SandP09's biography
Day 1- Indian Ceremony
Day 2- Church and Reception
...and they lived happily ever after
We're getting married on March 14, 2009!!
Wedding Ticker from WhenIsMyWedding.com
We met back in 2003, at Point Moorea in Downtown LA. Two of my girlfriends and I had gone there for happy hour after work one day. Sanjay was there playing pool with some of this college friends. He was graduating from USC that week. My friend Pam had gone to undergrad with Sanjay's brother and introduced the two of us. I thought he was adorable right away, but was hesitant because I had just gotten out of a long term relationship was not ready. After about a year of casually dating, Sanjay and I parted ways but remained friends. As fate would have it, we reconnected again in 2006 and were inseparable ever since! It's true what they say, timing is of the essence. I had found the right person and he came back to me!
Sanjay took me on a trip to Napa for our 2 year anniversary. Napa held special significance to us because this was where he had asked me to be his girlfriend 2 years prior. We had planned a day of wine tasting at some fabulous wineries and decided to picnic at our favorite, V Sattui. To my surprise, Sanjay had already arranged a private lunch in the wineries cellar. The room was surrounded by wine barrels and covered with flowers and candles. On the table, sat an empty wine glass filled with pink roses that covered my ring. It was the most romantic and amazing day of my life. My face hurt from smiling so much that day. :)
Check out our website at http://www.sanjayandpaola.com
Our friends and his brother were gracious enough to throw us an engagement party at the Bungalow Club on Friday, May 2nd. We invited our close friends and family to celebrate with us. We had an amazing time!
Our wedding day, or days I should say is a little unusual. FI is Indian and I am Lebanese. In order to honor both our cultures, we are having multi-day events. The events will start off on Thursday with a Mehndi party. This event is typically done on the brides side and usually females only. But since I am not Indian, my FMIL graciously offered to host this event and invite all our close friends and family, both men and women. The Indian ceremony will take place on Friday, March 13th followed by a dinner. The following day on the 14th, we will be getting married (again) in church followed by the reception. We will infuse and incorporate both cultures and customs during the reception. Phew! It's going to be a long week. I'm already looking forward to our honeymoon! :)
I contemplated getting a wedding coordinator. We're on a tight budget since my FI and I are paying for the wedding ourselves but I still wanted everything to look beautiful. I met with one coordinator who wanted $7,000 just to do my reception. I nearly fainted. I knew she was going to be expensive since she had flown to Paris to do a wedding and is doing one in Dubai this summer for some royalty. Hey, I may think I'm a princess but I definitely don't have the deep pockets of one! A really sweet girl from TheWeddingBee.com recommended Paola from Just Chic Events. I loved her already because we shared the same name. But after speaking to her a few times, I knew I wanted her to help plan this for me. She showed me the details of her own wedding from last year and I instantly fell in love. We share the same color choices. I want my floral arrangements to be fusia and orange with a hint of green and the decor to be pink and brown. I'm meeting with her on Thursday and if all goes well, I got myself a coordinator!! Check out her blog!
Update on coordinator:
I met with Paola yesterday and she is truly wonderful! I am even more excited now about the wedding than ever. FI and I decided that we want her to coordinator our day. YAY!! I have a coordinator! :)
Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Church in Beverly Hills and the reception to follow will be at The Olympic Collection in West LA.
We finally decided on having the Hindu ceremony on a different day than the church ceremony and reception. For the sake of our sanity and not rushing through pictures, we'll be having the Hindu ceremony followed by a dinner the day before the reception on March 13. It happens to be Friday the 13th!! Ekkk!! 
Indian marriage poem: "Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your life together. And may your days be good, and long upon the earth."
Pic of us and henna (aka mendhi) on my hands from our Indian Engagement Party. Here is the meaning behind mendhi http://niralimagazine.com/2007/06/meaning-mehndi/
Here is a sneak peak of what my Indian wedding outfit looks like. I apologize for the blurry image. I was trying to give a little hint without actually giving it away. It's a combo of magenta and maroon and beaded from head to toe. Needless to say, it's heavy! It's beautiful on!
We are most likely going to order these invitations (in a different color) from India with 5 different inserts and have them printed here in the states. We are getting these custom made using Meena Agencies in Mumbai.
Inspiration
front envelope
inside view
Actual Invite
Inserts and maps were designed by Alex (abattyref, fellow PW gal). She did an amazing job and was a pleasure to work with. Thanks again Alex!
