An Indian Wedding at The Plaza Hotel In New York

On a late January evening, Karishma Patel was checking her Shaadi.com account when she received a message from Kinjal Patel. She was immediately intrigued by his profile and wanted to know more. At that time, they were both in the midst of their residencies and working long hours; and when the two finally met, they knew there was something special. Drinks turned into dinner, and dinner turned into a five-hour conversation. After their third date, Kinjal was so convinced he had met “the one” that he texted his best friend, “I have found the future Mrs. Patel.”

A year into their relationship, Kinjal planned a special night out in New York City and took his then-girlfriend to see Aladdin on Broadway. The couple wanted to take a picture with the magic lamp, and Kinjal asked a passerby to snap a photo for them. When Karishma was walking towards the lamp, Kinjal asked the man to record a video instead so he could capture a surprise proposal. “As we were posing for a picture, he went down on one knee and proposed in front of everyone in Times Square,” Karishma describes. “I guess magic lamps do work!”

The wedding planning process began immediately after the engagement. Karishma had always dreamed of getting married at NYC’s iconic Plaza Hotel, so all of the details were planned around the venue choice. The first wedding vendor the couple hired was wedding planner Sonal, who was a key element throughout the preparations. For the décor, the wedding would resemble an enchanted garden full of florals, cherry blossoms, and lots of gold. “Sonal and her team kept me focused and on track, even when I was super busy studying for my boards,” Karishma says. “Our decorators did an amazing job capturing our visions. Even though it was hard for me to picture it at first, when I saw the final result it took my breath away.”

Knowing her wedding day would be perfect, the bride woke up that morning feeling calm. “One of my favorite moments was our ‘First Look,’” she says, “seeing Kinjal all dressed up and knowing I was about to marry my best friend.” With the bride and groom both being Indian, a traditional Hindu ceremony was held with 350 guests. The ceremony was quite emotional as the couple’s lives united, following the long-established rituals and scriptures of the faith that their parents had engrained in them.

After the ceremony, a wonderful reception was held. Guests still rave about the food that was served, and the décor was even more than what the couple had imagined it would be. “It was bittersweet because it went by so fast,” says Karishma. “I loved how everything came together, and I wish I could replay this day over and over!”

> Written By: Lauren Malamala