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CANDLELIT RECEPTION
Lavish
A typical challenge for a Hindu wedding is the mandap's columns—no matter how beautifully
draped and decorated, they can obstruct the sightlines for some of the guests. To compound this
common problem, a friend of the couple's had held her reception in the same venue only months
before, so we had to make the room completely unrecognizable from that wedding. Two challenges,
one spectacular answer: a floating mandap. Shawna Yamamoto Event Designs executed a décor
scheme that exceeded expectations, and the floating mandap was repurposed for the reception
as a canopy over the dance floor. A chandelier made from dangling golden bracelets was the jewel
in the mandap's center, a clever reference to the traditional Indian wedding jewelry that's worn for
good luck and a gorgeous design element in itself. An interesting seating plan defined the reception,
which had a combination of square and rectangular tables arranged around a V-shaped dance floor.
Masses of candles established the room's romantic air, while gobo projections helped decorate the
exceptionally tall walls.
