In August of 2010, Manisha was attending her cousin’s wedding when during a ceremonial tradition she came face to face with Gaureesh – her cousin’s friend from college. The attraction was magnetic and immediate as the sparks flew between them for the rest of the evening. Their gorgeous traditional Indian wedding with a contemporary touch took place at the West Orange Wilshire, where they were joined as wife & husband before loving family and friends.
Read all about Manisha & Gaureesh’s love story and wedding experiences below!
Bride & Groom: Manisha & Gaureesh
Occupations: Compliance Paralegal & Cyber Security Consultant
Wedding date: August 18, 2017
Wedding location: Wilshire Caterers, West Orange, NJ
Tell us how you met and all about the proposal. As fate would have it, Manisha & Gaureesh met…where else? At a wedding! Back in August 2010, they found themselves in Kentucky both standing on the groom’s side when it came time to battle it out for the groom’s shoes. “In the Indian culture, the bride’s side and groom’s side fight to steal the groom’s shoes in exchange for money,” Manisha explained. Instead of the shoes, they stole flirtatious glances and got to talking. Soon they learned that the groom (Manisha’s cousin) was also Gaureesh’s frat brother.
Gaureesh proposed on July 8, 2016 , a day before Manisha’s birthday, in a park with a view overlooking the beautiful Baltimore Harbor.
How did you know they were “the one”? We knew instantly! Those same sparks were evident on their wedding day. The look of awe on Gaureesh’s face upon seeing me for the first time says it all! It didn’t matter that Mother Nature gave us rain on and off because we were ready to rock!
Wedding Style: Our wedding was traditional Indian style yet very modern. We had three events and for the ceremony we went traditional and the reception we went formal (suit & gown). We also went with colors that are not usually seen at a traditional Indian wedding. We wanted to add a contemporary touch. Most couples go to India to go wedding shopping but we ended up finding a lot of our stuff in Edison, NJ and a custom place called Knot Standard.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Definitely. Our ceremony was kept very traditional. From our outside to the ceremony, the entire thing was full of Indian culture. One of my favorite customs is when the Bride’s sisters/cousins/friends steals the Groom’s shoes and the only way to get it back is when the Groom pays up!
Wedding Party gifts: bridesmaid’s got personalized make up bags with lots of goodies inside. Groomsmen got personalized flasks.
Favorite item on the menu: Kati Rolls
First dance song: Kabhi Jo Badal Barse (Indian song)
What is your best memory from your wedding? When we entered our reception hall & looked around the entire room- everyone was standing, clapping, dancing. It was surreal.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Hire a planner! Lol if not, hire coordinators. They are worth every penny.
Vendors:
Photographer: Nikki & Chip
Coordinator: Platinum Dream Events
Videography: Innovation
Venue: Wilshire Caterers
Caterer: Aashirwad Palace
Decorator: Rangoli Events
Florist: Andrew Florals
Hair/Make Up: Sannia Studio
Outfits: Wellgroomed, Inc., Knot Standard, Nazarana – Edison, NJ
One word that describes this beautiful wedding dress would be “magnificent”. I am completely in love with the vibrant traditional lehenga with minimalistic golden work, which completes the look in a very unique and royal way. And how can I ignore the groom’s quirky wedding wear that perfectly matched the bride’s lehenga.
Loved that the bridesmaids and groomsmen are also shying bright on the happy moment of these beautiful couples.