Dazzling mandaps, gorgeous bridal wear, and the buzz of excited couples were a part of each of the MyShadi Bridal Expos this year. Couples along with their families and bridal parties attended the bridal show in the hopes of marking items off their wedding-to-do checklist. With a wide variety of vendors, from banquet halls and photographers to decorators and makeup artists, couples were able to meet with many different vendors all in one afternoon.

Fashion shows by the region’s exclusive boutiques offered attendees a look at the latest trends in bridalwear. Well-known DJs created the perfect ambiance in the hall with a listen to a mix of popular Bollywood and Top 40 hits. A festive and celebratory feeling in the air created the perfect background for the MyShadi Bridal Expo, putting all attendees in the mood for wedding and party planning!

This year, a Destination Wedding Pavilion, co-hosted by Proficient Travel, was a part of each show and attendees loved the new addition. Offering couples and families a look at options for planning a destination wedding, the Pavilion brought together venues in Mexico and the Caribbean as well as travel experts.

For a look at what to expect at the MyShadi Bridal Expo, visit www.myshadibridalexpo.com and click on Past Events.

MyShadi Bridal Expo community event

South Asian wedding

Southeast US

Desh Videsh Media Group

Raj Shah

Aruna Shah

South Asian specific bridal show

Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel

Indin Wedding photographers

Indian Wedding decorators

Indian Wedding DJs

Indian Wedding caterers

Indian Wedding venues

clothing/jewelry boutiques

hair Style

makeup Artist

henna artists

Hilton Orlando

Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel

Simrans Designer Wear

Shubhra Singh Chohan

Yasmin Hetherington of Blushing Bride

Mital of Myar Decor Inc

Exclusive Entertainment Events

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

D The Event Planner

Banjara Indian Boutique

Wedding Hair by Liz

Royal Event DJs

Vikwabs Decor

Rosanna Barsati

Le Trend Boutique

Michele Renee Hair& Makeup Artist Group

Dudha Productions

Hilton Charlotte Center City

Ritu Bhat

Heartfelt Fashion

DJ Pawan Entertainment & Events

House of Masaba

Devam

Miami Ethnic

Rima of Dil Se Dance Beauty Cafe Salon

Infinite Soundz Entertainment

Myshadi Bridal Expo in Charlotte

Myshadi Bridal Expo in Orlando

Myshadi Bridal Expo in Fort Lauderdale

Myshadi Bridal Expo in Raleigh

Myshadi Bridal Expo in Atlanta

Next, was respect and appreciation, as I saw my parents and brother smiling from cheek to cheek. My final emotion was that of awe, as I saw a gorgeous golden Mandap with aromatic flowers and vibrant colors that I felt were literally taken out of my dreams and placed right in front of me. That short walk down the aisle was a walk I will never forget because it is a walk down a path that changed my life forever.

To get to the end of that aisle was a journey in more ways than one. However, the hardest one of all was the planning of one of the most important days of my life. I had to plan a wedding while studying for my physician assistant boards and packing to move to Texas after I was married. What helped me get through it was the support and help of my family and friends.

One of the keys to wedding planning is to admit that you need help. Delegate tasks to those you think would be most suited for it. For example, if you plan on doing some decorating by yourself ask someone who is creative and can think out of the box. Be able to admit that you can’t turn a pumpkin into a carriage. When hiring professionals for certain tasks, shop around. See what your options are.

Weddings are not only a memorable occasion but it is also a financial obligation on yourself or your parents. Make sure you and your decorator, DJ, photographer etc. are on the same page and have good communication. Communication is key to ensure your perfect day is exactly that, perfect. I believe my decorator understood my vision better than I did because when I walked into that room it was everything Iwanted and more. It literally took my breath away and that is what you deserve for your special day.

Christina PatelAnother important part of planning a wedding is to be organized. The biggest compliment my family got of my wedding was that it was well organized and every event occurred in a timely manner. Our culture is known for Indian standard timing, try to make this occasion an exception. As you are planning your wedding make a document on your computer with a detailed schedule of events and timings and whom you are delegating tasks too.

It is easy for you to tell someone to do something but during the event it’s hard to remind or remember who you delegated that task too. No matter how much time and effort you put into an event if it is not organized it will not be appreciated. Something important I learned was that there are many resources available here in the United States to plan a Hindu wedding. My family and I debated whether to make a trip to India to purchase needed items for the wedding. With me studying for boards and my husband as a first year medical resident that trip was definitely going to be impossible. Thus, I took out a weekend and went to New Jersey for my outfits and wedding jewelry.

