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Have you heard the term "Event Styling"? When it comes to wedding planning, we often think about planners, decorators, food, and flowers—but have you ever thought about styling your Indian wedding to reflect your personal style, rather than just following someone else's template? If you want to learn how to make your Indian wedding truly your own, this episode is for you. We had the honor of speaking with the incredibly talented Sarah Khan of Sarah Khan Event Styling, serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Sarah is not only an artist and educator but also a visionary in the world of event design. She was a finalist on the hit HBO series Full Bloom, where she demonstrated her ability to transform ideas into immersive, breathtaking experiences. Sarah believes in creating with intention and letting her intuition guide the process. She believes trusting oneself is the most thrilling and courageous part of the creative journey, which ultimately results in designs that are deeply loved and cherished by her clients. In our conversation, we dive deep into what it takes to style a wedding from start to finish, including budgeting, the process of working with an event stylist, and what to expect along the way. Beyond the final stunning images, what truly captivates is seeing Sarah in action—on location, bringing her vision to life. We also discuss flowers, their journey after the wedding, and sustainable, meaningful ways to repurpose them. And stick around until the end — we have a special guest you won't want to miss!  As always, you can find the show notes and timestamps below.  Please Enjoy!  Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Sampati — a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-quality, versatile mangalsutras designed for modern women. Founded in 1977, Sampati expanded its online presence in 2013, now serving customers worldwide.  Led by designer Jinal Sampat, the brand was created to redefine how women wear the mangalsutra — transforming it from a piece kept in the bank after the wedding into one that can be worn every day with style and meaning. Sampati's designs are not just modern; they're timeless, versatile pieces meant to be cherished for years to come. Learn more at: www.sampati.com  Time Stamps:  00:00 – 03:30 | Introduction Meet Sarah Khan and learn how her journey into the world of luxury weddings began. 03:30 – 10:00 | What Does a Wedding Stylist Really Do? Breaking down the Wedding Stylist role beyond décor—logistics, coordination, problem-solving, and execution. 10:00 – 17:00 | Planning vs. Designing a Wedding Understanding the difference between wedding planning and wedding design, and why both matter. 17:00 – 25:00 | Budgeting Smartly for Your Big Day Where couples should invest while thinking about wedding decor, where they can save, and how to make intentional budget decisions. 25:00 – 33:00 | Choosing the Right Vendors Tips on selecting reliable vendors, building trust, and creating a strong collaborative team. 33:00 – 40:00 | Common mistakes while styling your wedding Sarah highlights frequent mistakes couples make—and how to avoid unnecessary stress. 40:00 – 48:00 | Designing Meaningful, Personal Weddings Moving beyond trends to create celebrations that truly reflect the couple's story and values. 48:00 – 55:00 | Final Advice for Brides & Grooms Key takeaways, mindset tips, and expert advice for a smoother, more joyful wedding experience. Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodcast.com Guest name: Sarah Khan  Company Name: Sarah Khan Events www.sarahkhaneventstyling.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sarahkhaneventstyling 🙋 Please enjoy!  

