Maryam and Sunil wed in an amazingly beautiful California winery, surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends. This international couple came together to celebrate their love in marriage, as well as celebrate the blending of two multi-cultural families. The bright color scheme and gorgeous surroundings made for a visually stunning ceremony and reception. But the real show-stopper was Maryam’s dress. Her strapless gown was glamorous and elegant, the mermaid shape was so flattering, and soft layers of tulle and beading at the waist gave it an ethereal glow. Simply fabulous!
Maryam + Sunil | September, 2010 | Sonoma, California
The ceremony
The theme of our wedding was “Rara Avis,” which means rare bird. My husband and I are from different backgrounds, so we wanted our ceremony to signify the unity of two people, two families and two cultures. We incorporated elements of Afghan, Indian and American traditions. We kept our decorations minimal at the ceremony because of the beautiful surroundings and view of the vineyard.
The reception
Since this was an outdoor wedding, Sunil and I wanted to use a lot of color to contrast with the gorgeous greenery surrounding us. We focused a lot on our lighting, using fuchsia and tangerine paper lanterns, as well as pink pin lighting. We also incorporated silver birdcages with bright flowers as centerpieces on fuchsia tableclothes. Lastly, we knew our guests would provide a wonderful, colorful addition to the decor. The saris, gowns and the Afghan outfits of the henna dancers were perfect.
How Maryam felt in her wedding dress
Stunning. I wanted my dress to be a knock-out. This was the first gown I tried on when dress shopping, and I compared everything else to it. It had an ethereal quality to it and was, quite frankly, a stunning dress with gorgeous detailing. I knew the dress was perfect when I walked down the aisle and saw my future husband with tears in his eyes.
Why Maryam decided to sell her wedding dress
Other than getting married, my favorite thing about my wedding was this dress. I received so many compliments on it, even from people who only saw it in pictures. It really is a statement piece and I feel another bride should have as much fun with and feel as wonderful in this dress as I did.
