In the heart of summer, under the glowing sun, Nafisa & Rizwan vowed to spend their lifetimes together, surrounded by the elegant charms of the Hilton Costa Mesa. Orchestrated beautifully by Events By Tejal, every moment of their special day was a breathtaking affair that seemed like it had leaped straight from the pages of a romantic novel. Chez Rose Floral Design transformed the venue into a garden of dreams with lush, vibrant blooms that cascaded around every corner, creating a picturesque backdrop that was nothing short of magical. As the day unfolded, Nafisa, adorned with exquisite Mehndi designs by Artistry by Ayesha, looked radiant, her beauty enhanced by the meticulous artistry of Artistry By Denise. Iffa's Images captured each smile and loving glance flawlessly, ensuring that the sweet memories of their joyous union would be cherished forever. As you gaze upon the stunning images and details from Nafisa & Rizwan's wedding, allow yourself to be transported into their story of eternal love and celebration. We invite all our darlings to revel in the romance and elegance of their day, reminding each of you of the magic of true love. Enjoy their story!
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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
My husband and I met on a dating app (Hinge). He thought of me as "the one" sooner than I did. I needed a little bit more time to be convinced. My husband is the embodiment of "slow and steady wins the race." Over time, I learned more about his caring nature and his willingness to always be there for me, no matter the circumstances. I was in the process of moving across the country for my career when I met him. In traditional Desi culture, it is always expected for women to move for a man in furtherance of their life goals. But my husband surprised me by his willingness to move with me in pursuit of my dreams.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We both come from very traditional Muslim families, so when we first met, I laid out the expectation that if we were to continue our relationship, I wanted it to be serious and in the path for marriage. My husband didn't propose to me in the traditional sense, but very early in our relationship he made me a promise that his birthday present to me would be to make us a "forever thing."
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.
I was always the bridesmaid and never the bride. But I was always obsessed with fairytales and romance. I loved Disney movies and rom coms. This laid out inspiration for all of my wedding event themes. In the end I had 17 bridesmaids and each of my wedding events were centered around a different Disney movie.
Engagement - The Little Mermaid
Bridal Shower - Hercules
Sangeet - Tangled
Legal Wedding Ceremony - Snow White
Mehndi - Aladdin
Nikkah - Beauty and the Beast
Reception - Cinderella
I had the privilege of working with some amazing vendors in the Southern California area who brought my fairytale to life. Some of these vendors include Events by Tejal, Artistry by Denise, Iffatara's Images, AlanVPhotos, Frontier Heritage, Binno Jewels, Vitha Fashions, Sonu Company, Chez Florals, Patty's Cake, and Verdant Productions.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
My sister, who got married before me, got her bridal lengha at Fronteir Heritage in Artesia, CA. We really liked working with their designers and team. We wanted to go back to their store for my lengha because I knew I could trust their team. I wanted each of my wedding outfits, but especially my bridal lengha to match the theme. I wanted this dress to look like Cinderella's classic ball gown. The color of course, is a little harder to pin down. My mom ultimately helped me choose the color. No one knows what looks best on you like your mom. She had a vision even before I met my husband that I should get married in silver because she believed it would look the best on me. I tried on some pale blue and white dresses as well, but ultimately chose silver at the end.
My in-laws chose and gifted my Nikkah saree, and since my reception look was going to be more modern, I wanted a classic South Indian look for the Nikkah. I still wanted the outfit to be on theme so we went with mostly yellow gold for the base of the saree. I felt that the look was still very traditional with a unique twist.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I loved coming up with inspiration images and I spent hours scrolling Pinterest and re-watching my favorite movies. I always knew that I would probably end up theming my wedding events this way, so I had a very clear vision of what I wanted before I even got engaged.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think they really like how dedicated I was to a theme. Each event was a unique experience with a unique color scheme and elements from the movie.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I knew I wanted to do something really different for our grand exit at our reception. In the Cinderella movie, there is a scene where she is in a room filled with bubbles. I used bubble machines and had our guests blow bubbles for our grand exit. I also loved taking pictures at the Sherman Library and Gardens at Corona Del Mar prior to our reception. The atmosphere created a wonderful, dreamy feeling.
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.
Our families and friends played a huge role in helping turn our dreams into reality. They were with us for every step of the planning process. I can be a bit stubborn, but it really helped to have feedback. My husband was also very involved with the planning process. He was happy to let me have my Disney themed weddings, but he added a lot of touches that reflected his passions as well. He likes classic movies and his reception outfit was inspired by Casa Blanca. He is an avid golf lover, and at our Aladdin-themed Mehndi, we had a mini golf game set up for the guests with little characters from the movie at each of the holes. Infusing his interests into our wedding made the wedding feel very unique and special to us. I can confidently say that we gave our guests a very distinctive experience.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I am actually a very indecisive person, so if I didn't have such clear themes, it would have been really hard for me to choose a theme or color palette for all of my wedding events. I may have even had regrets about what I chose. I think having a clear direction helps with choices.
I would also say that brides should always buy backups of anything they order online, especially for things like jewelry. And especially if these items are being shipped from overseas.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
From my own wedding experience plus those of others close to me, no one really eats cake at a desi wedding and there is often a lot leftover when guests have the option to choose between different desserts. We got sheet cake for our guests and had a special custom smaller cake for us to cut. My husband and I both love cake and this way we had a cake flavor we knew we were really going to enjoy, while being able to serve more of a safer crowd favorite to our guests.
We hope this enchanting celebration inspires you to craft a unique day as special as their love story.