  Choosing the right photographer can shape how your Indian wedding is remembered—not just for you, but for generations.  But with so many talented artists out there, how do you know who's truly the right fit? In this episode, we sit down with the legendary Duke Khodaverdian of Duke Images, a globally recognized wedding photographer with over 20+years of experience. His work has graced the pages of Grace Ormonde, Vogue, and numerous high-end publications. I first met Duke back in 2016 at a South Asian Bride Show in LA. Our booths were right next to each other, and I remember being struck not only by how beautifully curated his display was, but by the breathtaking images he showcased — photos I still think about today. In our conversation, Duke breaks down what couples should look for in a great photographer, how to plan your photos for magazine-worthy features, and what goes into his creative process. His tips are practical, his insights are inspiring, and his perspective is refreshingly real. We also talked about the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in wedding photography and his thoughts on using it vs not using it for editing.  It's a no-fluff conversation that every couple will find valuable — and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.    Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Sampati — a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-quality, versatile mangalsutras designed for modern women. Founded in 1977, Sampati expanded its online presence in 2013, now serving customers worldwide.  Led by designer Jinal Sampat, the brand was created to redefine how women wear the mangalsutra — transforming it from a piece kept in the bank after the wedding into one that can be worn every day with style and meaning. Sampati's designs are not just modern; they're timeless, versatile pieces meant to be cherished for years to come. Learn more at: www.sampati.com   Time Stamps:  00:00 – Introduction to the Indian Wedding Podcast A warm welcome and what listeners can expect from today's episode. 00:45 – Meet Duke Images Introducing  Khodaverdian "Duke" of Duke Images — a globally recognized wedding photographer with 20+ years of experience and features in top publications like Grace Ormonde & Vogue. 02:10 – How Duke Approaches Wedding Photography Duke shares his philosophy on capturing emotion, storytelling through imagery, and what makes his work distinct. 05:40 – What Makes a Wedding Photo Magazine-Worthy From editorial composition to lighting, Duke explains what editors look for and how couples can prepare to get featured. 10:20 – Working With Your Photographer on Wedding Day Practical tips for smoother timelines, best lighting moments, and how to collaborate without stress. 15:45 – Trends in South Asian Wedding Photography Observations from photographing luxury multicultural weddings across major destinations. 19:30 – Duke's Most Memorable Wedding Moments Behind-the-scenes stories that shaped his career and built his signature style. 24:00 – Advice for Couples Planning Their Wedding What couples should prioritize, what to avoid, and how to choose the right photographer. 28:10 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Duke Final advice + links to learn more about Duke Images. Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodast.com Duke Khodaverdian from Duke Images: www.dukeimages.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/dukeimages 🙋 Please enjoy!

  At Indian weddings, décor is often the heart of what makes each celebration unique. It's all about that first impression — the wow factor that families want their guests to experience. In this episode, we chat with Alex and David from Square Root Designs, who take us behind the scenes of those extravagant, Pinterest-worthy wedding setups we all admire. Based in Irvine, CA, Square Root Designs has been in the floral and event design industry since 2002. Their impressive client list includes President George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Kim Kardashian, Kobe Bryant, and many more. We had such a fun and insightful conversation about design, execution, and—most importantly—budgeting. Alex and David break down what things actually cost, share their advice on venue selection (and why it can dramatically affect both design and cost), and tell us about one of their favorite projects — complete with the creative engineering behind those breathtaking Indian wedding designs. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did — it's full of inspiration, practical tips, and a peek into the artistry behind luxury wedding décor.  Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodast.com Alex Amidi and David Yusuf  https://www.squarerootdesigns.com/  Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Sampati — a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-quality, versatile mangalsutras designed for modern women. Founded in 1977, Sampati expanded its online presence in 2013, now serving customers worldwide.  Led by designer Jinal Sampat, the brand was created to redefine how women wear the mangalsutra — transforming it from a piece kept in the bank after the wedding into one that can be worn every day with style and meaning. Sampati's designs are not just modern; they're timeless, versatile pieces meant to be cherished for years to come. Learn more at: www.sampati.com   

