As the festive spirit of December filled the air, Shikha & Brian's wedding at the enchanting Moorpark Country Club offered a breathtaking fusion of cultures, celebrated with the warmth and joy of the holiday season. This exceptional union blended two hearts and a vibrant mix of Indian and Western traditions.
It all started in a Chicano Studies class where Shikha & Brian, from different cultural backgrounds, discovered a mutual appreciation for new cultures. A simple act of courage—Shikha giving Brian her number—sparked a destined connection. As they ventured into their relationship, it was clear that Brian was her forever after. Under a canopy of stars, Brian proposed in a setting as magical as their upcoming wedding, marking the beginning of their journey to forever.
Navigating through the ups and downs of wedding planning, Shikha found joy in choosing vibrant themes and colors for their special day. With the unwavering support of Subham Events, led by the remarkable Kavita, every element was meticulously curated to reflect the couple's unique vision. Kavita's team worked tirelessly, ensuring that each detail—from the stunning floral arrangements by Kalyana Deepika Weddings to the seamless orchestration of the day's events—exceeded expectations. Their dedication and expertise in managing vendors and coordinating timelines made the celebration beautiful and stress-free. Drea V. Makeup, Shikha's top choice, added the perfect touches to her bridal look, bringing out her radiant beauty.
The quest for the perfect bridal lengha led Shikha's family across numerous stores in India until they found a traditional red lengha that symbolized love and celebration, accented with a contrasting pink veil. Shikha chose a forest green gown for the reception, echoing the lush Christmas colors, merging tradition with a festive twist.
Samson Productions played a pivotal role in capturing the essence of Shikha & Brian's fusion wedding. With their keen eye for detail and remarkable cinematic style, they were able to encapsulate the warmth and joy of the celebrations in both photography and videography.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met in college in a Chicano Studies class. Both of us were not Chicanos, but it was so cool to have met in a class where we were learning about a new culture while also both being from our own cultures. I had a huge crush on Brian and was too nervous to give him my number, but towards the end of the semester, I worked up the courage and gave him my number. He immediately texted me, and we made plans to hang out. We both instantly felt a special connection. I always knew he was the one.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
Wedding planning had its ups and downs, but it was so fun for me to research other weddings and wedding trends. Finding a hair and makeup artist was the hardest decision for me. I had friends and family with different opinions about how much I should be spending on hair/makeup, but in the end, I went with Makeup by Drea, who was my top pick since the beginning. I had been following her Instagram for a while and knew that I needed her for my wedding day. I reached out to her so late, but she miraculously had availability for my wedding date and was able to work her magic that day. I also enjoyed picking out the color theme for the wedding ceremony as well as the reception. My wedding planner and her team were HUGE support in making the day as incredible as it was. Subham Events was able to cater to all my needs while maintaining vendors within my budget. Kavita, my wedding planner, was able to get me an amazing photography/videography team with Samson Productions. They did an amazing job!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Finding my Lengha was one of the most difficult decisions I made for the wedding. I fell in love with a bridal Lengha online, but it was out of my budget. From there, I had family in India who traveled to so many different bridal stores until they finally found THE DRESS. I always knew I wanted the traditional Indian red for my bridal Lengha. I also wanted a separate pink veil to contrast the traditional red. For the reception look, I knew I wanted to go with a dark, forest green, especially since the wedding was a few days after Christmas. It fits the Christmas vibes very nicely.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
One of the most enjoyable parts of the planning process was coming up with the color themes and coordinating outfits with my groom (Brian), as well as helping my family members coordinate their outfits. I also enjoyed getting closer to all my family during this time. I could not have done it without their support and help in this process. I cannot recall the amount of calls I made to my mom and sister regarding all the little details about the wedding.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests really loved our venue. It was located at the beautiful Moorpark Country Club. The outdoor portion of the venue was incredible with the dreamy gazebo and hanging lights across the trees. The golf course surrounded by mountains made for some incredible photos not only for our wedding album but for our guests who used the opportunity to get a little photoshoot in for themselves.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
One very special moment that Brian (groom) and I shared was when we were finally in our reception outfits and were able to take a private moment on the outside part of the venue. We took so many dreamy photos under the beautiful dangling lights. That evening we were fortunate enough to have a one-of-a-kind "halo" moon, which made the moment even more special. When we both look back at those photos, we instantly feel the emotions we felt at that extra moment.
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
Mehendi ceremony: our mehendi ceremony took place a very gracious family friend's home. We kept it small with only family and close friends attending. Many of my friends were non-desi so it was their first time seeing bridal henna or even getting a henna tattoo. The decor was all DIY with the help of friends and family. The outfit I picked for that ceremony incorporated the traditional green.
Haldi ceremony: the ceremony started with the Ganesh Pooja and Grahshanti Pooja followed by the haldi ceremony. I put a lot of work into getting the perfect hair look. My cousin who is a hair/makeup artist helped me get ready for that day. She did my hair based on a Pinterest board I sent her.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
On the day of the wedding, time will fly by. Take a moment while you're getting ready with your friends/family and soak in all the emotions and appreciate all those who are surrounded by you.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
We wanted to incorporate our cat (Sterling) into our wedding so we included him in our cake topper as well as on our cocktail hour napkins (not pictured).
The jewelry and all outfits were imported from India, including outfits for Brian's (groom) family.
Every detail of Shikha and Brian's wedding at the breathtaking venue celebrated unity and festivity.
