Event Accomplished

Multi-Day Indian Fusion Wedding Washington DC | Sikh Ceremony & Reception

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 19:24:18 +0000

In the previous post, we shared the photos from the Mehendi party, the Welcome Dinner (hosted at Meridian House in DC), a few getting ready moments on wedding day, and the always fun Baraat (groom’s processional).

As with most Indian weddings, a wedding is a multi-day celebration and the wedding day itself can be quite a marathon. After getting hair and makeup done very early in the morning, and dressed, there may be several traditional rituals that the bride and groom will perform. Prior to the ceremony, the groom’s family and friends will dance their way to the ceremony venue in a baraat. At the end of the baraat, the bride’s family and friend welcome them in a milni ritual. After the Sikh ceremony, held at the Sikh Gurdwara Washington DC, our couple exchanged wedding rings in private while guests enjoyed lunch. In between, there will be many photos taken. After lunch, guests can take a break while the bride, groom, wedding party, and families change into their evening outfits. The bride, bridesmaids, and mothers tyically will change their hair and makeup for an evening look. Then finally, we get to have a party which begins with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and lots of dancing. The evening festivities were held at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. From waking up at 5:30am to the last dance at midnight, it surely was a long day! All photos by Nat Wongsaroj Photography

For Sikh wedding ceremonies, your head must be covered. You can see me in the upper right hand corner with my scarf covering my head. Male members of the bride’s family escorts her into the ceremony – in this case, her cousin and brother-in-law. Nat Wongsaroj skillfully captured the emotions as the bride and groom shared a glance during the ceremony. And again capturing a touching moment between the bride and her father. During a Sikh wedding ceremony, the bride and groom circle the palki which holds the Holy Book. Since this is a fusion wedding, the couple decided to also have a ring exchange afterwards with their parents present, which is not a part of the sikh wedding ceremony.

In a Sikh wedding tradition, the bride shakes her bangles over the head of an unmarried bridesmaid. If that bridesmaid is hit by a falling piece of kalire (bell-shaped ornaments), she will be the next to get married.
Many couples will change from their ceremony outfits into another outfit for the evening reception. How cute are they, and Nat noticed the sign by the front door! A large antique mirror was used as a seating chart, which worked really well with the ornate design of the hotel. One of our favorite feature of the Mayflower Hotel’s Grand Ballroom is being able to introduce the newlyweds on the balcony, above all the guests, creating a dramatic moment. For their first dance, the couple started with something romantic and then entertained the guests with an upbeat, Bhangra style dance. At Indian weddings, guests will often perform a dance for the newlyweds. Lakshmi Sarkar captured the evening by painting the wedding reception live.

Event Production Team

Wedding Planner: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished, Arlington VA

Wedding Ceremony Venue: Sikh Gurdwara Washington, DC

Wedding Reception Venue: Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC

Photography: Nat Wongsaroj Photography

Floral Design and Decor: DMV Decor

Beauty Team: Tamar C Makeup

Caterer: Bollywood Bistro

DJ: DJ Monica, Planet DJ

Wedding Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes

Dance Floor Wrap: Signature Designs

Live Painting: Lakshmi Sarkar Creations

Transportation: Academy

Post-Ceremony Getaway vehicle: Blacklane

Click here for more Indian wedding inspiration, Mayflower weddings, and summer wedding inspiration. – Vicky

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Multi-Day Indian Fusion Wedding Washington DC | Mehendi, Welcome Party, Baraat

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:30:31 +0000

With Indian weddings, the families typically host multiple events over several days and this wedding was no exception. In this post, we are going to share the photos from the Mehendi party, the Welcome Dinner (which was hosted at the beautiful Meridian House in DC), getting ready moments on wedding day, and fun moments from the Baraat. We will share the Sikh ceremony held at the Sikh Gurdwara Washington DC and the evening reception held at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC in the next post. All photos by Nat Wongsaroj Photography

Love the more modern henna design for the bride with a looser, floral pattern.

With a fusion wedding, our clients decided to host a welcome party for some of their guests the night before their wedding day at the beautiful Meridian House. We were obsessed with the bride’s stylish white suit.

