Gaganpreet and Akaash

Dancing couple Akaash and Gaganpreet brought their talents and unique personalities to their mesmerizing Mexico wedding. From fantastic themed functions and spectacular performances to an enthralling baraat entry that would have you on the edge of your seat, their celebrations were inspiration galore. The bride shares a glimpse into their unforgettable moments below.

How they met
The bride shares, “Akaash and I met in 2011 at Northeastern University in Boston, in the Northeastern Bhangra dance team, with him eventually becoming my captain a few months later. We became good friends, and eventually co-captains. Things changed however when he graduated and invited everyone for a party to California. Despite being hesitant, living on the opposite coast, and already having prior travel plans, I decided to go. It was on my return flight, that I felt the pangs of emotions, and texted him my feelings. On landing, when I nervously switched on my phone, I was delighted to see that he felt the same way. Frequent conversation evolved into love and a long distance relationship for 3 years.”

The Proposal
A year after the two finally came out of their long distance relationship, Akaash popped the question in the most detailed, exciting way! “We were at Universal Studios celebrating my mother’s birthday with a tour that Akaash had surprised us with. Little did I know my entire family was in on it, and there was so much to unfold that day. Clueless about anything, my mother convinced me and everyone else to dress up for dinner at The Three Broomsticks, which felt odd to me. To throw me off the track, my sister-in-law took me to chase after a celebrity she saw, and as we turned into Harry Potter World, I did a double take, as we ran into Akaash! I was taken aback, as he had said he was too busy to come with us. In a blur of events, He narrated some Harry Potter dialogue and handed me a wand as my brother put a robe on me, and I was asked to cast a spell. After I did it, Akaash turned me around to see my family, his family, all of his cousins, aunts and uncles, our dance friends, and most surprisingly, my best friends from middle school, high school and college! Everyone had flown out to LA to surprise me, and I was absolutely floored. As I stood their reeling from the surprise, Akaash went down on one knee and proposed, to which I of course said yes! We continued the magical night with the Harry Potter night light show, drinks in a private room at the Three Broomsticks, dancing the night away with my family and friends in Los Angeles, and ending the night with street tacos.

Wedding Planning
The wedding was planned to perfection by Palms Weddings and Events and executed by Del Cabo Weddings. The moments were captured in candid beauty by Zohaib Ali Photography. For their functions with distinctive theme vibes, the couple donned a splendid selection of high fashion couture from various designer labels.

Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The bride shares, “While our guests checked in, I had my mehndi done to relax and unwind by myself for a while before the festivities. In the most tranquil setting possible, my artist dyed my hands with henna as we sat on a swing hanging on top of a pool. The experience was surreal.”

Welcome Dinner
The welcome dinner event was inspired by the rustic beauty of Mexico, creating an intimate, memorable night for the couple’s close friends and family. Being one of the first events hosted at the venue, the start of the night saw some technical issues, which was saved by an impromptu and epic game of Antakshari. The bride and groom looked breathtaking in high fashion, eclectic pieces by Shivan and Narresh.

Haldi
The next day commenced with a cheerful, sunny haldi ceremony. The couple’s friends and family surrounded them as they doused them in turmeric paste amidst a whole lot of love and laughter.

The Grand Fiesta
“Getting married in Mexico, we wanted to dedicate a night to the beautiful culture and food of the country” says the bride. A mariachi band performed as guests entered, there were traditional dancers to keep guests entertained as they sipped on their margaritas, ending the night with fire dancers who told ancient tales of their land, accompanied by a surprise dance by the bride. The night saw traditional décor of wood and bright elements and a whole lot of tequila with music that matched the mood. The bride made a statement in a ruffled skirt and top in bright pink by Shantanu and Nikhil, the energy of which was perfectly matched by the groom’s tropical kurta by Study by Janak.

Anand Karaj
“For my Anand Karaj, the Sikh Wedding Ceremony, I wanted a light, bright and rustic vibe. We kept the decor minimalistic to keep the focus on the ceremony. Since we had two wedding ceremonies on different days, and Akaash was doing a big baraat entry for the other, we had a lovely bride’s baraat for this, with his family greeting mine at the entrance, as they danced down the driveway” shares the bride.

For the occasion, she chose a delicate blush lehenga by Astha Narang while Akaash wore an intricate ensemble in mint and blush by Study by Janak.

Sangeet
Inspired by the groom’s love for Bollywood, the Sangeet was themed on the iconic movie Om Shanti Om, and encouraged guests to dress up as their favorite movie characters for the night. Movie posters were put up with couple’s faces, a marketplace of fun goodies and street food stalls were setup for the guests to enjoy. Wearing the iconic pink outfit and plaid suit of Deepika and Shah Rukh, the couple entered replicating the premiere scene from the movie, and the guests were delighted by a video of the couple recreating the Dhoom Tana song. The couple’s college and post-grad dance friends came together to create one epic Bhangra performance. The friends and family performances were followed by one last dance by the couple on ‘You are my Soniya’ from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. Jaz Dhami then came on and had everyone grooving till morning.

Hindu Ceremony
The Hindu wedding ceremony was a beguiling blend of blue waters and ravishing red roses. Decked in the quintessential Sabyasachi red bridal lehenga, the bride was a sight to behold as she arrived at the gorgeous mandap of red and pink flowers. However, it was the groom who stole the show, arriving in the most mind-boggling baraat ever, skydiving out of a plane! He then changed into a stunning royal ensemble of gold and red, after which the two tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony.

Advice for couples
“This is your wedding, no one else’s. Focus on what you want instead of trying to please and placate everyone else. Also, if you can afford it, definitely hire a planner. Most importantly, communicate each and every thing with your partner. Many unnecessary conflicts can be avoided. Your wife/husband is your partner for life, be open and honest with them.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Hard Rock Hotel, Los Cabos
Wedding Planner: Palms Weddings and Events
Décor: Del Cabo Weddings
Floral Décor: Cabo Floral Studio
Groom’s Outfits: Shivan and Narresh (Welcome Dinner), Study by Janak (Grand Fiesta, Anand Karaj)
Bride’s Outfits: Shivan and Narresh (Welcome Dinner), Shantanu and Nikhil (Grand Fiesta), Astha Narang (Anand Karaj), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Hindu Ceremony)
Bride’s Shoes: Maison Valentino (Welcome Dinner), Christian Louboutin (Hindu Ceremony)
Floral Jewellery: Devanshi Seth Designs (Haldi)
Makeup: Cabo Makeup by Alma Vallejo
Mehndi: Gopi Henna
Entertainment: DJ Akhtar
Photography: Zohaib Ali Photography
Videography: Brellow

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