This story is one for the ages, a testament to the enigmatic power of love that defies boundaries and thrives amidst adversities. Sonali and Ravi, two souls destined to converge, found one another during the eerie silence and seclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic on the DilMil app. And since that moment, their hearts communicated a silent promise of a profound love, a connection that would weather through seasons and stand the test of time.
The wedding planning, a monumental task embraced with grace, was a dance between dreams and reality, a careful orchestration of elements that culminated in an event akin to fairy tales. The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate proved to be the idyllic canvas, capturing the essence of their union whilst offering guests a luxurious sojourn. Sonali’s tryst with Dawn Gomez, who magically weaved her strands into art, and Bhumi Patel, who highlighted her radiant beauty with subtle strokes, was serendipitous.
Sonali, adorned in a red dress, epitomized traditional elegance. The dress, an artistic marvel, echoed the stories, aspirations, and silent musings of a bride on the cusp of a new beginning. The detailed chariot sequence, handcrafted artwork, and the simplicity of design were a harmonious blend of tradition, elegance, and personal touch.
Hands down, the wedding of Sonali and Ravi wasn’t just a festive celebration but a silent testimony to a partnership forged in resilience, understanding, and unwavering love. In the laughter and ephemeral silences, in the grandeur of celebrations and intimate moments, echoes the silent song of two hearts entwined forever.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonali, a dedicated pharmacy student in Atlanta, GA, and Ravi, a professional commuting between New Jersey and Orlando for his Hotels, found each other on the DilMil app. Their virtual connection grew deep with deep conversations into the night and a first date virtually. Eager to meet, Ravi made a special journey, driving to Atlanta for a weekend rendezvous. They embarked on a magical weekend, sharing intimate stories, enjoying wonderful takeout, and watching many movies. Their meet-cute, fueled by determination, became a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the willingness to go the extra mile for one another, inspiring others to believe in the extraordinary possibilities that love can bring, even in the face of adversity.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Before Ravi's heartfelt proposal on the Squibb Park Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, at sunset, he planned a day filled with excitement and adventure for Sonali. They explored the magnificent One Vanderbilt building, immersing themselves in its grandeur and breathtaking views of the city. Hand in hand, they marveled at the architectural wonders and indulged in moments of pure joy, savoring the shared experience. Little did Sonali know that this day of fun and laughter would culminate in a beautiful declaration of love. With hearts full of anticipation, they left the One Vanderbilt building to embark on a romantic journey that would forever unite their souls in an eternal bond of love and happiness.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the picturesque Squibb Park Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, Ravi mustered up the courage to take a leap of faith and proposed to Sonali. With their hearts racing in sync, he knelt down and poured out his love, promising a lifetime of joy and companionship. Overwhelmed with emotion, Sonali joyfully accepted, her eyes shimmering with tears of happiness. In a moment of pure bliss, they sealed their engagement with Ravi, putting the ring on Sonali's finger, their love radiating in the enchanting sunset. The celebration continued as Ravi surprised Sonali with a party, surrounded by their closest friends and beloved family members. Laughter filled the air as they danced, reveled, and created cherished memories that would forever be etched in their hearts. They embraced the night, brimming with love and gratitude, as they embarked on a new chapter of their lives, united in the promise of a future filled with boundless love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
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.
1. We wanted a venue that would be magnificent for our wedding but, at the same time, a place where our guests would be able to enjoy activities outside of the Wedding while they attended. Omni at ChampionsGate gave us the best of both worlds. Wonderful staff, working with Stephanie made our lives very, very easy.
2. My Hair had been done really well by Dawn during my best friend's wedding, so I knew I wanted to have her as my hair stylist for my events. As for the Makeup, I wanted to use Bhumi because she never overdid anything. She made all of my best features stand out so I could just focus on the pictures and enjoy the night.
