In the heart of Plymouth, Michigan, where tradition meets modernity, Poonam & Wesley orchestrated a wedding that was nothing short of a Bollywood masterpiece. Their journey from a serendipitous meeting at a summer party to a heartfelt proposal on their new home's front porch set the stage for a celebration that beautifully blended cultural heritage with personal flair.
The couple had always envisioned their nuptials at the esteemed Saint John's Resort. Fate intervened when the venue, which had recently embraced ceremonies of all religious backgrounds, became available just as they inquired. It was as if the universe conspired to make their dream come true.
Set amidst lush greenery, the Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies burst with traditional bright colors, symbolizing joy and prosperity. The Sangeet took a bold, non-traditional turn with a "disco jungle" theme, where pink ostrich feather centerpieces and disco balls filled with hot pink bougainvilleas created a vibrant fusion of Miami's vivacity and jungle allure. The wedding ceremony was nothing short of a dream, as Poonam, draped in a stunning red lengha sourced from India, embodied the quintessential Indian bride. As the celebrations continued, the reception transformed into a sultry, romantic affair, with lush greenery and candlelight setting the perfect mood for an unforgettable evening.
Killer Creations Photography and Cinematography captured the essence of each moment, ensuring that the couple's unique relationship with family and friends was highlighted in every frame. Their keen eye for detail and ability to preserve emotions made every shot a masterpiece. Marigold Wedding Planners orchestrated the event precisely, weaving the couple's vision into a seamless and memorable experience. From the vibrant pre-wedding festivities to the romantic reception, their expertise brought every detail to life with flawless execution.
97 Films masterfully transformed Poonam & Wesley's wedding into a cinematic masterpiece, capturing not just the visuals but the emotions, energy, and essence of their love story. Every frame was thoughtfully curated to weave together the laughter, tears, and heartfelt moments that made their day unforgettable. From the electrifying beats of the Sangeet to the tender vows exchanged during the ceremony, their team ensured that no special moment went unnoticed. Their storytelling approach goes beyond traditional videography—it creates an experience, allowing Poonam and Wesley to relive their wedding day with the same excitement and emotions they felt in the moment.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Wesley and I met the summer between my first and second year of optometry school at a party. We were introduced by a classmate of mine who had been best friends with him since kindergarten. After talking all night we knew we had an instant connection, and continued to see each other after that night.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
In May of 2023, Wesley and I purchased our first home together. The day we closed and got the keys to the house, Wes got down on one knee on our front porch and asked me to marry him. It was perfect and just the two of us.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
Our vendors were amazing to work with! I had always dreamed of getting married at the Saint John's resort, and up until a few years ago, they only allowed Catholic weddings. It felt like fate when we inquired about their venue when they had just opened it up to all religious backgrounds. My inspiration for the decor was wanting to embody elements of us. For our Haldi and Mehendi, I wanted the bright traditional colors. For our Sangeet, I wanted to do something non-traditional and chose to do a disco jungle theme. I wanted it to be fun and have more of a Miami vibe than your typical sangeet decor. For the wedding, we wanted it to have that dreamy feel, and for the reception, we wanted it to be sultry/romantic. I wanted our guests to be able to feel the love we shared for one another by creating an environment that embodied that. I also picked outfits that matched each event but captured my personality in it. Our hair and makeup team was SO amazing to work with; they listened to everything I wanted, and I had never felt more beautiful in my life.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted to do traditional red, I LOVE an Indian bride in red. We most of my outfits from India, and I knew I wanted something a little different than what I was used to seeing. Once I found it I knew I had to have it.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Food tasting hands down was the best part, we had so many unique cuisines that it was exciting to try everything. I also really enjoyed planning the smaller details that brought everything together.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The food and drinks!!! Our bartenders from the venue created craft cocktails for our guests that we didn't have to request, they just did it.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking down the aisle. I had picked the perfect combination of songs to play, but when I was walking down, I felt like no one else in the room was there except my husband. It honestly felt like a movie moment for me, and all I could feel was love and joy.
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
The Haldi and Mehendi were outdoors, which naturally has a lot of green, so we wanted to stick with the bright, vibrant colors to contrast nicely. Our Sangeet I wanted a disco jungle theme -- the room where we hosted the event at our venue has large glass ceilings with lots of greenery within it. We had centerpieces made with tall vases with pink ostrich feathers and smaller disco balls filled with hot pink bougainvilleas. I really just wanted the sangeet to be fun, with fun foods. We catered our food from Paradise Street Eats where we had loaded butter chicken and paneer fries, butter chicken and paneer tacos, tandoori chicken wings, and so much more fun street food.
Our wedding reception I wanted to have a more sultry romantic feel. I am not the biggest fan of florals and wanted to do more greenery and candle light.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy the planning process! There were definitely stressful moments, and there will be things that don't go your way -- but the day of, the only thing you're thinking about is the person you love the most. I would 10/10 highly recommend having your coordinator set up a private sitting area for you and your husband to eat dinner away from all your guests. We did this, and it honestly was the best way for us to spend quality time together and actually EAT without having people coming up to you.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My mehndi artist was amazing and captured so many beautiful details, including the Ohio State logo, which is where we met, an eye because I'm an optometrist, monogram initials, and a beautiful bride and groom display.
I wanted unique touches at our reception, so we had a martini ice luge and had them make lychee martinis to pour down!
We did a dessert bar from Sweet Dreams along with wedding cake because we wanted to have more options, and I'm still dreaming about the macaron tower.
We stuck with the traditional baraat, having Wes come in on the horse and everyone loved it!! I'm kind of tired of seeing the sports cars, but our horse also came with a carraige so after the ceremony Wes and I both left in the carraige together. It was very fairytale like and I loved it!
Our photobooth was AMAZING! I wanted a Kardashian esq photobooth, without any props or signs. I couldn't rave enough about UV Photobooth, they were great to work with.
Poonam & Wesley's wedding was a celebration of love, culture, and beautifully blended traditions.