Even for a smaller guest count, you still need a little bit of structure to make your guests feel comfortable like assigning them to tables so that there is no guessing.

For this welcome dinner, our clients chose a menu that would be completely different than the Indian food which will be served on wedding day. They selected a family-style dinner service featuring cuisines from all over the world.

The Drawing Room at Meridian House ready for dinner.

The gorgeous couple.

On the morning of the wedding, the groom gets some help from his future father-in-law with tying his turban.

The intimate moments between a bride and her mother are always so special. Also, we love a bride who wears orange.

Sehra Bandi ritural – where the groom gets a band of beads attached to his turban, representing a transition to married life, to cover his face before the wedding ceremony.

Riding the horse for his baraat – always part exciting and part terrifying – but always fun!

The groom’s family and friends at the end of the baraat is welcomed by the bride’s family and friends at the milni.

Event Production Team

Wedding Planner: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished, Arlington VA

Welcome Dinner Venue: Meridian House, Washington, DC

Welcome Dinner Valet: MJ Valet

Welcome Dinner Caterer: Main Event Caterers, Arlington, VA

Welcome Dinner DJ: DJ Ricardo Vazquez, Dan Goldman Events

Dhol for Baraat: ShiVish Entertainment

Horse for Baraat: Carriages of the Capital

Ceremony Venue: Sikh Gurdwara Washington, DC

Photography: Nat Wongsaroj Photography

Floral Design and Decor: DMV Decor

Beauty Team: Tamar C Makeup

Click here for more Indian wedding inspiration, Merdian House weddings, and summer wedding inspiration. We hope you enjoyed Part 1 of this wedding. More to come! – Vicky

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Editorial Feature: Color Palettes for Indian Weddings

admin — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:39:55 +0000

Photo: Regetis.

Are you looking for color palette inspiration for your upcoming Indian / South Asian wedding in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia? We are delighted to contribute to an editorial article on The Knot. In this article titled, “Indian Wedding Colors for the Perfect Palette,” we offer some ideas on the variety of color palettes to consider and the meaning behind the colors. Choosing a color scheme is often one of the first tasks as you plan your wedding‘s look and style, driving many of the subsequent design decisions from wedding stationery to wedding party attire, to tabletop selection. Check it out! For more wedding planning tips, check out our blog archive.

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Meridian House Wedding featuring Dinner under the Linden Trees

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:30:00 +0000

There is no higher compliment than when a former client’s family is celebrating another wedding and want us to be their wedding planner. We had planned the bride’s brother’s wedding in Georgetown in Washington, DC several years ago. For this wedding, the design was a completely different vibe. With the wedding ceremony and reception held at the Meridian House in Washington, DC, our clients leaned into a garden aesthetic for the ceremony, followed by dinner under the glow of bistro lights among the Linden Trees. Dinner al fresco on a late summer evening is quite enchanting! All photos by Neysha Bauer Photography.

The Ida McKinley Suite at the Riggs Hotel is the perfect space for a bride to get ready the morning of her wedding.

Love this watercolor image of the Meridian House for the couple’s Save the Date card.

For a summer garden style wedding, I love how each bridesmaid wore a different floral print dress.

Instead of a bouquet, the bridesmaids carried baskets filled with gorgeous blooms.

The jubilant expression of newlyweds is often the best part of the wedding day!

The Library at Meridian House is an intimate space perfect for a lounge set up.

The ambiance created by dining among the trees in the Linden Grove, under the warm glow of bistro lights, really elevates the guests’ experience.

Loved the textured layers of this tablesetting that tied in with this garden style wedding.

One of my favorite trends are brides changing into a party dress after all the formalities are completed.

As a fellow cat mom, got to love the Fathead of their cat!

Goodnight!

