Orlando, FL Indian Wedding by Charles Merry Photography

For our next featured wedding, we head to Orlando, Florida, where Walt Disney World sets the stage for the magical union of Anshu & Shawn that was a real life fairytale. In August of 2021, Anshu & Shawn's love story began on the dating app Dil Mil. Despite living in different states, their connection was undeniable, and by the end of September, they met in person. As their relationship deepened, Anshu realized during a conversation in January that Shawn was "the one." Envisioning her future, it became clear that Shawn was an integral part of it.

The proposal was nothing short of magical. Although Anshu & Shawn had discussed wedding plans and ring designs two months prior, Shawn kept the element of surprise alive by telling Anshu the ring wouldn't be ready for months. He then suggested they dress up for dinner and take a boat ride on Saturday, arousing her suspicions but maintaining the illusion that the proposal was far off. In reality, Shawn had secretly transformed their home into a romantic setting, adorning the living room and guest bathroom with tea lights, lanterns, and rose petals. After sending Anshu to wait in the car, he "forgot" his keys, prompting her to return inside. Upon returning, she found their bedroom glowing with lanterns spelling out "Will you?" and Shawn standing with a sign that read, "Marry me?" To her surprise, the ring was ready all along, and the boat ride had been a clever decoy to preserve the moment's magic.

Anshu and Shawn's wedding was just as enchanting as their proposal since they thoughtfully planned each event with distinct themes. The dance party radiated a fun and relaxed vibe, while  Disney's Wedding Pavillion set the stage for the Hindu ceremony which embraced a regal, princess-like atmosphere with elegant pastel tones.  Their reception was a grand affair with a "Titanic and Starry Night" theme, where every detail—from the cake to the music and decorations—reflected the majestic grandeur of the Titanic. One of the most unforgettable highlights for their guests was the spectacular Disney fireworks display at the Epcot Center during the festivities, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Anshu's advice to future brides emphasizes the importance of patience. Navigating communication with the groom, family, and vendors can be challenging, but clear, open communication and patience are crucial to ensuring a smooth planning process.

Their Disney wedding was a true celebration of love, elegance, and unforgettable moments, perfectly reflecting the beauty of Anshu and Shawn's journey together.

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Shawn and I met on Dil Mil in August 2021. However, since we lived in different states, we did not meet in person until the end of September!
I knew Shawn was the one after we had the "define the relationship" conversation that January. When I sat down to think about my future, I knew that I wanted Shawn to be a part of it.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Shawn and I discussed future wedding plans, and ring designs about 2 months before the proposal. However about 1 month before the proposal, Shawn told me that due to some issues the ring would not be ready for another 2 months.

The week of the proposal, Shawn called me earlier that week and told me that since he would be driving straight to my place from work on Friday in his dress clothes, that I could dress up too for dinner. He also asked if I wanted to go on a boat ride that Saturday. While I was a bit suspicious, i agreed and pushed the suspicious away since Shawn had told me the ring was not ready.

That Friday, as I got ready, Shawn snuck all of the supplies into the guest bathroom. When we walked to his car, Shawn told me that he had forgotten his wallet. I offered to pay, but he insisted that he wanted to and asked me to wait in the car while he went upstairs. I waited in the car for 10 minutes. As I was getting a bit frustrated/confused, Shawn called again, stating that he could not find his car keys. I again say that we are taking my car so we can look for them after dinner, but he insists that he needs them now. I ask him if he needs help looking for the keys, and he says yes. I go upstairs and open the door, and the entire living room area is filled with fake tea-light candles. There are paper lanterns and rose petals making a path to the bedroom that spells out "Will you." In the bedroom, Shawn is standing between paper lanterns that spell out  "Marry me?". The entire time I kept saying "but the ring is not ready!". Shawn had to tell me multiple times that it was a white lie, that the ring had been ready all month.

He then told me the boat ride was supposed to distract me/make me think he may propose on the boat, so that he could truly surprise me!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests loved the fireworks at the Event. Having the chance to not only see the Disney fireworks, but to see them in The Epcot Center, front row, as part of the Celebration was truly a once in a lifetime experience!

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
My favorite moment was the dance floor at the reception. Shawn and I are not huge dancers. However, Shawn and I had so much fun dancing together that night! I have never seen him so happy dancing, so carefree and relaxed.

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.
Shawn and I wanted a different feel or theme for each event. For the Dance party, we wanted an event that was more relaxed and fun. For the wedding, we decided to embrace the princess theme and tried to have a more elegant feel with pastel colors. For the reception, our theme was "Titanic and Starry Night." Everything, the cake, the decorations, the music, had a titanic vibe.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Patience! The hardest part of planning a wedding is communication with everyone. Have lots of patience with your groom, your family, etc, and try to communicate as much as possible.