Modern Indian Weddings

By Mihir Thakkar and Sachi Sood

Are you ready and excited to start designing your wedding?

Keep this in mind: the most important thing is to enjoy this wonderful process. This is an exciting beginning of a wonderful life. Your wedding week is a celebration, so let's make planning it a celebration as well by incorporating the things you cherish the most. Let's make your big day uniquely yours so it leaves behind cherished memories.

As you begin planning, take it easy and go chapter by chapter. Start formulating your own ideas of what your wedding will be. The key is never to become overwhelmed. We love the idea of having an inspiration board to keep track of your wedding ideas so you can share them with your decorator, florist, or planner.

Most importantly, give yourself some time off occasionally from planning. That will help you be relaxed and refreshed and see things with a clearer view. Trust your vendors to handle the details. You'll be married and riding into the sunset before you know it.

In the meantime, you have some planning to do. Cheers!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504905350

Mihir Thakkar

About Sachi Sood Sachi Sood, along with her mother, is the owner of one of the oldest South Asian event decor companies in the New Jersey and Washington, DC, areas, Partyland Event Boutique. A former television executive and experienced graphic designer, Sachi knows how to make a lasting impression when it comes to weddings. Her multicultural upbringing in the US, England, and India gives her a unique perspective on wedding decor. Her vibrant, colorful visions occur when east meets west. Sachi lives with her four-pound papillon named Coco. She can be reached at [e-mail] or www.partylandboutique.com. About Mihir Thakkar Mihir Thakkar is the CEO of a leading event decorating company based out of New Jersey and New York City called Abhishek Decorators. The product of a New York City upbringing, and being of South Asian decent, Mihir has the ability to design by breaking cultural barriers and design boundaries. His strong business acumen and his innate sense of style make him an integral part of weddings of all ethnicity and cultures. Mihir can be reached at [e-mail]. About the Writer V. J. Kovacs is a bestselling ghostwriter with an impressive array of works: fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, devotionals, memoirs, and hundreds of video scripts. Among her biggest achievements are the Little Bible Heroes series and The Vicar’s Wife: A Tale Retold. She lives in Texas and can be reached through her website: www.themagnificentpen.com.

Book preview

Thank You

We would like to thank the following people:

Sachi’s mother and business partner, Sunita Sood, for bestowing upon her such an amazing gift.

Mihir’s mother Bhavana Thakkar and his father Prakash Thakkar for instilling values, wisdom,

and the courage to be a young entrepreneur.

Sachi’s grandmother Sawraj Sood for her everlasting inspiration.

Mihir’s sister Payal Thakkar for her constant support and care.

Sachi’s brother Ankur Sood and Cassandra Ramdath, for their considerate humor and wise words.

Sachi’s sisters Anugya and Bhumika Sood for sisterhood and their comradery.

Sachi’s cousins Puja Bhatt, Arti Anand and Neha Singhal for their frienship and their optimism.

Shanti Parsad, Sulekha Parsad, Anu Sood, and Rajiv Sood for being our hands and eyes in India.

Sanju Puri, Sanjay Puri, Rita Mohindera, and Surinder Mohindera; for their encouragement.

Atonn Muhammad, Ateet Ahuja, Crystal Hovermale, Ed Broussard, Nita Sood,

Paresh Patel, Trisha Cranor, and Umbreen Kazmi for their championship.

A special thanks to Katya Shterenberg of StoryMotion Studios who has gone above and beyond.

along with Pathik Patel and Babar Romail for their wonders in design and photography.

All the wonderful photographers from Washington D.C., New York, and New Jersey

who helped us in creating this book:

AVS Studios, Agie Photography, Chris Baltazar Photography, Charlie Shin Photography,

Charmi Pene Photography, Darling Photographers, Eli Turner Photography, Erum Rizvi Photography,

Falik Photography, Glenn Fajota Photography, Jenn Link Photography, Kat Braman Photography,

Keith Cephus Photography, Image N Motion Studio L Hewitt Photography, Matt Mendelsohn Photography,

Mohaimen Kazi Photography, Midnight Chai Photography, Nat Wongsaroj Photography, Nika Photos,

Paresh Video, Photographick Studios, Peter Bang Photography, Ralph Alswang Photography,

StoryMotion Studios, Tara Sharma Photography, and Timmester Photography.

