Pearl and Abhishek, Chicago
Surrounded by greenery, this couple’s wedding exuded ethereal and whimsical vibes with its delicate blooms, pampas grass, and stone vases.
Pearl Patel, an HR professional, and Abhishek Sharma, an IT professional, first encountered each other at work where Pearl took an instant liking to Abhishek. After a digitally-driven courtship, the duo decided to tie the knot, notwithstanding the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic tossed in their way. Here’s taking a look at their nuptials in a dreamy garden wedding ceremony that was simply brimming with fresh blooms!.
How They Met
Pearl shares, “We first crossed paths seven and a half years ago at a small company where I was completing an HR internship and Abhishek joined in as a web developer just a couple of weeks later. In fact, I was literally one of the first people that he met on his first day at work and I remember admiring his looks! Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me and I looked him up on Facebook only to find out that we had many mutual friends. After a few awkward exchanges in the office, and after I was done with the internship, he added me on LinkedIn and I added him on Facebook. And soon enough, the sparks flew as we started flirting online!”
Wedding Planning
Pearl and Abhishek were all geared up to tie the knot in grandeur but as fate would have it, the COVID-19 pandemic plunged their plans into chaos which in turn, forced them to make drastic changes. Recollecting the difficult time, Pearl shares, “We had to replan our wedding completely because of the pandemic. Our original plan was scrapped. However, both of us chose to keep the original date and do whatever we could with the time we had left. It was heartbreaking to send a notice to our 300+ wedding guests that we were no longer planning to have a big celebration. But fortunately, we found an amazing vendor to live-stream our wedding. We collaborated with MDM Entertainment to have a live cameraman to relay the baraat, capture the wedding ceremony, reception speeches, and performances especially for our family and friends around the world who couldn’t be present due to the pandemic. In the end, we were incredibly happy that we could celebrate our big day in a safe yet loving environment!”
Explaining her vendor choices, the bride shares, “Abhi and I decided to step outside the norms by hiring vendors who were not necessarily from the South Asian community and represented us as a couple. First up on the list was our venue, Galleria Marchetti which was a place that wasn’t used to hosting an Indian wedding but graciously accommodated us. Next was our talented photographer Connie Maria and videographer Max who hadn’t shot an Indian wedding before. That being said, they were absolutely on point and ended up giving us memories to cherish for a lifetime. Our decorators Yianni Design Studio just knocked it out of the park with their creativity and left everyone in awe. Additionally, our dhol player Gurpreet Singh made everyone do the bhangra with his peppy beats.”
Weddings Functions
Ganesh Puja and Mehendi
Pearl shares, “We had separate Mehendi parties and Ganesh Puja ceremonies that were held in the backyards of our respective childhood homes. Even though the weather was surprisingly hot, we decided to host these events outdoors to ensure complete safety. The home functions were simple, colorful and quaint since the guest list was short. My home especially is located in a forested subdivision and hence, it’s also home to tall trees that served as a natural rustic element in the decor.”
Wedding
“We weren’t quite sure if we wanted to commit to a lavish decor amidst the pandemic but thankfully, the decorator we had our eye on was available at a short notice! Our goal was to create something that went perfectly in sync with the natural elements of the venue. Since the wedding was in the garden, I wanted it to be filled with whimsical and ethereal yet natural looking elements. The decorator understood my vision and adorned the venue with fresh flowers and greenery that took our breath away!”
Reception
The reception was held at the same venue in the evening and mirrored the wedding’s ethereal theme. Pearl shares, “Our reception was decorated with a multitude of fairy lights that twinkled merrily against the dark sky and gave one the impression of dancing under the stars. It was an absolutely magical affair where even the moon made an appearance over us. Furthermore, the venue also had a gorgeous green foliage wall dotted with red flowers which went perfectly with our floral choices.”
Advice for Couples
Executing a wedding amidst a pandemic is no mean feat and requires constant adjustments. For Pearl, this process was filled with challenges that spurred priceless learning experiences. The happy bride shares her findings, “Our main priority throughout the wedding was safety. We wanted the guests to understand that though they would probably be seeing the most amount of people they will have the chance to interact with all year, it’s no place to let go of precautions. And even though COVID – 19 safe decor wasn’t the theme, we made sure we had an airtight plan to ensure safety by keeping masks and dance floor sanitizers handy.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Galleria Marchetti, Chicago
Wedding Planner: Sabrina Hans Events
Décor: Imagine Decor Studio (Bride’s Mehendi and Ganesh Puja), Yianni Design Studio, Appease Inc., Kylie Jordan Artistry (Wedding, Reception)
Caterers: Shree Indian Cuisine, Vanille Patisserie
Groom’s Outfits: Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Dolly J (Wedding), Kynah (Reception)
Makeup and Hairstyling: Appease Inc. (Wedding), Kylie Jordan Artistry (Reception)
Entertainment: Gurpreet Singh
DJ: DJ Sam
Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design
Photography: Connie Marina Photography
Videography: Max Cutrone
Lighting and Live stream: MDM Entertainment
