Mansi & Sahil's journey to matrimony is a modern love tale, blossoming from Hinge's digital realms to Long Island City's heartwarming lanes. It wasn't an instant spark for Mansi, who, tired from the online dating carousel, almost didn't give Sahil a second chance. However, his persistence and the allure of his warm, humorous personality gradually drew her in. Their love story is a mosaic of small, precious moments, culminating in a declaration of love amid the beats of a Diplo concert in Brooklyn.
Their proposal story is refreshingly simple yet profoundly intimate. Sahil chose their home for the grand question, surprising Mansi in her most comfortable state - sweatpants, fuzzy slippers, and all. This unpretentious, genuine moment perfectly encapsulates the essence of their relationship.
Mansi's bridal lehenga is a tale of patience, persistence, and personal touch. Despite the dazzling array of options in Bombay, none matched her vision. With the help of her designer, Ami Aunty, she created a lehenga that defied traditional expectations, opting for a unique color and design over the conventional red and sequins.
The wedding planning process was a joint adventure for Mansi & Sahil, making decisions together and involving themselves in every detail. This collaborative effort brought them closer and ensured their personalities shone through every aspect of the celebration.
A standout moment was their reception entrance, where they seized CO2 guns, turning the dance floor into a scene of exhilarating fun. This moment of pure joy and the sight of their loved ones celebrating together is a cherished memory that replays in their minds. Their event decor was a blend of traditional and unique themes. From a nighttime mela theme at the Sangeet, complete with nostalgic decor and an Ice Gola vendor, to an icy-blue, mirror-and-silver toned reception, the settings were a perfect backdrop for the festivities, dance, and laughter.
Mansi & Sahil's story is a reminder to stay true to oneself. Every decision reflected their authentic selves, from choosing a wedding venue that aligned with their dream of an outdoor wedding to opting for custom jewelry. Their journey is a celebration of love, a blend of modernity and tradition, and, above all, a reflection of their unique bond.
Congratulations Mansi & Sahil!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Like many modern love stories, ours began on Hinge. By the time we met, I was truthfully a little worn out from online dating and was ready to swear off the apps yet again. Sahil and I met up for a cup of coffee on a rainy Sunday in Long Island City. I thought he was nice, but I was so checked out of dating that I didn't think it was going to go anywhere. But he was persistent that we meet up again, so we went on a second date and a third date, and so the story goes. We are very different people, so it took me a while to get there, but ultimately, his kind personality, his warmth, and his humor took me in. I don't think I've ever felt so safe with another person, and I just realized that I loved being loved by him. I don't think there was a moment; it was a combination of a lot of small moments that made me fall in love with him! I told him I loved him for the first time at a Diplo concert at the Brooklyn Mirage because I knew at that moment that he was the person I wanted to keep having fun with for the rest of my life!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I didn't have many requests for a proposal, just that it be a surprise. I didn't really care if my hair or nails were done or what I was wearing. I just wanted it to be a moment that took me by surprise, which was a big ask in itself because I am very difficult to surprise, and I already knew it was coming at some point because we had gone ring shopping together.
So on to the Proposal...
