Our "In the News" page highlights the latest recognition and features Cultural Event Rentals has received. From being celebrated in media outlets to being showcased in industry articles, explore how our dedication to cultural weddings and events has captured attention and earned accolades. Join us in celebrating these milestones and discover the stories behind the spotlight.
Cultural Event Rentals is proud to be featured in PartySlate Weddings: A Keepsake Planner by Julie Roth Novack and the PartySlate team. This beautifully designed planner highlights our contributions among stunning wedding inspiration and insights from top event professionals.
Wedding planners are navigating challenges like evolving protocols, rising costs, and vendor shortages amid a surge in Indian American marriages. Kristen Miller, our founder, shares how the industry has adapted to meet client needs while honoring the beauty and complexity of traditional Indian weddings.
Cultural Event Rentals was honored to be part of Jayni Shah and William Dixon's stunning wedding, featured in Vogue magazine. The celebration seamlessly blended traditional Indian and classic American elements, showcasing our expertise in creating unforgettable moments for multicultural weddings.
We were so happy to play a pivotal role in bringing Tricia and Raj's dream wedding and vibrant Baraat to life, ensuring every detail and piece of decor perfectly complemented their joyous celebration. The festivities were a true reflection of love and liveliness, beginning with the bride posing gracefully for photographs in a serene, enchanting wooded area. Meanwhile, the groom, surrounded by an exuberant crowd of friends and family, made his grand entrance in the Baraat. Accompanied by spirited dancing and singing, he rode majestically on a black horse adorned in intricate gold and red embellishments.
The traditional Indian wedding ceremony was a breathtaking affair, with the couple exchanging vows beneath a stunning mandap. Drenched in hues of pink, yellow, and ivory florals, the mandap provided a captivating backdrop that framed the newlyweds beautifully, making the moment unforgettable. Cultural Event Rentals' meticulous attention to detail ensured that every element contributed to the magic of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Explore every detail, from the captivating color scheme to the elegant settings, thoughtfully curated furniture, and exquisite décor arrangements, by clicking here »
How Wedding Planners are Coping With Surge in Indian American Marriages Amid Lingering Pandemic
From ever-changing Covid protocols to rising costs and vendor shortages, they have become experts in matching their clients' needs to the demands of the current times. Indian weddings are a weekend-long extravaganza with many guests and numerous colorful fun and festivities associated with diverse cultures and religions. This year marked a wave of desi weddings after two years of drought. My family and I have been invited to half a dozen weddings this year.
Impact of Covid on the Wedding Industry - Thirty-year-old Kristen Miller, the founder of Cultural Event Rentals, one-stop-shop service for Indian weddings specializing in exclusive mandaps, sacred rest for the Holy Book required for Sikh weddings, Hawan Kund for the sacred fire, jhulas, haldi bowls, henna accessories, a variety of collection of furniture, backdrops, and specialty decor for ceremonies. Her wedding rickshaw was featured in the August 2021 New York Times article "Hippie Hindu" wedding that brought in the bride to tie her nuptial knots at the wedding at the Holly Farm in Carmel, California.
Miller began her career in the industry even before she graduated high school. She quickly learned about the beauty, complexity, and cultural nuances of a three-day Indian wedding. Starting with a mehndi party on a Thursday, haldi during the day, and sangeet in the evening on Friday; baraat and wedding on Saturday morning on a well-crafted mandap, lunch after the wedding, and reception with dinner and dancing. After successfully planning over 50 Indian weddings for a Bay area event planning company, Miller started her own in 2018.
She says Covid was hard on her business. Besides government compensation for small businesses, she did a few rentals. "Sometimes, people needed a mandap delivered for their private estate or a tent." But the industry hurt as the beauty of Indian weddings lies in the extended family and community coming together.
Miller did a south Indian wedding in September 2021 where the bride's mother could not come from India. The couple live-streamed it so that everyone in their family in India could see it, and it turned out beautiful. "It was late at night, and the family was partying in India." With Covid, a lot of videographers got into the live streaming business.
This year, Miller finds people are cautious in reading between the lines of the wedding contract and are keen on incorporating the Covid clause. Some clients don't want to sign a wedding contract to cancel it abruptly without that clause. As a result, she has lost some business.
Another significant change this year is the effect of price increases, a clause she incorporated in her new contract drawn in January. She had initially made all these contracts for the rental company based on last year's gas prices. "I shot myself in the foot!"
Read the entire article at this link »
We also invite you to read this New York Times Article A ‘Hippie Hindu' Wedding for a Cosmic Match in which our rickshaw was featured.
Cultural Event Rentals was thrilled to play a part in the magical wedding celebration of Jayni and William, a couple whose love story blossomed in San Francisco and culminated in a stunning ceremony at William's family ranch in California wine country. The property, rich with memories and natural beauty, set the perfect stage for their dream wedding. From the vibrant Baraat procession to the elegant reception, every detail reflected the couple's unique blend of traditions and personal style, and we were honored to contribute to the success of such a special day.
The festivities were a beautiful blend of cultural richness and heartfelt moments. Jayni’s vision for a traditional Indian Hindu ceremony was brought to life beneath a breathtaking mandap adorned with soft florals that framed the couple perfectly as they exchanged vows. The Baraat was a lively and unforgettable procession, with William making his entrance on a grand horse while friends and family danced with joy. Cultural Event Rentals took great care in curating the décor to ensure every element complemented the couple’s story and the natural beauty of the venue.
As the day transitioned to an elegant black-tie reception, the celebration continued with meaningful touches, heartfelt speeches, and a grand entrance by the newlyweds. Seeing the joy on the faces of their guests and knowing that every detail contributed to their perfect day was a true privilege. Cultural Event Rentals is proud to have been a part of this unforgettable wedding, celebrating the love and unity of two families in such a memorable and extraordinary way.
Read the Vogue article at this link »