achieved a different look for each event, we had a consistent theme of wanting our decor to be lush with flowers, elegant with crystals and draped fabric and colorful, to make our outfits stand out. It was an amazing week of events and definitely gave us a memorable platform to begin our new life as a married couple.I think there's something to be said about making sure you take time to spend with each other as a couple throughout the whole wedding planning process. You might hear it as soon as you get engaged - but wedding plan-ning is a lot of work! I actually really enjoyed the process since it was a cel-ebration (obviously) close to heart and I would consider myself a 'planner' in terms of my personality as well. Even so, it can become overwhelming when you realize how many details, people's opinions (both family, friends as well as vendors!) and staying true to your and your others' own vision come into play. I would urge any bride planning their day to think about the end goal regarding the wedding - at the end of the day it's about you and him, and being lucky enough to throw a celebration that's reflective of your cohesive styles' with your closest family and friends. Taking time to date and have fun with each other as a couple while wedding planning only reinforces the fact that you're blessed enough to marry your soon-to-be-husband in the first place.

Photography: nadia d. photographyDecor: Design House Decor

Consultant: Royal Charms, Inc.DJ: DJ Gaurav

Horse: EquishareMakeup: Pauline Nobles

Cake: A Little CakeCinematography: NYNJ

Catering: Moghul CateringVenue: The Venetian

Floral: Violeta's Floral ShopPandit: Vimesh Thakar

Limo: NJ Limo Bus

VendorLIST

Itna guroor toh chaand ko bhi nahi hai - DEVDAS

Planning/Design/Florals: Anais Events | www.anaisevents.comHenna: Neeta Sharma, mehndidesigner | www.mehndidesigner.comPhotography: Nudrat Owens Photography | www.nudratowens.comHair, makeup & styling: Sumaira Nashat | www.looksbysumaira.net

Jewels: Dhillon & Co. | www.dhillonandcompany.comBlack anarkali: R Gill | www.facebook.com/rgillcollections/info

Sari & accessories | Nudrat Owens

my magnifique voyage

Make your Mehndi, Sangeet or Main Event Magnifique!Embrace every magical moment of your special day with stylish décor, fabulous views, flawless service and the flexibility of outside catering. Sofitel Miami sets the stage for weddings of distinction making your affair truly unforgettable.

To inquire about our venue contact: Yvonne Tamayo Director of Catering | Tel: 305.503.8317 | yvonne.tamayo@sofitel.com

www.sofitel.com follow us on

Th e GlamourTh e Tradition

Th e Ballroom

Sofitel Miami

Nestled in its own tropical paradise, Sofitel Miami

blends classic South Beach Art Deco with touches of Art

Nouveau to create a contemporary French ambiance.

5800 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE

MIAMI, FL 33126 – TEL (305) 264-4888

Jewelry

ROYALJewelsJewelry:

Samreen's Closet | www.facebook.com/samreensclosetPhotography: Omer K.'s Photography

Shoot & Makeup: Azeem SaniClothing: CARA & Khuki Concepts

OLD WORLDGlamour

Photography: Vinit BhattStyled By: Nisha Kundnani, BridelanHair + MUA: Shraddha Naik Alkunte

Model: Archana Akil Kumar, Elan

Trapeze anarkali : Ritu KumarChandbalis: Anmol JewellersBangles: Anmol Jewellers

Fashion

Tulle and zardosi lehenga Set: Sabyasachi Couture

Necklace, pasa & ring: Falguni Mehta

Chevron lehenga: Rimple & Harpreet Narula CoutureNecklaces: Zoya by TanishqNose pin: Falguni Mehta

Cutwork anarkali : Rimple & Harpreet Narula Couture

Mathapatti & necklace: PN Gadgil Jewellers

Fashion

A Princess'sTrousseau

Designer: Poshaac - Couture and Accessories by Premal Badiani | www.poshaac.comJewerly: Belsi's Collection by Riddhi Fazal | www.belsiscollection.comHair and Makeup: Makeup by Nashwa | www.makeupbynashwa.com

