Navneet and Balwinder, California
Balwinder and Navneet's California wedding was resplendent with a rosy palette of pink, ivory and gold hues that charmed all.
California-based couple Navneet and Balwinder felt a strong connection at their first meeting. Little did they know that they would both tie the knot with each. Here, bride Navneet shares the story of their journey, picture-perfect proposal and wedding celebrations.
How We Met
“Balwinder and I both hail from Kerman City in California. We never knew each other until we crossed paths at a party. We were introduced to each other by mutual friends and hit it off immediately. I remember the following day I received a message from Balwinder on MySpace. Yes, that was the time MySpace was still around, and that’s where our conversations stretched from minutes to hours!”
Proposal
“Balwinder proposed marriage to me in the cutest way. We were in LA to celebrate his birthday and right before dinner he planned a visit to the LACMA Urban Lights. If only I knew to expect a surprise then! He had planned everything to perfection, from a professional photographer to capture the proposal to inviting my best friends who silently hid behind the bushes!”
Pre-Wedding Shoot
“A month before the wedding we had a pre-wedding shoot at Castello Di Amorosa Winery in Napa Valley. We wished for a rustic and vintage theme, and that’s what we got! From the serene backdrop to the talented photographers, everything was just perfect. I chose my outfit and jewellery from Evotique while Balwinder picked a custom-made Calvin Klein Suit for the shoot.”
Wedding Venues
“We needed a wedding venue that could accommodate a large guest count in our area, and thankfully, it was not very difficult to find. The Sikh Center of the Pacific Coast (Selma Gurudwara) stood out as the perfect location. For our reception, we chose the Clovis Veterans Memorial District.”
Wedding Planning
“My wedding was a treasured event of my life, and I always had a vision of how it would be. That’s why I did not hire a wedding planner. Deciding the kind of decor, lighting, menu, and music took months of planning. However, we had friends and family helping us even with the tiniest of details. Once our wedding date was fixed, I remember the first thing I did was contact Motion8Films for photography and videography. I just adore their expertise and creative work! For invitations, I wanted something unique and personalized and trusted SPORG Stores for the same. With remarkable caricatures of Balwinder and I on each insert, the invites impressed all.”
Wedding Functions
Mehndi
“Our wedding revelries started a week before the big day! The first function we hosted for close family and friends was the mehndi. It was an intimate affair hosted at my house. As for the henna, the remarkable portraits that you see on my hands in my photos were drawn with ease by the talented Divya Henna, also known as Prashanta.”
Wedding
“Our wedding took place on March 30, 2018, at the Sikh Gurudwara in Selma. I always wanted my wedding look to be nothing short of royalty and found my dream attire in the deep pink and silk Sabyasachi lehenga with embroidery which I paired with customized gold jewellery and a beaded ‘rani haar’ (long necklace). Coordinating with my outfit, Balwinder wore a dull gold sherwani with a deep pink turban and stole.”
Reception
“Following the wedding, we hosted a reception at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District. The white floral and golden decor exuded the elegance that I wanted. Going with the color palettes of the evening, I chose a pastel pink lehenga which Balwinder matched with a bow tie and a pocket square of the same color. To sum up the joyful event, it was all about fun, madness and a few humorous toasts from family and friends!”
Advice For Couples
“I think couples should not rush things up when planning their wedding. Make a timeline and cross things out to keep stress levels down. After all, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime moment; it’s important to make it a memorable one and not a stressful experience!”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Selma Gurudwara – Sikh Center of the Pacific Coast, California (Wedding), Clovis Veterans Memorial District, California (Reception)
Groom’s Outfit: Calvin Klein (Pre-wedding Shoot)
Bride’s Outfits: Evotique (Pre-wedding Shoot), Sabyasachi Mukherji (Wedding)
Jewellery: Evotique (Pre-wedding Shoot)
Makeup Artist: Glitz and Glamour Studio
Mehndi: Divya Henna
Wedding Invitations: SPORG Stores
Photography & Videography: Motion8Films
