Congratulations to the Booth Decor competition winner fromthe September 2015 Orlando MyShadi Bridal Expo – Nikun Events Company!

Born and raised in East Africa, Pinky Patel studied in England before moving to the United States where she spent over 20 years in an IT career. Realizing her passion lies elsewhere, Pinky began making flower garlands as part of a fundraising effort for a local mandir in Chicago. Gradually, she began taking on more work as a florist and eventually branching out to other areas of decoration. In 2006, she began Nikun Events Company.

Co-owner Nalin Patel grew up in Kenya, and like Pinky first began working with florals and design when helping with a friend’s daughter’s wedding. Gradually, his business grew. In 2013, Pinky and Nalin merged their businesses. Today, they two have over 21 years experience working on events and decoration. Nikun Events Company is known for mixing tradition
al with contemporary styles using a wide array of florals, fabrics, textures, and colors.

In this issue, we chatted with owners Pinky Patel and Nalin Patel to learn more about their background and the start of Nikun Events Company.

How does it feel to be the winner of the 2015 Orlando MyShadi Bridal Expo Booth Decoration Competition?
It is an honor to be recognized by those attending the MyShadi Bridal Expo.  We always want to provide our clients with innovative ideas.  The beauty of doing these events is that there are so many ways to express individuality and creativity.

What was the inspiration for the theme used to decorate your booth?
We setup two areas, one to show a glimpse of a reception setup that was mute yet elegant in blush and gold tones. The other setup offered a glimpse into a Sangeet/Mehndi event that was colorful and bold with a touch of Rajasthan.

What are some of your favorite materials to use?
We love to use florals and different textures of fabrics. When you combine these two elements, it sets a beautiful stage.  We also use various textures, textiles and elements to create our custom frames and borders. We created the entire border of our frames for both the Sangeet/Mehndi and reception designs with cutwork of foam.  This cut work can be personalized for each client.  For example, we can create a design from your kankotri.

What services does your company provide? Specifically, what wedding-related services do you offer?
We are a complete decorating firm and offer mandap, floral, linens, and lighting. We also offer planning, coordination and complete event management services.

How do you and a new client work together to fulfill their vision for the wedding day or big event?
First, we get to know the client and listen to what their overall expectations and vision are for their events.  We can seek inspiration from our past work or create something innovative to achieve their vision.

What is the biggest lesson you learned your first year in business? What was the biggest lesson you learned in this past year of business?
In the first year, we learned many great lessons.  More importantly we learned that in order to grow, you must be open to giving a little bit more. This year we have also learned that in evaluating our inventory, we were able to discover and create new designs to keep our inventory fresh and innovative.

In what regions (city, entire state, all over the US), do you provide your services?
We service all of Florida but having said that we have sister companies in Atlanta and Chicago.  We are able to service events across the country without any issues.

What has been your favorite wedding or moment that stands out to you and why?
We have so many favorite weddings, so it is difficult to select! What makes them all stand out is the fact that the couples and their family have instilled faith in our ability to translate their vision.

What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding?
There is so much media out there, so look for the style that describes you the best. At the end of the day, our advice is keep it simple and elegant and enjoy the day.

Crystal blue waters crashing down on a pristine white beach, while a gentle breeze ruffles through the palm trees. An elegantly draped mandap glistens in the sunshine, while an intimate crowd eagerly watches two people embark on the journey of a lifetime. Sounds like a wedding in paradise, doesn’t it?

Destination weddings and cruise weddings hold a certain appeal, and while not feasible for some couples, might be the perfect option for others. Whether a couple wants to share a favorite vacation spot with family and friends, or host a unique and memorable event, destination weddings also offer couples the chance to bring families together for a (relatively) stress-free occasion. Many resorts offer all inclusive service packages, which can ease the burden of wedding planning and infuse the event with the chance to truly celebrate and enjoy the company of family and friends. Planning hikes, kayaking, or canopy tours in addition to wedding events gives the couple and guests a chance to truly embrace the spirit of the local area. Couples are also increasingly choosing to host cruise weddings as the ultimate way to combine vacation with celebrations.