My husband custom made his outfit in Houston where we both ordered our invitations from as well. There are also many options in the South Florida area and online. Thus, if you are on a time or financial constraint do not think that there are not enough options available in your community. Going to wedding expos was very beneficial as well. The most important advice I can give is to remember why you are planning a wedding in the first place, to marry the one who promised to love you forever. Make your wedding everything you ever wanted it to be but don’t let yourself get bogged down by the details.

Christina PatelAt the end of the day this should be one of the most memorable occasions of your life not an event you want to forget. Have fun! This occasion is the celebration of love, commitment and it is a representation of our rich and traditional culture. Embrace every moment you can during this planning process because like I said it was a very short walk down that isle and a very short walk around that fire compared to the time you put into planning your wedding. However, remember that the short walk down that aisle will lead you to a lifetime full of love, respect, appreciation, and awe.

Photography/Videography Anand Photo & Video Decorator/Flowers Suhaag Gardens Bridal Hair and Makeup Anju Thaker Venues Signature Grand and Quality Inn Plantation Catering Woodlands, Swaminarayn  and Punjab restaurant Panditji Harishbhai Shakala Cake Divine Delicacies

Kunj and Hiren went to college in Florida and were introduced by a mutual friend at a birthday party in Ft. Lauderdale. They began dating only a couple of months after that first meeting. Hiren’s sense of humor was in Kunj’s words “impossible to resist.” They dated for over two years before leaving Miami for Orlando and better career prospects.

It was in a park in Brickell, Miami, where they went to visit Kunj’s parents, that Hiren pulled off a picture-perfect proposal. Literally. Kunj found a photo album on one of the park’s benches, and as she looked through the pictures that captured their memories and love she found Hiren’s message on the last page – “Will you marry me?” Kunj closed the album to find Hiren on his knee as he repeated his question. Kunj’s answer was a heartfelt yes.

Kunj’s pre-wedding events included a Grah Shanti, Mehndi and Pithi at home. For the Mehndi and Pithi, artistic aunties of South Florida worked together to decorate the entire house with a beautiful ring of light pink, purple fuchsia and vibrant colors, and a see-through dance stage over the pool. The garba was held at the Marriott Harbor Beach and included live music and singing. Decor was done in vibrant gold draping with light pink, fusia, purple, peach, orange, yellow, white with greenery to create a very lively atmosphere in the garba Hall. Kunj and Hiren entered the garba hall in an old fashion rickshaw.

Hiren began his greatest adventure in life with Kunj while sitting atop a magnificent horse. The Baarat arrived with exuberant guests ready to shower their blessings on the duo. The beautiful bride Kunj lit up the rustic themed mandap with her glowing presence.

Kunj and Hiren’s traditional wedding was both understated and classy with four hundred guests not counting their beloved dog Toby, who was part of the groom’s entourage. Kunj, the co-founder of a nonprofit organization, “Hands of Esperanza,” which provides medical aid in Guatemala, set up a photobooth at the wedding to raise funds. The funds along with a large portion of the wedding gifts were donated to build a multispecialty medical and surgical clinic in Guatemala.

Kunj and Hiren danced to Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love” made even more memorable as the groom played the saxophone. Kunj was joyfully surprised when Hiren danced with her friends. When it comes to Kunj, there seems to be nothing that Hiren won’t do for love.

BANQUET HALLS Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 310-350-8969 | BEAUTICIAN Anju Thaker 954-554-8749  | CLOTHES & JEWELRY Devam 561-368-0057 CAKE Cakeoffee 954-399-3311 | CATERING Aashirwad Indian Cuisine 407-370-9830 Khasiyat Indian Restaurant 407-252-8756 | DECORATOR Suhaag Garden 772-528-0394 | DISC JOCKEY Tewari Productions & Jai Ho Fit 954-614-9713 | HAIR-MAKEUP Hair and Makeup I Do 954-464-1695 | HORSE-CARRIAGE Wind Chase Farm 772-285-3480 | INVITATIONS Orlando Printers 407-346-1166 | MEHNDI Sumaiya’s iBrow Studio 954-304-4958 | PHOTOGRAPHER Asaad Images 407-221-3333 | PRIEST Mukesh Vyas 239-910-0375 | VIDEOGRAPHY Vellora Productions 832-777-7350

