For Kevin Cassil, meeting Simi Kamboj was love at first sight. The feeling wasn’t quite mutual however, even though one fateful summer night ended in campus trespassing and a stolen kiss around 2 a.m. After that, Simi spent most of her freshman year avoiding Kevin, and it wasn’t until the following spring that she stopped running in the other direction whenever she saw him.
Cognitively, Simi was conflicted in knowing that Kevin wasn’t “culturally ideal” in terms of who her family expected her to marry. Still, she threw caution to the wind and agreed to go on a date with him to Las Brisas in Laguna Beach – if anything, she wouldn’t have to wonder “What if?” later on. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and their dates turned into late nights talking, which turned into spending every waking moment together.
“WITH ALL OF MY HEART, I LOVE YOU.”
After seven years of dating, Kevin decided to propose during a summer trip to Italy, at the Infinity Terrace on the Amalfi Coast. To relinquish any suspicions, he also convinced Simi to make it clear to her friends that he wasn’t going to be proposing during their holiday together. When dusk arrived, which is Simi’s favorite time of day, Kevin suggested she put on her favorite blue dress he had bought her specifically for that moment and managed to pop the question just as the sun was setting: “Me ray dil nal, me tenu pyar carda ya. (With all of my heart, I love you.) Will you marry me?”
Planning a fusion wedding was an incredible feat for Simi and Kevin, as there were eight events that were to be hosted, spanning from Thursday until Sunday of Labor Day weekend. The festivities began with the Haldi and Mehendi on Thursday night, followed by a Friday Sangeet. On Saturday, instead of a typical American-style rehearsal dinner, the couple had a rehearsal lunch on a yacht in Newport Harbor. Sunglasses, rosé, and margaritas were in abundance as their closest family and friends gave speeches. Afterwards, a private Choora ceremony took place with only the bride’s immediate family present.
Finally, Sunday was a bustling schedule of events that included a Milni ceremony at noon, the groom’s showstopping Baraat (complete with a white horse), the Sikh wedding, and the American wedding ceremony. While standing at the top of the aisle, the groom listened as one of his best friends began playing his favorite song, “Self-Portrait,” on the guitar. As he reflects, “all of a sudden, it felt as though ten years of emotion – the good, the bad, the heartbreaking, and the hard decisions we made to reach this point – all came together into one moment.”
The reception was a wonderful celebration filled with dancing and speeches. It was the bride’s father who became the highlight of the night, giving an epic speech himself: “Two things I don’t like at weddings – long speeches and closed bars. That’s all.” He later told the couple that he’d forgotten he was supposed to give a speech.
Simi and Kevin honeymooned in Paris, Thailand, and the Maldives, and had the time of their lives.
WEDDING TALENT
Location: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, CA; Sikh: Sabyasachi; Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav
