Mary and Prateek’s colorful downtown St. Pete Indian fusion wedding featured a vibrant outdoor ceremony and a stunning ballroom reception. Adding plenty of personalities, the bride and groom incorporated their favorite local coffee shop, a special whiskey bar, and an unforgettable surprise Bollywood performance.
“We wanted to take the important and unique parts of our Hindu and Christian cultures and fuse them together in the most harmonious way possible. It was important to us to fully embrace the Hindu traditions, but keep it somewhat westernized as well,” Mary explained. “We decided it would be best to do a Hindu wedding ceremony, with some American twists, and fuse in a Christian ceremony at the same time. For the reception, it was the same idea. Combine the best of both cultures with the décor, the food, and the entertainment!”
To help gain inspiration and insight, Mary utilized Marry Me Tampa Bay’s real wedding free planning tools to connect with other local brides.
“I reached out to other Indian or fusion brides through Marry Me Tampa Bay to see what challenges they faced, how they overcame them. and was even referred to a few vendors that I used just through meeting other brides in the area. I always vetted them through Marry Me Tampa Bay,” the bride shared.
In search of the perfect wedding venue to celebrate the bride and groom’s 11-year relationship, the couple searched for a space that was unique and provided a wow factor.
“We didn’t want to choose a space that felt like any old ballroom. We looked at a few other local venues, but none of them were big enough or had the character or flexibility quite like The Vinoy,” the bride beamed. “We currently reside about two miles from the Vinoy. We met in downtown St. Pete, live here and love it here, so we decided that the wedding should completely embody those things that we loved. The Vinoy was featured on Marry Me Tampa Bay so I definitely used that for stalking of ideas on ballroom sets and creative ideas for photo opportunities! It is historic and elegant and showcases the city beautifully. As for their Grand Ballroom, it was the perfect blend of everything we wanted in a venue space. Plus the whole staff was very accommodating to all of our requests!”
It was love at first sight for Mary, as she found her dress online long before she and Prateek were officially engaged. Luckily, when the time finally came, Isabel O’Neil Bridal Collection was one of the few boutiques in Tampa Bay that sold the specific designer she was searching for.
“I had seen a specific gown via social media that I fell in love with from Galia Lahav and had pinned it as my dream dress. When the time arrived and I got engaged, Isabel O’Neil just so happened to have a Galia Lahav trunk show the next month after,” the bride gushed. “I called the store, and they were extremely accommodating, kind, and made sure the designer sent a sample dress from their HQ in Tel Aviv so that I could see it in person. Once I saw it, I was hooked. It was the first dress I saw, and the one I ended up with! Nothing ever compared!”
Choosing a hair and makeup artist who could help capture both cultures was important to the bride and Michele Renee The Studio worked their magic to help achieve the perfect look.
“I found Michele Renee The Studio through Marry Me Tampa Bay; they are known in the area for being the experts at South Asian weddings. Because I was doing fusion with both Indian and American elements, it was important to find a studio that understood the important aspects of both while also staying true to myself,” the bride shared. “The artists from Michele Renee were extremely professional, knowledgeable and respectful with all of the different wedding customs that we incorporated, so I knew that we were meant for each other!”
Every couple has their favorite moment from their blissful day, but one special one stood out the most to Mary and Prateek.
“For both of us, there was a defining moment that we will never forget,” the bride blushed. “Prateek and his family and friends were making their way down 5th Ave in front of the Vinoy during his Baraat. He was on horseback, the DJ and drums were playing, everyone was dancing and having an amazing time. I was on the pool deck at the Vinoy peering below onto the street for the first time watching it all come together and saw how absolutely happy everyone was. Shortly after that, I was peeking down from the deck above and Prateek and I locked eyes and waved to each other. At that moment, it was like time froze.”
The Proposal:
Prateek and I were on a Christmas vacation in the Bahamas. We spent a beautiful Christmas Eve boating around the Exumas and topped it off with a great meal at the historic Graycliff Hotel. He proposed almost at midnight on Christmas Eve after dinner in front of a Christmas tree made of wine bottles, and he had the hotel staff in on the entire thing!
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I found Michele Renee the Studio through Marry Me Tampa Bay; they are known in the area for being the experts at South Asian weddings. Because I was doing fusion with both Indian and American elements, it was important to find a studio that understood the important aspects of both while also staying true to myself.