Production Team
Wedding Planner: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished, Arlington, VA
Wedding Venue: Meridian House, Washington, DC
Caterer: Susan Gage Caterers
Photography: Neysha Bauer Photography
Videography: Fine Art Wedding Film
Floral Design: Bee Inspired Events
Band: Super Velvet Party Band via Dan McGuire Group
Hair Stylist: Uzma Kaker, MAB Hair & Makeup Artistry
Makeup Artist: Ebonie Jones, MAB Hair & Makeup Artistry
Officiant: Rabbi Deborah Reichmann
Vintage Porsche Speedster: Vinty.com
Bistro Lighting for Linden Grove: Dan Goldman Events
Lounge Furniture: Something Vintage Rentals
Event Rentals: DC Rental and Table Manners
Photobooth: Majestic Photobooth
Transportation: MJ Valet
Guest Hotel: Riggs Washington DC
After Party Venue: Silver Lyan, Washington, DC
Welcome Party Venue: Amazonia, Washington, DC

Check out our archives for more: Meridian House weddings, summer weddings

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Spring Modern Indian Wedding at Shadow Creek Purcellville

admin — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:30:44 +0000

When you are Bengali but grew up in the United States, you want your wedding to also reflect the two cultures. On top of that, our clients are traveled internationally extensively. We worked with the couple to design a modernized Indian wedding, held at the rustic Shadow Creek in Purcellville, Virginia.

While their ceremony was mostly traditional Hindu and Bengali, they worked with their priestess to modernize some of the language used. For cocktail hour, Spilled Milk Catering designed a menu featuring bites from across the globe like Stuffed Golgappa, Grilled Lamb Chops, Zucchini Feta Latkes, Mini Peking Duck Bao, Lobster Rolls, and Latin Braised Chicken Tacos. They offered a family-style dinner with more traditional Indian dishes.

Visually speaking, the color palette had a light and airy spring feel with soft pinks, peach, white, and a pop of coral; opposite of a typical Indian wedding with more saturated and vibrant color palette. All photos by Kir Tuben Photography

Who says only the bride can have special henna for the wedding day? The groom joined in and added a special design for his bride.

Since the weather did not cooperate and it was raining, we moved the ceremony indoor. The ceremony was anchored by this beautifully rustic mandap.

Since the couple are animal lovers, we found a cute way to incorporate that in the escort card display.

When your mandap looks this good, you should reused it as focal point for the sweetheart table during the reception.

If you have quite a few guests with dietary restrictions, provide a menu card to guide them through dinner.

Production Team
Wedding Planner: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished
Wedding Venue: Shadow Creek, Purcellville, VA
Caterer: Spilled Milk Catering
Photography: Kir Tuben Photography
Videography: Chasing Light Productions
Florist: Black Calla Events
Henna Artist for Mehendi: Stunning Beauty & Henna, Renu Bharati
Beauty Team: Makeup by Ana B, Hair & Makeup Artistry | Hair Stylist – Esme | Makeup Artist – Shirley
DJ: Dynasty AVE
Priestess: Dr. Ranjan Ravaliya
Pipe and Drape: Sammy’s Rental
Transportation: Sunny’s Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation
Guest Hotel: Fairfield Inn & Suites at Dulles Airport, Sterling, VA

Click here for more Indian wedding inspiration and spring wedding inspiration.

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Nonprofit Fundraiser & Awards at Spy Museum Washington DC

admin — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:30:19 +0000

When our clients ask us to return to assist them with planning an annual event, we are honored to do so but also challenged to keep the event fresh year after year. With our planning process, we begin by reviewing the objectives and priorities for every event, even for repeat ones. Often, you will find that non-profit organizations will have a specific goal or initiative they focus on each year. This specific initiative is often the best guide for which an event can be anchored upon. It helps to tie an annual initiative to the organization’s fundraising efforts. Global Camps Africa invited us back to partner with them to produce its annual Fundraiser and Awards Ceremony, held at International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. With nonprofit events, we want to help our clients expand their donor base and supporters; to increase awareness on their mission and programming, and to show appreciation for their existing supporters by producing an event worthy of their time and effot. Read more about this gala in our portfolio. Photo: Ashlee Wilcox Photography

Production Team

Event Planner: Event Accomplished, Arlington, VA
Venue: International Spy Museum, Washington, DC
Catering: Relish Catering, North Bethesda, MD
AV: Pike Productions
Auctioneer & MC: Matt Newsome, Custom Benefit Auctions
Photographer: Ashlee Wilcox Photography
Performance: Master Singers of Virginia
Rentals: Table Manners

Learn more about our corporate and nonprofit events.

