This long-distance couple, Nashville to New York, is what great teams are made of. Seamlessly navigating the pandemic, Soha and Sandeep, sat down to nightly wedding meetings to go over lists upon lists. They tackled planning this wedding in only 8 short weeks, and learned together they are ready for anything life throws their way.
The iconic Breaker Hotel set the stage for the glorious event. Their Mehndi and Sangeet were smaller-scale events at the bride's home. The ceremony was bursting with color. Bold flowers, the Breakers magically ocean setting, and a mandap dripping with flowers was the perfect setting to exchange vows. But, when it came to the reception they wanted a different feel. The Breakers' historical setting of old-world romance inspired the couple to choose pastel-colored flowers, lighted candles and created an elegance not only in the decor but in the aurora of the celebration as well.
Personal touches were added everywhere. Shawls, coordinated masks, and hand sanitizer were individually passed out at the outside wedding ceremony. While the reception was filled with details like table names originating from places they had traveled to and a live stream for 200 of their closest family and friends who were unable to attend due to COVID-19 pandemic and attended virtually.
A true Maharani bride, Soha asked Designs by Andrea to press her bouquet in order to ensure its preservation.
“Ultimately, the day is about you and your partner. No one will ever know if there was a flower missing or if the timing of the music was off during your first dance. Your loved ones are there for you both, and you both only.”
Congratulations Soha & Sandeep!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We met the old-fashioned way - virtually. After 1.5 years of a long-distance relationship (New York - Nashville), everyone's world changed forever with COVID-19 in early 2020. We were fortunate enough to be together and quarantine during a global pandemic while living in Nashville, Tennessee.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The best part of the planning process was doing it with my then fiancé, Sandeep. Incredibly, as a team, we were able to plan our entire Wedding together in less than 8 weeks during a global pandemic. Every evening, we had "meetings" to go over all the "to-do's." I knew that if we worked this well together as a team to plan such an important event in our lives, we could tackle any and all challenges in our lives.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests constantly told us how personal the Wedding felt for each of them. They were greeted with personalized name plates at their individualized table seating. At the reception, we walked around to each table and individually introduced each guest and our relationship to each person.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The most special moment for me was walking down the aisle. Having my parents with me as I looked out into the crowd of the most important people in our lives - there are no words to describe how thankful I was to have such an incredible group of loved ones. Then approaching my soon-to-be husband was one of the best moments of my life.
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.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to keep our events small and personal. We held the mehndi at my parent's house with a few family members and friends. What would have been our Sangeet was an Indian dinner (also at my parent's house) for our guests the night before the Wedding. We wanted our reception to have a "romantic" feel to it with many pastel colored flowers (different from our Wedding which had very bright and bold flowers), lighted candles, and overall elegance. We held it in the Gold Room at The Breakers which just further enhanced our vision. Our first dance was to "Love Me Like You Do" by Boyce Avenue. Each guest was assigned a seat and greeted with a personalized name plate. The first course arrived on an "S&S" ice sculpture. The last course was a personalized ice cream sundae accompanied by confetti and champagne wedding cake. We also had special entertainment in the form of an electric violinist, which further enhanced the great music that was playing.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
"Don't sweat the small stuff." Ultimately, the day is about you and your partner. No one will ever know if there was a flower missing or if the timing of the music was off during your first dance. Your loved ones are there for you both, and you both only.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Other information:
- Livestream was provided to many of our closest family and friends who were unable to attend due to COVID-19 pandemic. Over 200 virtual guests "attended" the wedding and reception.
- Shawls, personalized masks, and hand sanitizer were individually passed out at the outside wedding ceremony. Mango lassi was served upon entry to the wedding ceremony.
- Please see program and reception menu cards for specific details
- Reception table names originated from places we traveled to
- Designs by Andrea - After the wedding, I pressed my bouquet in order to ensure its preservation.
