Have you heard the term "Event Styling"? When it comes to wedding planning, we often think about planners, decorators, food, and flowers—but have you ever thought about styling your Indian wedding to reflect your personal style, rather than just following someone else's template?

If you want to learn how to make your Indian wedding truly your own, this episode is for you. We had the honor of speaking with the incredibly talented Sarah Khan of Sarah Khan Event Styling, serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Sarah is not only an artist and educator but also a visionary in the world of event design. She was a finalist on the hit HBO series Full Bloom, where she demonstrated her ability to transform ideas into immersive, breathtaking experiences.

Sarah believes in creating with intention and letting her intuition guide the process. She believes trusting oneself is the most thrilling and courageous part of the creative journey, which ultimately results in designs that are deeply loved and cherished by her clients.

In our conversation, we dive deep into what it takes to style a wedding from start to finish, including budgeting, the process of working with an event stylist, and what to expect along the way. Beyond the final stunning images, what truly captivates is seeing Sarah in action—on location, bringing her vision to life. We also discuss flowers, their journey after the wedding, and sustainable, meaningful ways to repurpose them.

And stick around until the end — we have a special guest you won't want to miss!

As always, you can find the show notes and timestamps below.

Please Enjoy!

Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by Sampati — a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-quality, versatile mangalsutras designed for modern women.

Founded in 1977, Sampati expanded its online presence in 2013, now serving customers worldwide.

Led by designer Jinal Sampat, the brand was created to redefine how women wear the mangalsutra — transforming it from a piece kept in the bank after the wedding into one that can be worn every day with style and meaning.

Sampati's designs are not just modern; they're timeless, versatile pieces meant to be cherished for years to come.

Learn more at: www.sampati.com

Time Stamps:

00:00 – 03:30 | Introduction
Meet Sarah Khan and learn how her journey into the world of luxury weddings began.

03:30 – 10:00 | What Does a Wedding Stylist Really Do?
Breaking down the Wedding Stylist role beyond décor—logistics, coordination, problem-solving, and execution.

10:00 – 17:00 | Planning vs. Designing a Wedding
Understanding the difference between wedding planning and wedding design, and why both matter.

17:00 – 25:00 | Budgeting Smartly for Your Big Day
Where couples should invest while thinking about wedding decor, where they can save, and how to make intentional budget decisions.

25:00 – 33:00 | Choosing the Right Vendors
Tips on selecting reliable vendors, building trust, and creating a strong collaborative team.

33:00 – 40:00 | Common mistakes while styling your wedding

Sarah highlights frequent mistakes couples make—and how to avoid unnecessary stress.

40:00 – 48:00 | Designing Meaningful, Personal Weddings
Moving beyond trends to create celebrations that truly reflect the couple's story and values.

48:00 – 55:00 | Final Advice for Brides & Grooms Key takeaways, mindset tips, and expert advice for a smoother, more joyful wedding experience.

Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodcast.com

Guest name: Sarah Khan

Company Name: Sarah Khan Events www.sarahkhaneventstyling.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkhaneventstyling

🙋 Please enjoy!

Choosing the right photographer can shape how your Indian wedding is remembered—not just for you, but for generations. But with so many talented artists out there, how do you know who's truly the right fit?

In this episode, we sit down with the legendary Duke Khodaverdian of Duke Images, a globally recognized wedding photographer with over 20+years of experience. His work has graced the pages of Grace Ormonde, Vogue, and numerous high-end publications.

I first met Duke back in 2016 at a South Asian Bride Show in LA. Our booths were right next to each other, and I remember being struck not only by how beautifully curated his display was, but by the breathtaking images he showcased — photos I still think about today.

In our conversation, Duke breaks down what couples should look for in a great photographer, how to plan your photos for magazine-worthy features, and what goes into his creative process. His tips are practical, his insights are inspiring, and his perspective is refreshingly real.

We also talked about the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in wedding photography and his thoughts on using it vs not using it for editing.

It's a no-fluff conversation that every couple will find valuable — and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by Sampati — a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-quality, versatile mangalsutras designed for modern women.

Founded in 1977, Sampati expanded its online presence in 2013, now serving customers worldwide.

Led by designer Jinal Sampat, the brand was created to redefine how women wear the mangalsutra — transforming it from a piece kept in the bank after the wedding into one that can be worn every day with style and meaning.

Sampati's designs are not just modern; they're timeless, versatile pieces meant to be cherished for years to come.

Learn more at: www.sampati.com

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the Indian Wedding Podcast
A warm welcome and what listeners can expect from today's episode.

00:45 – Meet Duke Images
Introducing Khodaverdian "Duke" of Duke Images — a globally recognized wedding photographer with 20+ years of experience and features in top publications like Grace Ormonde & Vogue.

02:10 – How Duke Approaches Wedding Photography
Duke shares his philosophy on capturing emotion, storytelling through imagery, and what makes his work distinct.

05:40 – What Makes a Wedding Photo Magazine-Worthy
From editorial composition to lighting, Duke explains what editors look for and how couples can prepare to get featured.

10:20 – Working With Your Photographer on Wedding Day
Practical tips for smoother timelines, best lighting moments, and how to collaborate without stress.

15:45 – Trends in South Asian Wedding Photography
Observations from photographing luxury multicultural weddings across major destinations.

19:30 – Duke's Most Memorable Wedding Moments
Behind-the-scenes stories that shaped his career and built his signature style.

24:00 – Advice for Couples Planning Their Wedding
What couples should prioritize, what to avoid, and how to choose the right photographer.

28:10 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Duke
Final advice + links to learn more about Duke Images.

Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodast.com

Duke Khodaverdian from Duke Images: www.dukeimages.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dukeimages

🙋 Please enjoy!

At Indian weddings, décor is often the heart of what makes each celebration unique. It's all about that first impression — the wow factor that families want their guests to experience.

In this episode, we chat with Alex and David from Square Root Designs, who take us behind the scenes of those extravagant, Pinterest-worthy wedding setups we all admire.

Based in Irvine, CA, Square Root Designs has been in the floral and event design industry since 2002. Their impressive client list includes President George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Kim Kardashian, Kobe Bryant, and many more.

We had such a fun and insightful conversation about design, execution, and—most importantly—budgeting. Alex and David break down what things actually cost, share their advice on venue selection (and why it can dramatically affect both design and cost), and tell us about one of their favorite projects — complete with the creative engineering behind those breathtaking Indian wedding designs.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did — it's full of inspiration, practical tips, and a peek into the artistry behind luxury wedding décor.

Sign up here for more insightful episodes: www.indianweddingpodast.com

Alex Amidi and David Yusuf https://www.squarerootdesigns.com/

Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by Sampati — a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-quality, versatile mangalsutras designed for modern women.

Founded in 1977, Sampati expanded its online presence in 2013, now serving customers worldwide.

Led by designer Jinal Sampat, the brand was created to redefine how women wear the mangalsutra — transforming it from a piece kept in the bank after the wedding into one that can be worn every day with style and meaning.

Sampati's designs are not just modern; they're timeless, versatile pieces meant to be cherished for years to come.

Learn more at: www.sampati.com