Hosting a traditional Indian wedding at an exotic, beachside location or on a cruise ship is no longer a far-fetched ideal, but rather a manageable reality for some couples. Cultural destination weddings are on the rise as hotels and resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, among other locations, increasingly recognize and understand the requirements of Indian weddings. Though couples may choose to get married somewhere other than their hometown, they still do not want to forgo important religious and family traditions. Marilyn Cairo, Corporate Romance Manager at Paradisus Resorts, ensures couples that her team keeps their needs and desires front and center. She shares, “Our entire team gets to know the couple, understands the specific needs of the client and the overall event and are open to allowing the couples to customize their entire experience.”

Factors to Consider
With South Asian weddings specialists now on staff at several resorts, South Asian couples looking to fuse elements of a traditional wedding with the fun and excitement of a destination wedding, now have an easier time with the task of planning. So while many hotels and resorts specialize in destination weddings and are well-versed in the décor needed for mandaps and specific ceremonies, couples should still make note of all their requirements.

With décor, catering, photographers, among other vendors, all available through in-house services or a resort’s preferred vendor list, destination weddings can be significantly less stressful than planning a traditional wedding. Keeping this in mind, couples should be prepared to ask lots of questions and be mindful of several factors.

Budget: Regardless of the type of wedding planned, budget always plays a role. Be sure to consider your budget when looking into possible locations and venues. Destination weddings can be more cost-effective due to a smaller guest count and fewer vendors; however, don’t forget to consider non-traditional items, such as travel expenses, shipping or extra luggage costs, resort fees, travel taxes, etc.

Venue: Narrowing the list of potential venues can be difficult, especially when choosing from places such as a Punta Cana, Cancun, or Vallarta! As you research the possibilities, think of all the services the venue offers. Is a wedding planner available? Do they have a backup indoor ceremony location? Can they provide all inclusive vendor services, such as a photographer, decorator, mandap, hair and makeup? Can they meet dietary restrictions and/or is Indian food available? Is a shuttle available for guest transportation?

Experience: As with any wedding vendor, experience matters. When a hotel wedding planner anticipates all your needs, you can be sure all the details have been considered. Knowing that your chosen venue comes staffed with experienced planners and coordinators will be comforting especially as you plan from a far. Karen Bussen, Palladium Hotels & Resorts, assures clients that “ [Palladium Hotels & Resorts will help with additional ceremonies, special menu requests, and other needs. We will stop at nothing to delight our brides and grooms and their guests, and we strive to provide authenticity, great value, and excellent service throughout the whole experience.”

Timing: Be sure to consider the time of year, as the weather might be a factor. Planning a wedding in Mexico during hurricane season is probably not a good idea, so be sure to consult weather forecasts prior to setting a date.

Guests: As you narrow your list of choices, be considerate of your guests. From where will they be traveling? Will it require three stopovers and a bus ride to get to your chosen location? Guests choose to be a part of the celebrations and often are paying their own way so be sure to consider the impact of your choices.

Local marriage requirements:  Be sure to check the local laws about marriage requirements, as some countries require residency or a wait period as well as paperwork. One option is to have a legal, court ceremony at home before embarking on the fun destination wedding!

Prepare for Your First Meeting

Unlike meeting with all your vendors on a regular basis as you would if you held a wedding in your hometown, a destination wedding requires constant communication via email and phone. Alejandra Carrillo, Assistant Weddings Manager at Barcelo Maya Beach, encourages clients to “speak your mind during the planning process … It is important that you let us know everything that is on your mind and keep the communication going.” As with traditional wedding planning, be clear about what you want, and don’t be afraid to share every detail as this helps your planner ensure your wedding unfolds just as you like. Consider setting up a regular check-in schedule and keep track of your questions so no details are left untouched.

Many resorts also encourage a site visit prior to the wedding date. In addition to a site visit, wedding planners at All Inclusive Collection – Hard Rock Hotels send couples a detailed email with information about service options, such as décor and menus. Monica Larcada, Marketing Manager at All Inclusive Collection asks couples to “take the time to thoroughly review all of the information and catalog options,” so that the wedding planner is able to address all questions during the initial meeting via phone.

Destination weddings are a wonderful way to bring family and friends together in a beautiful locale to celebrate one of life’s most special moments – your wedding! With some advance planning, your dream destination wedding could become a reality.

