San Diego Wedding With A Beautifully Customised Saree From Kanchipuram

A Tale of Love that neither Time nor Distance could deter!

'Thanks for being a part of our journey across 3 countries and 13 cities" reads the welcome card & guest message board at Preethi and Rahul's wedding venue in Carlsbad. Fitting testament to the love birds who first met during their high school. Two ambitious career-oriented individuals CAN make love work, this couple's story strongly reinforces. 

With a romantic proposal at the Rockies, a wedding at a venue set against the shores of the Pacific Ocean and a stunning custom-made kanjeevaram bridal saree designed by the bride and bride's mother themselves, this wedding really is the stuff of any bride's dream. And, this couple truly knows how to party! Read on for how the beautiful fairytale unravelled! 

Meet Preethi & Rahul

"Our journey began in Bangalore at a high school tutorial where we first crossed paths and started dating. Spanning two countries and five cities apart, our lives intertwined with years of long distance and career priorities, leading to a beautiful and strong love story that spans 14 years. However, it was the pandemic that brought us even closer, as
we finally began living together and experiencing the transformative nature of remote work", the bride tells us. 

Muhurtham Morning

Wedding

Reception

From The Bride

Our wedding celebrations spanned four days across multiple venues in the San Diego area, each carefully chosen to align with the theme of the respective events - Haldi ceremony, pre-bridal traditional shower, Henna (Mehendi ceremony) and Cocktail reception party. These events were infused with elements that reflected both Rahul and my personal tastes.

The Wedding Day: Our wedding day dawned on a sunny Sunday morning, August 7th, 2022, in the picturesque Park Hyatt Aviara resort in Carlsbad, with the Pacific Ocean serving as a stunning backdrop. Guests from 13 different cities and three countries around the world gathered to celebrate our union. We endeavored to personalize the day, ensuring our guests felt immersed in the experience. For instance, a program was provided to explain the meaning behind each ritual, fostering a deeper understanding for all attendees. Escort cards, crafted from seed paper, served as unique touche and wedding favors, symbolizing our love growing with every planted seed. We even included a world map that doubled as a guest book and seating chart, indicating the different cities our guests had traveled
from.

Mandap: Our choice of a non-traditional mandap with blue hydrangeas and delphiniums against the backdrop of a blue-tiled fountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean made for a captivating bridal entry.

DIY Ideas

I had the privilege of experiencing a significant personal journey, one that aligns seamlessly with one's sense of personal style. On this auspicious day, I celebrated not only the cherished handloom weaving tradition but also a pivotal moment in my life – my wedding. The centerpiece of this occasion was a meticulously handwoven Kanjivaram saree, a garment that transcends mere fabric to become a symbol of devotion, culture, and heritage.

Allow me to offer a glimpse into the intricacies of this remarkable journey:
Highlights of the Kanjivaram Saree: At the heart of this narrative lies a labor of love and artistry. The Kanjivaram saree, co-designed by my mother and me, is a testament to our shared appreciation for heritage and craftsmanship. The materials we used, pure 8g 22k gold and mulberry silk, were directly sourced and woven from Kanchipuram, the birthplace of this traditional craft. Over an astonishing 50 consecutive days, dedicated artisans invested a staggering 350 hours to weave this masterpiece.

The design palette seamlessly merges bridal ivory with regal blue, accented by delicate gold tissue details that add opulence. The symbolism within the saree is profound – the choice of blue, a personal and unconventional preference, intertwines with two goldfish representing my Piscean traits. The border, adorned with rows of elephants signifying strength and courage, alongside swans, revered as symbols of grace and wisdom, mirrors the values that have guided my personal journey toward independence and growth.

Vendor Reviews

Venue : Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad

Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad is the perfect venue for a dreamy wedding event, with the pacific ocean in backdrop and a grand entrace of stairway its a dream wedding venue for any couple. The staff and events team is very accommodative and hospitable. They offer a complimentary golf for upto 5 members in the wedding party which was the icing on the cake for us.

MakeUp : Nida Gazi (beautybyng)

Nida Gazi (beautybyng) : made me my dream wedding looks come to life, she gave me the softglam looks with a lot of bridal glow that went along with my saree so perfectly. She was infact one of the only hairstylist in all of california who was able to do the south indian braid which most hair and make up artists were not able to get done.

Wedding Planner : Nahid Global Events

Nahid Global Events was the day of the event wedding coordinator who was able to use her contacts to pull together the entire event.

Photography : Fitz Carlile 

Fitz Carlile has an eye for symmetry, color gradient and the perfect light angles. He is known for his candids, portraits and photojournalism. He took so much effort to learn about every ritual's significance and captured all the moments so candidly & in frame. I would highly recommend Fitz for your next wedding 

Video and Reel Editing : Joey Reger

He has an unique eye for details, creativity and transitions in editing reels & videography. 

Decor : Moonlight Floral

Moonlight Floral is so talented and top notch in decor & floral design. They were able construct an aisle & a non traditional mandap with hydrangeas, bluebells & white carnations so flawlessly that the entire set up was a dream. The non traditional mandap of using 2 sided structure came out so beautifully. They were then able to reuse the flowers to make a different reception decor that no one could tell! Such a magical transformation.

WMG App Review

"I used the app for to find designers and boutiques and jewelery stores. Wedmegood is the one stop solution for wedding vendors, designers and so resourceful for new brides . When things are overwhelming the wedmedgood can be a bride's best friend :) :)"

Vendors:

Venue : Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad | Make Up : Nida Gazi (@beautybyng) | Wedding Planner : Nahid Global Events | Photography : Fitz Carlile | Video and Reel Editor : Joey Reger | Decor : Moonlight Floral | Mehndi Artist : Happy Stains | Bridal Blouse : Sithara Kudige | Bridal Lehenga : Anushree Reddy★ 4.7 | Reception Saree : Manish Malhotra★ 4.9 | Haldi Saree : Ogaan★ 2.8 | Bridal Jewellery : Prune★ 4.5