  Are you unsure whether you need a wedding planner? Will hiring one be an extra expense, or could it actually help you save time and money? In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into what it truly means to work with a wedding planner and explore the invaluable support they can provide. Our guest today is Vidhi Kshtritye, the founder of The Marigold Company. With a decade of experience in the wedding planning industry, Vidhi has assisted numerous couples in crafting their dream weddings. She candidly shares the secrets of working with a planner, including how they can facilitate negotiations with vendors and ensure a seamless wedding experience. Join us as we uncover the role of wedding planners and gain valuable insights into making your special day truly magical. Don't forget to check out the links and timestamps in the description below for specific topics and insights. TIME STAMPS 00:00 Precap 02:18 Introduction  04:05 Vidhi's personal story and mission  07:37 Wedding planning tools 09.25 Importance of having family meeting with the wedding planner  13:07 The cost to hire a wedding planner for your wedding 15:05 Do we need a wedding planner?  17:09 How does the wedding planner help save money? 19:47 Booking a venue for the wedding with catering included vs outside catering  21:22 Choosing the right vendors for your wedding 23:59 Using your credit card for larger wedding payments to earn points/miles 26:18 How to choose a wedding planner?  28:47 Ideal couple  30:30 What will a wedding planer NOT do 32:11 What Inspires Vidhi everyday 34:10 Bonus Tips and Insights from a wedding planner  36:50 Subscribe to Indian Wedding Podcast    With your hosts Kunal and Jinal Sampat  📈🤳🏼 Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodcast.com     🎙️Vidhi Kshtritye | The Marigold Company  Website: https://themarigoldcompany.com  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/marigoldcompany/    🙋 Please enjoy! This Episode is brought to you by Sampati https://sampatjewelers.com  (5% off your first order) Specializes in Modern Mangalsutra that you will wear, not store it in the bank safe.    🔗Brands and Link Mentioned: Almost Free Luxury Honeymoon Travel with Trevor Wright https://sampatjewelers.com/podcast/honeymoon-travel/    #weddingday #weddingplanner #Southerncaliforniaweddingplanner #indianweddingpodcast #indianweddingplanning #indianweddingbuzz    Connect with us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indianweddingpodcast/   

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when you see a picture-perfect, beautifully styled wedding?  If so, you're going to love this interview because we'll be meeting with a stylist who has years of education and experience styling for events, including weddings. Our guest today is Tina Bhardwaj, a certified fashion designer, wardrobe stylist, and co-owner of the womenswear label MadSam TinZin.  Tina is a personal styling expert for people who want to look and feel great in the clothes they put on.  She helps men and women style in an effortless way that represents them at their core and not a style they came across on Pinterest.  In this interview, we cover a wide range of topics including why you should hire a stylist for your wedding, common mistakes couples make when it comes to styling, does hiring a stylist increases your wedding expenses, and more.  Stay tuned towards the end of the interview where Tina shares her favorite designers.  You can also check out the links and timestamps in the description below for specific topics and insights.  Please join me in welcoming Tina Bhardwaj on the Indian Wedding Podcast. Tina Bharadwaj  Website: www.ladytin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamladytin/ Please enjoy! This Episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewellers: https://sampatjewelers.com/ (5% off your first order) specializes in Modern Mangalsutra that you will wear, not store it in the bank safe.   Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indianweddi... Website: www.indianweddingpodcast.com Email: [email protected]  

Welcome to the Indian Wedding Podcast with your hosts Kunal and Jinal Sampat. In this podcast, we share insider tips for a magical wedding.  Arina Balerina, CEO and Videographer of Balerina Films.  Arina and her team have been featured in leading fashion and wedding magazines like Vogue, Over the Moon, and many more. Most importantly, her work speaks for itself.  In this episode, we share the secrets behind capturing the memorable moments of your wedding to perfection. What does it take to create spectacular wedding videos, Tips before hiring a wedding videographer. And how the bride and groom can help the wedding videographer perform their best and shoot the best videos.  Balerina Films: Website: https://balerinafilms.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balerinafilms/ Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/balerinafilms Please enjoy!  

In this episode, we explore what it takes to plan an Indian-Pakistani vegan wedding. Veganism is not a trend or fad. It is here to stay. There are couples who do not want to consume animal products for ethical and health reasons. These couples are bringing their love and passion for vegan lifestyle to their weddings. To learn more about vegan weddings, we invited Heer Parikh, a vegan consultant and Indian bride who planned a vegan wedding with her Pakistani husband.  In this interview, Heer shares with us what it takes to plan a vegan wedding. We discuss everything from vegan food and wine to whether it is selfish to plan a vegan wedding. Heer is trained in High Impact Hospitality Consulting from Vegan Hospitality, the highest standard for vegan friendly hospitality consulting, coaching, and certification worldwide.  She is the leader of the Vegan Women of Houston Facebook group, has been invited to speak about the vegan lifestyle at several events, including radio shows, and was the President of the Vegan Committee that she launched at Direct Energy.  Please join us in welcoming Heer to the Indian Wedding Podcast.  Website: https://consultavegan.com/ Instagram: eco_conscious_vegan This episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewelers https://sampatjewelers.com/