Our former brides: Deepika, Ekta, Heidi, Kavita, Kirti, Lisa, Mehan, Rabiya,

Reena, Reema, Rimi, Rupa, Sarika, Sharron and Yaminee.

Vijay, Nila, and Dhrumil Sejpal for sending us the most beautiful things.

Victoria Kovacs for using her talent by writing the words we have thought and spoken.

Abhishek, Ali, Carolina, Christina, Gopi, Isha, Kelly, Lei, Liji, Nitoya, Sakshi, Sylvia, Sujit,

and Thomas for years of wedding chats.

Our decor teams at Partyland Event Boutique & Abhishek Decorators.

But most of all, we would like to thank all the beautiful brides who have trusted in us on their wedding day.

Dear Reader

Every wedding in this book has been passionately

designed and decorated by our teams and us at

Partyland Event Boutique and Abhishek Decorators.

- Sachi Sood & Mihir Thakkar

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Content

PRELUDE TO A KISS

Before You Say ‘I Do’

SIZE MATTERS

Budget & Event Size

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Location & Floor Plan

VARIATIONS ON DESIGN

Style, Ambiance, & Theme

COLOR PALETTE

The Importance of Color

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Gates, Aisles, & Other Decor

ILLUMINATIONS

Shedding Light on the Subject

FLORAL FANTASY

Garlands, Bouquets & Designs

SET THE STAGE

Ceremony Epicenter

RECEPTION TO REMEMBER

Stage, Lounges, & Lighting

CENTERPIECE & TABLE TALK

Linens, Tableware & Centerpieces

FUSION WEDDINGS

Multicultural Weddings

PRE-WEDDING EVENTS

Mehndi, Sangeet, Garba & Haldi

THE END & THE BEGINNING

Wedding Day Bliss

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prelude to a kiss

…three words: details, details, details

shaadi!

It’s time for a wedding, one of the most important, stressful, amazing, exciting events in any person’s life. Let’s admit it: we usually start dreaming about our wedding day at a young age. Through the years, we collect ideas, keeping some and discarding others when the next stylish wedding comes along to inspire us. Favorite color choices for flowers and bridesmaids’ clothes come and go, the location of the ceremony changes, but the idea of being surrounded by family and friends does not. It’s little wonder that when the right person finally pops the question, one already has many details of their wedding planned.

Putting a plan into action is another story. Gone are the days of dreaming about the wedding. Now it’s the time to roll up your sleeves and make it happen, and there’s so much work to do. Save-the-date notifications, an engagement session, invitations, the wedding ensemble, the going-away outfits, bridesmaids‘ dresses, tuxedos, a caterer, a decorator, a photographer, a videographer, a wedding cake, the groom‘s cake, limo rental, a deejay, and all the honeymoon travel arrangements must be taken care of. Even if a wedding planner is used, designing your wedding is personal.

But those things are just the nuts and bolts, the framework of a wedding. You must consider what goes over the frame to make a complete structure. Every building has walls, but what we use to decorate those walls makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary, between something that’s simply pretty and something that’s absolutely beautiful and full of fabulous, memorable details.

"What’s the secret to a memorable wedding?

Three words: DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS."

- Sachi Sood

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(right) Details are the key to any good decor. Having nice stem ware, personalized table numbers, or matching pillows provide wonderful personal touches that showcase the couple.

Now see the dozens or even hundreds of guests immersed in the beauty, wonder, and joy of this fantasy world; a place that’s a unique reflection of you and your fiance.

No matter what faith and nationality you belong to; two constants remain in a wedding the significance of the ceremony in your life and the desire to celebrate the occasion.

"An event starts with imagination. I believe that’s the key to an extraordinary,

never before seen event. Let your imagination run wild"

- Sachi Sood

How do we know all this? Partyland Event Boutique is an event decor company that was initially founded by Sunita Sood in 1982. As of 2005 her daughter Sachi Sood has directed the design department in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Each day, Sachi brings to her job training as a graphic designer and a lifetime of preparation by her mother who has been in the wedding business for over 30 years. Sachi’s mother’s experience serves as a foundation for her innovative vision that pushes the boundaries of creativity, making each wedding she designs one of a kind.

Abhishek Decorators, is an event decor company that is a pioneer in South Asian event decor in New Jersey, and was founded in