Sahil proposed in the most special place, our home. I did not make it easy for him (oil in my hair for most of the morning, to say the least). But ultimately, we got engaged with me wearing sweatpants fuzzy slippers and wet hair, and I could not have been happier in that moment.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I went to India about 6 months before the wedding! I had a general sense of what I wanted, but my mom (aka my expert personal shopper) wanted me to have all the options. For one day of my 7-day trip, we went to what felt like every designer in Bombay. I tried dozens of outfits on and picked out bits and pieces of some that I liked. Ultimately, nothing I saw in person really fit the bill for what I had envisioned, as I am not really a sequins and glitter kind of person, especially for the ceremony. So instead, I worked with my amazing personal designer, Ami aunty, and I told her exactly what I wanted. We picked out the exact fabric color after spending hours in the fabric store and she hand dyed the fabric I wanted, and she then sent over swatches of the design each step along the way. It was a very involved process, but ultimately, I ended up with this gorgeous lehenga that was the perfect color and design I wanted. I could not have been happier. I'm glad I ignored the multiple designers who told me I wouldn't look "bridal enough" if I didn't wear red or have sequins covering my skirt:)
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
That Sahil and I did it together. While we checked in with our parents on certain things (especially catering!), he and I sat down with each vendor and ultimately decided who we wanted to go with and the vision we wanted. A huge thanks goes out to our parents for giving us the space to plan ourselves, but we had so much fun knowing that we made those decisions together. Seeing him genuinely interested and bringing up opinions made it more enjoyable than if I had just been doing it solo. I had a true partner in crime, and that made what is a tedious and exhausting process so much more personal, and it really brought us together even more as a couple.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think they loved all of the personal touches. It was very important to Sahil and me that our family and friends felt how loved and important to us they were. Sahil and I hand wrote personal thank you notes for each guest at our reception, which was something everyone said they loved. Another comment was how intimate everything felt, even with 300 guests. That was so heartwarming to hear because everything we planned was keeping that in mind. So it was really great to know that while we obviously felt an outpouring of love towards us, our guests felt warm and loved as well!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
When we took the CO2 guns at our reception and blasted them onto the dance floor! I have never felt more like a rock star! Our dance floor was PACKED the entire night, and Sahil and I talked about how there were multiple moments when we were dancing on the stage and just stopped to take it all in. Watching our friends and family all in one room, having a blast, and just enjoying themselves all out was overwhelming in the best way. At that moment, we were full of gratitude and excitement that we had just thrown the party of our dreams, and it was playing out in real life better than we could have ever imagined!
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 knew that we wanted to have fun with the decor! For the sangeet, we've seen a lot of mela themes, and while I thought that was always fun, it felt like everyone was doing that. So our amazing decorator, Hasina, came up with a nighttime mela theme, with darker shades and table decor with old-school Fanta and Thums Up bottles and little rickshaw carts. We even had an Ice Gola vendor, which was so much fun! The warmer colors also made the huge room feel more intimate. The best part was all of the dances! Seeing how much work our friends and family had put into learning and practicing all the dances was heartwarming, and it was so much fun seeing people who never dance get on the dancefloor, just for us! I am still shocked that some of my uncles not only got up there but that they had actually learned the dance!
For our reception, I had this vision of an icy blue room with mirrors and silver tones. Our stage was covered in hand painted baby's breath and Hasina used a mix of mirrors, glass, and lots of candles to create a stunning visual for our reception room. She especially outdid herself with extraordinarily decorated Estate tables! With MVPDjs providing the perfect lighting and room wash, we loved how it all turned out!
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
PICK YOUR BATTLES! Even though it is your day, it is likely your families are going to have some things they envision as being part of your wedding weekend. Before you even begin planning, make a list of your non-negotiables for yourself, for you and your partner, and have your parents individually do the same. Then, have a conversation about those non-negotiables and level set of expectations. That made it SO much easier for us because we knew there were some things we had to include as we planned, and our parents knew there were some things they wanted that we were just not going to be doing (for us, it was some of the more traditional aspects that we chose to exclude). Sahil and I made the majority of the decisions by ourselves, so having had that conversation at the onset with our parents helped prevent any surprises as we got closer to the big day! I found that giving in on some of my "lower-care" items built a lot of goodwill between me and my in-laws. Sometimes, it's not about "giving in" but about thinking ahead and knowing that some compromise early on will pay dividends in the future. But remember, you don't have to give in to anything that sacrifices your mental peace or is something that is very important to you.
Second, just have FUN! Sahil and I had the more extraordinary team around us for the wedding weekend, so all we had to do was show up, eat/drink, and have the best time. I thought I would be worried about how things were going, but I found that when I let myself just exist in the moment, it was so much fun. Trust your vendors and hire a wedding planner (seriously!!), if it's in your budget. You won't remember what color your centerpieces were, but you will always remember how you felt surrounded by the people you love!
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Overall, do what feels authentic to you. We didn't want to cut a cake as part of the program, so we got one but cut it privately during our reception photos. I wanted custom jewelry that was heavy for my ceremony but I could rewear in the future, so that's what I did. We wanted an outdoor wedding, so we looked at dozens of venues until we found the perfect one. This is YOUR weekend, and while it's easy to get caught up in the details, always go back to who you are and what feels right for you and your partner, and decisions will be a lot easier to make!
