I’m going to admit that I have a bias. Being half Guju, I always get swoony over a Gujarati wedding. The panetar, the food, the gharchola, the Gujarati dal (you know you’ve been trying to make it), the ghantia, the dancing, the Gujjus know how to bring it out!
Today we have a lovely couple, Purvi and Shrujal who had four days of festive traditions. They had the mehndhi, garba, pithi, vidhi, wedding, and reception at home and at the venue Waterford Banquets in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Their parents have roots from India. Shrujal’s parents grew up in Africa and Europe. Purvi’s parents grew up in India. They met by Lake Michigan on the shores of Chicago’s north side. He proposed at the planetarium, overlooking the Chicago skyline, symbolizing that the stars brought them together.
They got married under a lush mandap with deep purple crushed fabric, and amber lighting. They took their first steps as husband and wife on a white velvet aisle, decorated in crystals and candles.
Their reception backdrop was full of stars, and glitter and shimmer fabric to accentuate their shining and bright love. They danced the night away under skyscraper centerpieces which were encased in dangling orbs with candles, and round cascade of flowers. They lived #happilyeverjoshi as their DJ played remixed songs from old school India to modern Miley Cyrus.
::Swoon::
I’ll let Purvi take it away!
What was the inspiration for your wedding?
The inspiration for our wedding was traditional elegance, with a twist. We tried to incorporate little design elements into each of our events that represented us. For example, we got engaged at the Adler Planetarium, so we hoped to resemble that we were a match made in the stars through our reception decor.
Shrujal Joshi & Purvi Parikh: Life in Arizona. from Metan.
What was the hardest part about the wedding?
The hardest part about wedding planning was coordinating all of the events. We didn’t have a wedding planner, so we had designated certain tasks to different family members to ensure that everything went smoothly the day of and at each prior event. We also worked together on numerous spreadsheets, and kept open communication!
Did you do any DIY?
We did a lot of DIY decor, and our guests really appreciated our personal touch on our wedding events. For the mendhi, I created the backdrop, flower Ganesh, and different design elements throughout the house. For the garba, I handmade all of the paisley rangoli designs for the centerpiece.
I also handmade the satin skirt to go under the Krishna statue. Other special projects included designing/creating the Ganesh table for the wedding, designing/creating place cards, and designing gift bags.
Tell us about the Batman cake!
My husband has an affinity for superheroes, mainly batman. It connects to our overall theme which was the night sky, and the top of the cake was batman cascading over the night sky. He wanted to incorporate this affinity into his groomsmen as well. All of them had superhero socks, t-shirts, and handkerchiefs (at the reception). He wanted to keep it fun and interesting by putting his touch on the reception, but also tie into the theme.
What was your favorite part of the wedding?
My favorite part of the wedding was having it all come together! Specifically, walking into my mandap and seeing it come to fruition, and being wowed by the decor!
What is your advice to future brides and grooms?
Have Fun
Take Breaks
Cherish Family Time
{Wedding Vendors}
Catering: India House // Decor/Lighting: Yanni Design Studio // Makeup: Bela Shah Makeup // Photographer: Kalpesh Gandhi Photography // DJ: Dj Kollision (Shaadi Entertainment) // Cake: Milette’s Bakery // Video: Metan Patel