Bride Occupation - Nisha Kanade, Purchasing Manager
Groom Occupation - Jake Ashley, Investment Sales
Date of the wedding - June
Hometown - Chicago, IL
Despite a bit of an awkward introduction through mutual friends, Nisha and Jake decided to go on a date and discovered how truly comfortable they are around each other. Despite their cultural difference - Nisha is Indian and Jake is American, they found they were raised very similarly and shared the same values, making their relationship fun and easy from the start.
When it inevitably came time to plan a wedding, Nisha's choice was simple and the destination was very clear - Grand Cayman. Nisha had been to the Cayman Islands 5 years prior to the exact date of her wedding, and of the many family trips she had taken, the memories of The Cayman Islands stood out above the rest: "The beaches are beautiful, it's easy to get to, and most importantly, it's extremely safe and manageable for older guests and children", Nisha explained.
Positive feelings about the island were further solidified when Nisha began the actual planning. "The clincher was when I called the Marriott Grand Cayman. They returned my phone call right away, and had already researched with their staff how to have an Indian wedding. Everyone was so nice and excited right from the get go."
Along with the help of Octopus events and the staff at The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, Nisha and Jake were able to make their wedding day one to remember. Over 100 family and friends flew in from all over the world for a two-day traditional Indian wedding, starting with The Mendhi night that took place outside at Solana restuarant. The DJ played traditional Indian music mixed with Caribbean Steel Drums and everyone danced through the night as they sipped on Sangria and Tropical Rum Punch along with Mediterranean appetizers and cool, traditional Indian drinks. Some of the guests even enjoyed getting henna art, applied by a local Mendhi artist who Nisha was able to find on-island.
The wedding day took place indoors in the late afternoon in the ballroom of the Marriott, and included a bharat - a traditional groom's entrance, and a mandap (Indian wedding alter) specifically built by Octopus Events to hold the traditional Hindu Ceremony. Following the I-dos, guests enjoyed the reception, which was also held in the ballroom - transformed by Octopus events into something that was both tropical and classic, and right in line with Nisha's vision. Guests started out the night with Indian appetizers and drinks followed by a delicious Indian buffet prepared by the Marriott chefs. The DJ played a mix of classic Indian and American music as the guests danced into the wee hours of the night and into the morning!