1. Real Weddings

An Extravagant, Glamorous Indian Wedding at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos

Nonstop entertainment was the theme for Melanie  (29 and an actress) and Neeraj's (33 and an investor) opulent wedding at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos

Nonstop entertainment was the theme for Melanie  (29 and an actress) and Neeraj's (33 and an investor) opulent wedding at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos. In addition to countless wardrobe changes, the couple participated in a number of choreographed dances and even flew in three dancers from the Sa Dance Company in New York City for the multiday celebration at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos. At the reception, a surprise firework display was timed meticulously to coincide with the cake cutting and Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars." One of the most memorable moments was halfway through the night, when the reception turned into an impromptu pool party. Guests jumped into the infinity pool, fully clothed in their suits, gowns and saris. And with more than 150 guests on the dance floor at 1 a.m., the DJ spun until dawn. "We wanted this to be not just a wedding, but a life experience for everyone who attended," Melanie says. "We had more than 250 guests flying in from all over the world for a two-and-a-half-day extravaganza in one of the most, if not the most, beautiful venues in the Caribbean." The couple rented out the entire Amanyara resort and provided special activities (including a private diving excursion) for guests during downtime. "We did our best to ensure their experience, from the moment they landed on the island to their departure, was both taken care of and seamless," Melanie says.

Melanie wore a dramatic blue and pink lehenga from Manish Arora for the mehndi party on the first night of their celebration. The boho-chic theme came to life with colorful lanterns and hundreds of candles in a private villa at Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos.
A symbol of health and good luck, the women sported traditional mehndi designs on their hands for the celebration. The tradition says that the darker the mehndi on the bride's hands, the more her groom loves her.
Melanie and Neeraj arrive for their sangeet, a festive party held the night before the wedding. The event began with a cocktail at sunset and ended with a massive dance party with all 250 guests. She wore a navy and gold lehenga while he donned a structured sherwani jacket with pants.
The couple flew in three dancers from the Sa Dance Company in New York City to perform for the Bollywood-themed sangeet. The 22-member bridal party followed the professional dancers with a performance of their own.
Melanie and Neeraj Photoshopped their faces onto the heroes and heroines of their favorite Bollywood movies posters for their "Bollywood Soiree" sangeet party.
The wedding day celebration commenced with Neeraj's baraat, the groom's side parade around the resort that led to the bride and the ceremony location. He rode a horse decked in colorful draping.
The groom wore a Tarun Tahiliani dhoti and jacket while his groomsmen rocked cream-colored kurtas with bright red scarves.
To keep the focus on the striking beauty of the Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos, Melanie and Neeraj kept the ceremony decor more simplistic. Using gold chiavari chairs and parasols in shades of pink, planner Sonal Shah created an ombre effect leading to the mandap. The mandap was draped in blush pink fabrics and highlighted with bright pink flowers. "It was important for us to keep the decor elegant and not compete with the natural beauty of the surroundings," Melanie says. "I got emotional when I witnessed the whole thing come together in person. It was a dream!"
Melanie accented the intricate embroidery of her Manish Malhorta bridal lehenga with traditional gold necklaces and stacks of bangles on each arm. Her most memorable moment came when her father arrived to walk her down the aisle, seeing Melanie in her wedding dress for the first time: "I took one look into his proud, loving eyes and couldn't hold back my tears of love and joy," Melanie says.
For the traditional South Indian Hindu ceremony, Melanie's bridesmaids matched her delicately embroidered lehenga in red or pink saris with gold trim. They each wore matching gold necklaces and tikka headpieces.
Melanie and Neeraj exchange garlands, a key component of the traditional South Indian ceremony. The garlands represent their consent to be married to each other. The ceremony took place under a draped mandap of blush fabrics.
With close family members sitting at the mandap, Melanie and Neeraj exchange their vows.
The couple hosted their wedding where Neeraj proposed, the Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos, where the blue and green waters added another dimension of color to the Indian celebration.
The cocktail hour and reception took place at Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos, overlooking the Caribbean sea.
The couple's custom peacock monogram was printed in pink letterpress at the top of their menu cards. The peacock holds special meaning in Hindu culture, representing kindness and luck.
Clear charger plates with a delicate gold rim highlighted the shimmery blush linens on the reception tables. The mix of red and pink flowers echoed those of her bridesmaid outfits.
While guests enjoyed cocktail hour, the ceremony space was transformed into a glamorous reception with romantic details like red roses. As the sun set, the infinity pool reflected the starry night, full moon and a fireworks surprise while the couple cut the cake.