Karishma and Sunny, Chicago
Surrounded by fuchsia and teal drapes along with a mesmerizing ethnic dance floor, this couple’s royal peacock themed Sangeet was a feast for the eyes.
With mutual friends playing cupid, Sunny Lamba and Karishma Mehta established an instant connection the first time they met. And, after a whirlwind love affair and a scenic proposal in Portugal, the duo decided to tie the knot in a series of colorful functions that celebrated both their cultures and their vivacious personalities.
How They Met
Karishma shares, “Sunny and I first met four years ago through mutual friends and we established an instant connection. And, on our first date, we had brunch, toured the New York Public Library, attended a Broadway show, devoured ice cream, and just enjoyed walking around the beautiful city of New York. Despite the fact that both of us lived in different cities and combated the distance, the journey to love was fairly easy for us as we were both passionate about a lot of things in common, the foremost being travel, and food! Additionally, both of us are ambitious individuals who revel in the entrepreneurial lifestyle.”
The Proposal
Recalling her surprise proposal, Karishma says, “We took a trip to Portugal to ring in the year 2020 and towards the end of our trip, we had an entire day to ourselves where we could freely roam around and take in the beauty of Azores. Suddenly, just as we were enjoying the scenery, Sunny decided that we should check out a cliff that had stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. At first, we were standing on opposite ends of the cliff, but then, Sunny came to me and led me to the middle where he got down on one knee. It was a magical moment as there was absolutely no one present and it was a moment that both of us exclusively shared with each other amidst Mother Nature! The next day, we flew back to Lisbon where Sunny had thoughtfully arranged for a photographer to take pictures of us all over the city as we enjoyed our newly engaged status.”
Wedding Planning
Karishma shares, “As a bridal vendor myself, I’ve been organizing Pinterest boards for quite a while. I had already created a board for all the functions including the makeup looks. Additionally, I also wanted each function to have its own unique theme. Having an intimate wedding due to COVID-19 really helped me focus on the details and allowed me to add my personal touches.”
Acknowledging the importance of having a reliable squad to orchestrate the wedding, the duo roped in photographers Soda Fountain Photography, videographers Paraagon Films, decorators Shaadi Creations, and caterers Ashyana Banquets along with YSDC Wedding Choreography.
Weddings Functions
Haldi
Karishma shares, “For the Haldi ceremony, the theme I had envisioned consisted of vibrant marigolds and bright yellow hues with lotuses surrounding me. Overall, it was a simple ceremony where everyone playfully slathered us with turmeric.”
Sangeet and Mehendi
“Following a royal peacock themed decor, the Sangeet/Mehendi was also a vibrant affair where my decor vendor took me by surprise by installing a floor decal that I had previously eyed but removed due to our limited budget. I was so excited to see it that I couldn’t stop twirling on it along with Sunny.”
Wedding
For the wedding, the duo decided to pay ode to both their cultures by having a Sikh and Gujarati wedding ceremony. Describing the respective ceremonies, Karishma shares, “For the Sikh wedding ceremony, we kept it absolutely traditional with a plethora of personalized items such as Sunny’s palla, my bangles that carried our names and wedding favors that consisted of coca-cola bottles that were also customized according to the guests.
For the Gujarati ceremony also, we stayed true to our traditions by following all the rituals. It was absolutely perfect!”
Advice for Couples
Sharing her experience of planning an Indian wedding overseas, Karishma shares, “It was a sheer miracle that we could wrap up our entire wedding successfully! Although we were initially apprehensive due to COVID-19, we got through by staying positive. We felt blessed that we were able to tie the knot surrounded by our loved ones and ensured that those who couldn’t attend were a part of the proceedings through a live stream. Although we did not intend to have a micro wedding, everything was perfect.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Venuti’s Italian Restaurant & Banquet Hall (Sangeet/Mehendi), Sikh Religious Society (Sikh Wedding), Ashyana Banquets (Gujarati Wedding)
Décor: Shaadi Creations
Caterers: Ashyana Banquets
Groom’s Outfits: Vivah Collections (Sikh Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Chandan Fashion (Wedding), Frontier Raas (Sikh Wedding)
Jewelry: Odhna Jewelry
Accessories: Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Makeup and Hairstyling: Dollhousechi
Mehendi: HennaCraze
Choreography: YSDC Wedding Choreography
Photography: Soda Fountain Photography
Videography: Paraagon Films
Coordinator: Dream Events by Sonya