Favorite Wedding Moments
The experts share their favorite wedding moments.

Karen Bussen: I’ve been lucky to be a part of many incredible South Asian celebrations—including my own sister’s wedding to my brother-in-law, who is of Gujarati heritage. Inspired by the dazzling colors and textures of South Asia, I created the Shaadi Royal Bliss package to embody the unique cultural and ceremonial traditions in a tropical paradise setting.”

Marilyn Cairo: “The receptions are definitely the best…the ambiance, the music, the food, the spirit of the people celebrating is very infectious and showcases the true meaning of love.”

Alejandra Carrillo: “I personally enjoy how the families are so involved with every single detail of the celebrations, and how not only the union of a couple is what they celebrate, but also the welcoming of each other’s families, which I think is beautiful.”

Monica Larcada: “We are seeing an increase in interfaith weddings. Recently we had a wedding where the bride was Catholic and the groom was Hindu. The couple had both types of ceremonies, and it was incredible to see how each family embraced the culture and religion of the other family.  We thought it was a great way to start a life together.”

Featured Venues
Special thanks to the properties, all of which are well-versed in hosting successful Indian weddings, for participating in this article.

All Inclusive Collection – Hard Rock Hotels
Located in: Cancun, Mexico; Riviera Maya, Mexico; Vallarta, Mexico; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
www.hrhweddings.com

Barcelo Hotels & Resorts
Located in: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba
www.barcelo.com/BarceloWeddings

Palladium Hotels & Resorts
Located in: Riviera Maya, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica
www.palladiumweddings.com

Paradisus Resorts
Located in: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; and Playa del Carmen, Mexico
www.romancebyparadisus.com

About the Author
Rina Shah is the CEO and founder of The Arpan Group, a boutique ad agency and public relations firm that specializes in capturing untouched ethnic markets. From press releases and media kits to marketing materials and by-line articles, The Arpan Group customizes solutions based on the client’s needs. For more information, visit www.thearpangroup.com or call (703) 651-6670.

Indian weddings are known all over the world for their elaborate customs, sacred rituals, and lavish feasts. The wide selection of cuisines, designer clothing, and glamorous jewelry are some of the most notable features in any Indian wedding. As most Indians believe weddings to be made in heaven, they make sure that the event appears divine. From designer mandaps to the entertainment of guests, no expense or reputation is spared.

Here’s a look at the 10 most lavish Indian weddings to date:

1. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia:
In June 2004 Lakshmi Mittal’s only daughter Vanisha Mittal tied the knot with London-based investment banker Amit Bhatia. This lavish wedding is estimated to cost $77 million. The 20 page hand-painted wedding invitation invited guests with hearty poems and was enclosed in a decorative silver box. Wedding festivities took place at the Palace of Versailles in France. Wines served in the celebrations were estimated to cost more than $1.5 million. The six-day event was held at the Jardin des Tuileres, Vaux Le Vicomte, George Cinq, Hotel Bristol and Hotel Cabaret. It was one fairy-tale wedding in France with fireworks shot over at Eiffel Tower.

2. Sushanto Roy and Richa Ahuja / Seemato Roy and Chandni Toor:
In the year 2004, Subrata Roy’s (Founder and Chairman of Sahara) sons Sushanto and Seemanto married in a double wedding, that roughly cost $100 million. The entire Sahara Township in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was transformed into fairy-tale. Pre-wedding festivities were held at the Roy’s residence, Swapna Kuti (the dream house), while the sangeet was held at Hotel Clarks Awadh. With over 11,000 guests in attendance from all corners of the world, the wedding ceremony took place at Sahara Auditorium. Legendary figures such as Amitabh Bachchan, Mulayam Singh, Kapil Dev, Anil Ambani, and Aishwariya Rai among others embraced the occasion with their presence, while Raj Kumar Santoshi captured the enter wedding through his camera’s lens. More than 110 cuisines were served, and entertainers were flown in from all over the world. The highlight of the wedding was the community wedding of 101 underprivileged women belonging to different communities. Food was distributed among those less fortunate.

