(IQPhoto)

Wedding Inspiration: An Opulent Indian Celebration in San Jose

Jul 29, 2019

Gowri Rajeev and Rick Balwani are an office romance success story with a long-distance spell thrown in.

But after a courtship full of quick lunch chats and text message emojis, the pair united in the Bay Area. Two years, Balwani got down on one knee during a trip to Japan.

For the big day, they gathered at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose where they went all out in traditional Indian style, and as is the custom, there were multiple glamorous outfits and embellishments. For the ceremony, the groom sported gold and crimson, while Rajeev wore a lovely apricot hue and gilded jewelry.

The ceremony began with a baraat, the groom on his decorated white horse as guests danced around him to the beat of an Indian drum. The couple exchanged flower garlands symbolizing their acceptance of each other before taking a seat under the mandap, a canopy covered in cream and blush blooms.

After walking back down the aisle together as husband and wife, they enjoyed the waterfalls on the grounds before making their big appearance at the reception. Each table bursts with creamy florals, and the party indulged in a three-tiered cake. The two appeared as Mr. and Mrs. in a sleek tuxedo and richly embellished two-piece gown, twirling on the dance floor before taking to a plush loveseat under an arch of multihued florals.