Front Envelope
Inside View RSVP
Creative and wonderful Julie sent me a picture of our cake serving set today! She is also making our champagne flutes to match. I can't wait to get them! She is an absolute doll to work with and will customize your order to match your wedding colors. http://www.juliespracticalart.com/index.html
Cake Topper:
Similar to MrsGG's. Will also be created by my fabulous WC Paola!
We're going to St. Lucia for 8 nights at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Resort. I can't wait!! :)
The wonderful HollySew on Etsy custom created this beautiful hanger cover for my dress!! I just love it! And she is soooo nice to work with!
Holly also made me this wonderful label to sew inside of my dress!
We decided to take pictures before the ceremony. Our photog is going to capture that special intimate moment for us. The night before the wedding, I will be staying at The London in West Hollywood. It's a beautiful swanky hotel that makes for wonderful getting ready pics! We will also be taking our first pictures there together! I can't wait!
Our engagement pictures were taken in Downtown, Los Angeles on a cold and windy day. We started off at Point Moorea, Grand Wilshire Hotel, out to 7th and Fig (where this top photo was taken) and made our way to Union Station.
This is what his brother (BM), my brother, uncle, and his father will be wearing.
And this is what FI will be wearing
My sister (MOH) threw me a bridal shower on Jan. 18 at Villa Sorisso in Pasadena. 40 of my closest friends and family attended. And the food was delicious!!
My best friend since the 2nd grade. I love her! My beautiful sister, MOH
With Melissa:Thanks for coming girl! :) With my the best mother anyone could ask for!
**Bridal Shower Part II**
FI's family also threw me a bridal shower the following weekend. I was surrounded by my family and all of his cousins and aunts. They even got me a cake that said "Welcome to Our Family Paola". It was really touching!
Many of my friends can't make it to Cancun in Feb for my bachelorette party, so they took me out for a local one on Jan. 26th. We had dinner at Citrus and went straight to Social afterwards. I had the best time!!
I ordered this adorable black & white dress online! (Thanks Kristeen!) :) I'll be pairing it up with some black stiletto heels
We went to the Beverly Hills Courthouse this morning and got our marriage license! We're only 38 days away! I can't wait :)
My dear friend owns a company called Keshot and he has offered to bring one to our wedding reception as a gift! This photobooth is a little different than your traditional one. It allows our guests to not only take pictures, but videos as well and they can email it! I'm sure when we get back from our honeymoon, we're going to have hundreds of emails with pictures and videos of our drunken friends at our wedding! haha Can't wait..I think they'll have fun with it!
Booked
*E-ring: Icing on the Ring
* Reception venue- Olympic Collection
* Wedding Coordinator- Paola from Just Chic Events
* Church- Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon
* Wedding Dress- La Sposa "Marsella" from Fionna's Bridal
* Photographer- YM Images
* Videographer- Robles Video
* Flowers/Linens/Backdrop/Uplights - Flowers on Mars
*White Dance Floor- Hayden Dance Floors
*Hair/Makeup- For the Indian ceremony: The talented Sherry from On Location Beauty. For the church & reception:My good friend (LVLacedLashes) who is a wonderful makeup artist graciously offered to do my makeup as a gift. My amazing hair dresser, Rene from Relini is doing my hair.
*Indian ceremony venue- Glendora Masonic Lodge
*Cake serving & Champagne set- Julie's Practical Art
*Boudoir Session- PussyCat Pinups
*Entertainment- Arab-esque Belly Dancers :)
*Honeymoon- Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Resort
*Indian sari for wedding ceremony- from India
*Cake- The Cake Collection
*DJ- Sandeep Kumar
*Book hotel for OOT guests- Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills & Courtyard Marriott Century City/Beverly Hills
*Order sari for mendhi party- MIL to order from India
*Caterer for mendhi party- Utsav Events
*Invitations- Designed by the wonderful and talented fellow PW abattyref and being printed in India using Meena Agencies
*E-pics- done
*Register- BBB and Macy's
*The day before suite- The London West Hollywood
*Garter- GartersbyKristi on Etsy
*Jewelry- Eliot Danori earrings and bracelet
*Transportation- ULC Limos
*Mandap
*Veil- matching veil to my La Sposa dress
*Table Numbers
*Groom's Attire- Friar's Tux
*Purchase wedding bands- Icing on the Ring
*Horse for Barat- Horses For Production
*Make wedding slideshow
*Cake Topper/Crystals for cake
*Marriage License
*Cardbox
*Speciality linens for sweetheart & cake table
*Choose music for ceremony
*Choose music for cocktail/reception
Here is our beautiful cardbox that was made by SheaChicDesigns that we purchased on Etsy. She was great to work with and she was able to expedite it for us.
