Milan Sai and Suraj’s luxurious multi-day destination wedding celebration in Bali is featured in Issue 30!
Celebrating culture, family, their romantic journey, and all the cherished moments to come, Milan Sai and Suraj’s destination wedding in Bali heartfully and authentically expressed their deep love and connection.
Milan Sai’s and Suraj’s families became friends when they were twelve years old. For a time, Suraj visited Hong Kong, where Milan Sai lived, every year. Suraj’s cousin and Milan Sai’s sister were dating and they had hoped the two would become good friends. Their hope was more than fulfilled as Milan Sai and Suraj’s relationship continued to grow and deepen in the future.
Their love story officially began in New York City, where after six years of dating long distance, Suraj surprised Milan Sai with the upmost romantic and grand proposal.
Milan Sai shares, “Suraj went all out for the proposal. He booked a rooftop in Soho, New York, and arranged for a violinist to play our favorite songs. The rooftop was beautifully decorated with roses and candles…” The night didn’t end there; Suraj whisked Milan Sai away to a surprise destination via helicopter. They flew to Boston and ended the night with a romantic dinner at their favorite restaurant, Yvonne’s.
Their destination wedding at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort in Bali featured ornate and luxuriant overhead florals, beautiful customary Hindu traditions, and the breathtaking surroundings of Bali. Milan Sai and Suraj both desired their wedding to be authentic and one of a kind to celebrate their culture and represent who they are as a couple.
Milan Sai shares, “Our aim was to infuse every element with authenticity, allowing our love and connection to shine through and be witnessed by all. It was important to us that our wedding truly represented who we are as a couple and served as a heartfelt expression of our relationship to everyone present.”
Keep scrolling for more details about their wedding!
- Couple: Milan Sai Daswani & Suraj Wadhwani
- Location of Wedding: Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
- Wedding Date: November 21-24th, 2022
- Photographer for Wedding: Pervez Taufiq (Ptaufiq Photography)
Quick Facts:
- Wedding flowers: Steve Decor (Bali)
- Favorite item on the menu: Queen Catering’s recreation of our favorite fast food dish – Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza!
- Bridesmaids/groomsmen gifts: Flask with their initials, mini vodka bottles, Hats with their name engraved on them, and other cute little items!
- First dance song: “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
- Advice for brides: “During the day or week of your wedding – let go and just enjoy!”
How did you meet?
Suraj and I have known each other since we were 12 years old when our families became good friends. At the time, Suraj used to visit Hong Kong every year, and coincidentally, that’s where I lived. Suraj’s cousin and my sister (who were dating at the time and are now married) wanted their brother and sister to officially meet, in the hopes of us becoming good friends. Little did they know, our connection went beyond friendship, and we ended up falling in love and eventually getting married.
In 2015, while we were interning on the East Coast—Suraj in Washington, D.C., and myself in New York—our bond grew even stronger. Suraj would visit me in New York every couple of weeks, and that city holds a special place in both our hearts as it is where our official relationship began.
Tell us about the proposal.
After six years of a long-distance relationship, Suraj decided it was time to take our commitment to the next level. He chose the very city where our love story started—New York—to propose.
Suraj went all out for the proposal. He booked a rooftop in Soho, New York, and arranged for a violinist to play our favorite songs. The rooftop was beautifully decorated with roses and candles, accompanied by a sign that read “Marry Me.” To capture every precious moment of the sunset proposal, Suraj even hired a photographer.
Of course, I said “YES!”. Suraj then whisked me away to a surprise location, and before I knew it, we were at a helipad, ready to fly to Boston. Our destination was my favorite restaurant, Yvonne’s, where we enjoyed a romantic dinner. It was truly one of the most memorable days of our lives.
Following the proposal, we celebrated the weekend with our loved ones in New York, sharing the joyous news and creating lasting memories together. It was a time filled with happiness, love, and celebration.
Our journey has been filled with cherished moments, and we eagerly look forward to the adventures that lie ahead as we embark on this new chapter of our lives together.
How did you know they were “the one”?
We realized that we were meant to be life partners because a unique sense of ease and comfort enveloped our relationship, surpassing any we had experienced before. Our love for each other grew exponentially, surpassing any other love we had known.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
Our wedding encompassed a series of traditional ceremonies and joyous celebrations. It commenced with the soul-stirring ‘Bhajans,’ where prayers and devotional songs resonated in the air. The festivities continued with the exuberant ‘Sangeet’ night, filled with energetic dance performances by our loved ones. And, of course, our wedding ceremony itself adhered to the beautiful and customary Hindu traditions.
Wedding Style:
Our wedding was truly unique, reflecting our individuality and shared vision. Throughout the planning process, we emphasized creating an experience where guests would step into each function and feel, “Wow, this is so Milan Sai & Suraj!” Our aim was to infuse every element with authenticity, allowing our love and connection to shine through and be witnessed by all. It was important that our wedding truly represented who we are as a couple and served as a heartfelt expression of our relationship to everyone present.
Describe your wedding attire and favorite accessory.
For my wedding, I wore a breathtaking traditional red lengha adorned with exquisite hand embroidery. The intricate details on the dress were truly mesmerizing. To complement the ensemble, I accessorized with a stunning gold maang tikka, necklace, earrings, bangles, anklets, and a nose ring. Among all the accessories, the nose ring held a special place in my heart as it added a touch of traditional elegance, accentuating my overall look.
What is the best memory from your wedding?
Our favorite memories from the wedding have to be celebrating with all our friends and family. To have everyone you love in one space for 4 days is a feeling like no other.
What is the best advice you can give to engaged couples?
Keep dating while you’re engaged. Wedding planning can be tough at times and shouldn’t take over your life and relationship, so go out on fun dates and try not to talk too much about wedding planning.
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Vendors:
- Photographer: Ptaufiq Photography
- Event planner: Innaz Communique
- Bride’s dress: Ejaaz Couture
- Bridal salon: Herman Hair Style
- Bride’s headpiece and/or veil: Ejaaz Couture
- Bride’s shoes: Revolve
- Bridesmaid dresses: Shakeel Shaikh
- Cakes/Desserts: LeNovelle Cake
- Catering: Queen’s Catering
- Ceremony venue: Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
- Event decor/design: Steve’s Décor
- Mehendi-Pool Party Performer: Jeffrey Iqbal
- Sangeet Performer: Sukhbir
- Dhol: The DHOL Company
- DJs: DJ Nitesh | DJ Manoj
- Florals/Linens/Rentals: Steve’s Décor
- Groom’s attire: Nivedita Haute Couture & Pret
- Groomsmen attire: Archana Kochhar India
- Lighting: Dandit
- Makeup: Mary Boyadzhyan
- Reception venue: Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua
- Stationery: Itccha Talreja Designs
- Videography: The Wedding Filmer – Vishal Punjabi
- Bartender: GulpBkk
- Henna artist: Henna by Ima Habsyi
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