3. Shristi Mittal and Gulraj Behl:
Recently, Laxmi Narayan Mittal’s niece Shristi Mittal, daughter of younger brother Pramod Mittal, married investment banker Gulraj Behl in Barcelona, Spain, spanning a three-day affair across various venues in the city. Michelin Chef Sergi Arola catered the $80 million wedding, and a team of 200 butlers and cooks was flown into Spain for the wedding.

4. Abhinav Jhunjhunwala and Prerna Sarda:
In January 2012, Amitabh Jhunjhunwala’s son Abhinav married Prerna Sarda in an elaborate wedding ceremony. Amitabh Jhunjhunwala is the Vice Chairman of Reliance Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group, while Prerna Sarda’s father Ghanshyam Sarda is a jute baron from Kolkata. Like many other lavish weddings, this was a star-studded affair.

5. Alkesh Tandon and Raakhe Kapoor:
Raakhe Kapoor, daughter of Rana Kapoor (CEO and Founder of YES Bank), married Dubai-based entrepreneur Alkesh Tandon. The grand wedding was held at The Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi. The wedding was undoubtedly an elaborate affair considering the fact that Alkesh Tandon is related to the London industrialist Laxmi Narayan Mittal. The engagement ceremony was held at ITC Maurya Sheraton, while celebrities like Salman Khurshid, P Chidambaram and Vinod Khanna were also spotted at the wedding.

6. Radhika Singhal and Saurabh Dhoot:
In 2010, Sanjay Singhal’s (Chairman of Bhushan Power and Steel) daughter Radhika Singhal married Saurabh Dhoot, son of Pradeep Dhoot (Chairman of Videocon Industries). Bollywood beauties like Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Malaika Arora Khan performed at the grand wedding.

7. Tanushree Dhoot and Vivek Biyani:
In 2011, the Dhoot family (father Pradeep is Chairman of Videocon) enjoyed another wedding – this time daughter Tanushree Dhoot married Kishore Biyani’s nephew Vivek Biyani. Leading Bollywood actors, political officials, and cricket stars were all spotted at the wedding.

8. Vineeta Agarwal and Muqit Teja:
Pramod Agarwal, a United Kingdom-based billionaire gave his daughter Vineeta and her groom Muqit a grand wedding in Venice, Italy. The wedding was strictly a private affair and only 800 people were invited to the wedding at San Clemente Palace Hotel, Italy. Pop Star Shakira performed on the second day of the wedding while director, Franco Dragone put up a special show of “Cirque du Soleil” for the elite audience.

9. Mallika Reddy and Siddharth Reddy:
Recently, GV Krishna Reddy’s granddaughter Mallika married Siddharth, the son of Indukuri Syam Prasad Reddy of Indu Group. This$160 million wedding was attended by celebrities Shahrukh Khan, Pooja Bedi, Priyanka Chopra, and the prestigious Bachchan family. The designer bridal attire and mandap decorations were tweeted about for weeks after the wedding.

Expensive high profile weddings are a means of showing social status and power. After all, if one earns the big bucks, what better place than to spend them than in a “Big Fat Wedding.”

From lavish designs and bold colors to pastel florals and subtle centerpieces, weddings can be the ultimate expression of a couple’s personality. Through intricately designed mandaps, lush, fragrant florals, and creative use of color, couples can personalize nearly every aspect of their wedding decorations. While the type of venue and the choice of colors and foods can shape the feel of a wedding, the overall design and decorations tie all the pieces together creating an event to remember.

Finding a decorator, next to choosing a photographer, may be one of the most important tasks of wedding planning. Selecting a decorator should not be an after thought, but rather, a thorough search for a designer who understands your personality, style, and likes and dislikes. Madhu Anand of Anand Event Services shares that a decorator “…should understand their personality and be able to reflect it in the decorations.” Remember, you will be spending quite a bit of time working through your ideas for your dream wedding, so personality (yours and the vendor’s!) is a crucial aspect of the selection process. Choose a vendor that not only understands your personality, but also grasps your vision and ideas for a memorable occasion.

