Shree and Anir Desai, Rancho Las Lomas, California

Hosted amongst the rolling hills of South Orange County in California, Shree and Anir Desai’s wedding celebration was picturesque one with its pastel colour palette which contrasted beautifully with the surrounding greenery. Flavoured with bohemian, desi and tropical decor elements, this union was unconventional and aesthetically pleasing.

How They Met
Shree shares, “Anir and I met at my cousin’s wedding in Hawaii in 2014. My brother and Anir are best friends, and Anir happened to be studying in Hawaii when my cousin invited us to her wedding. Anir tagged along to the wedding as my brother’s plus one! During the wedding, Anir and I found pockets of time where we got to know each other and we felt an instant connection. We stayed in touch after I went back to California, and we spoke on the phone every single day until he eventually moved back to California about six months later.”

The Proposal
Sharing how Anir popped the question, Shree shares, “The proposal was in the making for almost one and a half years. My family was planning a trip to Hawaii and he thought it would be the perfect opportunity to propose, especially since Hawaii is so special to us! He found a secluded beach and our friends/family helped him set up the most romantic arch that he proposed under during the sunset. He even had a live singer to play our favourite songs and booked a photographer to capture the moment! It was truly the proposal of my dreams.”

Wedding Planning
Despite the constraints of the pandemic Shree and Anir were able to make their vision of an Indian wedding come to life overseas. Shree shares, “As with any other Indian wedding, we also wanted to incorporate our family’s ideas into the celebrations. However, we ran into challenges due to the pandemic. In spite of these obstacles, we were able to orchestrate the wedding we’d always dreamed of thanks to our superb planning team. They understood our needs and gave us the perfect traditional Indian wedding with boho-tropical influences.”

Wedding Functions
Mehndi
Shree shares, “Initially, we had only decided to host a wedding and reception given the uncertainty of the pandemic. Fortunately, the restrictions were eased around late spring in California and we were able to host a home-based mehndi in my mom’s backyard.”

Sangeet
Shree shares, “Being a Disney fan, our sangeet was hosted on a rooftop bar from where we had a clear view of Disneyland. And, both the mehndi and the sangeet were planned by my mom.”

Wedding and Reception
Clubbing the wedding and reception together, Shree and Anir’s wedding flaunted traditional elements as well as chic boho elements that showcased their love for modern aesthetics. After a rousing baraat where the groom arrived in a vintage car, the couple proceed to tie the knot at the sprawling wedding venue that was surrounded by a lush botanical garden. With a floral, open-air mandap that blended seamlessly with the surrounding, the wedding looked serene under the sunlit sky.

After the wedding, the couple proceeded to celebrate their union with a high-energy reception party where the DJ kept them grooving on the dance floor all night long. The reception also consisted of a sit-down dinner with white tablecloth-clad tables decorated with floral centrepieces made of pampas grass, colourful peace lilies and baby’s breath.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Rancho Las Lomas, California (Wedding)
Wedding Planner: Intertwined Events
Décor and Florist: Leproux Co
Party Rentals: Signature Party Rentals, Found Rentals Co, Casa de Perrin
Caterers: Natraj Decorators & Caterers, 24 Carrots Catering and Events
Draping: Nisha Amin
Makeup and Hairstyling: Beauty by Melina, KG Hair and Makeup
Mehndi: Neha Assar Artistry
Entertainment: Downbeat Agency, iDJ Productions (Baraat)
Photo Booth: Pixster Photo Booths
Wedding Livestream: MCJ Impressions
Transportation: CLI Worldwide Transportation
Photography: Melissa Gayle Weddings
Videography: Iron and Fern

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