Piyanka Patel married Raj Patel in a destination wedding in southern California on 13th August 2017. She says: “We met through mutual friends in Dallas, Texas. The first time we met, I picked Raj up from the airport and had to do a double take. He was the worst dressed man in the vicinity; his hair was out control and his eyebrows – well they were a whole different story.
To top things off, he fell asleep on the way to brunch. I was not a fan, to say the least. What I later discovered was that he had just finished a 24-hour shift at the hospital, drove two hours to the airport and had a stop over in Atlanta just so he could have brunch with me on my first Saturday since we’d been talking. That’s when I understood what a dedicated man Raj is. He’ll go the extra mile and then some to get what he wants.
The proposal
We were on route to India for Raj’s cousin’s wedding and he had craftily planned a surprise trip to the Maldives. I didn’t guess until we were on our way to the airport! He said it was a Christmas present. We were enjoying the view from our overwater bungalow when I turned around and found Raj on one knee with the most gorgeous sunset and the Indian Ocean behind him.
Planning the Day
I found planning to be a smooth process surprisingly. Nutan and her team made it seem effortless. They answered all my questions and came up with a plethora of ideas.
The Decor
I left the reception décor up to Nutan and her team completely and was absolutely blown away at the result. It was black and white with hints of blush and pearl accents, the perfect to fit my personality.
Special moments
Having the people that we love most in the world in the same place at the same time for us is one of the most overwhelming, heart-warming experiences ever.
Your overall feeling at the end of the wedding day?
I was completely overwhelmed with joy
Bride: Piyanka Patel
Groom: Raj Patel
Wedding Date: 13th August 2017
Venue: Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, California
Photography: Duke Photography
HMUA: Dolled up by Lulu
Wedding Dress: Sabyasachi
Bridal Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Groom’s tux: Tom Ford
Planner: Elegant Events
Floral Design: Shawna Yamamoto Event Design