If ever there was a wedding weekend that felt like a rom-com come to life, Hillary & Liam’s multicultural celebration would be it. With a love story rooted in friendship and a deep respect for one another’s cultures, these two hosted not one, but two unforgettable weddings: a cozy Leap Day civil ceremony followed by a grand Indian wedding that dazzled with color, culture, and connection.
Their wedding at The W Hotel Philadelphia brought elegance and edge to life. With panoramic city views, a sleek modern aesthetic, and a vibe that screamed “this couple knows how to party,” the venue was the perfect backdrop for their mehndi and Hindu ceremony. The décor by Abhishek Decorator was a dreamy blend of blush, blue, and lavender—like spring had RSVP’d yes and showed up in full bloom. The mandap? Straight out of a pastel fantasy. Priya Patel from Xquisit Events led the charge in planning and design, ensuring each event reflected the couple’s love story and cultural fusion. Every element—from welcome signs to signature cocktails “The Hilly” and “The Willy”—felt curated, cohesive, and full of joy.
Hillary looked like royalty thanks to Cinderella Bridez, who styled both her makeup to perfection. For the Hindu ceremony, she kept it classic with a regal bun and soft glam, then turned up the sparkle for the reception in a blush-toned gown and Hollywood waves. Liam’s looks were equally swoon-worthy, from a traditional sherwani to a navy suit with surprise pink details—a subtle flex that felt very him. And speaking of joy, a special moment that guests will never forget involved Hillary’s twin sister, Nancy. Liam, in a gesture that melted hearts across the ballroom, “proposed” to Nancy before the wedding, asking her to be his best friend forever. The reception later erupted into cheers and chants of “Go Nancy!” as she twirled with glee on the dance floor. It was a moment that reminded everyone what weddings are really about—love in its purest form.
Food, of course, was a star in its own right. Moghul Catering wowed guests with fusion favorites like Chicken 65 bao, paneer tikka lollipops, and jackfruit tacos during cocktail hour. Dinner was a feast of flavor, followed by a whimsical dessert: banana foster and a towering display of donuts from Philly favorite, Federal Donuts. Because who needs cake when you can have fried, frosted joy? Let’s take a moment to celebrate the magic-makers behind the lens: Saroj Studios. Their eye for emotion and atmosphere brought every moment—big and small—to life. From close-ups of Hillary’s intricate mehndi to the sparkle in Liam’s eyes during their first look, every image feels like a love letter. Their cinematography captured not just the events, but the energy: the indoor baraat (thanks, Philly rain!), the tender glances, the packed dance floor, and the heartfelt speeches. It’s the kind of wedding film you binge-watch with a box of tissues and a heart full of awe.
For Hillary & Liam, every detail was intentional—from their fashion to the florals, the food to the playlist. They honored both heritage and heart, and in doing so, created a celebration that was elegant, emotional, and endlessly fun.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Liam and I met through mutual friends while we were both working in Washington, D.C. We became fast friends and stayed close for a few years before we started dating, and once we did, we fell in love quickly. There was already such a strong foundation of friendship and trust that it all just clicked naturally.
I knew he was “the one” the first time he met my family. He was so genuinely curious and respectful about my culture, and fully immersed himself in learning everything he could. As a man from the Midwest, he has the biggest heart, and he shows love in such a steady, generous way. He treated me, and continues to treat me, with a level of care, respect, and support I honestly didn’t know was possible. That moment, watching him so effortlessly connect with my loved ones and embrace all of me, was when I knew I wanted to spend forever with him. I truly feel like a princess.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Liam had planned a dreamy weekend getaway to Mount Rainier National Park in October. What I didn’t know was that he had also secretly hired a photographer to capture the proposal! The plan hit a bit of a snag when we arrived at the ranger station and discovered the original trail was closed due to unexpected snowfall. With no cell service and me completely unaware, Liam had to think fast and improvise.
While I stepped away to use the restroom, he somehow managed to track down the photographer and find a new trail that wasn’t snow-covered. He sent the photographer ahead of us and spent the entire hike making up excuses to slow us down, like stopping to read every trail sign as if it were a historical monument, just to make sure we didn’t catch up too soon.
When we finally reached the waterfall at the end of the trail, the photographer was already in place, and Liam gave the most heartfelt proposal speech. It was thoughtful, adventurous, and completely “us”, imperfectly perfect in the best possible way.
In his speech, he shared why he chose Mount Rainier as the proposal spot: since the mountain is visible from downtown Seattle, where we live, he wanted us to be reminded of this special moment every time we see it in the skyline. Now, every glimpse of the mountain feels like a little reminder of that magical day.
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 started with two things I always knew I wanted for my wedding: to get married on Leap Day, and to have it downtown in the city. Once we saw that Leap Day 2024 landed on a Thursday, I knew I wanted to keep that day intimate, with a small ceremony for close friends and family, so we planned the larger Indian wedding for the following Saturday.
Once the dates were set, we agreed on a loose budget and then focused on what I’d consider the big-picture foundation: locking in the venues and securing our most important vendors. We spent a lot of time searching for the perfect spaces that matched our vision, something with both style and soul.
The Philadelphia Distillery was perfect for our Leap Day ceremony with its exposed brick and downtown views, and The W Hotel gave us the elevated, modern-yet-romantic vibe we wanted for the Mehndi and Indian wedding.
