Good morning loves! I can't think of a better way to start the day than with Priyanka & Avanish celebrating their wedding! This lovely pair tied the knot in a lavish South Asian celebration at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. The wedding festivities began with a colorful and fun Mehndi party, where Priyanka got her hands and feet adorned with intricate henna designs by Bridal By Nisha. Avanish arrived on a horse for the Baraat, followed by a beautiful ceremony under a gorgeous mandap by Deepti's Florals Designs & Mandaps. Deepti Chandani is the talented artist behind the stunning floral designs and Mandaps, ensuring your event is unique. The wedding planner Events by Sep ensured everything went smoothly according to the couple's vision. The highlight of the evening was our gorgeous Priyanka, who looked like a princess in her beautiful lehenga by Herpret Couture, complemented by flawless hair and makeup by Drea V Makeup, Trang Do & Team, and Rose Ortega. The reception was glamorous, with elegant floral arrangements, sparkling chandeliers, and delicious food from Vishnu Catering and Dilliwala Indian Kitchen. Combining lighting, special effects, and great music makes every event unique. Fusion Sounds provided professional, talented DJ performers, professional MCs, and lighting production with a lighting technician that made this an epic party. The newlyweds danced the night away with their friends and family while Greycard Photography captured every precious moment of their special day. They did an incredible job! We are so happy for Priyanka & Avanish and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. So, do not forget to check out their full gallery for more inspiration and ideas. I am sure that you are going to enjoy it!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We were both living and working in New York City. After our first few dates, we realized as different as our personalities were, we had a lot in common despite growing up on different coasts of the United States. A date over tacos led to another date over dosas, and soon enough, we were spending all of our free time together.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Priyanka’s favorite place in New York City is the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center which has incredible views of Manhattan and Central Park. Considering our love story was based in New York, Avanish thought there couldn’t be a more perfect place to propose. Under the guise of celebrating his birthday, Avanish had Priyanka dress up for a “special dinner.” Around sunset, he took her to the restaurant on the 65th floor at Rockefeller Center, where he popped the question!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I actually ended up selecting my bridal outfits twice! Our wedding was originally planned for May 2020 but got delayed until October 2021 due to the pandemic. For the original wedding date, I traveled to India to shop with my mother. At that time, I picked out my bridal saris (you wear two saris during the ceremony for a traditional South Indian wedding) and my lehengas for my Sangeet and Reception. Although I loved the lehengas I originally selected, with time off during the pandemic, my style and taste changed, and I had a different vision for my wedding looks. Since travel to India was restricted, I luckily found a custom bridal designer in Connecticut: Herpret Couture. She worked with me to create unique and stunning pieces. I wanted my Sangeet look to be very colorful and represent the coming celebration ahead. I always wanted my reception look to “shine bright like a diamond” as the great Rihanna taught me. Thus, I opted for an all-gold lehenga with heavy, shiny beading.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Our wedding was a very special moment because it was delayed by the pandemic for almost 2 years. At that point, we had all been in lockdown for months and hadn’t seen close family or friends in what felt like forever. The most enjoyable part was the opportunity for everyone to come together after spending so much time apart. Throughout the wedding process, our family and friends connected over weekly zoom sessions for dance practice, which turned into virtual hangouts. We made new friends with all of our vendors, learning about their craft and experiencing their dedication firsthand as our wedding got delayed not once, not twice, but over three different dates! Our wedding made everyone involved closer than we anticipated, as we spent 2 years preparing and looking forward to our big day!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
After our wedding, the feedback we received was always centered around how everyone loved the diversity of food options we had for our guests. In the mornings, throughout our wedding weekend, we served different menus of traditional South Indian breakfast fare. For our Sangeet night, we chose to have individual stations with mixed cuisines of Indian, Mexican and Chinese dishes as well as fusion desserts (the churro rabri shots were a hit!). For lunch after our wedding, we did a traditional South Indian vegetarian meal. During the reception, we served a combination of North Indian hors d'oeuvres and non-vegetarian South Indian entrees. The showstopper was our dessert bar with a variety of mini desserts, which included cakes, mousses, and tarts. We also had fruit display with a smattering of chocolate-covered options.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
At the very end of our reception, the last song the DJ played was “Forever” by Chris Brown. Our friends and family cleared the dance floor so we could have our last dance. That moment is when the gravity of our wedding weekend hit. To be dancing, newly married, surrounded by family and friends was a rare magical moment. We felt so lucky, loved, and thankful. Toward the end of the song, everyone joined in for a massive hug. It was the perfect way to end an incredible wedding weekend.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s okay if every detail isn’t perfect! Also, to my future brides, please EAT! If you can, try to find some time, even for 5 minutes, to eat! You’ll need a lot of energy to survive the wedding festivities, so it will make a big difference if you fuel yourself! You've spent months planning these menus. It would be a shame if you didn't try the amazing food you picked out!
What a lovely wedding! Sweeties, see you tomorrow for more tips and stories. Same place, same time!
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