Ami Sheth & Miraj Patel

They met at a wedding in New Jersey. Miraj, a financial analyst, knew the bride and Ami, an actress, knew the groom. Miraj’s mom approached Ami and her mother after discovering they had grown up together in the same small village, Anand, Gujarat, in India. The mothers had not seen one another since high school, but their families had been acquainted for a few generations.  Ami and Miraj began to talk and quickly hit it off, but due to the pressure did not tell their families for some time.

On July 15, 2012, Ami was on a routine photo shoot that turned out to be anything, but routine. “I got the call from my agent to keep Sunday, July 15th open for a shoot for Ocean Drive Magazine,” Ami said. The shoot was to take place on the Hudson with the New York skyline in the background. 

With grey skies overhead, she boarded the boat at 7 p.m. where she met the photographer and stylist. Thirty minutes into the shoot, music began playing loudly and Miraj appeared in a gray suit with a devilish grin. Her initial reaction was, “What are you doing here, I am working!” Then it hit her, “THE something is happening!” In shock, she barely heard Miraj speaking while he was down on one knee, but the beautiful ring snapped Ami back into reality. “It was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen,” she said. Before long, she found her voice and said, “Yes!”

As they got back to shore a car was waiting and they were whisked off to a private dinner for two in a restaurant wine cellar filled with hundreds of roses. They celebrated with five courses and wine pairings. After dinner another surprise awaited Ami. Miraj told her to pack as they were leaving the next day for a mini-moon trip to Costa Rica.

The wedding took place in Riviera Maya, Mexico over Memorial Day weekend.  There were 280 guests in Mexico followed by a second reception in New Jersey, where Ami was born and raised, with another 280 guests. They wanted to throw a wedding extravaganza that reflected their personalities down to the smallest detail.  

The cocktail hour at Xcaret Mexico Espectacular was on a cliff overlooking the ocean that ended after fireworks followed by a candlelit walk guided by Mayan dancers through the nature reserve. Guests stayed at Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe, an amazing nearby all–inclusive hotel with a ballroom large enough for the couple’s Garba, a traditional Gujurati Indian dance party.  To top it off, they had a special surprise of fire dancers on the beach and an amazing electric violinist.

The couple honeymooned in New Zealand, Sydney, Bali and Hong Kong.  “We are looking forward to an even more complete life together,” said Ami.  “We could not be happier about embarking on our next phase of life's journey, wherever that may take us,” she concluded.