Extravagant Bursts of Color Filled This Multi-Day Indian Wedding at Dreams Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic
It’s the classic case of boy meets girl, or as bride Khushbu says, “Florida girl meets New York City boy.” With his bride-to-be’s Florida roots, Tej knew he wanted to pop the question at a location special to her – on Sand Key Beach in Tampa. He planned a surprise weekend getaway and asked her to marry him during a beach picnic. Now, Khushbu’s happy place was the perfect memory for this new chapter in her and Tej’s love story.
And when it came time for wedding planning, the couple knew they wanted a multi-day event that felt like a vacation for guests while tying in their shared cultural background and traditions. When Tej attended a destination wedding years back, he drew inspiration from this event for the type of atmosphere present at his own wedding with Khushbu. Giving their friends and family a chance to enjoy a wedding while at an all-inclusive resort soon became the goal for these nearlyweds. The chosen venue? Dreams Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic, the perfect beachy backdrop for a weekend of luxurious events.
The tropical destination wedding kicked off with a Grah Shanti, a chance for both families to bless the bride and groom before the official wedding day. Khushbu and Tej sat under a draped altar of pink and orange, surrounded by their loved ones. This ceremonial practice was meant to usher in joy and prosperity for the couple while hoping to eliminate any obstacles they’d face in their marriage.
For the Sangeet night, the couple incorporated an important detail throughout their theme: butterflies. The outdoor space was covered in butterfly motifs, Khushbu’s favorite, from hanging decor to a sweetheart chair with oversized butterfly wings. The pastel colors continued throughout this event in their florals, lighting and dance floor. Tej says, “We wanted to incorporate a special touch with unique forms of entertainment for our events, which the guests would enjoy, so we had a salsa lesson during our sangeet.” They also had an LED robot dancer during the night, adding to the vibrance of the venue.
Of course, the couple’s attire had to match every color scheme for the events throughout the weekend. For the Grah Shanti and Sangeet, Khushbu wore a cream-colored lehenga with floral accents and butterfly accessories in her hair, and Tej wore a complementary pastel and floral sherwani. During the Haldi, they both wore vibrant oranges, and guests wore marigold yellows, an event made even more exciting with the addition of a water gun and water balloon battle on the beach. And during the wedding, Khushbu wore a red and peach Shyamal & Bhumika lehenga with gold embroidery. Tej wore an off-white sherwani and a safa with green accents to complement Khushbu’s wedding look.
Guests were welcomed on the beach with a display of coconuts before being led to their chairs. “The beachfront ceremony encapsulated the beauty of the destination, with a meticulously decorated white wedding aisle of flowers and a picture-perfect ocean view. A mirrored altar was set with ivory and gold furniture and was decorated in pampas grass and florals,” the couple’s vendor team says. This picturesque view included even more colorful displays of red, orange and white roses along with tropical white anthuriums.
As Tej and Khushbu made their union official, the party continued at the reception space. With a black-and-white color palette, Khushbu changed into a sparkling gold outfit while Tej wore a classic black tuxedo for their final wedding looks. “Guests entered the reception space, where they were met by elaborate candle displays, modern acrylic furniture, all-white florals, and golden accents in every direction,” the vendors explain. The ceiling was also covered in hanging strands of white florals and greenery for a dramatic effect.
Much like the other events throughout the weekend, the reception was marked with music, dancing and more entertainment, including a photo booth with props. They concluded the night with an epic fireworks display as the newlyweds shared a final dance. They say, “We loved… every minute of it. Truly a dream come true and the most magical weekend. We loved the moments we got to spend with each other before each event and all the love and laughs with our family and friends.”
The happy couple encourages any potential brides and grooms to not stress and delegate to family members or vendors when possible. “Trust the process and take it one step at a time… so you can focus on the big stuff,” Khushbu says. And if their elegant multi-day weekend proved anything, it’s that even the small details are just as important as the big ones.