Some love stories are destined to be eternal, and Poonam & Wesley's journey is the kind you'd see in the closing scene of a Bollywood blockbuster — heartfelt, vibrant, and utterly magical. Let's dive into their dream wedding, a celebration of tradition and modern flair that left everyone awestruck!
"Wesley and I met the summer between my first and second year of optometry school," Poonam reminisced. "We were introduced by a classmate who'd been best friends with him since kindergarten. After talking all night, we knew we had an instant connection." It was a perfect start to a lifetime of love and shared adventures. When Wesley popped the question in May 2023, it was pure magic. After purchasing their first home, he fell on one knee on their front porch. "It was just the two of us — intimate, sweet, and completely us," Poonam shared.
Every inch of Poonam & Wesley's wedding was a testament to their personality. From the vibrant Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies to the disco jungle-themed Sangeet, their wedding events embodied joy, love, and originality. Held at the stunning St. John's Inn, the venue provided a timeless backdrop for every celebration.
Poonam's flawless glow and stunning hairstyles were courtesy of the dynamic duo Beeuty Bee and Primp Me Up. They worked tirelessly to bring her vision to life, ensuring she looked and felt her best at every event. From her ethereal bridal look to the bold and playful styles at the Sangeet, they nailed every detail. Poonam's mehndi included intricate details like an Ohio State logo (where they met), an eye (a nod to her optometry career), and a custom bride and groom design. Radhe Henna's artistry was a showstopper!
The moments that took your breath away? Thank Killer Creations Photography and Cinematography for capturing every smile, tear, and twirl. Whether it was Poonam's radiant bridal entrance or Wesley's baraat on a horse-drawn carriage, these talented photographers told their story frame by frame, leaving no detail unnoticed.
Pulling off such an elaborate and stunning wedding takes skill, and Marigold Wedding Planners was up to the challenge. They flawlessly executed Poonam & Wesley's vision from decor to event design. The sultry, candle-lit reception was an ode to romance, while the bright, traditional colors of the pre-wedding events kept guests smiling all day long.
The party didn't stop, thanks to Sugar Events & Entertainment, whose DJ kept the dance floor alive all night. From classic Bollywood hits to modern chart-toppers, the music had everyone on their feet, making unforgettable memories.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Wesley and I met the summer between my first and second year of optometry school at a party. We were introduced by a classmate of mine who had been best friends with him since kindergarten. After talking all night we knew we had an instant connection, and continued to see each other after that night.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
In May of 2023, Wesley and I purchased our first home together. The day we closed and got the keys to the house, Wes got down on one knee on our front porch and asked me to marry him. It was perfect and just the two of us.
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.
Our vendors were amazing to work with! I had always dreamed of getting married at the Saint John's resort, and up until a few years ago, they only allowed Catholic weddings. It felt like fate when we inquired about their venue when they had just opened it up to all religious backgrounds. My inspiration for the decor was wanting to embody elements of us. For our Haldi and Mehendi, I wanted the bright traditional colors. For our Sangeet, I wanted to do something non-traditional and chose to do a disco jungle theme. I wanted it to be fun and have more of a Miami vibe than your typical sangeet decor. For the wedding, we wanted it to have that dreamy feel, and for the reception, we wanted it to be sultry/romantic. I wanted our guests to be able to feel the love we shared for one another by creating an environment that embodied that. I also picked outfits that matched each event but captured my personality in it. Our hair and makeup team was SO amazing to work with; they listened to everything I wanted, and I had never felt more beautiful in my life.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I knew I wanted to do traditional red, I LOVE an Indian bride in red. We most of my outfits from India, and I knew I wanted something a little different than what I was used to seeing. Once I found it I knew I had to have it.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Food tasting hands down was the best part, we had so many unique cuisines that it was exciting to try everything. I also really enjoyed planning the smaller details that brought everything together.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The food and drinks!!! Our bartenders from the venue created craft cocktails for our guests that we didn't have to request, they just did it.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Walking down the aisle. I had picked the perfect combination of songs to play, but when I was walking down, I felt like no one else in the room was there except my husband. It honestly felt like a movie moment for me, and all I could feel was love and joy.
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 Haldi and Mehendi were outdoors, which naturally has a lot of green, so we wanted to stick with the bright, vibrant colors to contrast nicely. Our Sangeet I wanted a disco jungle theme -- the room where we hosted the event at our venue has large glass ceilings with lots of greenery within it. We had centerpieces made with tall vases with pink ostrich feathers and smaller disco balls filled with hot pink bougainvilleas. I really just wanted the sangeet to be fun, with fun foods. We catered our food from Paradise Street Eats where we had loaded butter chicken and paneer fries, butter chicken and paneer tacos, tandoori chicken wings, and so much more fun street food.
Our wedding reception I wanted to have a more sultry romantic feel. I am not the biggest fan of florals and wanted to do more greenery and candle light.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy the planning process! There were definitely stressful moments, and there will be things that don't go your way -- but the day of, the only thing you're thinking about is the person you love the most. I would 10/10 highly recommend having your coordinator set up a private sitting area for you and your husband to eat dinner away from all your guests. We did this, and it honestly was the best way for us to spend quality time together and actually EAT without having people coming up to you.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My mehndi artist was amazing and captured so many beautiful details, including the Ohio State logo, which is where we met, an eye because I'm an optometrist, monogram initials, and a beautiful bride and groom display.
I wanted unique touches at our reception, so we had a martini ice luge and had them make lychee martinis to pour down!
We did a dessert bar from Sweet Dreams along with wedding cake because we wanted to have more options, and I'm still dreaming about the macaron tower.
We stuck with the traditional baraat, having Wes come in on the horse and everyone loved it!! I'm kind of tired of seeing the sports cars, but our horse also came with a carraige so after the ceremony Wes and I both left in the carraige together. It was very fairytale like and I loved it!
Our photobooth was AMAZING! I wanted a Kardashian esq photobooth, without any props or signs. I couldn't rave enough about UV Photobooth, they were great to work with.
Poonam & Wesley’s wedding was a celebration of love, culture, and personality.