For more information on how Preferred Vendors members are chosen, click here.

indian wedding

indian bride

indian weddings

wedding dress

wedding outfit

wedding

indian bride photographer

wedding photographer

wedding photography

indian bridal

bridal makeup

Royal wedding

traditional

romantic

love

real moments

Decorator

Indian Wedding Decorator

Decor

Pink Flower Decoration

Reception Decoration

friendship

college in Florida

mutual friend

birthday party

Ft. Lauderdale

Miami

Orlando

better career

Brickell

park’s benches

Will you marry me?

perfect proposal

heartfelt

pre-wedding events

Grah Shanti puja

Mehndi ceremony

Pithi ceremony

South Florida

pink Color

purple fuchsia

vibrant colors

dance stage over the pool

garba night

Marriott Harbor Beach

live music

singing

Decor

garba hall

old fashion rickshaw

Baarat

exuberant guests

beautiful bride

ustic themed mandap

traditional wedding

nonprofit organization

Hands of Esperanza

medical aid in Guatemala

photobooth at the wedding

wedding gifts

multispecialty medical in Guatemala

surgical clinic in Guatemala

What You Won’t Do for Love

Bobby Caldwell

saxophone

Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Anju Thaker

Hair and makeup I Do

Sumaiya’s iBrow Studio

Cakeoffee

Tewari Productions & Jai Ho Fit

Suhaag Garden

Wind Chase Farm

Orlando Printers

Devam

Asaad Images

Aashirwad Indian Cuisine

Khasiyat Indian Restaurant

Devam

Vellora Productions

Miles may separate lovelorn hearts, and years may pass before they even catch a glimpse of one another, but when love is meant to be – it will always find a reason and time. Though Anuradha and her family moved from Trinidad and found a new home in Florida, fate brought Anuradha and Avinash together, simply because true love is stronger than all else. One chance encounter at the Shiva temple and a simple exchange of glances was a sure sign that love had struck.

Ten years after experiencing the bliss of togetherness, Avinash decided it was time to take the relationship to the next level. On the pretext of having Anuradha home for dinner, Avinash arranged for an elaborate candlelight dinner, complete with rose petals carpeting the floor, floating candles and soft music playing gently in the background. The most special snapshot was of Avinash waiting in readiness with a ring in his hand.

With ten months before the final wedding day, there was plenty to accomplish. The task was made even more difficult since the wedding was followed directly by the reception on the same day. Suhaag Gardens stepped in and took responsibility for all décor and overall arrangements, which eased a significant amount of stress.

The wedding was held in Florida, with another reception planned in Trinidad. The Marriott Coral Springs was an ideal venue since the hotel could not only accommodate all guests, but also provided scenic beauty. Although there were smaller pujas and obligatory rituals performed in the days before the wedding, the main celebrations stretched over three days, beginning with a haldi ceremony and followed by a sangeet the following day.

A large Radha Krishna statue welcomed guests to the wedding venue. Upon entering, it was apparent that white was the color of the day, complemented with the use of gold, crystal and colorful flowers. The mandap drew much attention with the use of bright blue and purple drapes. While Avinash had an impressive entourage of cars, the bride came in under an exquisite canopy, while a live band created the right mood with its music.

At the reception, tables and chairs were decorated to feed into the predominant peacock theme. With purple and blue on the tables and matching flower arrangements, the sight was spectacular. Water fountains and rotating peacock statues made the arrangements unique and equally ornate. Even the lights were purple, green and blue. Highlights of the evening include introduction of the bride and groom, speeches, and the fine food.

For those who missed out on the extravaganza in Florida, there was plenty to look forward to back home as the couple celebrated again with a reception in Trinidad. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple came alive with water fountains, tea gardens and fresh décor. This time around, there were even two live peacocks!

There is no shortage of wedding advice, but the couple offers a fresh perspective. They feel that once you have true friendship, love, honesty and respect for one another, all arrangements leading up to the wedding will become much easier and also more enjoyable. It also works when you keep each other well informed and communicate, which will ensure that everyone is heard. The couple stresses that no matter how stressful the event, and despite what may go wrong, you will certainly be left wanting to enjoy the celebrations all over again, so it is best that you take in every moment!

BEAUTICIANS/COSMETICIAN Anju Thaker 954-554-8749  BRIDE-GROOM- LOTHING Frontier Heritage Artesia 562-653-9396 rasija@gmail.com Letrend Boutique 407-288-3304  MANDAP/DECORATIONS  Suhaag Gardens 813-478-9283  PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER Vanessa Hankins Photography 305-890- 8536 Tony E Photography  VENUE Coral Spring Marriot 954-227-4122 WEDDING INVITATIONS  Invites Events 954-797-8022

The winners were:
1st Prize – Greenery Productions
2nd Prize – Anand Wedding Services
3rd Prize – Touch of Class Linen/Raining Roses

Each of the winners received space for an advertorial in this wedding issue of Desh-Videsh magazine. We are proud to present the best of the best in reception table decorators in the next few pages. Please visit the winners’ websites for more information and wedding decoration ideas.

1st Prize – Greenery Productions
Greenery Productions is a multi-faceted company serving Central Florida clients for over 23 years. Owner Linda Grier founded Greenery Productions by establishing a greens department for Universal Studios Orlando. Since then plant Interiorscape, holiday décor and floral & décor have been added to the roster of services. Chances are when you are in Orlando that you have experienced the lush plantscaping or holiday décor at one of Orlando’s premier hotel properties. In 2009, Hilton Orlando and Hilton Bonnet Creek & Waldorf Astoria Orlando were added to their impressive client list that includes the JW Marriott & Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin and The Peabody Orlando among others.

Tommy Murphy, Wedding Specialist and Creative Director, joined Greenery Productions in 2005. Since then, he and the award winning floral designers have produced over 800 weddings. “We don’t just design floral, we design events” is his mission. Sitting down with each client starts with generating ideas that are specific to each client’s vision. Foremost is the floral design from the bouquets to the ceremony, cocktail & dinner receptions and parties before and after. Custom floral Mandaps, centerpieces and room décor is one of Greenery Productions specialties. From the floral designs, we work towards a complete vision that includes lighting, foliage, linens, chargers, table accessories, furniture, drapery, custom dance floor wraps and so much more. Every detail is discussed to ensure a seamless experience from concept to completion.

Greenery Productions has received numerous awards, including the 2009 The Knot Best of Weddings and the Wesh Channel 2 Viewer Award, and have been published in The Knot, Central Florida Bride, Orange Appeal & Orlando Magazine. To begin your personalized planning process, contact Tommy Murphy at (407) 363-9151 x308 or tmurphy@greeneryproductions.com To be inspired, visit their blog at www.greeneryproductions.blogspot.com

2nd Prize – Anand Wedding Services –
Wedding as easy as 1 2 3
Weddings can be one of the most exciting times for brides and grooms, a few of the most important days of their lives. Yet once the planning begins, the excitement quickly ends and is replaced with confusion as couples become overwhelmed with options, thus ending up over budget. From flowers to the DJ, venues to linen, the turnkey services of Anand Event Services alleviates the stress of haggling with multiple vendors while providing the cost benefits of working with a one-stop shop for your wedding day. Anand Event Services has a team of people working with their clients to ensure expert advice and exceptional service while keeping the couple’s interests first and foremost. Don’t confuse them with traditional wedding planners- most of the services they provide are performed in-house with responsibilities divided among the three main principals of the company. Their unique method of service ensures the creation of your dream wedding is as easy as 1-2-3.

Anand Event Services is a family owned business with over 30 years of experience. With their professional staff they have traveled all over the United States and abroad making dream weddings a reality. Rakesh Anand, the first element of the winning equation, is an expert in photography and cinematography, and he ensures all the key moments of your special day will be captured forever. An accomplished photographer, Rakesh is passionate about making sure the day is as close to picture perfect for the couple as possible.

The second key element is Madhu Anand, the creative director of the organization. Madhu handles decor, event planning and is well versed in regional cultures and traditions. Every aspect of a wedding can be customized to meet the bride and groom’s desires, from details like color themes and flower arrangements to special effects such as smoke, logos and even fireworks. Madhu’s expertise enables couples to “have their cake and eat it too.” In other words, couples can incorporate all the elements they dream about, while maintaining the elegance and integrity of the event and their budget.

