\nAs seen in the Winter Issue of South Asian Bride Magazine<\/a>
\n<\/em>Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel<\/a>
\nCoordination: Paula Laskelle at Champagne Taste<\/a>
\nFlorals and Mandap: Alex and the team at Square Root Designs<\/a>
\nLighting: Amber Event Production<\/a>
\nVideography: Aron and Robert at Reel Life Pictures<\/a>
\nDJ: Sound Nation<\/a><\/p>\n
What do you get when you combine a church, a mandap and many bottles of vodka? Well, if you\u2019re Nimisha and Tom, you get a high-style celebration that honored both the bride\u2019s Indian \/ Sri Lankan heritage and the groom\u2019s Polish heritage. The site of this epic celebration was the oceanfront Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California, and since the wedding took place just as winter was creeping in, Nimisha and Tom opted for a winter wonderland d\u00e9cor scheme complete with after-hours club.<\/p>\n
The big day started out with a Catholic ceremony at a nearby church. Nimisha then changed into her rose-colored lengha so she could join Tom at a flower-adorned Plexiglas mandap overlooking the ocean. Tom entered the mandap area in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by the USC Trojan Marching Band. The USC band\u2019s outfits didn\u2019t strike the chord that the couple was envisioning for their baraat, so they had custom outfits made in India, and the band looked great.<\/p>\n
For the reception, Nimisha and Tom chose white flowers atop blue linens because they wanted something modern, elegant and reminiscent of the beach. Nimisha also liked the idea of doing something that her guests wouldn\u2019t ordinarily see at an Indian wedding.<\/p>\n
During the reception, Tom\u2019s parents did a Polish toast that involved singing a song about \u201c100 years of good health\u201d as well as downing several shots of vodka. They also put salt on bread. This salt was to remind the couple that \u201cif they taste bitterness, they can overcome it,\u201d and the bread was a wish for them \u201cto never go hungry.\u201d The last part of the toast involved two shots \u2013 one of water and one of vodka. The bride and groom each chose one and downed it, and whoever got the vodka would then have the upper hand in the marriage. Tom got the vodka shot.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/misc\/DWF2010\/AndrenaPhotography2010_46.jpg\" "\\"AndrenaPhotography2010_46.jpg\\"")
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Cheryl & Ash Ash is quite the tall fellow, so when he met Cheryl, who is also very statuesque, he couldn’t help but tell his friends, “Hey! I met a really tall Indian girl!” This couple is just the sweetest, and they clearly dote on one another. When I released the proofs gallery to Cheryl, she burst out crying, as reliving her wedding made her truly emotional. Her emails back to me (through tears) were incredibly endearing. This wedding featured one of the more original details I’ve ever seen at a wedding. The couple had pharmaceutical bins (the plastic kinds that you see at pharmacies) full of prescription bottles, which were in turn full of Skittles. Each bottle was a place card, telling people where they were sitting. I have no idea why I didn’t include a photo of this cute detail in the image collage below, but I’ll be sure to post a pic of that soon.<\/p>\n Neelam & Gaurav It didn’t just threaten rain all morning. It actually rained for just a few minutes, right after the start of the ceremony. Guests went running, but after a patient wait through 15 minutes of showers, the dark skies relented, and the ceremony continued in the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey’s beautiful rose garden. Neelam looked so beautiful walking down the aisle, and the tears in her eyes served to underscore how much she’d been looking forward to marrying the love of her life.<\/p>\n Winter Tabletop for South Asian Bride
\n<\/strong>Venue: Long Beach Hyatt<\/a>
\nCoordination & Decor: Neha Shah at Blue Lotus Insights<\/a>
\nHair & Makeup: Jeannie Jeffries at Couture Beauty Team<\/a>
\nMandap and Florals: Flowers by Manjit
\nLighting: Amber Event Production<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/misc\/DWF2010\/AndrenaPhotography2010_33.jpg\" "\\"AndrenaPhotography2010_33.jpg\\"")
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\n<\/strong>Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey<\/a>
\nCoordination: Mary Sushinski at Occasions<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/misc\/DWF2010\/AndrenaPhotography2010_45.jpg\" "\\"AndrenaPhotography2010_45.jpg\\"")
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\n<\/strong>As seen in the current issue of South Asian Bride Magazine<\/a>, out now<\/em>
\nVenue: SLS Hotel<\/a>, Beverly Hills
\nFloral Artistry: Shawna Yamamoto<\/a>
\nCoordination: Sonia Sharma at Sonia Sharma Events<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/misc\/DWF2010\/AndrenaPhotography2010_48.jpg\" "\\"AndrenaPhotography2010_48.jpg\\"")
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