Photography: 5 Petal Productions | www.5petalproductions.comLocation: The Biltmore Ballrooms, Atlanta

Fashion

Kalamkaarby

Ayesha-Somayawww.facebook.com/AyeshaSomaya

PHOTOGRAPHY, ART DIRECTION & CO-ORDINATION: Ayaz Anis | ayazanis.comSTYLING, HAIR & MAKE-UP: Raana Khan

NAILS: Raana Khan's SalonMODEL: Fouzia Aman

Beauty

RUKSANA HUSSAIN BEGH

Ruksana is a professional makeup artist and hair

stylist. Based in the UK, Ruksana graduated from

Lancaster University. She discovered her passion for

makeup when she was a little girl going through her

moms makeup collection. She participates in numer-

ous fashions shows and photoshoots. Ruksana loves

creating fusion looks with a vintage twist!

w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /

p a g e s / R H - H a i r B e a u -

t y / 2 6 2 0 7 2 6 5 0 5 1 8 0 9 6

FACE M.A.C: Studio Tech, Studio Fix, Prep & Prime Powder

Mineralize Skin Finish Soft & Gentle, Pro Conceal PaletteLIPS

Max Factory Lip Liner, Brown n NudeRimmel - Provocative Nude

CHEEKSM.A.C. Powder Blush Warm Soul

EYESMAC: Paint Pot Primer, Nylon, Cork, Bronze, Embark, Carbon, Gel Liner

Urban Decay: Glitter Liner, Brow BoxEyelast: Naturalash

FINISHMac Fix+

GET THE Look EYES

JenseyB Photography | www.jenseybphotography.comBangles: Amaan's, Oldham

Ring: PrimarkArm Band: Rupali Online

Sharara: Bombay Stores, Bradford

Beauty

GET THE Look

EYES: Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion in Eden Lorac Pro Palette 1 Lorac Front of the Line Pro Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black Glitter Liner on lid- NYX Dramatic Sparkle Studio Effects Gel

Liner in Crystal Silk Inner Eye Liner- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On-Eye Pencil in Per-

version Lower Lash Line- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On-Eye Pencil in

Freak and Graffiti Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ebony Lancôme Mascara in Hypnos Drama Waterproof Monda Premium False Lashes #217

FACE: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Original Formula Temptu Air-Brush Foundation Bobbi Brown Pro Concealer Palette Sacha Cosmetics Pro Powder Palette Ben Nye Banana Powder to set concealer MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish Powder in Deep Dark to

Contour the face structure CHEEKS:

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish Powder in Soft and Gentle & Gold Deposit to Hightlight cheek bones

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Blush in Gleeful Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Peach Beach on

apples of cheeksLIPS:

MAC Cosmetics Lip Liner Pencil in More to Love Sephora Cream Lip Stain in #06 Forever Fuchsia Makeup Forever Lab Shine Lip Gloss in S2 Star Collection

MITASHA SINGH

Mitasha is a freelance makeup artist with over 10

years of experience in the beauty industry based out

of Northern California. She has obtained various

certifications and trainings ranging from Shiseido Sk-

incare and Cosmetics, Ash Kumar UK/NYC, Dress

Your Face and Glam Lab Studios, as well as currently

working as a freelance makeup artist for M.A.C Cos-

metics in the East Bay Region. She is also the owner

of M-Sutra Brides.

w w w. m s u t r a b r i d e . c o m

Makeup/Hair/Concept: Mitasha Singh and Jeaneen Brunck Model: Jaskiran Kaur WaraichPhotography: Gala Kuzyakova

Jewelry: Rachdee Design by Rachna DumraBridal Attire: VAMA Designs

Here's what the bride (Meghana Mudiyam) had to sayWe wanted a theme that was elegant and opulent without being blingy. Both Salil and I love tradition and history, and that led us to think

about the Indian Maharajas and Maharanis of days past and particularly, their palaces. The Mysore Palace has always been dear to my heart in particular because my mom grew up close by, and as such it was a place we visited frequently when we took trips to India. I have vivid memories of seeing the palace at night as a child, all l it up with fairy l ights. It was magical, almost l ike we had been transported to

another place and time. That was the feeling we wanted our guests to have at our wedding, and we wanted to inspire that mood right from the invitation, as though by opening the "doors" of the invitation, they had opened the doors of a palace.

