KGM Weddings

Wedding: Mayura + Ananda

Meet Mayura & Ananda.

This stunning couple was married on March 30th in Dana Point, California, surrounded by 400 of their closest family and friends.

Mayura is not only gorgeous on the outside, but she has the most beautiful spirit and heart. Before working for TOMS shoe company, she founded "One Thread Fair Trade," a non-profit company that empowers women in impoverished areas of South India.

The ceremony was decorated in bold red and muted gold, with touches of pink, orange, and green. Roses, dahlias, and hydrangeas perfumed the garden. But the best accent was the ocean view just behind the Mandap and the blue skies above.

After the ceremony, while guests dined on hors d'oeuvres, sipped on cocktails, and popped into the photobooth, the bride and groom spent their first few moments as husband and wife, strolling the sandy shore of Dana Point.

Sometimes the family and friends of the bride and groom have a little somethin' somethin' up their sleeves. In this case, the surprise was for the bride, who was a bagpiper in her high school marching band. Her friends invited the bagpipers from their alma mater to make a guest appearance during the reception. I loved keeping this secret because it was amazing! Their reaction was pure shock and laughter...

There were more surprise performances (like an awesome choreographed dance by Mayura's coworkers from TOMS). But I gotta say, the highlight of the evening (for me) was watching the groom serenade the bride with an acoustic version of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You." He sang and played guitar beautifully. It was such a touching, unforgettable moment.

I was so honored to work with these lovely people. And it was such a pleasure to be invited to Mayura's Mehndi, a couple nights before the wedding, where all the ladies (including myself) received beautiful henna on our hands and/or feet. When Mayura's mother, sister, aunts, and cousins sang, danced, and performed for Mayura while she sat still during her intricate henna work, I couldn't hold back tears. This couple and their family express so much love that it's impossible to not be moved. Thank you for that. Cheers to you, Mayura and Ananda!

{ VENDOR CREDITS }

Wedding Coordination: KGM Weddings

(a special thanks to my assistants, Karlet, Breanna, and Sendy!)

Venue: Laguna Cliffs Resort (Dana Point, CA)

Photography: Punam Bean Photography

Videography: Avec Lumiere Productions

Florals & Decor: Manjit's Flower Cottage

Catering: Vishnu Catering

Cupcakes: It's All About The Cake

DJ: VOX DJs

Photobooth: Smile Big Studio

Lighting: Aspect Lighting

Officiant: Agoram Sivaramakrishnan

Bride's Hair: Candice Nieman

To read the Q&A with Mayura and Ananda, click here.

Q&A: Mayura + Ananda

My stunning bride Mayura (whose wedding you can read about HERE) recently took time to answer my post-wedding questionnaire, which not only helps me with bettering my wedding planning skills, but also offers some insight to engaged couples everywhere!

Here's what she had to say!

[Photo Credit: Punam Bean Photography]

What was the best part of your wedding day?

There are so many to choose from but I think we both enjoyed the first dance the most. It was so much fun to kick the dancing off with our guests.

What was unexpected that you loved?

The ceremony itself – we were expecting to grin and bear the Indian wedding ceremony but it actually turned out to be quite enjoyable.

How did you feel after the wedding?
Wonderful. The wedding was really perfect for us. The pace, the feel, the whole night was just lovely.

What is your #1 tip for future brides and grooms?
Really enjoy the actual day – forget about all the details and planning that went into the wedding and really be present on your wedding day.

What part of my service was the most important to you?
Keeping our wedding on schedule and managing 400 people!!

What part of my service was the least important to you?
Everything was helpful, the initial questionnaire was a little time consuming and not super helpful for us but I am sure it is helpful for you.

How would you rate the quality of my service?
I would rate you very highly, we really had no complaints. You are a joy to be around and do a really good job.

Would you recommend me to another bride or groom?
Absolutely, I already have.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Krista was a joy to work with. She was highly organized and made the entire wedding planning process and the wedding day itself incredible easy for us. She can definitely handle the big weddings for the brides out there who are dealing with large guest lists. We had a 400-person Indian wedding and she did an amazing job.

Wedding: Xera + Jerome

Meet Xera & Jerome.

This incredibly sweet couple was married in November of 2012 at Huron Substation in Los Angeles, California. X&J are two of the most kindhearted people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

During the wedding planning process, Xera and I shared many phone calls discussing the details, both big and small. She would always start the conversation asking, in her soft, gentle voice, "How are you, Krista? Are you feeling overwhelmed at all?" Imagine: a bride concerned with the stress level of her coordinator! She is genuinely that considerate of everyone in her life.

These two are so easy to talk to. After our meetings, we would often find ourselves gabbing away about non-wedding-related things like the joys of being a homeowner or the best cities to live. Xera and Jerome have the natural gift to make anyone feel like an old, cherished friend.

Their invitation read, “You are totally invited to the wedding of Xera and Jerome. Ceremony followed by an adult reception with dinner, drinks, and awkward but enthusiastic dancing" and there was a comic book-style graphic on the back depicting their engagement story.

The couple selected an art book filled with photos of Los Angeles and asked guests to sign wherever they wanted with a special message, marital advice, or silly drawings. And instead of carrying a bouquet of flowers, each of Xera's bridesmaids toted a beautiful clutch purse in a geometric pattern reflecting the pale, dusty lavender and ivory color scheme.

Their ceremony was lovely and intimate. The couple incorporated traditional Filipino rituals in the 30-minute ceremony.

Jerome defined the term "DIY" when it came to some of the most unique details in their wedding. He hand-painted the cake topper, which were miniature, wooden versions of him and his beautiful bride. He designed the "Welcome Sign," which provided guests with the events and important notes for the evening. He even created the floating window menu and seating charts, then helped engineer a way for me and my team to hang it from the staircase balcony with delicate wire.

For their first dance as husband and wife, Xera and Jerome danced, or should I say performed, to "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here" by She & Him. The too-cute choreographed routine was inspired by the music video where Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt spin and twirl with one another. Not to be outdone, the father-of-the-bride led his daughter in a dance to Earth, Wind, and Fire's "Let's Groove Tonight."

The couple chose their favorite bakery, all the way in Big Bear Lake, California, to create the delicious cupcakes for guests, who had the option to devoir the treats at the reception or take them home in miniature cupcake boxes. But most couldn't resist and ate them right up!

During the reception, guests watched a slideshow of the bride and groom, which brought out tears and laughter. Friends and family hopped into the photobooth, donning disguises and props. Later on, the guests were giddy with the arrival of the Coolhaus ice cream truck, which created made-to-order, gourmet ice cream sandwiches wrapped in personalized edible wrappers.

Christmas lights adorned the balcony railings and staircase banister. But they weren't just a pretty lighting effect for wedding day. It’s also how Jerome proposed. Whilst sitting on top of Jerome’s car, watching a meteor shower, he lit up the sky asking her to be his wife.