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

Are you unsure whether you need a wedding planner? Will hiring one be an extra expense, or could it actually help you save time and money? In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into what it truly means to work with a wedding planner and explore the invaluable support they can provide.

Our guest today is Vidhi Kshtritye, the founder of The Marigold Company. With a decade of experience in the wedding planning industry, Vidhi has assisted numerous couples in crafting their dream weddings. She candidly shares the secrets of working with a planner, including how they can facilitate negotiations with vendors and ensure a seamless wedding experience.

Join us as we uncover the role of wedding planners and gain valuable insights into making your special day truly magical.

Don't forget to check out the links and timestamps in the description below for specific topics and insights.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 Precap

02:18 Introduction

04:05 Vidhi's personal story and mission

07:37 Wedding planning tools

09.25 Importance of having family meeting with the wedding planner

13:07 The cost to hire a wedding planner for your wedding

15:05 Do we need a wedding planner?

17:09 How does the wedding planner help save money?

19:47 Booking a venue for the wedding with catering included vs outside catering

21:22 Choosing the right vendors for your wedding

23:59 Using your credit card for larger wedding payments to earn points/miles

26:18 How to choose a wedding planner?

28:47 Ideal couple

30:30 What will a wedding planer NOT do

32:11 What Inspires Vidhi everyday

34:10 Bonus Tips and Insights from a wedding planner

36:50 Subscribe to Indian Wedding Podcast

With your hosts Kunal and Jinal Sampat

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

🎙️Vidhi Kshtritye | The Marigold Company

Website: https://themarigoldcompany.com

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

🙋 Please enjoy!

This Episode is brought to you by Sampati

https://sampatjewelers.com (5% off your first order)

Specializes in Modern Mangalsutra that you will wear, not store it in the bank safe.

🔗Brands and Link Mentioned:

Almost Free Luxury Honeymoon Travel with Trevor Wright https://sampatjewelers.com/podcast/honeymoon-travel/

#weddingday #weddingplanner #Southerncaliforniaweddingplanner #indianweddingpodcast #indianweddingplanning #indianweddingbuzz

Connect with us on social media:

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

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when you see a picture-perfect, beautifully styled wedding?

If so, you're going to love this interview because we'll be meeting with a stylist who has years of education and experience styling for events, including weddings.

Our guest today is Tina Bhardwaj, a certified fashion designer, wardrobe stylist, and co-owner of the womenswear label MadSam TinZin.

Tina is a personal styling expert for people who want to look and feel great in the clothes they put on.

She helps men and women style in an effortless way that represents them at their core and not a style they came across on Pinterest.

In this interview, we cover a wide range of topics including why you should hire a stylist for your wedding, common mistakes couples make when it comes to styling, does hiring a stylist increases your wedding expenses, and more.

Stay tuned towards the end of the interview where Tina shares her favorite designers.

You can also check out the links and timestamps in the description below for specific topics and insights.

Please join me in welcoming Tina Bhardwaj on the Indian Wedding Podcast.

Tina Bharadwaj

Website: www.ladytin.com

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

Please enjoy!

This Episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewellers: https://sampatjewelers.com/ (5% off your first order) specializes in Modern Mangalsutra that you will wear, not store it in the bank safe.

Connect with us:

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

Website: www.indianweddingpodcast.com

Email: contact@sampatjewellers.com

Welcome to the Indian Wedding Podcast with your hosts Kunal and Jinal Sampat. In this podcast, we share insider tips for a magical wedding.

Arina Balerina, CEO and Videographer of Balerina Films. Arina and her team have been featured in leading fashion and wedding magazines like Vogue, Over the Moon, and many more. Most importantly, her work speaks for itself.

In this episode, we share the secrets behind capturing the memorable moments of your wedding to perfection. What does it take to create spectacular wedding videos, Tips before hiring a wedding videographer. And how the bride and groom can help the wedding videographer perform their best and shoot the best videos.

Balerina Films:

Website: https://balerinafilms.com/

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

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/balerinafilms

Please enjoy!

In this episode, we explore what it takes to plan an Indian-Pakistani vegan wedding.

Veganism is not a trend or fad. It is here to stay. There are couples who do not want to consume animal products for ethical and health reasons. These couples are bringing their love and passion for vegan lifestyle to their weddings.

To learn more about vegan weddings, we invited Heer Parikh, a vegan consultant and Indian bride who planned a vegan wedding with her Pakistani husband.

In this interview, Heer shares with us what it takes to plan a vegan wedding. We discuss everything from vegan food and wine to whether it is selfish to plan a vegan wedding.

Heer is trained in High Impact Hospitality Consulting from Vegan Hospitality, the highest standard for vegan friendly hospitality consulting, coaching, and certification worldwide.

She is the leader of the Vegan Women of Houston Facebook group, has been invited to speak about the vegan lifestyle at several events, including radio shows, and was the President of the Vegan Committee that she launched at Direct Energy.

Please join us in welcoming Heer to the Indian Wedding Podcast.

Website: https://consultavegan.com/

Instagram: eco_conscious_vegan

This episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewelers https://sampatjewelers.com/

Southern California offers great weather, delicious food, and exceptional venues to plan a magical wedding.

In this episode, we invited Shumaila Panwhar from SoCal Event Planners to share her expertise on planning a South Asian wedding in Southern California.

Shumalia shares location and multicultural cuisine options, wedding planning tools, why you need to consider Southern California for a destination wedding, and much more.

Shumaila and her team have extensive experience in managing large-scale South Asian, Indian, and Pakistani wedding events, helping their clients translate their vision into reality, and ensuring that each event is unique and memorable.

Shumaila has degrees in International Studies and Religious Studies and is a native of Southern California. She also has a certification in Meeting & Event Management.

Please join us in welcoming Shumalia to the Indian Wedding Podcast.

Website: https://www.socaleventplanners.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoCalEventPlanners

This episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewelers https://sampatjewelers.com/

Most couples are excited about their honeymoon travel. It's something couples look forward to after a busy wedding.

A comfortable air travel experience paired with a beautiful and romantic hotel stay can create lasting memories for you and your loved one.

But luxury hotels and business class flight expenses can add up quickly to an already expensive Indian wedding.

But there is an alternative and almost free travel option available to Americans.

To learn more about almost free honeymoon travel, we invited Trevor Wright, founder of The Mile Method on our show.

Trevor is the expert when it comes to earning and redeeming credit card points and airline miles.

You're already spending thousands of dollars on your wedding expenses.

Why not leverage your wedding expenses to get almost free luxury honeymoon travel?

It sounds too good to be true. So let's find out how all this works.

MileMethod (https://www.milemethod.com/) on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/milemethod/

Indian Wedding Podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/indianweddingpodcast/

Sampat Jewellers on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sampatjewellers/

This podcast episode is brought to you by Sampat Jewellers (https://sampatjewelers.com)