Reshma and Steve

Reshma won him over with her stash of sweet treats in office, and after three years of dating, this lovely NRI bride of Gujarati origin tied the knot with Steve, who is half German and half Spanish. Here, she shares details of her romance and California wedding that was a heady fusion of the East and West.

How we met
“It was my first day at Johnson & Johnson when a handsome man introduced himself to me. He had a deep voice and was extremely tall, but something about him was very comforting and welcoming. Steve too had recently joined Johnson & Johnson, and we clicked right away as we were both lost puppies. He helped me with getting to know the system, and I fed him with my endless stash of snacks that I hoarded in my cubicle. The saying really is true – the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! Even though there was chemistry between us, I was hesitant to give in to his charm and go out on a date with him. He is German-Spaniard, and I am Gujarati – both coming from two very distant cultures. Eventually my heart overcame my mind, and I hesitantly decided to give it a go. I immediately fell head-over-heels for this handsome, charming, and extremely hilarious man who made my heart skip a beat every time I was with him. After dating for three years, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Only in America could the children of two immigrant couples, from two very distant cultures find each other as perfect soul mates!”

Wedding Proposal
“We had recently purchased a house in Laguna Hills, California, and we were having our closest friends and family join us for a housewarming party. I was so engulfed in decorating the house and preparing for the party, that I didn’t even realize he had secretly met with my two best friends at a jewellery store to buy my ring. The day of the party I was running around making sure everything was perfect. Right before we were about to serve dinner, Steve suggested we thank everyone for coming. I was standing there smiling back all the many faces that were staring at us, suddenly I hear a gasp from the crowd and everyone’s cellphones were pointed at us. Confused at the commotion, I turn around to see Steve kneeling down on one knee with a ring in his hand, waiting to propose to me.”

Pre-Wedding Ceremonies
“Our mehndi, ‘garba’, and ‘pithi’ ceremonies were vibrant and colorful. The mehndi party was a Moroccan-themed affair, complete with a belly dancer and all! The garba event was traditional with a live band to entertain the entire crowd the whole night. The ‘pithi’ ceremony was held at my house, and I chose to keep it bright and festive for all to relax and enjoy”.

Wedding
“Although we come from different cultures, we had a traditional Gujarati wedding at the Anaheim Marriott hotel in sunny California in the middle of June. The wedding was held indoors in the Grand Ballroom, with a gorgeous mahal-like mandap adorned with beautiful gold and red drapery. The décor had a royal theme with large pillars, palace doors, and deep red and white florals. There was a traditional baraat ceremony – Steve arrived in a classic Rolls Royce Corniche, while the baraatis danced happily to Bollywood songs remixed with American songs. I wore a stunning custom-designed lengha by Jiya By Veer Design Studio. I wanted to incorporate both of our cultures in our wedding outfit – so the team at the design studio helped me design a gorgeous two-piece ivory lehenga with a touch of emerald green and deep red. It was paired with a white dupatta that was resplendent with a thick green border with beautiful embroidery. It was by far the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. I felt like a royal princess, waiting to meet her handsome prince. I was adorned from head-to-toe with beautiful Rajasthani kundan jewellery from Sajni in Mumbai. Steve also wore a custom-designed sherwani by Jiya By Veer Design Studio, with matching custom ‘juttis’ (ethnic shoes) and a fan-style ‘safa’ (turban) in elegant self-embroidered fabric and a black band in the front.”

The Reception
“Our theme for the reception was the celebration of two cultures in the best form we know, food – ‘Salsa Meets Chutney.’ I wanted our reception to be a romantic-glam soirée, with large candelabras and gorgeous burgundy floral arrangements. Once our bridal party made their grand entrance, we surprised our guests with a fun entrance dance, which was then followed by a choreographed dance by Steve and I for our first dance. I wore a custom designed, fully embellished, dusty-rose pink ball gown by Jiya By Veer Design Studio , while Steve for a custom tailored tuxedo by Canali. The guests enjoyed the touching speeches, lively performances, and great food. Everyone danced the night away!”

The Wedding Makers
Location: Anaheim Marriot, California
Bridal Trousseau: Jiya by Veer Design Studio (Wedding, Reception)
Groom’s Trousseau: Jiya By Veer Design Studio, Canali
Bridal Makeup: Beauty by Nida Gazi (‘Garba’, Wedding, Reception), Andrea V Piramide (Mehndi, ‘Pithi’)
Mehndi: Rachana Desai, California
Catering: Mantra Indian Cuisine (Reception), Jay Bharat (Wedding), California
Wedding Cake: Susie’s Cake, California
Event Coordinator: Bridal, Event, and Lounge, CA
Décor & Floral Design: Synx Events, CA
DJ, Lighting: Synx Entertainment, CA
First Dance Choreography: Amna Dance
Photography: Matei Horvath Photography, CA
Videography: Avec Lumiere, CA

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