If there were ever a love story meant to be told through film, it’s Simrita & Suraj’s—a story where every frame feels intentional, every moment layered with meaning, and every detail crafted with heart.
Their journey began like many modern romances—with a dating app match—but fate had other plans. Instead of a swipe defining their story, it was shared college circles, overlapping group chats, and effortless hangouts that brought them together. Taco Bell runs, late-night study sessions, music debates, science talks, and a mutual love for Pokémon turned friendship into something undeniable. Seven years later, Suraj’s proposal perfectly mirrored the cinematic nature of their relationship. What Simrita believed was a graduation celebration turned into a heartfelt surprise, surrounded by friends from near and far—a moment that set the tone for everything that followed.
As the creative force behind Mandap Moments, Simrita approached her wedding like a true content creator, designing every detail with purpose. From the custom #SDSquared logo to the stationery, color palettes, and event aesthetics, each celebration had its own identity while remaining beautifully cohesive.
The Sangeet & Garba at Hotel Zessa was a vibrant, high-energy opening scene. Designed by Sweet Love Designs and brought to life with florals by Deepti’s Florals, the space transformed into a lively Gujarati village. Colorful tents, traditional cots, and immersive LED screens by Unity Logics created a dynamic visual experience that evolved throughout the night. Guests moved from indulging in live food stations by Natraj USA—featuring everything from chaat to Indo-Chinese favorites—to dancing in a space that felt both nostalgic and electric. The screens transitioned from showcasing engagement moments and the couple’s custom branding to full visualizers, turning the dance floor into a cinematic celebration exactly as Suraj envisioned.
The ceremony at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills brought a shift in tone—soft, emotional, and deeply meaningful. Set against a beautifully overcast sky, the natural lighting created a dreamlike atmosphere, while the mandir’s architecture transported guests straight to India—some even feeling as though they had stepped into Jaipur. Officiated by Pandit Nilesh Bharadwaj, the ceremony was thoughtfully guided with clarity and warmth, allowing both Indian and non-Indian guests to fully connect with each ritual.
Simrita’s walk down the aisle, escorted by her two brothers, remains one of the most unforgettable moments of the entire weekend—a scene she wishes she could relive every day. Design elements tied everything together seamlessly. Team Pro Events created a mandap that blended tropical greens with sunset-toned florals, complementing the mandir’s grandeur, while Karishma Patel of Miracle Mehndi translated the temple’s iconic domes into intricate mehndi designs and stationery details—down to the inclusion of the couple’s wedding logo and even a nod to Laguna Beach. Hair and makeup by Henna Dil Se completed each bridal look with effortless elegance.
Then came the reception—where personality took center stage and the storytelling reached its peak. Held once again at Hotel Zessa, the evening unfolded with a sense of anticipation. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour bites by Natraj USA before the couple made their unforgettable entrance to “I Wanna Be Your Pokémon” by Badshah—a playful, perfectly on-brand moment. A custom music video played across Unity Logics’ LED screens, welcoming guests into a ballroom transformed into a soft, romantic dreamscape of white and light blue florals, including Simrita’s favorite blue hydrangeas.
The night continued with heartfelt speeches, energetic performances, and a first dance that felt like a scene straight out of a film. But perhaps the most talked-about moment? The same day edit by Robles Video—a cinematic masterpiece created in real time that allowed guests to relive the wedding day before the night was even over. Months later, it remains a favorite not just for the couple but for everyone who witnessed it. What makes Simrita & Suraj’s wedding so powerful—especially through a videography lens—is the intention behind every frame. This wasn’t just about capturing events; it was about crafting a narrative rooted in identity, heritage, and personality.
From Suraj’s grand Porsche arrival to the immersive LED storytelling, from custom-designed fashion to deeply personal cultural elements, every detail contributed to a wedding that felt both modern and timeless. A celebration that didn’t just happen—it was directed, designed, and felt. This is #SDSquared—told exactly as it was meant to be experienced: in motion, in emotion, and in unforgettable cinematic detail.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Our love story started off like any modern love story; we had actually matched on a dating app, but the universe had other plans. We met through friends in college, and we quickly realized we were in the same group chats, hangouts, and weekend plans. Group hangouts soon turned into late-night study dates, where we bonded over Taco Bell, music, science, Southern California, and even Pokémon. What started as a friendship quickly blossomed into love. I knew he was the one when I realized I had found someone who knew me better than I did!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
After seven years together, Suraj proposed in 2022, after I moved from Minnesota to Southern California, closing the gap in our long-distance relationship. How did he propose? He tricked me into thinking she was planning a graduation party for him, but it was all a ruse. To my surprise, all our friends, local and out of town, were there to celebrate the moment with them. It was everything I had dreamed of and more.
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.
