A Weekend Wedding At The Resort At Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, California

Payal Kadakia met Nick Pujji on February 2, 2014. It was her birthday, as well as Super Bowl Sunday, and she was at a close friend’s Super Bowl party in New York. Nick walked in during halftime and immediately connected with Payal. Two days later, they went on their first date; and by that Friday, both knew they’d get married someday. 

About a year later, the couple planned a trip to Greece and landed in Paris for a connecting flight. After landing, Payal received a message from her assistant saying their flight to Greece had been cancelled and they would be spending the night in Paris. 

That evening, during dinner at one of Payal’s favorite restaurants overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Nick said “I have some good news and bad news.” He continued, “The bad news is we aren’t going to Greece. 

But the good news is…” Nick then got down on one knee and popped the question. The next day, several close friends arrived in Paris to celebrate the engagement. “Before we picked the date, Nick and I knew we had to find the perfect venue,” says Payal.

 “When we walked into Pelican Hill, we knew it was the place we wanted to get married. The resort is so beautiful with such picturesque views, we kept the décor light to really bring out the natural beauty of the location.”

The wedding planning process was relatively short, giving the couple only six months to plan their nuptials. Various events were held over the course of several days, and Payal’s top priority – more so than the décor – was the music, dancing, and ambiance. Several ceremonies took place during the wedding weekend, each holding a great deal of symbolic significance.

“My favorite was the Sikh wedding, since it was something new for me and my family, and the music – against the breathtaking view in front of us – set such a beautiful mood,” the bride describes. “I also loved seeing so many of our guests wear a turban for the first time in their life. We danced, cried, celebrated, ate, dressed up, and shared our love all weekend long.”