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Cheerful Spring Garden Wedding at Meridian House

admin — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 15:30:51 +0000

To start the wedding planning process, one of the questions we ask an engaged couple is why they chose to celebrate their marriage in the way in which they envisioned. Our clients expressed that they wanted their wedding to be very intentional; that while their immediate families were small, their chosen family filled with friends is quite large. That concept drove the decisions our clients made. in Washington, DC. – fit for a wedding reception.

All photos by Kiyah C Photography

The wedding invitations from Minted set the tone with sorbet colored hues with a modern sensibility.

This hand embroidered handkerchief from the bride to her Mom was a sentimental touch.

Can we have a moment for this whole look please? A modern vintage vibe with the bride’s gown by Alexandra Grecco from Lovely Bride DC, with earrings by Mejuri from Something Borrowed Bridal. A gorgeous bouquet of poppies in orange, peach and white; with lavender and apricot Japanese Sweet Peas, peach buttery Ranunculus, bright red Tulips, and lavender Lilac from Petals and Promises finished the whole look.

These accessories put the finishing touches on this bridal look with gloves from Kerry Parker
and this beaded and feather clutch from Cult Gaia

Loved this mother, daughter duo!

Two lovely people deserved this gorgeous day for the wedding ceremony in the gardens of Meridian House.

As a fellow cat mom, I appreciate signature cocktails named after the couple’s cats.

In the library, we had two long kings tables for dinner.

Each of the kings tables had a collection of modern bud vase trios of bright Poppies running down the center flanked by Ikebana style designs of lavender and peach Sweet Peas with red reflexed Tulips. Adding colorful tapered candles, we created a cheerful tablescape.

In the Drawing Room, we designed a similar layout with two long, kings table.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets did double duty and were reused as part of the floral centerpiece arrangements on the dinner tables.

Let’s have yet another moment for the bride’s beaded party dress by Karen Millen. It was even more fabulous in person.

Production Team
Venue: Meridian House, Washington, DC
Wedding Planner: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished, Arlington, VA
Photographer: Kiyah C Photography
Catering: Get Plated Catering, Alexandria, VA
Floral Design: Petals and Promises
Ceremony Music: Cherry Blossom String Quartet
DJ & Lighting: Dan Goldman Events
Invitations: Minted
Hair and Makeup: Best Face Forward
Rings: Vrai Official
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy Group
Bride’s Gown Designer: Alexandra Grecco from Lovely Bride DC
Bride’s Party Dress: Karen Millen
Groom’s Suit: The Knot Standard
Groomsmen’s Suits: The Black Tux
Bride’s Gloves: Kerry Parker
Bride’s Bag: Cult Gaia and Bride’s Earrings: Mejuri from Something Borrowed Bridal

Check out our archives for more: Meridian House weddings, spring weddings

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Celebration of the Decades 50th Birthday Party at National Union Building

admin — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:33:54 +0000

When your clients tell you that they want “rowdy, boisterous gaiety” at their combined milestone 50th birthday party, you oblige! Both love live music and so a live band was a must. We needed a venue that not only can accommodate a band, but also have enough space for other activities and for a quieter place to chat for those who do not want to dance. National Union Building in Washington, DC, a historic building built in 1890, provided a unique ambiance for this celebration.

With a subtle music thread, we decided on a “Celebration of the Decades,” starting with disco balls of the 1970s, to the neon of the 1980s, finishing with music of today. To keep guests entertained, we had a foosball table, blackjack and roulette. All photos by Kurstin Roe Photography

The ornate and historic exterior of the National Union Building in Washington, DC. Coming here means you are attending something special.

As guests entered the first floor, they encountered a more refined and subtle version of a 1970s, disco aesthetics, with touches of disco balls and sequin textures.

Especially fun was the neon rope light on the staircase railing that led guests to the second floor.

