Greetings, loves! Prepare to be spellbound by Devika & Bill's enchanting nuptial celebration, where love knew no boundaries and traditions danced harmoniously hand in hand. Set amidst the ethereal Morton Arboretum, this union was a radiant blend of vibrant Indian roots and American essence. Mandelette Photography worked magic to capture every stolen glance, infectious laughter, and cherished moment. Sarah Kathleen Events orchestrated a day that was nothing short of perfection. Devika's radiant smile, accentuated by the masterful touches of theFACE PRO, was truly the star of the day. Town and Country Gardens unfurled a canvas of breathtaking floral designs, and Satin Chair added that touch of luxury with their exquisite decor. A feast for both the eyes and the palate was meticulously laid out by Ashyana Banquets, reminding everyone that love tastes as good as it feels. Their unique blend was even more heartwarming, with beats curated by DJ Sherlockca. Each track was a tribute to the couple's shared dreams. You will love today's gallery!
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How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
Bill and I met on New Year's Eve in 2016 through mutual friends. I knew he was the one, and somehow, he knew as well! I had just moved back from Dallas a week ago. It was an instant connection, and we felt the love right away.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Bill proposed to me in the most romantic way. After a long week vacationing in Barcelona, he proposed on a sunset cruise on one of the final nights. After sailing out for some time, the boat turned around to head back with a view of the entire city. We went up to the bow for a picture, but instead, Bill secretly set it on video and asked them to keep recording when he popped out the ring box! A video we will never forget of our proposal on the Mediterranean, looking back at the beautiful city and sunset.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair and makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We were fortunate to have an extended timeline to plan the wedding and all events. It allowed us to slowly start putting together the outline of events and styles as we searched for the right venue. We were thrilled to be one of the very first weddings at the new Grand Garden of the Morton Arboretum; when we first saw the sight, it was still newly under construction and was just a pile of dirt! But the beautiful renditions they had made us confident it would be perfect - which it definitely was. All of our vendors were super amazing and more than helpful throughout the process. This includes our photographer, who was very generous with her time and went above and beyond to make our engagement photos exactly what we had dreamed of. We were also lucky to have had a trip to India pre-planned for a cousin's wedding, which allowed us to source the perfect outfits for ourselves and the bridal party. We loved shopping at Pernia's Pop Up, Manyavar, Frontier Raas, and so many others throughout Delhi and Kolkata.
Our vendors are listed below:
Make-up vendor: The FacePro
Photography by Rachel Mandelette
Town and Country Event: Jamie Lea Power
Sarah Kathleen Events: Jessica Anderson-Gonzalez
Wedding Dress: Frontier Raas, Delhi
Reception Dress: Bri'Zan Couture, Naperville
Cake: DeEtta's, Naperville
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
We knew we were going to shop in India for the lengha, so we picked out several stores ahead of time that we would visit. After spending the day at several shops for both the lengha and sherwani, we stopped at Frontier Raas and found my wedding lengha at first glance. I was looking for a pastel mix of peach and blues, and the lengha I found was perfect.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was looking for a venue with our parents. It was fun envisioning our big day at each location and making a day out of stopping at several different venues. A close second was outfit shopping because we had a blended wedding; this was the first time my now husband could experience India while we were shopping.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
A lot of guests have told us the beautiful outdoor venue at Morton Venue was their highlight. They did such a fantastic job creating the Grand Garden, and the weather on the big day could not have been more perfect. That, along with the incredible view looking out at the lake from our reception, they were stunned by the beautiful scenery the entire day.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking down the aisle and seeing my family and friend's reactions have been one of my highlights. Looking out at everyone from up on the Mandap after the ceremony filled us both with such happiness and love. As we walked down, we felt that from each and every single one of our guests.
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.
We had a 4 day-long event, which included a Haldi, Sangeet, and Rehearsal Dinner in the days preceding the ceremony. Our Haldi was traditional colors of yellow, orange, and red at my parent's house with all of our friends and family. Our sangeet was brightly styled with pink and orange colors. We had heartfelt speeches, live musical performances, and many dances, including a lungi dance performed by the groom and a version of Jhoome Jo Pathaan by the bride and groom. The rehearsal dinner was a smaller event with close friends and family where we got to relive the first two days' events and share stories and words of love for one another. It was held at a former mansion that is now a tapas restaurant, which was special for us as a callback to our engagement in Barcelona.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy every moment from the days of planning and practicing all the way through the wedding. It goes by very fast, and you will want to cherish the little things!
Thanks for being with us today, and don't forget to be back for our daily and lovely updates here!
