The wedding of Shuchi Desai and Ronak Parikh was an 18-hour extravaganza that took place on July 3, 2011. Florists arrived to the ceremony location – a beautiful country club – as early as 5AM to begin decorating. They secured a plethora of flowers and pomander balls in shades of red, yellow, and pink onto a wooden structure that served as the setting of the altar. Bold greenery amongst the colorful blooms merged the vivid décor with the beauty of the natural surroundings. Rose petals lined a white aisle runner.

The traditional baraat (groom's wedding procession) began at 9AM. Despite the early hour, a DJ spun tunes to inspire guests to begin dancing the moment they arrived at the event. The groom and his groomsmen made a grand entrance aboard motorcycles; the groom’s vehicle had been decorated with flora. The bride, who arrived shortly thereafter, carried a stunning bouquet of roses, calla lilies, and orchids. Her hands had been adorned with an intricate henna pattern.

The couple’s traditional Hindu ceremony featured a number of formal rituals, from a hasta melap (joining of the hands) to the vidai (goodbye ceremony). Each stage of the service was accompanied by music that had specifically selected for the rite.

Lunch was served at the conclusion of the festivities and soon the newlyweds were whisked away to their hotel, where the bride changed into an amber- and emerald-colored Choli, while the groom traded his sherwani for a striking black tuxedo.

The reception was held that evening in the ballroom of a nearby hotel. The couple performed an impressive first dance before taking a seat upon a stage that had been adorned with crystals and flowers. Friends and loved ones participated in seven different unique performances – from dances to speeches – to honor the bride and groom. Colorful cupcakes were served in lieu of a traditional wedding cake, and lively music kept the party going until the wee hours of the morning.