Hiring Sobi Qazi for a South Asian Destination Wedding

couple on beach for destination wedding

As a Texas based wedding planning company, Mexico is the most popular international destination trending. If you’re considering a destination wedding in Mexico, this blog is for you! 


First off, if you are looking to have a multi-day wedding the importance of hiring a professional Wedding Planner with experience and knowledge of the area and vendors is beneficial. Hiring a new beginner level planner who is charging less to gain experience is only benefiting the planner at the end of the day. There are many moving parts in planning a South Asian wedding, so having an experienced planner by your side to represent your special day will go a long way and help you save money where possible. The process to find a venue and hire your vendors will be much quicker and less stressful since they will be able to recommend the best options that meet your criteria, inform you on costs involved that you have not even considered, advise you on whether to hire local vendors vs. out of town vendors and the list goes on! 


What I hear the most when speaking to newly-engaged couples is that they want to break away from the 500+ guest count wedding in their hometown to save more money by having a more smaller, intimate celebration in a beautiful setting. Having a destination wedding does not automatically mean it will be cheaper. For a South Asian wedding with multi-day events the venue customize their packages to accommodate the number of hours you will need for each event, the meals you wish to host, the staffing they will need to provide based on your guest count, also different locations and set up requirements necessary from transitioning from one event to another. The prices you notice online are mostly for standard, western style wedding less than 100 guests. Also, keep in mind that the tax rate is higher in Mexico than what you are typically used to seeing and some also have other charges like staffing, freight and labor fees that drive up the cost. Scouting for venues with my clients is a big part of the services I provide. Being able to spend quality time with my clients and walking the space to paint them a picture helps them make a decision wisely and know they have selected the right venue for their wedding events. 


I love providing unique and one of a kind experience that reflects the couple and their journey together. Specializing in South Asian weddings, I am able to help you partner with the perfect resort and vendors to ensure all your wedding details are thoroughly planned out with careful attention to the cultural elements each day, the specific design you desire, approach each vendor with an understanding of what is important to the couple and their families and this leads to an ultimate hospitality experience for your guests to enjoy! 


To learn more about our Destination Wedding Collection, call or email us for more information. I can’t wait to get started on your wedding planning together!

South Asian Wedding Terms To Know

Dandia
Baraat

BARAAT: the groom’s wedding procession, usually includes family and friends dancing towards the ceremony venue with the groom on a horse

Dandia

DANDIA: colorful sticks used in the Gujurati folk dance (also, Daandia)

Dhula & Dulhan

DULHA: the groom

DULHAN: the bride

GANESH PUJA: Most auspicious Indian ceremonies to begin with the worship of Ganesha, so that he can help remove any obstacles that may stand in the path of this union.

GARBA: a traditional Gujurati folk dance; a pre‐wedding evening of dance organized by the bride’s family

GRANTHI: a Sikh priest

Gurudwara

GURUDWARA: the Sikh temple or place of worship

HAALDI: A pre-wedding ceremony where a paste known as Ubtan containing turmeric, herbs and chandan (sandalwood) is applied on the face, arms and feet of the bride and groom

HAAR: a floral necklace

HAVAN: lighting the sacred fire before a Hindu prayer or wedding ritual

Havan Kund

HAVAN KUND: A vessel in which fire is lit for Puja (Prayer).

Henna

HEENA: a colored paste made from the green leaves of a henna plant used to decorate the hands and feet of the bride

Jaimala

JAIMALA: a Hindu wedding ceremony where the bride and groom exchange garlands

Outdoor Mandap

MANDAP: a decorated four‐pillared canopy under which the bride and groom have their Hindu wedding ceremony

MANGALSUTRA: Sacred necklace that the groom ties around the bride’s neck signifying their marriage.

MASJID: the Muslim place of worship

MEHNDI: a ceremony or celebration where guests have the opportunity to apply henna in event setting for the wedding occasions. Mostly females apply henna but now unisex to apply henna.

MILNI: a ceremony before the wedding where the men of both the bride’s and groom’s families meet to exchange hugs and garlands of flowers

Nikkah

NIKKAH: the Muslim wedding ceremony

PANDIT: a Hindu priest (also, Pundit)

PITHI: a ceremony where the bride and groom are covered in a yellow powder that is made into paste

PUJA/POOJA: a Hindu prayer

Raas

RAAS: a traditional Hindu dance in pairs and short sticks, called Dandia, which involves hitting the partner’s sticks while following the rhythm of the music

SANGEET: a pre‐wedding custom involving women gathering together to sing traditional folk songs and verses

SHAADI: the Indian wedding ceremony

VIDAAI: the departure of the newly married couple

Walima

WALIMA/VALIMA: The reception held after the Muslim wedding

Dare to Dream

Luxury Wedding Planner

They say if you dream a thing more than once, it’s sure to come true. For a while after graduating from high school, I felt completely at a loss about what I was suppose to do next. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career though I was told to follow something prestigious like becoming a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer to be successful in life. So I did just that, I earned my Bachelors of Science in Biology in 2006 and told myself I’d pursue something in the health field and began applying to programs I felt interested in. But in that whole process, deep within me, a little dream of mine began to resurface. I remember watching Jennifer Lopez in the movie “The Wedding Planner” and thought to myself how I’d love to be her-a wedding planner! I went go through countless interior design books, wedding and event magazines admiring this industry. With my family being hesitant on my choice of career to follow I took a leap of faith and followed my dream!

I began in the event industry in 2007 initially wanting to open a décor company and have my own inventory. To gain experience, I began working as a Sales Manager and Lead Designer at a décor company in Houston but came to realize that I did not want to have my own inventory or focus just on the design aspect. I realized my natural skills and talent fit best in being part of the wedding as a whole. Handling the venue selection, diagrams and logistics, working one-on-one with each vendor, I mean who doesn’t love going for a cake tasting every month! I just loved being part of it from start to finish and seeing it come to fruition from the small to large details that was the ultimate satisfaction for me after all the hard work! After completing each wedding and working with the couples, it gave me courage and motivation to start my own business in 2009. As I was braining storming a unique name for my company, I was reading the Twilight novel by Stephenie Meyer. My interpretation of the fantasy romance, of how love could happen all of a sudden, to anyone, at anytime led me to name my business, Lion & Lamb Event Services. Lion being the groom and Lamb being the bride representing how opposites can attract. In 2015, I decided to re-brand my company to SOBI QAZI as I was the face of the brand I was building and because everything my team and I do is based on my approach and my experience in business.

Now, looking back 12 years and counting I can only say “It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together.” I always put love, dedication and my heart into this business and take each wedding and event, clients, couples in high regards as I have experienced so much in this industry. Most importantly to all those who believe in me and support me, I am so lucky! I am always dreaming big, so follow me in my continuous journey, there’s so much more I want to achieve.

XO, Sobi Qazi