Sowmya & Madhav's love story is the epitome of friendship blossoming into love. The journey from their first meeting at Case Western Reserve University to becoming life partners is woven with threads of understanding, companionship, and unwavering support. Still, it wasn't until a Thanksgiving Facetime call, alive with laughter and seamless interactions, that illuminated the profound connection between them. It wasn't just Sowmya & Madhav anymore; it was a union waiting to be solemnized.
Juggling the rigors of medical school and wedding planning with the help of Meant 2 Be Events, Sowmya found solace in creating a celebration that was a true reflection of their journey. Every detail, from the vibrant décor to the thematic color schemes, bore the imprint of their love story. Madhav, with his penchant for organization, made the meticulous planning seem like a dance, graceful and in step with Sowmya's creative vision. Together, they weaved magic, turning each aspect of their nuptials into a narrative of love, unity, and celebration.
The wedding celebrated at the Chateau Luxe Phoenix, was not just a union of two souls but a confluence of two families, two journeys, and myriad aspirations. While the dances, the laughter, and the jubilations marked the festivities, it was the silent, profound moments that held the essence. Madhav's tears, as Sowmya, radiant and resplendent, walked down the aisle, marked the transcendence of a love that had grown, matured, and was now ready to step into eternity.
Every moment and every detail of the wedding sang a melody of unity; amidst the lively celebrations, Sowmya & Madhav found their 'home' within each other. Each touch and glance affirmed a silent vow – "Two paths, two souls, one heartbeat!"
Congratulations Sowmya & Madhav!
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I first met Madhav in college (Case Western Reserve University) as a freshman in January of 2016. We hit it off as friends, and we became each other's confidants: we went to each other for advice, coffee, and honestly venting. It was nice having such a wonderful friend in my life, and our friendship naturally progressed into the next stage a few years later. I am so happy and grateful (I know it’s cliché), but I really do feel like I married my best friend.
I knew he was "The One" when I was Facetiming him during Thanksgiving with my family. To me, family is more important than anything, and I’m extremely close with my cousins, aunts, and uncles. So naturally, whoever I end up with must gel and understand our weird and niche sense of humor. When my cousins jumped on Facetime and started chatting with him, I was literally so shocked because it felt like they had known each other for YEARS. This was the biggest green flag, and honestly, it solidified everything I knew I wanted in a partner. I remember thinking to myself at that moment, “damn, I want this person here every Thanksgiving, not just on Facetime.” I definitely had a ton more “aha” moments after that where I felt the vibes time and time again, but I’ll keep this entry short ;)
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
It happened on October 16, 2021, at the River Walk in Chicago. All my favorite people in the universe coordinated a flash mob for me, and Madhav proposed at the end. It was truly my favorite day until my wedding day naturally took that title. I would describe the whole proposal here, but this video will explain it all. I edited it myself, and it tells the story beautifully <3 My husband went all out for it, and he had my friends and family record little mini vlogs documenting each detail as the day unfolded. I’m super proud of everyone that came together for this wonderful event. 10/10 must watch!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cza1qeRRxhY&ab_channel=SowmyaRavi
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 my wedding was definitely a challenge that I was prepared for if that makes sense. I knew I wanted the full, big, fat Indian wedding from day 1, so I understood that a lot of work would have to go into it. The number one thing I wanted for my wedding was to feel my creative thumbprint on all the events whenever I looked back on those days. I wanted to feel like I had contributed something. Looking back at our fantastic photos and videos now, I can confidently say I was able to do just that (special shoutout to our incredible photo/video team).
I planned my wedding throughout my 2nd year of medical school, which was challenging but doable. I used it as a good break between studying sessions and found solace in choreographing the dances, picking the décor, and organizing color schemes. Channeling creative energy into each event made the process a lot more fun and less painful in the long run. Sometimes, brides and grooms get so caught up in making all the decisions that they forget to really enjoy the fun stuff. For me, once all the tough choices were made early on in the year (aka the venue, caterer, and hair and makeup), I really enjoyed getting friends and family on board to help out with the process. It brought me a lot closer to my friends today, and I am so thankful for their support throughout the process. Choosing all my vendors was fairly painless, mostly because my lovely husband handled the Excel spreadsheets and cost/budget calculations. Plus, I didn’t have many specifics because I knew whatever I chose would fit with a color scheme and performances that Madhav I felt exemplified our personalities. In the end, I opted for a location that was easy to plan around and vendors that were popular in that area.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
Color was the first thing I picked. I have been obsessed with teal since I was 7, back when it was super “in” and every little girl’s room was that color in 2011 (maybe this was just me and my friends, lol). Once I picked that, my wonderful tailor helped me decide the fabric I wanted. While I was in her cute little shop in Bangalore, I had some downtime waiting around between her clients, so I started sketching some designs. I love to draw, so I drew some figures and design themes that I would love in my eventual lehenga. Sonam Didi was incredible and immediately helped me channel my sketches into something we could incorporate into the lehenga. Both Sonam Didi and her mom, Poonam Aunty, were so respectful and patient; they designed my absolute dream lehenga and bridal sari blouse. I definitely miss them both and can’t thank them enough! !!! Sending so much love to both of you.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
I really enjoyed spending time with my fiancée and our friends, trying to figure out how to make it the most entertaining weekend possible. We had one goal – how can we make this the most fun for everyone and keep people entertained? There were definitely some moments where that would not be possible, but hey, we tried super hard. I also loved choreographing the dances and would honestly love to do this for other weddings. Something about making a personalized routine that encapsulates a couple’s vibe. Bringing everyone together is so fun! Also, the honeymoon planning meetings were wonderful. Since I did a good chunk of the creative planning for the wedding, my amazing husband took the lead and literally planned the entire honeymoon with weekly presentations to get my opinion on certain activities, resorts, and locations. When we left the day after our wedding, I was shocked at how much thought and detail he put into each day, and I am so thankful to have him in my life (ew, this is so mushy).
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
It was a tough question since I wasn’t a guest, but I would say from their reactions, I think they really loved the performances and games at our sangeet and reception. Also the food!! They loved the presentation and how there was a good mix of authentic south and north Indian vegetarian dishes. Our caterer did an amazing job and made the food look and taste incredible.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Madhav and I watched a lot of wedding social media moments where the groom cries when the bride enters, to the point where neither of us thought we would... We both were 100% sure we were desensitized to it since we were so prepared and expected it to happen. But sure enough, when I came walking down the aisle with both my parents and saw Madhav crying, I was absolutely stunned and thought to myself, “Wow, here come my tears.” Later, Madhav told me he was so surprised, too, and didn’t realize how special that moment would be to him. The tears were given, so it was something that I replay In my mind and will constantly remember.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Build in time for you and your fiancée to check in with each other during the big wedding week. Madhav and I had so much going on around us that those special 10-minute breaks where it was just the two of us were so calming and special. It reminded us that it was one of the most special times in our lives.