Southern California offers great weather, delicious food, and exceptional venues to plan a magical wedding. In this episode, we invited Shumaila Panwhar from SoCal Event Planners to share her expertise on planning a South Asian wedding in Southern California. Shumalia shares location and multicultural cuisine options, wedding planning tools, why you need to consider Southern California for a destination wedding, and much more.  Shumaila and her team have extensive experience in managing large-scale South Asian, Indian, and Pakistani wedding events, helping their clients translate their vision into reality, and ensuring that each event is unique and memorable.  Shumaila has degrees in International Studies and Religious Studies and is a native of Southern California. She also has a certification in Meeting & Event Management.  Please join us in welcoming Shumalia to the Indian Wedding Podcast. Website: https://www.socaleventplanners.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socaleventplanners/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoCalEventPlanners This episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewelers https://sampatjewelers.com/

Most couples are excited about their honeymoon travel. It's something couples look forward to after a busy wedding.  A comfortable air travel experience paired with a beautiful and romantic hotel stay can create lasting memories for you and your loved one.  But luxury hotels and business class flight expenses can add up quickly to an already expensive Indian wedding. But there is an alternative and almost free travel option available to Americans.  To learn more about almost free honeymoon travel, we invited Trevor Wright, founder of The Mile Method on our show. Trevor is the expert when it comes to earning and redeeming credit card points and airline miles.  You're already spending thousands of dollars on your wedding expenses.  Why not leverage your wedding expenses to get almost free luxury honeymoon travel? It sounds too good to be true. So let's find out how all this works.  MileMethod (https://www.milemethod.com/) on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/milemethod/  Indian Wedding Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/indianweddingpodcast/ Sampat Jewellers on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sampatjewellers/ This podcast episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewellers (https://sampatjewelers.com)

We know how important it is for a bride to look and feel fabulous on her wedding day.  An important aspect of overall health and well-being for brides is taking care of their skin, which is the largest organ of the human body.  To share with you more about pre-wedding skin care, we interviewed Abhilasha Singh, a celebrity makeup and skin artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In this interview, Abhilasha shares with us a skin care routine for brides including DIY options, her favorite product. recommendations, simple diet tweaks a bride can make to vitalize her skin and much more.   Abhilasha was the personal makeup artist to Aditya Roy Kapur and then was the Creative and Business Head of Makeup for Jean Claude Biguine (BEGENE) Salons and Spa - India. She is a Certified Cosmetologist in India and USA along with being the top 5 bridal hair & makeup artist in the west coast.  Please join us in welcoming Abhilasha on the Indian Wedding Podcast. To learn more, visit us at indianweddingpodcast.com  

This episode is a special one. It's a flashback from our efforts trying to set-up a podcast in 2016. Back then, Jinal and I met the famous Tom Shane from Shane.co at a jewelry conference in Las Vegas. You may have hear Tom's ads on radio with the tagline "Now you have a friend in the jewelry business" Tom's speech at one of the conference events was phenomenal. I then reached out to Tom for an interview. This is my original interview with Tom. Although a few questions are not directly related to the Indian wedding industry, many topics are.  For example, Tom shares with us his thoughts on gemstone certification, synthetic diamonds, and his life values and philosophy.  An Indian wedding is incomplete without jewelry. This interview will give you an unique perspective on diamonds and gemstones.  I hope you enjoy one of my favorite interviews of all time with Mr. Tom Shane.

