Anusha Balaji and Deek Velagandula, Calamigos Ranch, Malibu

After their memorable proposal trip in Malibu, Anusha and Deek returned to say “I do” with a dreamy destination wedding, an intimate getaway at the exotic Calamigos Ranch with their friends and family. Watch it unfold below.

How they met
Anusha Balaji, a Strategic Partnerships Manager at a tech startup focused on home health, and Venture Capitalist Deek Velagandula met on the first day of college at Northwestern University in 2009. She shares, “We lived 5 doors down from each other’s dorm rooms, and were friends by virtue of being in the same social circles. We were best friends by the end of college, becoming one another’s confidante and pillar of support through both professional and personal changes, a relationship we maintained well into our post-college life in Chicago. While we eventually moved and had different lives in different cities, with me being in Philadelphia and Deek shuttling between NYC and LA, our connection remained strong as ever! Following a few back-to-back visits a decade later, I realized that what I felt for Deek was more than just friendly or brotherly affection as I had always construed it to be. An impulsive text and a surprising turn of events we had our first official date in March 2019. Over the years, many people -loved ones and strangers alike, have commented on how lucky we are to have found a life partner through friendship, and I couldn’t agree more. With Deek, I feel the most seen and accepted than I have ever felt in my entire life, and funnily enough, he has made me feel that way since I was 18 years old!”

The Proposal
“I had always said I wanted to be proposed to by the water, as it’s where I feel the most calm and at peace. He was talking about this beach day so much, I just knew he was planning to pop the question! The actual proposal was a blur, and even though I was expecting it, I was crying from the second he started talking. It was the perfect Malibu day – smooth waves, a shining sun, and the calm lull of people laughing and loving on the beach.”

She continues, “I had said to Deek, entirely unpromoted just 2 weeks before the proposal ‘You know what I would love? I would like for us to celebrate our engagement in a house up in the hills with all our closest friends. I would completely love that because it’s so us’. I remember he stared at me for a full 10 seconds before responding, as this was in fact, exactly what he had been planning for the past few months as the big surprise reveal after the proposal. He truly knows me, and I feel incredibly lucky to be marrying my best friend”.

Wedding Planning
“The moment we started planning the wedding, I was clear the venue was Calamigos Ranch or nothing. I had always envisioned having an outdoor ceremony in a space that felt as though you were transported into a secret, magical forest, and with abundant natural beauty, the Calamigos Ranch in Malibu was the perfect place.

We worked with A Panache Affair to plan every detail of our wedding. From my very first conversation with Shveta, I knew that she was the right partner for helping us manifest our dreams for this milestone event. Her discernible energy, kindness, and approachability were the qualities that sealed the deal for me. The added layers of experience and professionalism were simply icing on the cake! Deek and I loved working with Shveta and the team of A Panache Affair. We felt heard as they were quick to respond and very commitment oriented – when they said they would have something done, it was done! My trust in Shveta was fostered quickly, particularly as I had a long-standing vision for our wedding and was not necessarily looking for someone to lead with ideas. I was looking for a partner in executing that vision and guiding it with recommendations that amplified rather than changed. Shveta consistently demonstrated an ability to think creatively, be efficient, and above all, stay true to our desires and wants, providing candid feedback when she had differing thoughts. As two business professionals, we and our families deeply appreciated her transparency, proactiveness, and thoughtfulness!”

Wedding Functions
Haldi
Set against the idyllic background of lush trees, the haldi decor lit up in orange tones for a gorgeous sunny contrast. Traditional marigolds were combined with earthen pots and foliage in an eclectic arrangement of wooden triangles making for a simple yet stunning look. Imbibing the tradition of wearing yellow with her chic personal style, the bride wore a modern saree with peachy tones while the groom matched her with a silk kurta and embroidered jacket.

Sangeet
Inspired by the tones and intricacies of the bride’s artistic pastel lehenga, the Sangeet decor transformed the verdant space into a whimsical wonderland. Roses, pampas grass, and more added soft romantic hues along with touches of lavender and orange for a dreamy feel, completed with soft drapes, elegant dining setups, candles, and more. The Sangeet was imagined with a casual, lounge-like ambiance with sitting areas around the main dance floor so the guests could move around and mingle freely for a relaxing night of music and dance.

Wedding
Anusha shares, “I had always wanted an outdoor wedding ceremony, and the huge tree at Calamigos Ranch as a focal point, the enveloping lushness all around, was a dream come true. With no boxed structure, we kept the mandap as organic and open as possible with pillars of roses and leaves leading up to the tree, as the cascading branches and leaves of the tree hung above us, along with strings of delicate flowers. The aisle was also lined with flowers and pampas, and filled with petals for a truly enchanting ambiance. The soft neutral hues aligned beautifully with the serene, natural feel of the occasion while allowing our red outfits to pop! Being the romantic that I am, my surprise for the ceremony was an audio note that I had recorded for Deek, which played as I walked down the aisle with my parents. It was a beautiful and emotional moment for both of us, not to mention our friends who have been waiting for our love story to manifest since we were 18.”

Reception
The couple wanted to follow up their dreamy garden wedding with a dose of glitz, glam, and disco magic. Imagined as a ‘tropical club night’, the Reception saw the exotic decor of flowers, foliage, disco balls, and more. Inspired by Deek’s love of dance music, they recreated an EDM concert vibe. The seating arrangement display was a large wall of records with each one being a table assignment. The guests were also given shawls to stay warm as they enjoyed and danced the night away. Anusha shares, “I have to give a special shout-out to our planner Shveta and her team who were fully responsible for the “flipping” of the reception from being outdoors to being indoors with the last-minute rains. I honestly just showed up to the party not knowing what to expect given the last-minute changes, and I cried upon seeing it, from adrenaline, relief, and above all, gratitude to our amazing planning team”.

Advice for couples
“Lock in a planner who aligns with your working style, since you’re going to be very engaged with this person/ team for a long period. The key piece of advice I would highlight is to set expectations around the qualities in a planner you’re looking for, both together as a couple and externally when you’re speaking with different candidates. I also recommend having some sense of themes for your different events, as this makes the planning/ideating process easier. Pinterest and Instagram are excellent research tools – just put in the time!

And finally, enjoy the process! Planning a wedding is sure to feel overwhelming at some point or another, given the scale of South Asian weddings. Keep in mind that at the end of the day, a wedding is, at its core, about celebrating your love and commitment to one another as a couple with people who love you both. All other details, from design to decor to outfits, are just that – details.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Calamigos Ranch, Malibu
Wedding Planner: A Panache Affair
Groom’s Outfits: Telon (Haldi, Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding), Enzo Custom Beverly Hills (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Tarun Tahiliani (Mehndi), Ritu Kumar (Haldi), Aisha Rao (Wedding), Panache by Sharmeen (Reception)

Related Articles: