Meera and Mickey's colorful destination Clearwater Beach wedding featured the groom arriving on a white horse, stunning rooftop ceremony, and a first dance straight from the movies. To complement their venue's distinct rooftop space and beach backdrop, the Indian bride and groom opted for romantic ceremony decor followed by a sophisticated reception.
“We opted for soft pink, ivory, and gold fabrics, which contrasted beautifully against the vibrant blue skies. We kept the florals and aisle simple with ivory elephants to mark the entrance down the aisle and let nature do the rest of the work for us,” Meera explained. “While our ceremony was a combination of traditional and tropical, our reception had a regal and elegant vibe. Our colors were navy blue and ivory with hints of gold. We used a combination of candelabras and tall floral centerpieces to offset the navy linens. The royal blue uplighting around the room created a romantic ambiance, while the soft white stage lighting drew the eye to the ornate ivory structure and dreamy starlight backdrop. The overall effect was to create a fairy tale atmosphere.”
MORE: INDIAN WEDDING INSPIRATION
The New York couple sought a Florida beachfront location for their destination wedding that was large enough to host all of the wedding-related events on-site in different locations so that their guests could experience unique areas within the resort.
“We both knew we wanted a destination wedding. We decided on Clearwater Beach because Meera had been living there for her residency program, and we both fell in love with the area. This location was the best of both worlds, being very accessible for us so we could plan more easily while also being a destination for the vast majority of our guests,” Mickey shared. “We searched for a venue with a tropical feel that would allow us to have an outdoor ceremony. We immediately fell in love with the Sky Terrace on the 16th floor at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa because it provided beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico without our guests having to deal with the sand while dressed in their finery. There was an abundance of natural beauty surrounding us, which made it easier for us to decorate the venue.”
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As with most Indian weddings, the couple's celebration was a multi-day affair, beginning with pre-wedding celebrations at their homes up North. Once their 200+ guests arrived in Florida, they were treated to a welcome dinner in the Belleair Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency.
On the day of the wedding, Mickey arrived on a majestic white horse named Thor while playing festive Punjabi music as the groom rode along the promenade on horseback with his family and friends.
“While discussing the two different family’s customs, and wanting to reflect both Gujarati traditions and Hindu Punjabi traditions, we discovered that there was a lot more in common between both cultures than we realized,” the couple shared. “Both of us are very family-oriented and wanted a smaller, more personable wedding to reflect that. We also envisioned a destination wedding at a tropical locale. We fell in love with Clearwater Beach from its white sand, abundant palm trees, and the ease with which our closest family and friends could get there.”
While Mickey enjoyed his Baarat, Meera turned to the team at Michele Renee The Studio to help her and her bridesmaids get wedding-ready.
“Michele Renee and her team of hair and make-up artists kept us feeling beautiful with their talent and energized with their personalities,” Meera raved.
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The bride shared that her favorite memories of the day were experienced during two special moments shared between her and Mickey.
“Due to the decor and lighting, our reception had a magical fairy tale feel to it, but during our first dance, the DJ provided a fog machine, which enhanced the overall experience and made it seem like we were dancing above the clouds. We remember hearing our guests gasp in awe during our first dance,” Meera reminisced. “Another memorable moment would be at our first look, which took place at the mandap overlooking the Gulf of Mexico as the sun was rising. It was an absolutely stunning morning that only made seeing each other for the first time as bride and groom even more magical.”
What did you look for in a hair and makeup team?
Michele Renee The Studio and her team of hair and make-up artists kept us feeling beautiful with their talent and energized with their personalities.
The Proposal:
After three and a half years of dating, Mickey felt it was time to put a ring on my finger. He decided my 30th birthday would be the perfect occasion to ask such an important question. To celebrate her birthday, we went on a cruise to the Bahamas with close friends. It was at sunset on the top deck, overlooking Nassau, Bahamas when Mickey got down on one knee and proposed.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We both knew we wanted a destination wedding. We decided on Clearwater Beach because Meera had been living there for her residency program, and we both fell in love with the area. This location was the best of both worlds, being very accessible for us so we could plan more easily while also being a destination for the vast majority of our guests. Once we decided on Clearwater Beach as our location, we searched for a venue with a tropical feel that would allow us to have an outdoor ceremony. As it was a destination wedding, we planned all of our functions at the same venue to keep things simple for our guests. We immediately fell in love with the Sky Terrace on the 16th floor at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa because it provided beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico without our guests having to deal with the sand while dressed in their finery. There was an abundance of natural beauty surrounding us, which made it easier for us to decorate the venue.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We opted for soft pink, ivory, and gold fabrics, which contrasted beautifully against the vibrant blue skies. We kept the florals and aisle simple with ivory elephants to mark the entrance down the aisle and let nature do the rest of the work for us. While our ceremony was a combination of traditional and tropical, our reception had a regal and elegant vibe. Our colors were navy blue and ivory with hints of gold. We used a combination of candelabras and tall floral centerpieces to offset the navy linens. The royal blue uplighting around the room created a romantic ambiance, while the soft white stage lighting drew the eye to the ornate ivory structure and dreamy starlight backdrop. The overall effect was to create a fairy tale atmosphere.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples planning their wedding?
It is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the planning and details, but make sure to take time throughout the planning process and during the events to remember why you are doing all of this. Take a few moments at the wedding and reception to focus on each other and soak in all the love you’re receiving. Especially the week of the wedding, hand over all tasks to other people, put someone else in charge of your phone, and just enjoy it all because you only get married once!
Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photography and Videographer: Fine Art Production
Planner: Signature Weddings and Events
Flowers/Garlands/Bouquets: Vivek Flowers
Mandap/Centerpieces/Decor: Nirali Decor
Catering: Aashirwad Restaurant
Cake: A Piece of Cake and Desserts
DJ: Dhol Beat International, DJ Impact – BJ Josan
Officiant: Rushi Vyas
Invitations: IndianWeddingCard.com
Hair and Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Mehndi Artists: Alpa Mandaliya and Gayatri Patel
Horse: St. Petersburg Carriages
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
