Geena and Sunny, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles
Bright colors, whimsical décor and an expansive guest list, this couple’s wedding brought ‘Punjabi Tadka’ to Los Angeles!
From a colorful and happening sangeet to a dreamy, elegant floral mandap for the wedding, Geena and Sunny chose themes that reflected their personalities. Here, the bride shares details of their special day.
How We Met
“When Sunny and I first met in college in San Diego, California, it surprised me that we hadn’t met earlier. We were both born and brought up in Los Angeles. I’ll be honest, I really disliked him at first and the reason may sound funny, but it is true. He’d only call me when he needed notes!
After we graduated, we ran into each other again and this time, we kept in touch. As days passed, our conversations became longer and our meetings became more frequent. My opinion about him slowly changed. I realized he was not the guy I thought he was! Fast forward months of such togetherness, and here we are today, man and wife!”
Wedding Venue
“Ours was truly a ‘Big Fat Punjabi Wedding’! Sunny and I are both old souls. We love listening to classical music and reading books spells fun for us. For our wedding, we wanted a location that resonated with our personalities. With its classic baroque interior and high ceilings, the culturally rich, Millennium Biltmore in Downtown Los Angeles made for the ideal wedding venue. The property could even accommodate our 600 plus guest list!
The cherry on top was that it is situated right across from our workplace! The feeling of seeing your wedding venue just before work is the perfect start to a day!”
Wedding Planning
“The planning was relatively easy with Modern LA weddings by our side. Finding a venue that could accommodate a large guest list was the biggest challenge but we found the ideal location in no time. Shawna Yamamoto and Nicole conjured up décor that enhanced the beauty of our venue. Farah M styled my hair and Linda Chiriac handled my make up. I bought my entire bridal trousseau in Delhi. Our cherished moments were rendered to still and moving pictures by Duke Images and Mili Ghosh respectively.
Connecting with our vendors overseas was taxing but each one of them, with high spirits and an artistic vision, brought to life our vision.”
Wedding Functions
Haldi
“We began the festivities with an intimate Haldi. I wore a pink and yellow suit for this function. Sunny wore a gold kurta. The décor was minimal – just drapes and strings of marigolds.”
Sangeet
“Our Sangeet celebrated ‘All things Punjabi’ both in terms of décor and food! With vibrant colors, bold umbrellas, festive canapés and a sumptuous spread, the function sure kick-started the revelries on a bright note!”
Wedding
“I’d always dreamed of a simple, elegant wedding and what could have been more perfect than a play of florals and pastels? Adorned with hydrangeas and roses, our mandap was beyond my imagination! As for our attire, Sunny and I coordinated in pastel shades.”
Reception
“The wedding festivities came to an end with a ‘Winter Wonderland’ themed reception. In addition to the cream and gold accents, the décor included a touch of spring with cherry blossoms and blush roses. We also had golden ‘Chanel Chairs’ which accentuated the beauty of the ballroom.”
Advice for Couples
“While you run about planning for the big-day, I suggest keeping things ready for the honeymoon as well! At least you won’t have to deal with the stress of planning all over again, post the festivities. You could relax and rekindle during your romantic escape.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Millennium Biltmore, Downtown Los Angeles
Wedding Planner: Modern LA weddings
Décor: Shawna Yamamoto and Nicole
Caterers: Manohar’s Delhi Palace
Groom’s Outfits: QBIK
Makeup Artist: Linda Chiriac
Hairstylist: Farah M
Entertainment: DholNation
DJ: Legacy Events
Photography: Duke Images
Videography & Pre-wedding Shoot: Mili Ghosh
