We’re loving all the little, magical touches incorporated into Gunjan and Anish’s wedding celebration. We could tell that tons of planning was done by both the bride and groom. Gunjan told us, “Planning a wedding is a lot of time, patience and resilience. There will be moments when you want to break down and cry, and you ask yourself why go through the trouble of such a huge production? In the end, you realize that a wedding is the joining of two families and the obstacles you are challenged with during the planning process are meant to make your bonds stronger!” Such uplifting and true words! For her mehndi, this bubbly Maharani slipped into a strapless coral-red number that was breezy, elegant, and totally chic. The ambiance was also draped in hues of red by Dream Occasions, since the decor for each magnificent event matched this lovely bride’s outfits. We love this concept! Her mehndi was incredibly intricate and mesmerizing, applied by the talented hands of Heta. Next up is the dazzling ceremony soiree, which took place at the Hanuman Mandir. Wait until you catch a glimpse of Gunjan and Anish in their wedding finery. They looked like complete royalty! While you wait, peruse all the memories held in our full gallery shot flawlessly by Aiya Photography. And make sure to scroll below for our interview with Gunjan!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
On a random summer day back in June 2014, my adorable friend Anita (Anish's sister) messaged me from Chicago - she wanted to know if I would be open to meeting with her bhai, Anish and suggesting some fun places to visit in the Bay Area. Of course, being the social butterfly that I am… I accepted with a smile emoji and started jotting down suggestions for Anish.
Soon afterwards, Anish and I connected over the phone. Due to his hectic schedule, he was always in and out of town… he also happened to be in the process of moving back to Illinois (a small detail that I missed since he was in California so often). After paragraphs of texting back and forth, we finally met in downtown San Jose over a hot plate of chicken & waffles at a restaurant named Paper Plane. Little did we know that we would both absolutely LOVE this dish! And so our sindhjabi love story began!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We had a traditional Rokha engagement with both of our families present. There was beautiful red, pink and gold decor with tea candles lit across the floor leading up to a gorgeous golden jhoole (Indian bench swing). As I walked into the room, Anish was standing at the end of the aisle with a gorgeous rose gold and diamond engagement ring. I was swept off my feet by the man of my dreams.
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.
We relied on Google doc spreadsheets, phone calls, FaceTime and many many meetings to ensure we were on the same page with each other’s families and the vendors. I had to go through a few hair and makeup trials to test out the looks I wanted for my big day! I’m so glad we took our time with vendors because the little details were very important to us.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I did most of my shopping in Bombay and relied heavily on the designer stores. For my wedding lengha, I chose the traditional blood red with gold embroidery. My favorite colors are peach, orange and coral but red is a very auspicious color for Indians and I wanted to make sure I collected all of the positive vibes and karma I possible could! Red lenghas are very common so I searched far and wide so that I would stand out amongst all other beautiful brides.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Planning a wedding is a lot of time, patience and resilience... there will be moments when you want to break down and cry... and you ask yourself why go through the trouble of such a huge production? In the end, you realize that a wedding is the joining of two families and the obstacles you are challenged with during the planning process are meant to make your bonds stronger. Sometimes you come out whole, and sometimes you don't. Just keep in mind that you are marrying your best friend who will stick by you through thick and thin. Isn't it worth it?
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests loved the food and performances! We were so fortunate to have a Big Fat Indian Wedding with all of our family and friends from near and far!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The moment we began our slow dance and Anish locked eyes with me as we twirled… I felt like the most cherished and luckiest girl in the universe. Anish’s cousin sang an acoustic version of Latch by Sam Smith which made us feel like we were on cloud 9.
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.
Anish's father and his cousin sang very beautiful hindi and english songs during our events. Anish’s sister performed an amazing solo dance compiled with Anish’s favorite hindi songs growing up. Also, my siblings prepared an exceptional and heartwarming slideshow filled with childhood memories and videos of both Anish and myself. All of these gifts were especially meaningful to us since they were prepared with such love and dedication to our wedding day.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Be patient, understanding, resilient and kind… many woman have survived wedding planning AND marriage!
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Above all else, have fun! Your wedding only happens once.
Such great advice! Ceremony deets up next.
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