From there, we prioritized booking our core vendors: a photographer and videographer, day-of coordinator, caterers, decor team, DJ, live wedding painter, and hair & makeup artists. Once we had those pieces in place, everything else could start falling into place more naturally.
We infused both weddings with personal touches. During the Mehndi on the floral deck at The W, we served a variety of sliders and introduced our signature cocktails, “The Hilly” and “The Willy” named after us (Hillary and William/Liam). Our Indian ceremony was rich in color and meaning. We wore deep red outfits perfect for a late-winter celebration, and our mandap was adorned with soft pastel florals in shades of blue, lavender, and blush. Those colors inspired the rest of the wardrobe choices for the bridal party and close family, creating a beautifully cohesive look.
For hair and makeup, I kept it classic for the ceremony, an elegant bridal bun and soft, romantic tones. For the reception, I went full glam with Hollywood waves and a sparkly pink gown, while Liam wore a navy suit with pink accents hidden inside the jacket, a fun, stylish touch that felt very “him.”
And then there was the food, truly one of the standout elements of the day. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed fusion small bites like paneer tikka lollipops, Chicken 65 bao buns, and jackfruit tacos. For dinner, we offered options like classic chicken parmesan and a flavorful tandoor-stuffed sesame aloo. For dessert, we served banana foster, and instead of a traditional cake, we opted for a playful donut tower from our favorite local spot, Federal Donuts.
Every decision we made came back to what felt true to us, our personalities, our cultures, our love for the city, and our people. Planning a multi-day, multicultural wedding had its challenges, but it was also incredibly rewarding. The result was a weekend that felt cohesive, intentional, joyful, and full of heart.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I always knew I wanted to wear both: a classic white wedding gown and a traditional Indian bridal lengha. What I didn’t know was what kind of white dress I was looking for! I went to so many bridal shops in Chicago, Seattle, and Philadelphia, trying on all different styles. It took some time, but when I finally found the one, I just knew it felt perfectly me.
The experience with my Indian bridal lengha was the complete opposite. I had always known I wanted to wear red, honoring tradition and cultural significance. The moment I tried on a deep maroon red lengha, it was love at first sight. It had the richness, elegance, and meaning I had always envisioned. It felt like stepping into a moment I had dreamed of for years, and it didn’t disappoint.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the planning process was definitely the creative visioning: getting to dream up how each event would feel, look, and reflect both of our cultures and personalities. I loved finding ways to blend tradition with personal touches, whether it was curating a unique playlist that mixed Bollywood and Western hits, designing signature cocktails like “The Hilly” and “The Willy”, or choosing a donut tower instead of a traditional cake.
It was also really special getting to work so closely with Liam. Seeing him so invested, especially in the details that made our guests feel included and celebrated, made the process even more meaningful. And of course, moments like dress shopping, food tastings, and building out the mood boards for each event were just plain fun!
Planning two weddings in one weekend could have easily felt overwhelming, but because we took it one step at a time and stayed true to what felt right for us, it became this joyful, collaborative adventure. Looking back, I really miss those moments of imagining the day and then watching it all come together.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Our wedding was a beautiful blend of cultures (I'm Indian and Liam is Scottish-American) so for many of our friends and his family, this was their first time experiencing an Indian wedding. Everyone was genuinely excited to embrace the traditions, and the energy throughout the day reflected that.
One of the highlights was the baraat, which we had originally planned to hold on the streets of downtown Philadelphia. But due to unexpected rain, we had to make a last-minute call and move it indoors. As it turned out, the indoor baraat ended up being even more special, since it created this incredible sense of closeness and celebration. Liam said he felt amazing dancing through a sea of people he knew and loved, with everyone cheering him on.
Our DJ truly elevated the entire day by blending cultures through music. He played an incredible mix of fusion tracks during the baraat and kept that energy going all the way through the reception. We received so many compliments on the playlist, and our guests were on the dance floor all night, and many told us it was one of the best dance parties they’d ever been to!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
One of the most special moments of the entire weekend involved my twin sister, Nancy, who has special needs. While she’s non-verbal, she expresses love in the purest, most joyful ways, and she’s always the most excited person at any celebration. Many of my friends have grown up knowing her, and it was important to me that she felt celebrated too, especially knowing she likely won’t have a wedding of her own.
Liam truly made my heart melt when, before the wedding, he “proposed” to Nancy and asked her to be his “best friend forever,” complete with a small ring. It was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture that meant the world to both of us.
During the reception, there was an impromptu moment when someone started chanting “Go Nancy!” and the DJ joined in, followed by all our friends and family. She was beaming with joy, dancing, and soaking in all the love. That moment, seeing her so happy and so loved will be etched in my heart forever. It was one of those magical flashes in time that felt bigger than the day itself.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Don’t get so caught up in the pressure to make everything perfect that you forget to feel the joy of it all. Things might go off-script (they will!), but that often makes the best memories. Focus on what really matters: being present, soaking in the love around you, and marrying your person.
Also, don’t be afraid to delegate. Your friends and family want to help, and it’s okay to lean on them. Let go of the little things on the day of and trust that the energy and love you’ve poured into the planning will shine through.
And finally, build in quiet moments for yourself. Whether it’s five minutes alone before walking down the aisle or a private last dance at the end of the night, those are the memories that stick with you long after the party’s over.
Their special day was more than a wedding—it was a weekend of pure magic and meaning.
