Jasmin and Vivek, California
With sweeping views of nature, a grand domed mandap and social distancing, this couple’s micro wedding was high on style and safety.
A chance encounter kickstarted Jasmin and Vivek’s love story which then led to a micro-wedding that gave equal priority to safety as well as style. Hosted under the bright Californian sun, their nuptials were a challenge to plan, keeping the ongoing pandemic in mind, but in the end, the couple made it all come together with sheer determination and impeccable choices.
How They Met
Jasmin and Vivek first met through a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Chicago where they forged an instant connection. Following this fateful meeting, they both spent the weekend talking to each other and found comfort in each other’s company as they shared anecdotes about their life. Slowly and steadily after daily conversations, their friendship blossomed into love.
The Proposal
For the duo who worked as resident physicians in New York, the big challenge when it came to planning the proposal was to co-ordinate with friends and family. However, Vivek pulled out all stops and planned a surprise sunset proposal for Jasmin at a park where they would often enjoy long walks. With family members looking on secretly from a distance, Vivek proposed to Jasmin on a park bench decorated red roses, candles, pictures overlooking the Los Angeles skyline.
Wedding Planning
Taking the wise course of action, Vivek and Jasmin started planning ahead for their grand wedding over nine months in advance with a long guest list of 300. But as the pandemic spread to the farthest corners of the globe, the couple’s well-laid plans were thrown into chaos. However, the couple decided to take things in stride and created a plan that would consist of no more than 50 guests to keep everyone safe. Finally, the duo zeroed in on The Resort at Pelican Hill as it followed strict COVID-19 guidelines and started working towards executing the wedding within a short six-week timeline!
The couple shares, “We worked on an extremely tight timeline to execute our micro-wedding but it all worked out beautifully! During these hectic times, WeddingSutra was a constant source of inspiration for us.”
Weddings Functions
Mehndi
To give their nuptials a safe start the couple decided to host a colorful poolside mehndi at the bride’s home. Aiming for an intimate as well as safe atmosphere, a hot pink and orange color palette was chosen with individual tables set up for each family. Furthermore, masks and hand sanitizers were provided to each guest as preventive measures.
Wedding
A small and intimate wedding ceremony that was big on joy, Jasmin and Vivek tied the knot amidst their loved ones despite the distance. Broadcasted live on YouTube, all their family members watched and commented together as the couple tied the knot while the boisterous baraat was streamed on Instagram live.
As for the decor, the duo decided to keep things simple yet elegant with a light pink and beige color palette. And, to enjoy the gorgeous view while keeping safety a priority, their wedding was celebrated entirely outdoors with guests being provided with a fixed seating chart. Social distancing norms were thoroughly followed with each guest seated six feet apart with masks and hand sanitizers close by.
Advice For Couples
The couple advises, “For us, safety was the number one priority as we got married during the pandemic. It’s essential when you’re planning a wedding during such times that every norm is followed from social distancing, masks to outdoor functions. From what we experienced, a small and intimate wedding can be just as memorable as a grand wedding with a long guestlist. The key is to support each other and have clarity on your vision. And while it wasn’t exactly what we imagined, it was actually, everything we wanted.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach
Wedding Planner: Pree Events
Décor: Deepti Chandani (Mehndi), Synx events (Wedding)
Florist: Flower Allie
Groom’s Outfits: Sarab Khanijou (Mehndi), Manyavar (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Seema Gujral (Mehndi), Neeta Lulla (Wedding)
Makeup and Hairstyling: Drea V Makeup (Mehndi), Dolled Up By Lulu (Wedding)
Mehndi: Henna by Tulsi
Photography: Greycard Photography
Videography: Avec Lumière Productions