Design Notes

We set out create an invitation suite that brings together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture which is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic. Invitation suite is just l ike walking through the palace. First glimpse is the gatefold that was inspired from the

carved rosewood doorway of the Mysore palace, Once that is open, five brightly colored inserts are reminiscent of ornately gilded col -umns, stained glass ceil ings, decorative steel gril ls, and chandeliers with fine f loral motifs found in the palace. We designed the envelope

with a special monogram and brocade pattern on metallic gold paper which mimics the Palace of Mysore il luminated at night.

Design came to life with 5 inserts with spot colors

4 print methods including offset, foil , thermography, digital3 different designer paper include striking dual sided metallic finish with glittering luminescent sheen.

Credits:

Designed by: Poorvi Matani of Inviteink | www.inviteink.comCoordination by: Elegant Events by Nutan Shah

Photo by: Greycard Photography

Invites

Design Notes“The Entourage” design takes it’s inspiration from vintage paintings depicting the most luxurious weddings of the era. The concept was to blend this 16th century Mughal style with our signature clean and sophisticated design aesthetic. We created two grandly appointed proces -sion Elephants to herald the big day with vibrant colors and gold accents on the main invitation. Each of the additional 4 inserts and rsvp

set along with the main envelope was edged with a palm leaf design and gold pressed accents. A custom made folio printed on Opal shimmer paper featured an indigo design reminiscent of velveteen tasseled scarf and the couple’s name and wedding date.

We wanted guests receiving the invitation to feel that the event would be a once in a l ifetime experience and we wanted to ref lect the culture and vibe of the host families. The resulting invitation was a blend of Mughal luxury and modern-day romance. The couple ordered a complete suite of matching wedding stationery – from programs to table numbers & menus for their unique Cayman Islands destination

fusion wedding.

Design came to life withItalian imported cotton and shimmer papers, Die-cut folo, custom envelope, digital printing with gold foil and spot color print.

Design by Azure Couture Event Stationery | www.helloazure.comTel 626-594-5971

WeddingReal

Swati + Saurabh

Saurabh and I met are both Delhites who met in USA. We were meant to be together. We are so "DELHI" in our personalities therefore, the obvious choice of our wedding venue was Delhi - our roots - our city. “Venues, decor, clothes, makeup, jewellery, photography, the to-do list for a bride to be is never end-ing. As beautiful as your courtship is, putting together the pieces of your dream wedding is quite overwhelming. Saurabh and I just wanted to be comfortable and look radiant on the big day. We de-cided to get our clothes custom-made based on my choice of col-ors, fit and preferences.

As a typical Indian bride who has done extensive research, I have realized that the two very critical elements are finding a good photographer and a makeup artist, so make sure you do enough research and book the one you find the most suitable at the earli-est! I was lucky to find an amazing team for my wedding – G&H Photography for Candid wedding photography and Neha as my Makeup artist.

Photographer - G+H PhotographyWedding Venue: Chadha Farms ( Dwarka Link Road)

Engagement Venue: Leela Kempinski , Gurgaon Bride Outfit: Frontier, Lajpat Nagar

Groom Outfit: Desinger Dhruv Sehgal, GK -1 , Delhi Bride 's Makeup Artist: Neha & Megha Studio, Sainik Farms

Shoes: Jimmy Choos

VendorLIST

WeddingReal

Roshni + Jay

Every little girl dreams of her wedding, a magical day that will leave its imprint in her heart forever. I had my fairy tale wedding extravaganza last Thanksgiving and it's magnificence is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed. Thanks to my parents, husband, and vendors my dream wedding came true!

They say you always find what you're looking for when you aren't even looking at all and those words would prove true. We met randomly at a mutual friend's Christmas party, and immediately had a connection that blossomed into us becoming best friends. We balance each other in a harmonious way that such few people are lucky enough to experience.

Jay and I share many things in common, including a love for beauti-ful art. Jay took me on a date to the Tampa Museum of Art where we strolled along together looking at the various pieces of art. We walked out onto the terrace and in a display case, as if it were a part of the museum exhibit, sat an engagement ring! This perfectly crafted proposal plan was made even more romantic and memorable by the fact that this is the place where we shared our first date.

We started planning our wedding immediately... and by “we”, I mean me. Being a very detail oriented person, I already knew exactly where to seek out our vendors and added my personal touch where ever I could. I placed my trust in the event planning team, Réve.ology Events, to help me with the organization, designing and planning all the details.

We wanted the guests to feel like VIP’s as they arrived so we rolled out the red carpet for them, literally, with a backdrop that sported our monogram. It was such a huge hit and our guests were taking photos of themselves on it all night like movie stars!

We were beyond blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members around helping to make our events even more spe-cial. The ambiance was heart warming. Walking into each event, the decor was simply elegant and very sophisticated. Each event was

breathtaking in its own way, having a unique theme each day which was decorated by Occasions by Shangri-La. We were the most excited for the recep-tion, however, because of its theme. I went with an all white theme and made sure that every inch of the ballroom was transformed into a chic ambiance. Our seating arrangement was made out of large X’s and O’s, and helped the large space to be more intimate. Colored LED lamps with crystal strands were one of our centerpieces and made the room look unique and elegant, yet lavish.

The venues consisted of my home, East Lake Wood-lands Country Club, India Cultural Center, and The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. All were chosen with care-ful consideration. There are no words to truly cap-ture the magnificence of our events. The week of events flew by but their memories will forever be em-bedded in our hearts as well as our wedding photos and video which were captured by Pure Emotions Photography and NSPG Media for cinematography.

If we were to give advice to couples out there who are planning a wedding, it would be to have open communication with one another during the plan-ning process so that you both remain on the same page. This will help to avoid most misunderstand-ings but at the end of the day, never go to bed upset. Talk through things and get back to the real reason you're getting married, because the two of you want

to spend your lives together.

People ask us if we feel any different now that we're married or if things have changed. Honestly, the answer is, "not really." But we hear that will change once we have kids!! We look forward to a lifetime of happiness and an eternity together!

VendorLIST

Photography: Pure Emotions PhotographyCoordinator: Réve.ology EventsCinematography: NSPG Media

Venue: Grand HyattHair: Q Salon

Makeup: Alladin MagicHair, MUA, Mehndi + Draping: Sangita Patel

Decor: Occasions by Shangri-laDJ/Wedding: Firoz DudhaDhol: Tampa Dhol BeatsLive Band: Tanweer Mian

WeddingReal

Sarah + Umair

While our story began with a simple introduction, it evolved into the friendship of my dreams. From that first moment that we clicked to our journey towards marriage, it all felt natural. I knew Umair was “the one” when it dawned on me that he was the best friend that I had a desire to share my secrets, emotions, and dreams with. A cornerstone of our relationship has been our shared values – among them, strong family connections, love for Kashmiri, Persian, and Urdu lineage, global cuisine, and unneces-sarily large shoe collections.

My family chose our Mehndi venue, Tripoli Shrine Temple, as a classically themed representation of a majestic Mughal court, styled after the Taj Mahal, knowing that Umair’s family would en-joy the intricate artwork, the historically evocative scene, and the inviting dancefloor. On the night of the Mehndi, Umair entered flanked by a large dhol performer, bhangra performed by his fam-ily friends, and accompanied by his parents and extended family that had flown in from the UK, Pakistan, and across the US. In tra-ditional Kashmiri style, my family greeted the groom-to-be with a highly energetic version of “Maharaza Ho”, a classic in our culture. After the groom’s side settled in, it was my turn to enter the main court. Dressed in an Afghani inspired gown, I walked down the majestic stairs accompanied by my Brother, Sister, close cousins and best friends. As I proceeded towards my groom, I felt the same butterflies I did when I first met him. It was a fairytale.

