On a cliff overlooking the Pacific, Pearl Shah’s wedding unfolded like a couture collection come to life. A doctor who earned her Doctor of Medicine while simultaneously completing an MBA, Pearl was once on track for a residency in plastic surgery. Yet somewhere between hospital rotations and business plans, another calling grew louder. She built Cohinoor & Co., a high end natural diamond and gemstone jewellery boutique. After graduating from medical school chose to pursue fashion and entrepreneurship full time. That fearless pivot defined not only her career but her wedding aesthetic. Each event became its own fashion chapter, inspired by iconic houses. Louis Vuitton’s California Dream shaped the welcome party, Gucci Flora infused the haldi, Chanel’s Dripping in Pearls inspired the sangeet, and Cartier set the tone for an unforgettable wedding dinner. This was not simply an Indian destination wedding in California. It was a fashion-forward love story told through craftsmanship, couture and custom details.
The backstory
Pearl, born in India and raised in the United States since age 12, now lives in Atlanta with her husband, Milan Patel. Milan, a CPA, now serves as CFO and owner across hospitality and real estate ventures. Their shared appreciation for excellence and experience shaped their relationship and their wedding vision. Their love story began with a single Instagram story. “Pearl and I only had one mutual friend on Instagram, and she happened to post a birthday story for her. I remember thinking, she’s the most beautiful person. I need to get to know her,” Milan recalls. He followed her. She followed back. Two months later, he replied to a workout story with a simple message: “Nice home gym.” Shortly after, they went on their first date.
They dated through COVID and four demanding years of medical school, sustaining long distance with unwavering commitment. Milan proposed in Paris at The Peninsula Hotel, on a rooftop balcony facing the Eiffel Tower at sunset. Pearl had once joked that if he ever proposed, it had to be in Paris. He remembered. With a Marry Me sign crafted from red roses and her favourite song, ‘Tum Hi Ho’ playing softly, he asked her to marry him.
The wedding planning
Two years before their January 2025 wedding weekend, planning began. “From the start, I had a clear vision for our wedding. I wanted it to feel less like singular events and more like a fully immersive experience—an unforgettable escape where every detail reflected who we are,” Pearl shares. With 400 guests invited to California, intimacy meant emotional closeness rather than numbers. They chose The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in California for its panoramic ocean views. “Our guests were the only ones on the property,” Pearl says. “It made the weekend feel completely immersive.” As lovers of travel, the setting reminded them of Santorini and the Amalfi Coast.
Working with Sonal Shah of SJS Event Consultants and Design House Decor, Pearl approached each event as its own collection drop. “Fashion has always been one of the most important ways I express myself,” she says. Milan adds, “Seeing Pearl’s love for fashion come alive across the weekend elevated every moment. It was truly her personality in motion.”
The mehndi celebrations
The weekend began on January 23 with an intimate bridal mehndi in Pearl’s suite. Wearing a green and pink Rajiramniq sharara and custom emerald and diamond earrings from her own label Cohinoor & Co., she sat surrounded by her mother, grandmother and closest friends as songs and stories filled the room. That evening, a relaxed arrival dinner welcomed guests with wood fired pizza and global comfort food, easing jet lag with warmth and hospitality.
The grah shanti and mameru
On January 24, traditional Gujarati grah shanti and mameru ceremonies unfolded in sunrise hues of orange and ivory. Pearl wore a custom Gopi Vaid blouse paired with heirloom polki jewellery borrowed from her mother. Milan chose a grey velvet bandhgala with white trousers.
Guests received silver and crystal elephants in green velvet boxes, symbols of prosperity.
The welcome party
That evening, the ‘Louis Vuitton California Dream’ welcome party transformed the lawn into a pastel coastal fantasy. A custom California Dreaming bar, surfboard menus, palm printed linens by Max and Maiden Ink, and entertainers dressed as surfers set the tone.
Pearl wore a custom Gauri & Nainika floral ensemble with Prada platforms and a Patek Philippe Nautilus timepiece. Milan chose a sleek Kunal Rawal bandhgala.
As the sun dipped into the Pacific, the evening erupted into an impromptu dance party. “It felt like a little preview of the sangeet to come,” Milan shares.
The haldi brunch
January 25 began with a ‘Gucci Flora’ inspired haldi brunch. Pink and yellow florals mingled with tiger motifs. Pearl wore a breezy Abhinav Mishra sharara with a bespoke peacock jewellery set by Anand Shah Designs. Milan complemented her in mirror work by Abhinav Mishra.
