Before we dive in, do yourself a favor: save this wedding, send it to your wedding group chat, and prepare to believe that "go big or go home" might have been invented specifically for Nitin & Ruple. Because this wasn't simply a wedding. It was an experience.
The kind of wedding where a groom arrives on a camel, a mangalsutra is delivered by a trained parrot, a newlywed couple sails away on a boat through indoor waterways, and Taco Bell somehow becomes the hero of the after-party. And somehow, every single detail worked flawlessly.
What began as a chance connection on Dil Mil evolved into one of the most unforgettable Punjabi wedding weekends we've seen in recent memory. Hosted across the breathtaking Sycamore Farms and the iconic Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nitin & Ruple spent four incredible days celebrating not only their love story but also the family, friendships, and traditions that shaped them. The beauty of this wedding wasn't simply in its scale—it was in its intention. Every event felt immersive. Every detail felt personal.
And behind it all was the extraordinary team at Party People Events and Decor, who masterfully handled planning, design, floral artistry, and décor throughout the weekend. Transforming multiple venues into completely different worlds is no easy task, yet each celebration carried its own distinct identity while remaining beautifully connected to the larger wedding story. The festivities began with an intimate Mehendi celebration inside Gaylord Opryland's dazzling mirrored ballroom. Inspired by Ruple's striking ensemble, the evening embraced vibrant Punjabi flair, exotic patterns, and fragrant strands of mogra that filled the room with the scent of jasmine. Guests enjoyed henna by Henna Dreamworks by Devanshi while laughter, music, and joyful reunions set the tone for the days ahead.
The following morning brought a stunning Haldi and Chooda ceremony beneath the soaring glass atriums of Gaylord's Delta Pavilion. Layers of florals transformed the venue into a vibrant garden oasis where blessings, traditions, and family moments took center stage. But it was the Sangeet at Sycamore Farms that truly revealed the heart of Nitin & Ruple's story. And because dance has always been central to their relationship, Nitin & Ruple spent much of the evening doing exactly what they love most—celebrating together on the dance floor. Naturally, DJ Essence ensured there was never a shortage of energy.
Then came wedding day. Before the grand entrances and elaborate celebrations, Nitin & Ruple carved out one of the most meaningful moments of the weekend: a private first look. Away from the crowds and excitement, they exchanged heartfelt vows and promises for the future. Tears flowed. Smiles followed. And for a few precious minutes, the scale of the wedding disappeared, leaving only two people deeply in love.
Those intimate moments beautifully balanced the grandeur that followed. And what followed was spectacular. Nitin's baraat may go down as one of the most memorable entrances in Maharani Weddings history. Accompanied by the electrifying beats of DJ Bhajan, family and friends danced through Gaylord Opryland with infectious energy as Nitin made his entrance atop a majestic camel. Yes. A camel.
Just when guests thought it couldn't get any better, Ruple joined the celebration herself, dancing alongside family and friends before the ceremony even began. It was a joyful collision of families, cultures, and pure happiness. The ceremony unfolded beside Gaylord Opryland's iconic waterfall, where a custom-designed transparent mandap appeared to float effortlessly within the stunning indoor landscape. Thousands of delicate petals cascaded from above as the couple exchanged vows surrounded by loved ones.
And because ordinary simply wasn't an option, the mangalsutra arrived via trained parrot. At this point, guests had learned to expect the unexpected. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds embarked on a breathtaking vidai aboard one of Gaylord Opryland's signature boats, gliding through the resort's winding waterways while family and friends watched from shore. It was cinematic, romantic, and uniquely theirs.
The reception that followed was nothing short of extraordinary. Guests stepped into a crimson fantasy filled with luxurious florals, towering centerpieces, candlelight, and dramatic lighting by Pink Frog. Every corner felt rich with romance and sophistication. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance between grand opulence and intimate celebration.
Adding to the guest experience were countless thoughtful touches: a custom fragrance station from Scented Moments by Areema, a lively paan station by Paanwala, a stylish photo booth from Magazine Photobooth, specialty cocktails from BarCater Co, and stunning special effects by Pink Fog by Robert. Guests also enjoyed an incredible culinary experience from Jashan Nashville, while decadent desserts from Heavnly Sweets provided the perfect sweet ending.
Or so they thought. Because Nitin & Ruple weren't finished surprising everyone. As the celebration stretched into the early hours, trays of Taco Bell made their grand entrance directly onto the dance floor. The crowd erupted. Late-night cravings were satisfied. And somehow, it became one of the most talked-about moments of the entire weekend. Honestly, iconic behavior.
Throughout the celebrations, Ruple looked absolutely breathtaking thanks to the artistry of Makeup by Mahvish and expert draping and styling by Priyanka Patel (Styled by Shri). Every look felt glamorous, intentional, and perfectly suited to the scale of the weekend.
Capturing every emotional, hilarious, and jaw-dropping moment was DK Photofilms. Their photography and cinematography beautifully preserved not just the events themselves, but the energy and emotion that made this wedding so unforgettable. Every image tells a story. Every frame feels alive.