Finally we have the new generation of Anands – Sid, Rakesh and Madhu’s son and the technical guru of the company. Sid’s lighting designs and special effects provide weddings with the “wow” factor that every couple craves. His talents are later applied in post-production to the wedding videos and albums, where he leads a carefully selected team of experts in ensuring the media is not just visually appealing, but allows the couple’s unique personalities to shine through. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the albums and videos of this team leave you speechless!

You get one chance to make your event one to remember, trust Florida’s most referred and respected event specialists to make it happen! To learn more about services provided visit www.anandphotovideo.com

3rd Prize – Touch of Class Linen/Raining Roses
Touch of Class Linen
A Touch of Class Linen (ATC) has been serving in the city of Miami and its boundaries for 18 years. ATC is announcing its grand opening in the city of Orlando, where we’ll showcase our vast variety of exclusive linen that has always distinguished our company because of its beautiful, one of a kind fabrics from all over the world. At ATC, you will find Chiavari Chairs in perfect condition alongside original sofas, and unique charger plates. Our years of experience have given us the expertise to give you the best of our services.

Offering you tranquility and peace of mind when it comes to those important moments in our lives. A Touch Of Class, a touch to remember.

Raining Roses
At Raining Roses we involve our clients directly in the creative process as we believe that close collaboration enables us to create your vision and to meet your needs and wishes. Our inspiration and passion are derived from having the desire to create a unique atmosphere reflecting the style and personality of each of our clients. Providing you with an individual experience based on your vision is our top priority … making every one of events an elegant and enjoyable experience for all!

We look forward to making your celebration beyond memorable! Please call us at 407 854-3500 or email rainingrosespro@aol.com at your convenience to arrange an appointment to visit our studio so that we may assist you in bringing your ideas to life!

At 11:30 am, a half-hour before doors officially opened, nearly 100 brides were lined up waiting to peruse the aisles of the eighth MyShadi Bridal Expo at the Fort Lauderdale Coral Springs Marriott Hotel. On Sunday, April 29th, Desh-Videsh hosted its hugely popular MyShadi Bridal Expo, where over 60 vendors displayed their products and services. In the hotel’s beautiful ballroom, it was obvious why Desh-Videsh and MyShadi have become synonymous with quality and professionalism in the wedding expo business.

The event was widely attended by over 1,000 attendees – brides and grooms-to-be as well as their families. Attendees had the opportunity to meet personally with photographers, hotel and banquet hall representatives, event planners, and decorators. Who could resist the scrumptious samples of wedding cake and tasty bites of food fare?! There were also professional mehndi and make-up artists providing live demonstrations of their art. There was even a competition amongst the mehndi artists – each of them entering one of their intricate works of creative magic – the winner was Amber Emkin of HennaParty.com. Other entrants included Arman Henna Art, AnjuThaker, Farah Mehndi, and Henna Art.

“Just when I was feeling overwhelmed by the thought of the wedding planning and the many details that need to be arranged, I heard about this show. Now that I’ve had a chance to meet with some vendors, I’m feeling pretty good about where we stand! All it took was an afternoon of schmoozing. And who could say no to the delicious cake samples!” exclaimed bride-to-be, Mira Nair.

Neil Persad of Florida Melody Makers got the crowd moving with amazing music. Rakesh and Madhu of Anand Events provided the elegant stage decorations and created the perfect ambiance for the Expo.

Brides-to-be and fashion-savvy attendees were enthralled by the beautiful models that looked elegant and fashionable in the latest formal wear designs. The first fashion show featured designs by Rupees Sarees, a company that specializes in traditional and exclusive saree styles from all over India. The second fashion show was choreographed by Ateeqa Boutique, which featured exquisite and custom Pakistani designs.

At various intervals throughout the afternoon, brides lined up for their chance to win one of several toss-out prizes, including a number of weekend bridal/spa packages at some of the hotel vendors at the show. But the high point was two couples winning complimentary tickets to India generously provided by Qatar Airlines (www.qatarairlines.com) and Just India (www.justindia.us), a destination marketing company.

If you’re planning a wedding or any type of event, you don’t want to miss the next MyShadi Bridal Expo on Sunday, September 23rd at the Hilton Orlando Hotel. If you are a vendor looking to secure a booth or a bride or groom planning the wedding of your dreams, or just someone looking to browse through a wide collection of beautiful clothing and jewelry, be sure to visit www.myshadibridalexpo.com