I want to learn more about hair and makeup services from Michele Renee the Studio
The artists from Michele Renee were extremely professional, knowledgeable and respectful with all of the different wedding customs that we incorporated, so I knew that we were meant for each other!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted to take the important and unique parts of our Hindu and Christian cultures and fuse them together in the most harmonious way possible. It was important to us to fully embrace the Hindu traditions, but keep it somewhat westernized as well. We decided it would be best to do a Hindu wedding ceremony, with some American twists, and fuse in a Christian ceremony at the same time. For the reception, it was the same idea, combine the best of both cultures with the décor, the food, and the entertainment!
What were your colors?
Indian weddings are full of all of the colors of the rainbow! We knew we wanted the ceremony to be bright and vibrant and full of those bold colors and the reception to be more classic. The flowers on top of the trellis in North Straub Park, where we held our ceremony, were a beautiful dark pink against the bright white of the trellis. We wanted to play off of that color wheel and incorporate the dark pinks with purples, and some gold for extra sparkle. I have always been drawn to dark purple, so we incorporated those same purple hues into the evening reception space in the Vinoy ballroom to tie it all together.
What did you look for in a wedding reception gown?
Isabel O’Neil Bridal Collection was the only boutique in the Tampa area that sold Galia Lahav gowns. I had seen a specific gown via social media that I fell in love with from that designer, and had pinned it as my dream dress. When the time arrived and I got engaged, Isabel O’Neil just so happened to have a Galia Lahav trunk show the next month after.
I want to learn more about wedding attire from Isabel O’Neil Bridal.
I called the store and they were extremely accommodating, kind, and made sure the designer sent a sample dress from their HQ in Tel Aviv so that I could see it in person. Once I saw it, I was hooked. It was the first dress I saw, and the one I ended up with! Nothing ever compared!
Prateek’s family’s business started out in the cigar industry in early 1970’s. Because the cigar industry was so important to the early roots of success, we had a cigar roller at our cocktail hour as an ode to where it all began.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Choosing a location that was unique was important to us. We didn’t want to choose a space that felt like any old ballroom. We looked at a few other local venues, but none of them were big enough or had the character or flexibility quite like The Vinoy. We currently reside about two miles from the Vinoy. We met in downtown St. Pete, live here and love it here, so we decided that the wedding should completely embody those things that we loved.
I want to learn more about weddings at the Vinoy Renaissance.
The Vinoy Renaissance is historic and elegant and showcases the city beautifully. It was featured on Marry Me Tampa Bay so I definitely used that for stalking of ideas on ballroom sets and creative ideas for photo opportunities! As for their Grand Ballroom, it was the perfect blend of everything we wanted in a venue space. Plus the whole staff was very accommodating to all of our requests!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Make a list of your top two or three things that are the most important to you for your wedding. Whenever you find yourself caught up in a decision or are feeling overwhelmed with choices, whether it’s colors or place settings or dresses or jewelry or whatever other general anxiety may arise, go back to those two or three things and remind yourself what’s really important. Everything else will fall into place.
Baraat: 5th Ave NE/Bayshore Drive NE
Ceremony: North Straub Park
Reception Venue: The Vinoy Renaissance – Grand Ballroom *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Trenholm Photo
Videographer: Voila Cinematic
Planner: Eventrics Weddings
Florist, Rentals & Decor: Suhaag Garden
Caterer: Tabla Cuisine
Cake: The Vinoy Renaissance (tiered cake), Wright’s Gourmet House
DJ and Dhol Player: DJ Pavan, Pavan Events
Cocktail Hour and First Dance Guitarist: Dean Johanesen
Officiant: Hindu Pundit – Deep Logani
Christian Officiant: Matt Conigliaro
Invitations: Design by Harpriya Singh (India)
Baraat Horse and Carriage: Downtown Horse & Carriage
Ceremony Dress: Custom Purple Velvet Lehenga Made in India, Customized Through Nazranaa (New Jersey)
Reception Gown: Isabel O’Neil Bridal Collection, Galia Lahav *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Bridesmaid Ceremony Saris: Ethnic Rack (custom made in India)
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee the Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Bridal Mehndi & Sari Wrapping: Tejal Henna
Coffee: Kahwa Kahwagon Coffee Truck
Nitrogen Ice Cream: Private Island Ice Cream
Signage & Seating Chart Boards: Levimar & Co
Bollywood Dancers & Lessons: Srishti Dance Academy
Ceremony Staging & Raise Aisle: Rent All-City
Bridal Bouquet: Abigail Grace Bridal Accessories
Friday Night Welcome Reception Venue: Station House *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue Friday Night Welcome Catering: Ichicoro Ane and LOCALE Gourmet Market