Seated together, several aunties took the opportunity to greet us as a couple and feed us “mithai”, taking turns to bless our union and wish us a lifetime of joy together. Immediately following these

family greetings, we were ready to launch the memorable festivities of the night. The first performance of the night was a gift for Umair, a profes-sional Arab Dabke dance that my family set up – the 10 dancers electrified the crowd and invited Umair to join them in a group dance, which he enthusiastically enjoyed. Immediately after the Dabke dancers, my close cousins and sister performed a fun Bollywood inspired dance routine. This was followed by a Bhangra performance by boys from Umair’s side – imagine my shock when Umair was pulled in as the center for the boy’s Bhangra routine! After an enthralling nighttime filled with cultural tradi-tions, we were ready to embrace a contemporary theme for our wedding day.

Our Nikkah (Muslim Marriage Ceremony) was held in the Discovery World Pilot House overlooking Lake Michigan. It felt like a spiritual ex-perience holding onto my Father’s arm as he escorted me into an intimate gathering of family, close family friends, my friends, and to my groom, Umair. Our religious vows were exchanged in the company of elders rep-resenting our respective families and the beautiful, serene backdrop of light blue waters and clear skies were ideal for a day representing the start of a journey together. After the Imam officiating the ceremony af-firmed our Nikkah to those in attendance, we exchanged our rings – as Umair slowly placed the ring onto my finger, I felt elated that my pa-tience throughout the custom design process was more than worth it. Immediately thereafter, we fell into the warm embraces of our parents, siblings, grandparents, and family friends. Entering the fold of marriage was powerful yet simultaneously characterized by a feeling of tranquility and peace. It was then that we were whisked away for portrait shots in

front of the harbor overlooking the shore. Those first few minutes of sharing intimate shots were pure bliss – exactly how I imagined my wedding as a little girl. After an hour of taking advantage of the beautiful shoreline, we were ush-ered into the main wedding venue, the specially built tent on Pier Wisconsin. We entered as a couple, steered to a striking stage that served as the perfect backdrop for my dress and Umair’s traditional and meticulously matched Sherwani.

The journey to marrying my Prince Charming was long but could not have been accomplished without the support of my parents, grandparents, and in-laws. While I found life-long love, I am most grateful to my first love: Mom was my first friend in this world, my cheerleader when down, and completely selfless in doing everything to make my dream wedding a reality. I love you, Mom.

Mehndi:Venue - Tripoli Shrine. Milwaukee WI

Event Planning, Design & Floral - Cheri Denise Events

Brides Sari - Karma RedBride's Shoes - Badgley Mishka

Grooms Attire - Deepak PerwaniPhotography - SYPhotographyCinematographer - Aria Films

Henna - Jasmine of Salma Bharwani SalonMakeup Artist - Halo Salon MilwaukeeHair Stylist - Studio 10 Naperville IL

Caters - Anmol CateringLinens - Arena Rentals

DJ - Javed Kazi Dancers - Sanabel AiQuds

Drummers - Dholi Sagar/NoahEvent Furniture, Lighting - Amere Designs

Labels, Signage - Paper Envy

VendorLIST

Wedding:Photography: SYPhotography

Venue - Discovery World, Milwaukee WIEvent Planning & Design - Cheri Denise Events