When it came time to plan our wedding, we knew one thing for sure: our personalities needed to shine. This included everything from the wedding’s creative direction, music, and our outfits. Every detail, from the invitations to the wedding logo, was designed by me to create a cohesive atmosphere across all events. I am a lifelong lover of Indian fashion, and my passion for style only grew as I planned the wedding. I designed our wedding logo inspired by our hashtag, #SDSquared, and coordinated stationery to reflect the color palettes of each bridal outfit. During the planning process, Suraj also found his knack for men’s Indian fashion; both his wedding and reception outfits were designed by him. We were really lucky to have Suraj’s parents involved with the planning from day one, especially with vendors and logistics. I’m so lucky we had them so we could focus on the fun part, the creativity! As a wedding content creator myself, I am always touched to see the personal details that couples themselves add to their events to make it truly memorable and special. I knew I wanted our wedding to reflect the same.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I had always imagined myself as a traditional red bride inspired by Sabyasachi, but when I went lehenga shopping with my bridesmaids, they encouraged me to try an orange lehenga, and I instantly fell in love. While I was certain about the red, something about the orange just kept coming back to me. Unable to travel to India and unsatisfied with online options, I collaborated with Divya Kanakia from Mumbai to bring her royal Rajasthani and Sabyasachi-inspired vision to life, featuring golden embroidery, sequins, zardosi, cutdana, and aari work. I showed her 3-4 different designs that I liked, and she somehow managed to understand my vision with very few words. We only ever communicated on WhatsApp, sending inspo and WIP photos + videos. It was definitely a risk worth taking!
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was learning that my husband also has a keen eye for fashion. He chose his outfits himself, and even designed 2 of them to perfectly match me.
As a wedding content creator myself, I really enjoyed doing the creative work; creating stationery & signage, our wedding logo, and making sure our colors throughout the events coordinated well with our outfits!
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our guests could not stop raving about the gorgeous ceremony. The ceremony was at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, which transported our guests and us straight to India. Some even felt like they were in Jaipur. Our priest, Nilesh Bharadwaj, also did a fantastic job explaining the Hindu traditions to both Indians and non Indians alike, with clarity and humor to keep them engaged!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Yes, walking down the aisle with my two brothers while my soon-to-be husband was waiting for me at the mandap. It’s something I wish I could relive daily.
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.
Sangeet & Garba
Our Sangeet & Garba at Hotel Zessa was full of energy, food, and dancing. We knew from day 1 live food stations were a must, and Natraj brought our vision to life, offering everything from chaat to Indo-Chinese favorites like hakka noodles, Manchurian, and momos. Deepti’s Florals designed decor inspired by a traditional village in Gujarat, with old school cots surrounding the dance floor and colorful tents housing the live stations. LED screens by Unity Logics displayed a village scene with our wedding logo designed by me and photos from our Gujarati engagement ceremony. As the dance floor came alive, the screens transformed into a visualizer, making the night feel like one big party, exactly how Suraj envisioned it.
We also honored Suraj’s heritage in our outfits. I chose a tissue silk lehenga with Gujarati textiles and work like Patola and Abla from Asopalav in Ahmedabad, blending traditional motifs with modern silhouettes inspired by Mayyur Girotra and Tarun Tahiliani. Suraj chose a colorful embroidered kurta displaying a palace scene on a blank canvas with florals and paisley motifs.
Reception
The reception at Hotel Zessa was full of love, laughter, and dancing. Guests mingled during cocktail hour and enjoyed appetizers from Natraj before the couple’s entrance. We entered to “I Wanna Be Your Pokémon” by Badshah, a playful nod to our shared love of Pokémon and Punjabi music. The accompanying music video, displayed on Unity Logics’ LED screens, welcomed them into the room alongside their loved ones.
The night continued with heartfelt speeches, energetic dance performances, and a first dance in a light and airy ballroom adorned with white and light blue florals by Deepti Florals, including my favorite, blue hydrangeas. We opted for a Same Day Edit, where Robles Videos created the most cinematic and memorable video. No kidding, I watch it on a weekly basis. Our guests still reference it months later, too! My full glam reception look, a hand-embroidered blue ombré lehenga from Asopalav, inspired by Seema Gujral, complemented Suraj’s custom navy blue Indowestern ensemble, complete with custom shoes matching the sequins on his jacket.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
I know it’s important as a South Asian bride to keep everyone happy, but don’t forget about yourself! If there are things that are important to you, don’t forget to speak up! There’s a delicate balance between the two.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I would love to include how my experience as a wedding content creator in here, experiencing other people’s weddings, really helped shape the vision of how I wanted our wedding to look.
The temple dome at BAPS Chino Hills inspired my mehndi and stationery, carried throughout invitations, programs, and my mehndi design by Karishma Patel of Miracle Mehndi. The mehndi also features our wedding logo, designed by me, and my favorite spot in Laguna Beach.
Lastly, this couldn’t have been done without the help of Suraj’s parents, who toiled for 9 long months to make sure we got the celebration of our dreams!
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