Welcome back to Sumaiya & Ratul's enchanting tale at the magnificent NYIT de Seversky Mansion. Sumaiya was a vision in her red sari with gold embroidery. The embroidery was floral and was stitched all over the sari. The artful touches of RZM Glam further enhanced her beauty, and Mehndi artist Tehrim adorned her hands with exquisite designs. Tizarah Co transformed the mansion into a dreamlike garden. The air was filled with the rich scents of Dhaka Sweets' sumptuous dishes, promising a varied culinary journey at the wedding. Martha's Country Bakery outdid themselves with a cake that was a treat for the taste buds and a feast for the eyes. The beats provided by Global DJs and the mesmerizing performances by Bollywood performers & instructor Sabira Tasneem infused the air with rhythm and life. Ninjabi Studios, whose nikkah cinematography transcended traditional wedding films, captured the true magic of their special day. Their lens caught the subtlest glances and the loudest laughter, crafting a cinematic masterpiece that told a love story.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met my husband on Salams, and I swiped right at him because I thought he was very attractive! I messaged him first, saying I thought he looked familiar, and the conversation took off from there. I lived in New York, and he lived in Florida, so we spoke via FaceTime and iMessage. He sent me flowers after talking for 3 weeks, and we made plans to meet in person. I flew down to Florida and knew after spending a day with him that I wanted to marry him. He was funny, and the conversation never had a dry spot. He was also family-oriented, kind, and patient. I told him I did not want to do long-distance and that we should get married. I was surprised he felt the same way and said he would speak to his parents about the next steps.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I flew down to Florida for a second time to meet his family. Little did I know, he had already spoken to his brother about setting up a proposal for me. He took me to downtown West Palm Beach, and his brother had set up a 'marry me' sign, and my husband had arranged for a photographer to capture the moment.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
I used Instagram a lot to find vendors for decorators and henna. Instagram was really useful in vision alignment with a wide variety of vendors. Because my sister had her reception the year prior, I was fortunate enough to already have contacts for hair/makeup, DJ/Emcee, and photographer/videographer. Finding a venue that fit my vision was a bit challenging. I was looking for an outdoor/indoor venue because I wanted to have a cocktail hour, my ceremony outside, and the reception inside. My younger sister was really helpful in researching venues and finding my wedding venue. I also used Instagram to get ideas for dances, entrances, and different social media things for the itinerary.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted a traditional red sari and to be as cultural as possible. My sister-in-law sent me an Instagram page and told me to pick a sari from there. I chose a red sari with gold embroidery. The embroidery was floral and was stitched all over the sari. The sari came from the UK and was given to me by my in-laws to wear for my wedding.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was working together with my friends and family to put the event together. We assembled the wedding favors, gifts, and practiced multiple dances. We spent a lot of family time together planning the itinerary, rehearsals, and every part of the setup.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Guests loved how organized and on time my wedding was. They also loved the speeches my sisters and my cousins gave. They loved how nice and simple the decorations were. We had a really lovely venue, so we did not need extravagant decorations.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I really liked my entrance for my ceremony. I walked in with my parents and had a pianist playing 'Let's Get Married'. My cousins and my siblings held up scarves until I walked up the aisle and dropped them individually to reveal me to my husband, who was waiting by the altar. My ceremony was very special. The imam was very modern and relatable. Seeing my husband before and after we officially got married made me so happy and replayed in my mind.
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
Two days before my wedding, I had a mehendi event in the backyard of a house rental. I hired the same decorator for both events. The decorator said the rental was nicer than most wedding venues he had seen and that we could have had our wedding there as well. The style I was going for was traditional elegance, which is why I opted for an outdoor mehendi. The women in my ancestry all had their mehendis outdoors in the village, and I wanted to be reminiscent of my heritage. I had indoor signs handmade by my sisters and cousins. Close friends and family members performed dances.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Even if you aim for perfection in every little detail, in retrospect, there will always be something that could be done better. Don't harp on the little imperfections because that is what made the event perfect.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My mehendi jewelry was traditional flower jewelry from Bangladesh. My mother bought my gold wedding set in 2020 in anticipation of rising gold prices. My in-laws picked out my wedding gold jewelry with me, and I also wore that to my wedding. My mehendi cake and wedding cake were from my two favorite bakeries in New York: Lulu's and Martha's.
This wedding was a mesmerizing fusion of tradition and love, beautifully captured in every moment.
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