3. The Outfits were a difficult process. During our engagement party, we ordered both of our outfits online and shared our exact measurements. The tailors in India created perfect fitting clothes for both of us, so we knew for the wedding we wanted to do the same because we would not have time to go to India because of both of our crazy work schedules. After spending hours scouring Pinterest, Instagram, and Indian outfit online stores, we realized that this time around it wasn't going to be as easy. We needed to match more color schemes and modern/new designs. So, more often than not, it led to many late hours of video calling with the stores in India. My husband and I finally picked my colors and designs for the wedding and reception. All outfits were to be made custom, as nothing was readily available to our liking. After weeks of waiting for them to design and make the pieces, their measurements were all incorrect. After trying them on when the packages arrived, we had to ship them back to India for resizing. When my husband's parents went to India, they matched my husband's outfits to mine and had all of his custom-made. Luckily, his all fit on the first try. Pretty much the week before the home wedding events, all my outfits arrived, and they fit. Phew, it was such a stressful time.
4. For our decor, we loved vibrant colors for our Sangeet, as many bright colors as the decorator could put together. She did a wonderful job as initially, our Sangeet was to be outside, but a last-minute decision was made to move the event indoors because the forecast said rain for that evening. For the Wedding, we both really wanted to do a beige theme for the decorations and wedding party. Only my husband and I are in different red colors. We loved how the pictures turned out and couldn't be happier that we made the decision to dress everyone in the bridal party/immediate family in beige. For the reception, we wanted to do something unique with a Black/Red theme. We had a beautiful dance floor that was black with our wedding logo in huge white letters in the center; it looked spectacular. Our backdrop, we wanted the starry night with red accents, and our decorator absolutely delivered.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted a red dress, and I wanted it to be traditional with an elegant design. The bottom had a beautiful chariot and horse sequence that was special to me, so I knew I wanted that. The middle is a detailed pattern with intricate handcrafted artwork. The top of the chaniyo had a simpler design, so the work wouldn't dig into my side. For the blouse, I wanted a more detailed design so it would really stand out in pictures and during the ceremony. I'm really happy I went with that because it looked absolutely stunning.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I'm just going through the process together with my husband. We really enjoyed doing it together because we knew this was going to be the first major challenge we were going to face together as a couple. And we crushed it. My husband and I were so proud of our final result. All of our guests had a great time, the planning process kind of flew by, and most importantly, we adored every moment of that weekend.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
After speaking to the guests after the wedding was over, they really loved that there was so much more to do than just the wedding events. We've all been to weddings where it just seems the bride and groom are just so stressed and concerned about the event planning that they forget that this is the single biggest moment of their lives. We wanted to really enjoy every single minute. Fortunately enough, our guests and we were able to do that. The guests really loved the golf, spa, and pool area that the resort offered. Everyone was on vacation; I just had a few wedding events in the middle of it. That's exactly how we wanted it.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I think our entrance performance at the sangeet was really awesome. We came in with so much energy jumping around and feeding off the crowd that we still talk about it months later. Also, our first dance together. It was a beautiful setting, the starry background being lit behind us, a huge cloud effect being shadowed below our feet. Everyone in the crowd thought we choreographed the performance, but in reality, my husband and I were just enjoying our moment and making it as memorable as possible for ourselves.
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.
We were blessed enough to have such wonderful friends and family supporting us that entire weekend. So many members of both sides put in so many hours learning the dances, preparing their speeches, and just plain helping Ravi and me keep our sanity. We really also loved a peacock-colored theme on our Kankothri cards and incorporating it throughout all of the events. From the mehndi to the reception, we had some sort of symbol/colors of peacocks there. I'm glad we did that because it really stood out beautifully.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Take your time planning it all, and don't become overwhelmed. Remember that you have your husband with you planning. He will support you and make sure the day lives up to your expectations. Be organized and thorough when speaking with the vendors; they are all really experienced, and their goal is to deliver you the wedding of your dreams. Be calm when facing adversity during the wedding; things are bound to go wrong. Just embrace it and enjoy it as much as you can.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Just because we had such a short time to plan this wedding, we picked our venue/date at the end of March 2022 and had our wedding in October. Within those 7 months, it felt like we had so much time and never enough. But I think the way we handled it all, we knew Ravi and I were meant for each other. If we could handle all the chaoticness/stress that came with the planning, it really shows you what kind of person you're marrying. Luckily, I got a great one.
