I can't stop smiling, dolls! Just how adorable are these sunshine-y first-look portraits from Jashim Jalal Studios?! Bride Tina is absolutely beaming as she taps Raja Amit on the shoulder, and as they see each other in their regal wedding wear, it's quite clearly the most magical of moments. Now that I've pulled myself away from staring at her incredible bridal jewelry, I find I'm equally as mesmermized by this Maharani's breathtaking ruby lengha. I mean, that is a total showstopper! When this darling makes her way down the aisle at the Stylish Events-designed ceremony, all eyes will be on her elegant style. I'll be in the gallery until it begins!
From the bride: "Amit and I met in January of 2004. He was a freshman in Union College (Albany, NY) and I was a senior in high school from Long Island applying to that same program. He wasn’t supposed to be doing interview tours, but his friend called in sick and begged him to take over for the day. He ended up talking to my parents while I was in my interview and they found out that he was from Long Island—about 10 minutes from where we live. As soon as I came out of the interview, my parents insisted that I ask him for his contact information in case I had any questions—since I’m pretty sure he had won them over with his irresistible charm by that point. I awkwardly asked Amit if I could have his number because my mom wanted me to take it and he of course whipped out a pen and paper (the era before cell phones) and wrote down his number, email, and AIM screen name.
Later on that week I had a dilemma—I sent a thank you note to the wrong interviewer and I contacted Amit via AIM to see if he could intercept it and find out the right interviewer from me. We started talking and he asked me out on a date that weekend, but I declined. We continued to talk over the next few weeks and I finally agreed to meet up, and 3 “dates” later (including an introduction to his parents!) by early March of 2004 we were officially together, and a decade later we are still going strong!
We were engaged just over 8 years after we began dating, along the banks of the affectionately known 'Passion Puddle' at my Alma Mater—Rutger’s University. The legend goes, that if you walk around the lake 3 times while holding hands with your lover, you are destined to marry. I had always wanted to do this with Amit, but we never got around to it in college. Amit had the proposal planned down to each detail, including an excuse to be in New Jersey, having the police keeping the lake and 'Kissing Bridge' unavailable to the public, a hidden photographer, changes of clothes for an impromptu photoshoot, a surprise celebratory dinner with family, and a night out with friends. I never suspected a thing since it was just like Inception. It was so well planned that he even had me drag him out to New Jersey that day for a family event that he didn't want to go to, fake a delay when we were already in the area, and trick me into suggesting we go to the 'Passion Puddle' during the extra time.
[One of the most special moments of our wedding day] was absolutely our 'first look' when Amit turned to me, broke in to a huge smile and simply said 'Wow.' It was right then and there that all of the stress from the planning melted away and we both knew that it was all worth it."
I love these super sweet stories! See you in just a bit for the ceremony!
