Some love stories begin with a spark. Lalita & Tushar’s began with a screen—FaceTime calls that slowly turned into something deeper, something undeniable. Long before they met in person, they already knew: this was it. What followed was a proposal filled with intention, surprises, and a breathtaking moment overlooking the Manhattan skyline—setting the tone for a love story that would always feel larger than life.
Their wedding weekend unfolded like a film—layered, emotional, and beautifully intentional. Rooted in the traditions of a Guyanese Hindu celebration, every moment was thoughtfully curated to honor culture while creating an unforgettable experience for their guests. From the vibrant ceremony at Crest Hollow Country Club to the meaningful choice of venues that prioritized comfort, accessibility, and connection, every scene was designed with purpose. Planning and design were expertly orchestrated by Wedding Wishes by Neha. Wedding Design & Decor transformed each space into an immersive experience. And then, the moments you can’t script. The ones that define everything. Under the Mandap, in front of family and friends, Tushar did something Lalita had never seen before—he sang to her. A quiet, deeply personal gesture that turned into one of the most powerful scenes of the entire weekend. It wasn’t just romantic—it was real, vulnerable, unforgettable.
Through the lens of the talented Riant Films, this celebration becomes more than a memory—it becomes a story you can feel. The colors of the ceremony—yellow, pink, and orange—don’t just decorate the space; they move, they glow, they breathe life into every frame. The Mandap, carefully redesigned to complement the outdoor setting, becomes the emotional centerpiece of the film, where tradition and modern vision meet in perfect harmony.
The celebration continued with a rhythm all its own. A backyard transformed into an enchanted garden for the henna night, where lavender outfits, live music, and bubble tea created an atmosphere that felt intimate yet electric. Music and live performances were the heart of the celebration, with performances by Rakesh Yankaran, Ravi B, Angels Caribbean Band featuring Geeta Bisram, Randy Recklez, Babloe Shankar, and Vishale Samlall helping shape the wedding vibe. Performances flowed seamlessly into one another—Bollywood, Soca, Chutney—blurring the line between wedding and concert. A beloved Guyanese Hindu tradition is the “seven curry” spread—featuring seven distinct curries prepared for the wedding day. While this is typically made by family, recreating it at a venue can be challenging. In the lead-up to the celebration, the couple explored several vendors before choosing Fazee’s Delight, whose version beautifully honored the tradition and was thoroughly enjoyed by their guests.
Every detail adds another layer to the story. Lalita’s bridal journey—from her striking red and gold ceremony look to the radiant yellow ensemble she once hesitated to wear, and finally to her timeless Western gown—unfolds like chapters in a visual narrative. Each look, each transition, captured with intention, emotion, and movement.
But what makes this film unforgettable isn’t just the beauty—it’s the feeling. The laughter between friends who became family, the music that carried through every event, the traditions honored with pride, and the love that was present in every frame.
Lalita & Tushar’s wedding isn’t just something you watch. It’s something you experience—again and again, every time the film plays.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
We started our romance virtually and met for the first with a Facetime. Tushar and I facetimed for a few months before we met in person. We bonded over many shared interests and had similar goals. Before we met in person, months later, we both knew that this was going to grow into something meaningful.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
While dating, Tushar lived in Orlando, and I lived in Queens, so we made it a priority to see each other at least twice a month. In October 2023, I planned to visit him for the weekend of October 14th, but he unexpectedly told me he couldn’t because his best friend would be in town. I had no idea that this was part of a much bigger plan—Tushar and his family were actually flying to Queens to surprise me.
On the day of the proposal, my sister began giving me a series of gifts and handwritten notes that Tushar had left for me the night before. Each one built anticipation for what I thought was just a thoughtful gesture. Later, a hair and makeup artist arrived at my home to get me ready for what I believed were simple evening plans.
A few hours later, Tushar arrived and told me we were heading into Manhattan for dinner. Still unaware of what was coming, I followed along as he led me to a private rooftop with a direct view of the Empire State Building. There, surrounded by the city skyline and with our favorite songs playing in the background, he got down on one knee and proposed.
Afterward, we called our families and had a private photoshoot on the rooftop to capture the moment. When we returned home, I was surprised once again—our closest family and friends were there waiting to celebrate with us. My best friend had even flown in from Miami to be there.
It was a day carefully planned and filled with meaningful surprises, ending in a celebration with the people we love most.
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.
I poured my heart into customizing the wedding day. I definitely knew I wanted a statement Mandap. Initially, I was going to do a smaller Mandap that focused more on the structure of the Mandap, and less on the florals, but as we got closer to the wedding, we wanted a Mandap that complemented the outdoor scenery so we changed the design. I am very happy we made that change because it set the tone for the wedding decor. On the wedding day, we wanted color, so we selected yellow, pink, and orange, which worked well with the different outfits we had.
I had a hard time visualizing what would look good on me and what I loved in terms of makeup, outfits, and hair. Therefore, I had a lot of trial and error. I am so thankful for the various vendors that worked with us to help us figure out the right style.
