When you think of Hartford, CT, towering skylines and grand architecture might come to mind. But for one weekend, the city became the backdrop to a love story draped in jewel tones, shimmering lehengas, and dance moves worthy of a Bollywood finale. Meet Puja & Kushal—a duo that took "wedding goals" to a new level. In the city's heart, under golden-hour glow and amidst the towering buildings, Puja & Kushal shared a first look that could stop traffic. Quite literally—thankfully, no honking was involved. Puja, radiant in a plum and blush Rasaya lehenga (flown in from Mumbai, because obviously!), stood hand-in-hand with Kushal, who was the picture of princely charm in his deep-hued sherwani.
Before the grand ceremony, the couple started the festivities with vibrant haldi and mehndi celebrations that blended warmth and laughter with gallons of turmeric. Surrounded by glowing friends and layers of intricate mehndi, Puja's joy was infectious—her smile brighter than the marigolds! (And yes, we counted at least twelve hands showing coordinated henna designs around her. Squad goals? Check.) Draped in rich, glittering Rajwadi Jewelry, she floated down the aisle with the elegance of a queen. In ivory and gold with traditional touches, Kushal waited for her beneath a mandap beautifully dressed by Elegantize Productions, who truly outdid themselves with florals that whispered romance and regality in equal measure.
When the sun went down, the sparkle turned up. Puja became a dazzling, silvery lehenga that shimmered like a starry night sky. Kushal matched her elegance in a sharp Suit Supply tux that made every James Bond look feel underdressed. DJ Gaurav Sood turned the ballroom into a pulsating celebration, blending Desi beats with crowd-favorite classics. Guests danced like nobody was watching… except Juniper Domantay, who was watching, photographing, and turning every move into art. They captured this moment with such cinematic flair that we wouldn't be surprised if Netflix came calling.
Beyond the opulent decor, the show-stopping outfits, and the seamless blend of tradition and trend, what stood out was the pure, contagious joy of Puja & Kushal's loved ones. From the bridesmaids in coordinated sage green lehengas to the groomsmen cheering like courtside at a playoff game, the wedding had energy, elegance, and the moments you frame forever. Catering by Moghul Catering made sure everyone stayed fueled with mouthwatering Indian delicacies, and Sanjana Vaswani's magic brushes ensured Puja looked flawless from the first look to the last twirl. This wasn't just a wedding but a moment suspended in time. Do not forget to check the incredible gallery. Enjoy!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I met Kushal in my first year of college. Kushal stayed three doors down from me in our dorm building/floor. During our first day, he introduced himself to everyone, and when I first saw him, I said Oh, an Indian boy, and he’s kinda cute! Over the next 4 months, he would come into my room often. We talked about sports, music, our families, and so much more. We had many common interests, and I started to develop feelings. The more time I spent with him, the more I knew I could see a future with him. He was funny, fun, and loving. He finally told me he liked me one Friday night when we were getting ready to go to a house party our freshman year. Our dorm friends ditched us that night. We realized we were alone, and he finally said I’ve liked you! The next 10 years flew by, and here we are, finally married!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It was our dating anniversary weekend, and I had been asking Kushal to bring me to the Poconos since I had never been. He planned the whole thing, but I had no clue I was going to get proposed to. He brought me to this love hotel, where it was all heart-themed. I didn’t think much of it cause it was our anniversary weekend. I figured he was being romantic. When we checked into our hotel, he told me he entered us for a raffle for a free photoshoot. An hour later, we got a call from our hotel room, and the receptionist said we had won! I was in shock because I had never won a raffle. I got all ready, and we headed down to where they said to meet. It was so cold that day, but I still dressed up because who wouldn’t for a free photoshoot? The photographer took us down by the frozen lake, and that’s when he popped the question.
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 couldn’t have planned such an amazing wedding weekend without my family, friends, and sister in law. It was tough taking into consideration what my parents and in-laws wanted, but with budgeting, organizing, and planning thoroughly, I was able to pull it off. After hours on the phone with multiple vendors and hundreds of emails sent, I feel like I picked the perfect vendors for our wedding weekend. I especially enjoyed working with my hair and makeup artist, photographer, venue, and decorator. They all gave me a great price and were very accommodating. My decorator literally made my vision come to life with all my event decorations. My makeup artist became my therapist when I was nervous and stressed. My photographer got amazing content and created so many reels of us. I was pleased with everything!
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I only had 3 days in Mumbai to pick my wedding outfit. I was also traveling with my in-laws' fiancé and my whole family, so there were like 9 of us. If there is one thing about me, I am extremely picky and terrible at making decisions. We went to sooo many stores. I was hesitant to try on many dresses, but I still did. When I tried on my hot pink lehenga, it was the last color I expected to wear, but the way I looked, the way my face lit up when I wore it, I knew it was the one. I glowed! It helped that my family loved it too!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was picking the decor. I don’t know why, but I love decor at weddings. Many people don’t care for it, but I like to think I have a good eye and a big vision. I love big, tall structures for decor with vibrant colors. It was fun picking different styles for each event.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The food! Moghul is probably one of the best caterers in the northeast. Their food does not disappoint. They fuse together different dishes and still make them taste great. Their presentation is also very good, making the food look appetizing. People were stuffed at our wedding, which was great! We had so many dishes I can’t even remember which ones were a hit!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
My solo performance to Kushal plays on my mind constantly. Not the dance itself, but the way he looked at me during my whole performance, and the reaction when it ended. I was so nervous that I immediately locked eyes with him when the dance started because looking into his eyes just calms me down. As I started to dance, his smile and cheering encouraged me. He gave me the biggest hug when I finished and told me he couldn’t wait to marry me! I’m pretty sure my solo dance was his favorite part of the wedding weekend, and I’m also pretty sure it plays on his mind constantly, haha!
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.
Here are some random facts from our wedding weekend! We had nine dance performances for our sangeet, and everyone killed it! There were so many songs and so much dancing; it was a blast!
My Mehndi was a mermaid theme; it was a beautiful setup!
My reception decor was all custom and built just for my wedding (told you I have a big vision).
I wore all real gold for my wedding ceremony from head to toe. It was really heavy!
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
My words of wisdom are to do everything you want to do, no matter what people say. Don’t think it will look stupid or what people will say, just do it. Having regrets is worse. Another thing is, not everything will go exactly as planned, and that is ok. It is rare that an Indian wedding ever runs on time, even with a planner. Trying to plan by the minute is pointless. There is no need to stress because everything will work out even if it is not as planned. Just have faith and trust the process.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My jewelry for the wedding is from Rajwadi
My sangeet outfit was custom-made, and so was Kushal's
We have over 500 people for our wedding
My best friend from middle school did my Mehndi. She is the real one who spent 6 hours doing it for me for free!!!
It is a beautiful reminder that love is bold, vibrant, and meant to be celebrated in style.
