Welcome, sweeties, to the enchanting story of Ria & Sarthak's fairytale wedding at the Indian Cultural Center of South Jersey. Every detail, from the opulent floral arrangements by Thambula Decor to the pulsating beats by DJ Soni Seehra, encapsulated the essence of their union. The Sangeet saw Ria dazzling in a look crafted by Urban Vanity, her beauty reflecting the night's joy. During the ceremony, Ria truly shone, thanks to Looks by Jassi. Her expertise in hair and makeup artistry transformed Ria into a vision of elegance, her beauty amplified yet not overshadowed, capturing the very soul of the bride on her most special day. The moments, each more precious than the last, were immortalized by the talented Iryna Shostak Photography. Her lens didn't just capture images; it narrated a love story. Each frame is a window into their soul, the joy, the laughter, and the tears of happiness, all captured with an artist's touch. Complementing this visual feast was Broshchak Production, whose cinematography added depth to the wedding. The wedding feast, catered by the Palace of Asia and with sweet treats from Sweet T's Bakery, offered a kaleidoscope of flavors. Enjoy!
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How did you meet your Groom, and when did you know he was "the one"?
A year ago, if you had asked either of us whether we believe in online dating, we would have immediately said 'NO'! But destiny just had to prove us wrong. It still surprises us till date that one 'swipe right' just changed our life in the most beautiful way possible! When we matched on DilMil in April 2022, our conversations started with discussing our favorite episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, which transitioned to sharing our childhood memories from central India (the part of India where we both belong to) and of course continued on to sharing our love for Harry Potter (especially the books). Who knew two strangers would end up having so many common interests including hiking, travelling and MARVEL movies...which eventually made the long distance relationship work! With so much common between us, I knew he was the one the day I met him in person!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Sarthak had just got back from his India trip in April 2023 with a minor cold and body ache, while I was dying to see the Cherry Blossoms during the Washington Spring. We cancelled going to see the beautiful trees two days in a row as Sarthak was not feeling well. And then suddenly he suggested we go to see the blossoms very early in the morning, before 7am. I was so excited to see the beautiful cherry blossoms that I dressed really well, made both of us twin as well. Little did I know that unknowingly I was the master-mind behind my whole proposal. We took the tripod with us to the University of Washington Quad, and had almost the whole place to ourselves. I made him take loads of photos of me, when he suggested we take a video for our pre-wedding shoot. I didn't find anything fishy in that. As soon as we made sure we were in frame and he started the video on the tripod, he went down on one knee and PROPOSED! It was totally out of the blue, but the best unplanned surprise ever!
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.
None of us live in the Philadelphia or NJ Area. We had our wedding in South Jersey because, my husband has a lot of family there. So planning a wedding remotely was a very scary task. But all the vendors that we reached out to and confirmed were so amazing and helpful. After finalizing Jassi Aunty for hair and make (whom I found through Maharani Weddings website), she helped me find the DJ and also suggested catering places. I found our amazing decorator through Google search as well Thambula Decor. My photographer, Iryna Shostak was super-amazing too. I still find it surprising how we finalized everyone even without meeting anyone! Everyone was super amazing.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I selected my Lehenga from India. My mom showed me designs on video calls, I gave my measurements and somehow found my dream lehenga!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
At that time it was more scary than enjoyable. We had the fear that things won't go right. But the fact that we were doing this to celebrate us and our love definitely made it fun!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
They loved the food, the decor and the punctuality of all of our vendors.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The first look that we had was truly special and we got to share that moment with everyone in our families.
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.
The DJ Soni Sehra was definitely the star of all of our events! The hype that he maintained throughout the 2 day program was great! The decor by Lakshmi and her team was on point and ready on time before each event. The caterers were Palace of Asia, who provided great food all days. Our families keep reminding us how good the food was.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Just trust the process. Wedding planning involves a lot of heated discussions, but on the wedding day, everything will feel worth it! Just make sure to enjoy to the fullest rather than wondering whether everything is going right or not!
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
The cake was from Sweet T's in South Jersey, and we went for the classic red velvet, which was really tasty. Most of my jewelry was from India.
Step into this world of love and celebration, and may today's story inspire your tales of romance.