Nitin & Ruple's wedding was proof that the most memorable celebrations aren't simply about grandeur. They're about creating moments people will talk about forever. A camel baraat. A parrot-delivered mangalsutra. A boat vidai. A red-drenched reception. Taco Bell at midnight. Most importantly, a love story that started with one swipe and became a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Nitin and I met on Dil Mil, and honestly, our story feels like the best possible argument for dating apps. We were both looking for an Indian partner, but our own networks were not exactly leading us to “the one.” My brother Neil had actually found his now-fiancée, Shriya, through Dil Mil just a year earlier, so he and Shriya basically forced me to make an account. Thankfully, they did.
We matched on January 15, 2021. Nitin was in Chicago for business school, and I was in my first year of medical school in St. Louis. Our first FaceTime was supposed to be a quick 30-minute “are you real or are you a catfish?” call. It turned into four hours. After that, our nights became endless phone calls, sometimes until 4 or 5 AM, where we became best friends, study buddies, and something more before we had even met in person.
We finally met on February 27, 2021, when I took the train to Chicago. Nitin wore his nicest red outfit, made me a red cranberry mojito, and had a preserved rose waiting for me — a rose we still have today. I don’t think I knew he was “the one” from one single moment. It was all the FaceTimes, the late-night talks, the way he showed up during hard days, and the little gestures that revealed his soft, caring, emotional side. Over time, it became clear that he was not just someone I loved — he was home.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Nitin’s proposal was basically a Bollywood movie, a military operation, and a family reunion all in one. It took over four months of planning, involved more than 60 family members, friends, and vendors, and somehow I had absolutely no idea.
The decoy was a trip to Washington, D.C. for his friend’s wedding. After the wedding, already dressed up, Nitin told me we were going to the Lincoln Memorial to meet my parents and one of his grandparents. It was a packed summer Saturday evening right before sunset, so I truly thought we were just fighting tourist crowds to find our family.
When we reached the top, Nitin took me through the memorial exhibits for what I now know was the most strategically timed five-minute tour of my life. During those few minutes, behind us, our family and friends cleared part of the steps, laid rose petals, positioned the photographer, lined up with “Will you marry me?” signs, and got UMD Anokha, an a cappella group, ready to perform. My brother Neil was the quarterback behind the scenes.
When we came back down, Nitin suggested we ask a stranger for a picture. The “stranger” was actually one of his best friends from high school. I turned the corner, saw the sunset, then saw our family and friends holding the signs. UMD Anokha began singing “Jashn-e-Bahara,” and Nitin got down on one knee.
After I said yes, we slow danced with our family and friends while the guitarist and a cappella group performed a custom mix of Bollywood and American songs. Every tourist nearby had stopped to watch. Nitin had even planned fake jeweler invoices, fake texts, and decoy trips to throw me off. We celebrated afterward in the presidential suite at the Marriott Marquis with loved ones who had flown in from California, Philadelphia, Baltimore, North Carolina, and beyond. It was risky, ridiculous, emotional, and perfect.
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.
Planning our wedding was a two-year process that honestly felt like a full-time job — but in the most once-in-a-lifetime way. After the engagement, we did not just ask, “What venue should we pick?” We asked, “Where in the world should this wedding happen?” We considered Dubai, Thailand, Jaipur, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, New Jersey, North Carolina, and finally landed in Nashville.
We chose Gaylord Opryland, which was incredibly special because the Gaylord brand had been a dream for Nitin’s parents since they passed the D.C. location almost 15 years ago and imagined their son getting married there one day. Gaylord Opryland helped us pull off what became their biggest Indian wedding to date, and we definitely pushed the venue into territory it had never seen before.
Our planner and décor lead, Shikha of Party People and Events, was incredible. Having a local planner who knew Nashville, the venue, and the vendor landscape made a huge difference. She met with us constantly, even years in advance, and helped bring some very ambitious ideas to life.
Our hair and makeup were done by Priyanka and Mahvish, who made me feel beautiful through every event. Our outfits came from India, including Amit Aggarwal, Manish Malhotra, and Liz Paul. Our photo and video team, led by Dhruvik from New York, captured the weekend beautifully. Our DJs came from New York and Chicago, our food was by Aki in Nashville, mehendi by Devanshi, fire paan from Chicago, and our choreographers from Baltimore helped us perfect every dance.
We pushed every vendor to think outside the box. We were not expecting 100% perfection, but would be thrilled if even 70% of our vision came to life. By the end of the weekend, every vendor had shown up with so much heart that every minute of planning felt worth it.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always knew I wanted a traditional red bridal lengha. Red feels so special in our culture, and for my wedding ceremony, I wanted to honor that tradition fully.
The shopping process was also really meaningful because both families traveled together to Delhi. My parents, Nitin’s parents, my brother Neil, and my future sister-in-law Shriya were all part of it. Before going to India, I had done a lot of research on designers, colors, and silhouettes, and we had even visited Edison, New Jersey, and NYC to get a feel for the wedding shopping experience before going all in.
In Delhi, it felt like we visited every store in the city. I had reached out to designers directly to set appointments, and we explored pieces from Amit Aggarwal, Manish Malhotra, Liz Paul and boutiques in Shahpur Jat.