Planning a Big Fat Indian wedding is one thing. Planning a small intimate wedding with people you love and care about is another. Yes, you can attempt to have the best of both worlds but it's harder to execute a meaningful wedding with a large guest list. In this episode, we feature a couple who planned and experienced a small, intimate, cross-cultural wedding on the Greek island, Myconos. The couple went out of their way to create a magical experience for their wedding guests.  They held family meetings and collaborated with their parents to make this a fun, non-stressful wedding for everyone involved.  They made budget-conscious decisions even if their family was paying for many of the wedding costs.  The list goes on and on. Please join me in welcoming Nimi Mehta and Prab Uppal on the Indian Wedding Podcast and find out their secrets in planning an intimate Indian wedding.  Everything Legit Podcast

Jewelry can take many forms.  There is fine jewelry made with real diamonds and gold.  Then there is costume jewelry made from synthetic gemstones and mixed metal. And then there is floral jewelry made from beautiful flowers.  In this episode, we invited Leesha Arora from Prune India to share with us everything families planning for an Indian wedding need to know about floral jewelry. Leesha is an expert at creating vibrant floral jewelry pieces.  She is a master of her craft and you'll immediately fall in love with her work the minute you see her Instagram portfolio. We had a rich conversation with Leesha about how a bride can go about finalizing floral jewelry for her wedding, Leesha's process for creating floral jewelry, and why you should think twice before purchasing counterfeit jewelry. I hope you enjoy this interview with Leesha Arora.

Planning an Indian wedding is not for the faint heart.  Even if you have all the financial resources at your disposal, your wedding partners can elevate your wedding experience.  One lesser-known wedding partner is your honeymoon travel advisor.  Honeymoon travel planning can be stressful, even if you know how to book flights and hotels with a click of a button. To help you plan for your luxury honeymoon, we invited Hao Tang at Besvisor on the show.  Hao is passionate about serving his clients and helping them plan an epic honeymoon. In this interview, Hao shares how a luxury travel advisor can help you plan your honeymoon travels.  There is a lot that goes on with researching and planning a great honeymoon such as getting access to the finest resort amenities and planning meaningful experiences for you and your partner.  What we loved the most about Hao is that he himself has experienced many (if not all) resort properties he recommends to his clients.  I hope you enjoy this special conversation with Hao Tang on the Indian Wedding Podcast.  Instagram @Besvisor  Website Besvisor

In this episode, LA-based photographer, Peter Nguyen shares with us great insights on pre-wedding photoshoots (also known as engagement photoshoots). You'll hear Peter talk about his process for choosing a beautiful location and deciding outfits the couple will wear for the photoshoot.  We also discuss how storytelling is done for pre-wedding video shoots and how a videographer can guide you through this process.  Through his work, Peter is capturing memorable moments in photos and videos for couples cherish during their lifetime. Please join me in welcoming Peter on the Indian Wedding Podcat. Enjoy! Peter Nguyen Studio on Vimeo and Instagram.  Website for  Peter Nguyen Studio What is a pre-wedding (engagement) photoshoot? Planning a surprise photoshoot, sometimes with a blindfold A pre-planned photoshoot usually takes place after the proposal Finalizing location for the engagement photoshoot Certain places require a fee to be paid for the photoshoot Outfits for the photoshoot and how a photographer can help you Matching couple's interest with the location for the photoshoot  Bringing out the couples quirkiness and personality Planning a pre-wedding photoshoot: Concept → Location → Outfit  Understanding a couple's interest in arts, music, food, hiking, etc.  Putting together the couple's story in a beautiful video format  Adapting to the couple's comfort level with speaking (recording their voice) in real-time or off-camera  Mapping out stories using storyboard or mood board Importance of outfit selection Pre-wedding (engagement) photo shoot sets the tones for the wedding. It helps you get to know your photographer months before the wedding Using pictures from the pre-wedding photoshoot for wedding invites, the wedding website, and more.  People mentioned: Steve McCurry