A Contemporary Indian Wedding At Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson in Jersey City, New Jersey

Purnimaa Seth met Gaurav Rajput on November 28, 2013 at a mutual friend’s wedding in Atlanta. Gaurav claims to have had a true “Bollywood moment” when he first saw Purnimaa, as the room stopped, the noise subsided, and she was all he could see. “Who is that girl? I need to meet her,” he thought to himself.

“When I first saw him, I immediately thought, ‘Ew, no thanks,’” Purnimaa says humorously. “Gaurav asked me out over our favorite Indian snack, Gol Guppa, and in the spirit of keeping an open heart and open mind, I accepted. I knew he was the one after our first few dates; they lasted for hours, and my cheeks hurt badly from laughing so hard.”

After a year of long-distance dating between Atlanta and New York, Gaurav proposed on December 26, 2014, and the wedding planning process began. It was difficult for Purnimaa to plan for a New York wedding while in Atlanta, but she received a great deal of help and support from her family.

“This process was incredibly special for me, as I not only got to spend one final year in the home where I grew up, but was also able to spend so much quality time with my parents,” she adds. “Additionally, it was so much fun working with my dad who designed all of my wedding jewelry and our wedding bands.”

Exactly two years after they first met, Purnimaa and Gaurav were married at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City. The entire day was one to be savored, but the bride specifically recalls one moment between the wedding ceremony and reception. Her mom, mother-in-law, and girlfriends were all getting ready when her dad popped open a bottle of champagne, resulting in bubbly showers, screams, squeals, and laughter.

One unique aspect about the wedding is that the bride and groom left the majority of the décor planning to the vendors; so they were just as surprised as their guests during the reveal of the ceremony and reception spaces. As soon as they opened their eyes, the couple was shocked and delighted at the clean and elegant environment that had been created for their special day. The reception was so glamorous that they felt as if they were transported back in time, and the candelabras displayed along the mirrored tables were a stunning feature.

During the reception, guests indulged in catering from Bukhara Grill, who also catered the rehearsal dinner, wedding lunch, and cocktail hour. An elaborate spread of Mediterranean, Indian, Italian, and American food was served, as well as pizza (the bride and groom’s favorite food). While everyone blissfully celebrated, the wedding was being captured by live artist, Jessica Weiss, and that painting now hangs in Purnima and Gaurav’s home.

“It was so heartwarming to see how happy our families and friends were, and just how much fun they were having,” says Purnimaa. “It was even more entertaining to see our moms and aunts form a little tequila corner. Keeping an open heart and open mind was the greatest decision I have ever made.”