“I wanted our haldi to feel fresh and playful like a big, celebratory family brunch rather than a traditional ceremony. We designed experiences for every guest. While the ladies explored our curated bazaar, the men tried their luck at blackjack, roulette and poker at the casino tables. We also incorporated playful games. My personal favourite was the sari-tying competition among the men.”
The sangeet
The sangeet embraced a ‘Chanel Dripping in Pearls’ vision. Cascading pearl installations, soft pink florals and immersive performers created a dreamscape. Pearl’s all pearl fish cut lehenga by Manish Malhotra was the perfect pick. Milan wore a sherwani by the couturier and Rolex Daytona.
“We danced the night away, surrounded by all the people we love, grooving to the infectious beats of Manj Musik and Supreme Dholis.” Milan adds, “It felt surreal, like we were in our own movie. I don’t think we’ve ever felt that much joy in one night.”
The wedding
On January 26, beneath a red rose adorned mandap overlooking the ocean, they married. Pearl wore her dream maroon velvet Sabyasachi lehenga, paired with regal polki jewellery from Raniwala 1881. “Even before I met Milan, I knew I would wear a maroon velvet lehenga on my wedding day. And wearing Sabyasachi wasn’t just a dream, but a natural choice. He was the first Indian designer I discovered as a high schooler exploring fashion, and his work has stayed with me ever since. To me, his designs embody the essence of Indian fashion, timeless, rooted in tradition, and rich in craftsmanship. It turned out my mom wore a maroon velvet lehenga for her wedding 28 years ago. My look felt like destiny and a reminder that my sense of style truly comes from her.”
Milan chose a Tarun Tahiliani sherwani (the first and only sherwani he tried) and a Rolex Day Date gifted by Pearl’s father.
She walked down the aisle beneath a custom phool jaal, handcrafted in Surat by Jyoti Creations. “My brother, maternal uncle and cousins accompanied me to the aisle, then I stepped onto the aisle alone to meet Milan halfway as an intentional twist on tradition. Instead of the bride walking fully to the groom, we met in the middle for our varmala and then walked hand-in-hand to the mandap together. Walking together symbolised our partnership,” reveals Pearl.
During the varmala, Milan dropped to one knee. “Kosha Pandya and her band performed throughout the ceremony, including our pheras, adding a magical, immersive touch to the already surreal atmosphere.” They eschewed a traditional vidaai. “I have always believed that weddings should never feel like a daughter leaving her family behind,” Pearl says.
The wedding dinner
The evening’s ‘Cartier Love Affair’ wedding dinner unfolded in crimson and candlelight. Pearl changed into a red Mishru ensemble with a corset blouse, Milan into a white Tarun Tahiliani bandhgala with a custom brooch. Rex D’Souza serenaded them unexpectedly with ‘Tum Hi Ho’ from Aashiqui 2. “How did he choose this song? This is insane!” Pearl remembers asking. The coincidence felt fated.
The reception
A week later in Atlanta, 800 guests gathered at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta for a Parisian inspired candlelit reception. Pearl wore a runway Rahul Mishra silver lehenga with a dramatic 100 carat emerald necklace by Cohinoor & Co. Milan chose a bespoke Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna tuxedo. Over 4,000 candles illuminated the ballroom as tabla, violin and saxophone blended cultures and sound.
When I ask them about their favourite moment, Milan answers without hesitation. “The first look. I hadn’t seen Pearl in her wedding lehenga before our first look, and the moment I turned around, I was completely breathless.” For Pearl, it was the event reveals. “Until that moment, everything had existed only on paper. Seeing it come alive with Milan was unforgettable.”
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Pearl Shah
The Groom: Milan Patel
Photographer: Naman Verma
Videographer: Rene Zadori
The Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Beach and Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Wedding Planner: SJS Event Consultants
Decor: Design House Decor (wedding) and Weddings In Style (reception)
Catering: Chef Gaurav Anand Events
Bride’s Outfits: Rajiramniq, Gopi Vaid, Sabyasachi, Gauri & Nainika, Abhinav Mishra, Punit Balana and Manish Malhotra
Bride’s Jewellery: Cohinoor & Co., Anand Shah Designs and Raniwala 1881
Bride’s Makeup: Erica Bogart
Bride’s Hairstylist: Samantha Gunn of Gunn Glamour
Draping/Henna Artist: Meghna Parikh – Color Me Rouge
Guest Henna: Penny Kohli
Groom’s Outfits: Kunal Rawal, Abhinav Mishra, Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna and Manish Malhotra
Entertainment: M4U Events, Jordan Kahn Orchestra, Supreme Dholis, Ansar Violin, Sir Saxy, Kunal Lamba, Manj Musik, Rex D’Souza and YSDC Wedding Choreography
