Some love stories are built around perfect timing. Elle & Ankit’s was built around choosing each other, again and again. Their journey crossed cultures, cities, difficult seasons, and eventually an ocean for a dreamy Lake Como proposal. So when it was finally time to celebrate their marriage, one ceremony simply wasn’t going to tell the whole story.
Elle, who grew up Catholic, and Ankit, who was born in Mumbai and raised in the United States, first connected online in 2021. Their conversations quickly led to a first date in downtown Raleigh, and what followed was a relationship that Elle affectionately describes as her own Bollywood story, colorful, passionate, and wonderfully unexpected.
Their relationship also taught them what partnership looks like beyond the romantic moments. They navigated distance, uncertainty about bringing two different cultural backgrounds together, and deeply challenging circumstances affecting their families and lives. Through it all, they continued choosing one another. By March 2024, their story had traveled all the way to Italy, where Ankit proposed against the breathtaking backdrop of Villa Olmo on Lake Como. Really, Ankit, how was anyone supposed to compete with that proposal?
Their wedding brought those two worlds together in Fort Lauderdale with both Catholic and Hindu traditions. Elle & Ankit exchanged vows in a Catholic ceremony at Saint Pius X Catholic Parish, followed by Hindu wedding celebrations at Beach House Fort Lauderdale, a Hilton Resort. With its coastal South Florida setting, the resort also hosted their Sangeet and reception, giving family and friends a beautiful destination where an entire weekend of traditions could unfold.
Guiding all those moving pieces was Pea to Tree Events, whose planning and design helped turn a multicultural wedding into one cohesive experience. Creating space for two faiths and two families requires thoughtful coordination, particularly when the weekend includes multiple ceremonies, wardrobe changes, cultural traditions, and celebrations. Rather than making either side feel like an addition to the other, the weekend gave both backgrounds room to be celebrated.
That spirit carried beautifully into the visual design. Suhaag Garden brought its floral and event-design expertise to the festivities, creating an atmosphere worthy of the couple's colorful love story. From celebratory spaces to meaningful ceremony details, the design complemented the tropical destination while allowing the traditions and, most importantly, Elle & Ankit to remain at the heart of every scene.
For the Catholic ceremony, Elle selected a look by Jovani, before embracing South Asian bridal style in a creation by Asbaab by Madiha Farooq for the Hindu ceremony. Ankit complemented her transformation with his own Western and Indian looks, including attire by Black Tux and Asbaab by Madiha Farooq. Diana Leon Makeup Studio completed Elle's bridal beauty, while intricate henna artistry by Henna by QSk brought another beloved South Asian tradition into the celebration.
And then came the Baraat—because after an emotional journey like this, a quiet entrance simply wouldn't do.DJ Pram brought the rhythm and energy, helping transform Ankit's arrival into the joyful explosion of music and movement every Maharani wedding weekend deserves. The celebration continued with flavorful cuisine from The Indian Harbor, while a sweet creation from Publix gave guests one more delicious reason to linger around the dessert table.
Preserving every chapter was our fabulous Platinum Guide member, Vanessa and Johnny Photography and Films, handling photography, cinematography, video, and content creation throughout the festivities. For a fusion wedding like this one, storytelling goes far beyond capturing beautiful portraits. It means recognizing the significance of two different ceremonies, anticipating family reactions, preserving fleeting cultural details, and finding the intimate moments connecting everything in between. Their comprehensive coverage gave Elle & Ankit a visual story that reflects the wedding as it truly was: layered, emotional, joyful, and entirely their own.
What makes Elle & Ankit's celebration especially meaningful is that their fusion wedding wasn't about choosing one tradition over another. It created space for both. Catholic vows stood alongside Hindu rituals; Western bridal elegance met vibrant South Asian fashion; and two families gathered not simply to witness a marriage, but to celebrate everything that had brought these two people to that moment.
Their story reminds us that happily ever after isn't always the easiest road; it can also be the one two people keep deciding to travel together. From that first online conversation to Raleigh, Lake Como, and finally the shores of Fort Lauderdale, Elle & Ankit kept choosing one another. And really, Maharanis, what could be more romantic than that?
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
After 3 months of dating, I got stuck at the airport, and he dropped everything he was doing to pick me up.
This link tells most of our story.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
This link tells most of our story.
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.
First, I chose my wedding planner, Georgette, and she was amazing. The experience was great with all of my vendors. There were frustrating times, of course, but overall it went beautifully.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
For my Catholic wedding dress, my mom took me to Chicago to look at dresses at a bridal show. I found the type of dresses I liked and chose my white wedding dress online. For my Indian wedding dress, I chose from Asbaab by Madiha Farooq in Mumbai. Madiha helped me design my dress and designed my husband's outfit to coordinate with mine. I loved her gowns from the moment I saw them on Instagram. She also helped me design my second reception outfit. Overall, I was happy with most of my wedding outfits.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part was planning 2 different weddings with 2 different cultures, and making it into one big wedding.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The guests enjoyed the food the most. But I also chose a resort venue for the wedding and made it so most events were located in one venue to make it easier on our guests. Also, during the times there were no events, all families could enjoy themselves and go off and do what they wanted in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
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 the Sangeet, I did somewhat of an Aladdin or Arabian Nights theme. Then the reception was a mix of Indian and Western styles.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Do what makes you happy. Don’t worry about everyone else; do what makes you happy because you’ll never get this day back!
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I wish I could’ve eaten and enjoyed more of our food!
Save this beautiful fusion celebration and tell us which detail you love most about weddings.
No comments yet.
Please, sign in to leave a comment.