Occasions By Shangri-La

Imagine taking a stroll by the water in a park and suddenly you notice rose petals on the ground and a photographer clicking away trying to capture each and every moment of your movements. Before you know it, your best friend and your soulmate is on one knee asking you to marry him. For a moment you want to pinch …

There are many skilled wedding décor and design companies throughout the United States, but when Smita Patel founded Occasions by Shangri-la back in 2005, it was because she recognized a void in the décor market during the weddings of two of her children (and Occasions co-founders), Remmal Karamsadkar and Rena Popat. REMMAL: Back then, there weren’t any design firms that …

Indian Wedding Orlando For Richa Desai, chiropractor, and Shashank Gandhi, neurosurgery resident, a day on the beach turned out to be something more. Little did Richa know that the walk would turn into a romantic proposal. When she and Shashank were walking along the Clearwater Beach at sunset, Richa saw bright drapes flowing in the breeze with three large photographs …

Photographer: Sona Photography James (Jim) and Jesleen meet in 2015 via e-Harmony online dating while both lived in New York City. When they finally agreed to meet, they almost didn’t have their first date as Jim got food poisoning in the morning and ended up in the emergency room. He did recover in time to get to the date that …

Kaniksha weds Atman Kaniksha and Atman’s first meeting was a blind date at the Jacksonville Zoo arranged by family friends, and it went so well that almost two years later, they were engaged. They immediately discovered they had much in common, from their love of traveling to hiking and trying new restaurants. While dating, they went on many vacations together …

By Brittany Ellis Cole, Owner of Eventrics Weddings Venue : Hilton-Orlando  Decorations Suhaag Garden In planning a wedding, one of the biggest decisions for a couple is choosing a venue. We know that finding the perfect venue can seem impossible at times. Rest assured, the perfect venue can be achieved with a little creativity, a solid plan and reliable help. There …

Dynamic opposites, Shelly Tiwari, 26, and Amit Shah, 30 met through mutual friends in 2010 and dated for five years. Amit planned a romantic proposal by Amit on his birthday in March 2015 with the help of Shelly’s sister and best friend. She said yes, and wedding prep began shortly after. Amit’s parents took charge of wedding planning, though always …

The saying goes that neither time nor distance can stop two lovers from meeting. For 28-year-old Ami Vakharia and 29-year-old Raj Gandolia, both radiology physicians, their love story began during their teenage years when they met in the Tibetan Himalayas. Though years passed before the two reconnected on Facebook, after two and half years of dating, Raj enacted the perfect …

Nilima and Raj’s romance began during college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, dating through college and graduate school. After dating for four years, Raj planned an elaborate surprise proposal during a trip to Puerto Rico; Nilima was showered with gifts, and on the fourth day, Raj asked Nilima to solve a puzzle to open a locked …

From lavish designs and bold colors to pastel florals and subtle centerpieces, weddings can be the ultimate expression of a couple’s personality. Through intricately designed mandaps, lush, fragrant florals, and creative use of color, couples can personalize nearly every aspect of their wedding decorations. While the type of venue and the choice of colors and foods can shape the feel …

At 27 years-old, Nikki Patel, based in Tampa, and Mayur Patel, who lived in Texas, were both looking for their life partners through the Shaadi.com web portal. Nikki first expressed an interest in September 2013, and one month later, Mayur accepted the request. The two began talking to each other, and what initially was restricted to just a few messages …

At 27-years-old, Priya Patel was enjoying being a Physician’s Assistant and never thought that she would find the love of her life in the realm of banking and finance. But, destiny had other plans, and Priya ended up marrying 31-year-old Kunal Shah, a CPA. When the two met in 2013 in Chicago, little did they know that the interaction would …

Celebrations, ceremonies, love, and blessings are elements that complete any wedding. Rima and Ankit’s wedding is no different and includes all these in just the right proportions to take your breath away. Rima and Ankit met through a mutual friend while in graduate school at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ankit was attending pharmacy school and Rima was …

Amit and Purva met and fell in love while they were studying to be medical professionals. After spending much time staring into microscopes, Amit took Purva out to dinner at their favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The next day morning, he left pink roses at her doorstep, and this was their first outing together! After three years of dating, …

Two years after physicians Arjun and Ronica met in medical school, they realized they had much in common, including a love for the Florida Gators, hatred for libraries, and similar tastes in food. Once the realization hit home, they knew they were meant for one another. Arjun coordinated a heartfelt proposal during a vacation trip to Orlando. Knowing that swimming …

There is no doubt that love will find a way to prevail if a couple is truly meant to be together. Whether it takes you by utter surprise or blossoms slowly, you will know when you experience true love. After being friends for a long time, Sanjay and Poonam finally reached a point when they knew that being together was …

Eager brides lined the hall of the stunning Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center waiting for the doors to open. The Orlando MyShadi Bridal Expo, which showcased products and services essential for planning a traditional, cultural wedding in the United States, kicked off to a great start as couples and their families filled the ballroom. Elaborate mandaps and upbeat music …

Sonya Rane and Vikram Saini’s lovely wedding brought together two cultures and culminated in a dream-come-true celebration for the bride and groom. The couple met at the University of Florida when Sonya was completing her Master’s Degree in Physical Assistant Studies. Vikram was studying for a Master’s in Health Administration. The two connected when they spent time together at the …

Sometimes friends and family play a pivotal role in helping a couple come together. In other cases, a wonderful platform called shaadi.com does the trick. This is just what brought Neil and Paloma together. It seemed destined to be, as Paloma met Neil almost instantly, on the first day that she registered a profile. Although they knew each other for …

Love can strike at any time, anywhere. It happens when you least expect, and embraces you only after you have searched long and hard. No matter what it takes to meet your one true love, it is always worth the wait. In a world that has advanced so rapidly, Kaveri’s journey for love has truly kept pace. Although she and …