When I tried on my red lengha, we basically knew. It stood out immediately. It was intricate, shiny, dramatic, and completely stole the show compared to everything else I had tried. It had the traditional red bridal feeling I wanted, but also the sparkle and grandeur that made it feel unforgettable.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
There were so many enjoyable parts, although I will admit they were sometimes easier to appreciate in hindsight than in the moment. Wedding planning can feel consuming, but the little experiences along the way became their own memories.
Visiting Nashville, walking through the venues, tasting the food, trying drinks, and imagining the décor all made the wedding feel real. Guests may not always realize how many tiny decisions go into a wedding, but for the bride and groom, those little pieces become part of the story.
One of my favorite parts was learning and perfecting our dances. We had a dance team captain teach us complicated choreography inspired by the collegiate dance circuit, and practicing those moves together turned what seemed unachievable into reality.
Going to India for outfit shopping was also incredibly special. We found outfits that felt completely different from anything we had seen in the U.S., and we also got to spend time with family in India who may not have been able to come to the wedding. Looking back, the planning process was not just preparation for the wedding — it was its own unforgettable chapter.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think what our guests loved most was the thoughtfulness behind every detail. After the wedding, so many people told us they could feel how much intention went into everything — from the décor, napkins, food, and flow of the weekend to the personal touches created for our guests.
We did not want people to feel like they were simply attending a wedding. We wanted them to feel like they were part of an experience. We had customized messages for families, games like prediction markets for the wedding weekend, designed for all five senses in each event, and carefully planned logistics so more than 350 guests could move comfortably from event to event.
We also tried to make the traditions feel unforgettable. We had a camel come to Nashville for the baraat, parrots deliver my mangalsutra to the mandap, a vidai on a boat along the indoor river, and a sangeet that felt like a Bollywood movie with skits and dances telling our love story.
The wedding and reception were on separate days so nothing felt rushed. What meant the most was hearing that guests felt cared for. The weekend was grand, but we hope what people remember most is that every detail had heart behind it.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The private dinner Nitin and I had right after the wedding ceremony constantly replays in my mind. Indian weddings are so full of movement, color, emotion, music, and people that it can be hard to pause and truly absorb what is happening.
Right after the ceremony, our vendors brought us to a secluded, scenic area of the venue where they had set up a private dinner with all of our favorite dishes. While our family and friends were celebrating together, we got a few quiet moments to step away and just be with each other.
That moment felt even more meaningful because right before the wedding weekend, I had twisted my ankle so badly that Nitin was wheeling me around the venue in a wheelchair. After years of planning and hundreds of hours of dance practice, we were terrified I would not be able to enjoy the weekend the way we had dreamed. By God’s grace, I woke up able to dance, perform lifts, and experience everything as if nothing had happened.
So that private dinner felt like a deep breath. We were married, the ceremony had happened, I had made it through, and for a few minutes, it was just us.
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 wanted every event to feel like a different chapter of our story. My mehndi included elements of our love story, beautifully done by our mehndi artist Devanshi. Our haldi was playful, messy, and full of joy, even inside such an elegant venue, which made it even more fun.
Our sangeet was designed to feel like a Bollywood movie. It had skits, dances, and storytelling woven throughout, all representing different parts of our relationship. We spent so much time learning the choreography, and being able to perform it all together was one of the best feelings of the weekend.
The baraat had a camel in Nashville, which still sounds fake even though it really happened. The reception had an endless dessert bar with over 50 varieties because dessert is one of my great loves. Nitin’s love for Taco Bell even made its way onto the dance floor, because of course it did.
We tried to make every event feel beautiful but also personal. We did not want a wedding that looked amazing but could have belonged to anyone. We wanted people to see little pieces of us everywhere.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Make the wedding personal, not just expensive. A luxury wedding can start to blend together after a certain point, and a traditional Indian wedding is already such a huge investment. What makes it worth it is when the weekend feels like you — your story, your humor, your families, your favorite foods, your music, your chaos, and your love.
Also, be thoughtful about vendors. Some vendors hear “Indian wedding” and immediately raise prices because they know how large and emotional these events are. There are amazing vendors who can bring your vision to life without taking advantage of that. Find the people who care about your wedding, not just your budget.
And finally, people will tell you to enjoy the process. It may be impossible to understand that while you are in it, especially when planning takes over every waking hour. But they are right. That chapter does not come back. In hindsight, even the stressful parts became some of the most fun and meaningful memories of our lives.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Before planning our wedding, I went back and forth on whether a big Indian wedding was really worth it. The time, the money, the stress — was it for us, or was it for everyone else?
Now that we have lived it, I can honestly say every penny and every second was worth it. But I think that is because we did not just plan a big wedding. We planned a wedding that felt deeply personal.
A beautiful venue and luxury details are amazing, but personality is what people remember. For us, that meant our love story in my mehndi, 50-plus desserts at the reception, Taco Bell on the dance floor, parrots at the mandap, a boat vidai, a camel baraat, and dances that took hundreds of hours to perfect.
The magic was not just in how grand it was. It was in making sure the weekend could only have belonged to us.
This is one wedding you'll be thinking about long after the last taco is gone. Come back for more.
