A Firework Display for the Kilkers’ Big Day

December 8, 2021

KYNAH bride, Sarah Kilker tied the knot in the Nessa Lehenga and Victoria Lehenga. The couple held the first half of their celebrations on the waves of Newport Beach at their welcome party. Then, their elaborate reception ended with a firework display almost made just for them from a Disneyland nearby. The KYNAH team wishes these newly weds a lifetime of love, light and happiness! Congratulations!

How was your experience with KYNAH?

Excellent. I started with a virtual consultation with Aisha in January, which was super helpful to start defining my style and narrow down my favorite looks. I was also able to visit the KYNAH pop-up in Santa Monica to try on my favorite lehengas. I had so much fun trying on the lehengas and getting to see them in person really helped to solidify my decisions.

Sarah Kilker in the Nessa Lehenga by Seema Gujral

What was it about the Nessa and Victoria Lehengas that made you say “Yes!”?

Even before seeing it in person, I was in love with the Nessa Lehenga. I was drawn to all of the colors and intricate details on the skirt. Rather than a traditional sangeet or garba on Friday evening, we hosted a welcome party, so I had lots of flexibility with my outfit. We held our welcome party on board a boat in Newport Beach. Although the gorgeous harbor views and sunset were our primary source of “decoration” for the party, Hello Kismet perfectly matched the floral centerpieces to my Nessa Lehenga!

The Victoria Lehenga was one I had identified as a favorite during the virtual consultation. The long tassels on the back of the blouse really sold me on the lehenga once I tried it on. The whole outfit is so sparkly and glamorous, so it was the perfect choice for the reception.

Sarah Kilker in the Victoria Lehenga by KYNAH

What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme/aesthetic?

Both my husband and I generally have a more modern aesthetic, favoring clean lines and simple color schemes. One of the decor designers described my style as “glam with a touch of whimsy,” which I believe carried through to our decor and to my outfit selections. For the ceremony we kept things simple and airy. Everything was white and acrylic with subtle gold accents. The raised aisle was lined with dozens of candles, which was a really stunning effect. The reception design was also modern but slightly more elaborate, bringing in greens and muted pinks in addition to the white and gold. Hello Kismet even managed to hang two giant chandeliers on the stage! The look was finished off with a white and gold marbled dance floor and matching panels behind the stage. Overall, our events all favored a simple, modern, and airy design that gave a clean but sophisticated look.

If you had to choose one moment from your wedding day, what would it be?

One of my favorite parts of the day was sneaking out of the reception right after the program to go up to the roof of the hotel to catch the Disneyland fireworks. At that point all of the dances, speeches, etc. we’re behind us and we could truly relax and enjoy a quiet moment watching the fireworks. As a bonus, we were able to get some great photos!

Tell us how he proposed!

One Sunday morning last October, Akash suggested taking my dog Benji for a walk in Forest Park (a large park in the middle of St. Louis, where we live). After walking Benji around for a while, Akash got down on one knee and popped the question. I wasn’t expecting it at all! I was so shocked and excited that I plucked the ring (a round solitaire on a thin gold band - exactly what I wanted!) right out of the box and put it on my hand myself (probably not proper proposal etiquette).