Makeup Artist - Blush Salon, MilwaukeeHair Stylist - Studio 10

Bride's Sari - Karma RedBride's Shoes - Louboutin

Grooms Attire - Deepak PerwaniRings: Custom Design with direction from

C.D. Peacock Cinematographer - Aria Films

Venue Coordinator & Caterers - Bartalottas, Discovery WorldLinens - BBJ

Lounge Furniture Rental - EvenementCeremony Fabric Treatments - Esther Floral

Reception Stage furniture and Fabric Treatments - Amere Designs

Wedding Cake - Eat Cake Appetizers, Deserts & Tea - Gaylord

Carriage - Milwaukee Horse & Carriage DJ - Javed Kazi

Gobo Design & Lighting - Acme Lighting Floral - Esther Floral

Chairs - CanopiesInvitation Suite, Programs, Signage - Paper Envy

Chair Decals - Ten23

WeddingReal

Perneet & Jaspreet

Jaspreet and I had known one another for 11 years and spent the last 8 years of it in a long distance relationship. What started out as a teenage friendship blossomed into a special bond with some-one who I couldn’t imagine living without. He surprised me in Kansas where I was going to school at the time and popped the question in early 2013. We then started working feverishly on the wedding ar-rangements. After the engagement, we knew Chicago was where we wanted to do our engagement shoot because of how special it was to us. Prior to getting engaged we spent a lot of time in Chicago and it was that time that confirmed our belief that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. After doing research online, we came upon Rahul Rana Photography and to make things even better, he was located in Chicago! Jaspreet was never much of a picture guy and was skeptical about doing an engagement shoot but after our weekend of taking pics, he was more picture hungry than I could have even imag-ined myself being.

The first of our wedding events was the Engagement ceremony in Mississippi (home for me) while planning to have the wedding fes-tivities in New Jersey (home for Jassi) 1 month later. I had always wanted an outdoor event so we decided to book an open area of land surrounding a bed & breakfast place (Heart of Pines) where we set up

a customized clear-top 7,400 square feet tent with a blue and crystal theme. The cake was blue with edible pearls. Blue was our favorite color to begin with. The dance floor and ceremony were set up outside the tent. We then had a traditional Jago cereomony in New Jersey with a bright colored theme. I’ve always liked peacocks and was greatly pleased when we were able to find them to set up our traditional Punjabi themed wed-ding.

The wedding ceremony took place at Dashmesh Darbar where the groom’s side wore blue colored turbans and the bride’s side wore yellow colored with the bridesmaids in yellow and blue themed suits. And of course I needed blue in my wedding outfit how-ever when I went shopping in India, I couldn’t find anything like I had envisioned- so I had a custom-made lengha. I incorporated blue in every part of my outfit from my blouse to the jewels in my accessories. The reception followed the next day but before arriving at the event, we were able to find the perfect location to take pictures. We were able to get the New York City skyline in our background. For the reception we went with a blue and white theme to keep it simple and classy. I couldn’t have asked for things to go any better or smoother than they did during our wedding. Reflecting back on the ceremony at times now, it just seems like a blur. Sometimes I wish we could do it all over again for fun! Best time of our lives!! Every bride wants their dream wedding and groom and I got mine.

Photography:Rahul Rana Photography

Hair and Makeup for Jago, Wedding, and Reception: Pink Orchid

Hall for Jago and Reception: Royal Alberts Palace

Decorations for All New Jersey Wedding Events: Abhishek DecorationsCake for Reception:

Walter at Fine Art of CakesDj and lighting for Mississippi:

DJ HirenDJ and lighting for New Jersey:

Dj Sunny Entertainment

VendorLIST

DecorFIT FOR A QUEEN

Gaciel Santana Photography | www.gacielsantanaphotography.comDecor: Suhaag Garden | www.suhaaggarden.com

Florist: Raining Roses Productions | www.rainingroses.bizLighting Design: Kaleidescope Event Lighting | www.keventlighting.com

Bride & Groom: Usman and Rabia Akhtar

Fall + Winter 2014

Documents

2014 Fall/Winter Newsletter

Fall/Winter 2014 Collection

@Mays Fall/Winter 2014

2014 Fall/Winter

Fall/Winter 2014

Reflections fall/winter 2014

Catalogo Fall-Winter 2014

BOYDS: Fall/Winter 2014

Crescent FALL/WINTER 2014

Fall Winter 2014 Bulletin

HEET Fall/Winter 2014

Fall/Winter 2014 catalog

Fall-Winter 2014 newsletter

Foundations Fall/Winter 2014

Fall & Winter 2014

2014 fall winter catalog

Fall Winter 2013-2014

Fall/Winter 2014 Newsletter

Scentsy Fall/Winter 2014

Halls: Fall/Winter 2014