Elizabeth Cardillo and Raj Beri met on an online dating app, when Raj was visiting Los Angeles from Sydney. Before being matched with Raj, Elizabeth had never tried online dating, and he was her first blind date. Despite being “incredibly nervous” to meet up, everything worked out perfectly during the couple’s last first date.
“He was, and is still, the perfect gentleman,” Elizabeth shares. “Raj proposed in Mykonos on my 28th birthday. He had a private dinner set up on the beach, and we celebrated at Queen Bar in town afterward with a lot of champagne. We went to Santorini, Monaco, and St. Tropez after we left Mykonos.”
“HE WAS, AND IS STILL, THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN.”
The wedding planning process began right away, when the pair were still on vacation. Elizabeth had already dreamt of her fairytale wedding and was ready with ideas. The couple also knew their big day would take place in either Las Vegas or Beverly Hills. After bringing Emily Reno Events on board as their wedding planner, Elizabeth and Raj started putting together a three-day Las Vegas wedding that would include a blowout Indian Sangeet to honor the groom’s Punjabi culture, along with an American wedding ceremony and reception.
As the former Miss Pennsylvania USA 2015 and a Miss USA 2015 contestant, it was only fitting that Elizabeth veered towards glamour and elegance when it came to everything from wedding décor to fashion picks.
“I had seen and heard of Galia Lahav many times before and driven by the LA store many times,” she says. “I was aware of the beautiful gowns Galia Lahav has, but not until I walked into the store and saw the Queen Gia ballgown did I know they had something just like I was dreaming of! I knew I wanted a ballgown for the ceremony and a more fitted gown for reception. Anthony, my stylist, chose New Suzanne, and I was in love immediately.
Kaila, the LA Store Manager, and Anthony made my entire experience magical. They have since become my friends and even came to our wedding as guests. My seamstress, Natalya, was wonderful and so detailed. She made both of my gowns fit me like a glove.”
The bride-to-be also wanted her bridal party to share in the glamour, thus choosing a selection of sexy bridesmaid gowns for the big day. “I really think my group of friends are the most beautiful girls,” she adds. “Out of 14 bridesmaids, 8 of them competed at Miss USA! All 14 girls are stunning; I wanted them in gowns that showed them off.”
The wedding planning experience culminated in a Las Vegas weekend filled with glitz, glam, and attention to detail. For the bride, her most memorable moment was seeing Raj waiting at the altar. “We didn’t do a first look,” she says, “so this was our first time seeing each other. I’ll never forget seeing him tear up.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Aria, Las Vegas, NV; Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav; Photography: KLK Photography