As guests approached the 2nd floor, the South Room featured an 80s style, complete with slinkies and Rubiks cubes for decor and bold colors. Even the bathroom got a special touch with that famous phone number from the song, Jenny by Tommy Tutones.

On the second floor, if you didn’t feel like dancing, we provided guests with casino games, a photobooth, and a foosball table.

No party is complete without custom cocktails napkins for an extra touch of fun. All related to dancing through the decades.

For the music lovers, we selected subtle but fun touches with pillow covers of album covers and cassette tapes of favorite bands.

Yoko Says No band during sound check on the 2nd floor at National Union Building.

Production Partners
Event Planner: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished, Arlington, Virginia
Venue: National Union Building, Washington, DC
Caterer: Well Dunn Catering
Photographer: Kurstin Roe Photography
AV: Potomac Sound
Band: Yoko Says No
Classic Games: SNAP Entertainment
Photobooth: Phenomenal Photo Booth Rentals
Custom Cocktail Napkins: For Your Party

For our clients, a milestone birthday such as a 50th birthday party is an opportunity to celebrate life and spend a memorable night with loved ones. Check out our other 50th birthday parties.

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Nonprofit Fundraiser at Planet Word Washington DC

admin — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:00:16 +0000

One common denominator among non-profit organizations is that they have small staffs. It makes sense. You keep your overhead low so that funds are spent on programming to serve their mission. But when you need to plan a fundraising gala on top of your everyday responsibilities, the level of effort required is typically more than the existing staff can handle. Global Camps Africa invited us to partner with them to produce its 20th anniversary Gala and Fundraiser, held at Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC. With nonprofit events, we are especially mindful and resourceful about the event’s budget, understanding for each dollar not spent on the event means that dollar can go towards programming. Read more about this gala in our portfolio. Photo: Roma Vista Photography

Production Team

Event Planner: Event Accomplished, Arlington, VA
Venue: Planet Word, Washington, DC
Catering: Relish Catering, North Bethesda, MD
AV: Rayne Events
Auctioneer & MC: Will Farmer
Wine Consultant: Grape Intentions
Photographer: Roma Vista Photography
Rentals: Table Manners

Learn more about our corporate and nonprofit events.

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Indian-Colombian Gay Wedding at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

admin — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:30:00 +0000

Nothing makes us happier than to work with clients who trust our wedding planning expertise and follow our guidance, while being great partners in the process. What would have been a rather complex wedding to navigate, was made much easier. To be mindful and considerate of the emotions and cultural expectations that come with a same-sex, fusioin wedding is no small feat. Luckily, our grooms’ families exuded such joy in their sons’ marriage. This spring wedding, held at the Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, Virginia, celebrated our grooms’ Indian and Colombian heritages, beginning with a Hindu wedding ceremony. All photos by Procopio Photography

How fun are these henna designs by Bhavna’s Henna & Arts for our grooms?

This cheerful floral elephant greeted the guests.

There was so much laughter but especially during the newlywed games!

What a refreshing change to be able to design with so much color, which popped against the greenery at the Atrium.

We repurposed the mandap as the backdrop for the sweetheart table.

The talented grooms designed these cute table name cards.

Their cat attended the wedding too but in cake form.

The takeaway favors included Colombian coffee and an Indian candle, something that reflected both grooms’ cultures.

What a sweet photo!

Production Team

Wedding Planner: Event Accomplished, Vicky Choy
Wedding Venue & Catering: Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA
Indian Food Catering: Indaroma, Alexandria, VA
Photography: Procopio Photography
Floral Design & Mandap: Elegance and Simplicity
Bilingual DJ : DJ Ivan, Dan Goldman Events
Cocktail Hour Musicians: Cherry Blossom String Quartet
Henna Artist: Bhavna’s Henna & Arts
Officiant: Raja Gopal Bhattar
Cake: Sweets by E
Mandap Furniture Rental: Nivanjoli, Prabha Bhambri
Videographer: Michael Brazda Films

For more inspiration on Indian fusion weddings, take a look at our blog archives.

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