Factors to Consider As with all your wedding vendors, budget is an important consideration for many couples and can determine the intricacy and detail of your design. Factor in whether you will do some or most of the decorations on your own. If you choose to rely heavily on a wedding decorator, pay close attention to their portfolio. Are they a full service decorator offering florals, lighting, and design? If your dream is a personalized and unique event, be sure to share all details with your chosen decorator. Anand emphasizes that couples should “make sure the decorator understands their style – whether it is going to be traditional or modern, simple or elaborate.”

 Whether you choose to do-ityourself or enlist the help of a decorator, you will need to be mindful of several factors when creating your design. The timing of your event, type of venue, and experience of your chosen decorator will influence the end result.

Timing: Be sure to consider the time of year, as this will influence the choice of colors and florals. Jilna Jasani of Suhaag Garden reminds couples to “… choose flowers based on the season … Rather than have your heart set on a particular type of a flower, start by asking for available options and then determine whether your heart is still set on those “must-have” white calla lilies.”

Also think about the time of day the event will take place. An outdoor, morning wedding will have a significantly different feel than an indoor, evening event. Your wedding decorator will be able to create a design that incorporates natural elements (such as lighting) as well as fabrics and other decor pieces.

Venue: Will the wedding be indoors or outdoors? What type of lighting will be available? Do you need to work around any unchangeable items, such as pillars or carpet color? Experienced wedding decorators will not only know how to work with a venue’s lighting and shortcomings, but also with the venue’s staff. Previous experience with a venue puts the decorator at a great advantage, ensuring your vision will come about easily and efficiently.

Experience: As with any wedding vendor, experience matters. Remmal Karamsadkar of Occasions by Shangri-la believes that couples should “ … first look for a reputable company with a good reputation who has venue and client references. The second tip is to make sure the décor company has a portfolio of unique concepts. Our third tip is to find a company with years of experience and highly trained specialist.” An experienced decorator has likely not only worked at number of venues with a wide range of materials, but also has a wide and varied design portfolio.

Prepare for Your First Meeting   

Most couples (or the bride, at the very least!) already have a vision for their desired dream wedding. After scouring Pinterest and trolling through friends’ Facebook feeds, you are probably drawn to a specific style of mandap and type of floral and fabrics. Jasani advises that “sites like Pinterest and Lover.ly are great for creating your vision board for your big day. Having visuals will greatly help ensure you and your decorator are on the same page.” The visuals are a starting point for you and your decorator to create a unique and personalized design.

Don’t forget to share any details of your proposal and how you met with your decorator! Karamsadkar adds “Before meeting with your decorator, couples should prepare to think about and discuss their wedding event vision and inspirations. Decide if there are colors or a theme that you would like to incorporate into your décor.” The more details, the better. A decorator must truly understand the concepts you have in mind to be able to create a design that leaves you speechless.

Favorite Wedding Moments

The experts share their favorite wedding moments.

Jilna (SG): The wedding day is full of firsts: the first time you refer to your beloved as husband (or wife), the first time you get dolled up from head to toe, etc. We strive to add to that list of heartwarming first moments. The bride and groom-to-be do walkthroughs at the venue number of times before the big day, but they don’t see the space transformed until that day. That look of awe and sound of excitement when the bride and groom walk into their own wedding is what drives us (and gives us a big sigh of relief!).

Madhu (AES): There are somany favorite moments, but the excitement truly lies in seeing the bride in all her finery for the first time when she enters!

Remmal (OBS): Our staff’s favorite wedding moment is when the Bride and Groom enter their event for the first time. We love to see the happy look on their faces. At that point, we feel that we kept our promise to make your event a true expression of your taste and vision.

Experts

Special thanks to the decorators who contributed their thoughts and advice to this article.

Anand Event Services Madhu Anand Tel: 954-332-1560 www.anandeventservices.com

Occasions by Shangri-la Remmal Karamsadkar Tel: 407-355-7700 www.occasionsbyshangrila.com

Suhaag Garden Jilna Jasani Tel: 813-478-9283 www.suhaaggarden.com

About the Author Rina Shah is the CEO and founder of The Arpan Group, a boutique ad agency and public relations firm that specializes in capturing untouched ethnic markets. From press releases and media kits to marketing materials and by-line articles, The Arpan Group customizes solutions based on the client’s needs. For more information, visit www.thearpangroup.com or call (703) 651-6670