When we looked for venues, we tried to select venues where we felt the staff were accommodating and would give our friends and family a great experience. Guyanese Hindu weddings have a very involved timeline and sequence of events, which we tried to honor. Therefore, it was important to find a venue that would be conducive to that. Fortunately, we found a beautiful venue that did so, Crest Hollow. Additionally, we thought the team at Jericho Terrace were welcoming of Guyanese weddings, so we felt comfortable working with their team for our reception. As an added bonus, I had caught the bouquet at that venue years ago, at a family wedding. Lastly, while it would have been fun and different to select a venue in the city, we tried to pick places that were easy for our guests to travel to because we knew we wanted them to save their energy to party.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I went into my wedding shopping trying to buy pieces that I couldn't wear if I were not a bride.
For my main wedding ceremony, I knew I wanted a red and gold outfit. There were no exceptions.
In Guyanese Hindu ceremonies, the bride usually comes out first and does a ceremony with her mom and family members. The bride would typically wear yellow here. I initially thought I was not going to do yellow here, and instead do pink, my favorite color. However, once I tried on a yellow, I was sold on yellow. At Nazranaa, I selected a burgundy outfit and worked with the team to customize it and change the base color to yellow.
My aunt, who is like my second mother, was with me for most of my shopping. She spotted a red lengha with a beautiful train and said I should try it on. Once I tried it on, there were no other considerations. That was the lengha. I ended up making a few changes, but overall kept most of the original design.
Prior to my engagement, I thought I was going to go to India for my wedding shopping. However, after shopping at Nazranaa for my engagement outfit, which I loved, I decided to return to Nazranaa because they were very reliable, had great tailoring, and understood my style.
My wedding dress shopping was a bit different and harder. I had no idea what my dream dress was. I knew I wanted a silhouette that only a bride could wear, and since I was going to wear this for my reception, I wanted a bit of sparkle. I was that girl who tried on a hundred dresses but could not decide. However, I ultimately decided on my Ines Di Santo dress when my aunt saw it on a mannequin and asked me to try it on. Once I tried it on, I loved how it fit me and while it had sparkle, it was not too overwhelming. Overall, I loved Vera Wang and Ines Di Santo the most.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Shopping for the outfits was very fun! All of the stores and boutiques we worked with were so helpful. I enjoyed selecting accessories and finding unique pieces.
Booking the various artists was also very fun. We were lucky they were available and able to perform during our wedding weekend.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think our guests were in love with the venue and Mandap on our wedding day. Additionally, we had many popular West Indian artists throughout the wedding weekend. Many guests were excited to see those artists perform live.
Traditionally, the family would prepare a spread called "seven curry", which includes 7 curries for the wedding day. However, at a venue, that is not possible. Leading up to the wedding, we sampled seven curry from many different vendors. However, Fazee's Delight was our favorite, and our guests loved the seven curry.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I knew Tushar used to play the harmonium growing up, so I always asked him to sing, but he never did. However, on our wedding day, under the Mandap, he sang part of a song we used to listen to together for me. It was such a surprise, and I felt so loved during that moment. He was so brave to do that in front of everyone.
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.
For our henna/sangeet night, we transformed my home yard into a colorful, enchanted garden. We did many traditional outfits and customs for most of the wedding weekend, so on this day we tried to have fun. Tushar and I wore lavender outfits with pearls. I tried to find unique foods and decided to have Bubble Tea served fresh on the day for our guests. We also had a live band, the Angels Caribbean Band, featuring Geeta Bisram. They sang many Bollywood, Soca, and Chutney songs. They were so good that some people didn't realize it was a live band.
I considered doing the henna/sangeet at a venue to make logistics easier. However, I love the intimacy and the energy of having the henna/sangeet night at home, and ultimately decided that would work best for us.
On our reception day, the final day, we had a surprise Ravi B performance. He was great! During the reception, he had such great energy and engaged all of our guests, even those who didn't know anything about soca music. What's great about Ravi B is that he has a lot of range - he did Soca, Chutney, Bollywood, Pop, and Reggaeton! He made us feel really special, and he was so kind to our guests after the performance.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
If you are like me and have trouble visualizing elements of your wedding, give yourself sufficient time to try on outfits, visit venues, and decor studios. It helps to see things in person rather than on a Pinterest board.
Get a planner and a day of coordinator! Even if you are a type-A bride, it will be helpful.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I loved the drama of a long veil for both my wedding and reception day. On my wedding day, my red lengha had a long train, and my veil was also long. Prior to walking down the aisle, my sister and cousin performed to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. They did such a great job, and I was so impressed, considering they learned this choreography in a few weeks. Thank you to International Dancer Zaman for putting together this entrance dance for them.
Music and live performances were at the heart of the celebration, with performances by Rakesh Yankaran, Ravi B, Angels Caribbean Band featuring Geeta Bisram, Randy Recklez, Babloe Shankar, and Vishale Samlall helping shape the atmosphere throughout
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