By: Katy Hunt
What makes up the perfect prescription for love? This month’s spotlight couple, Danielle and Jatin, can certainly offer some insight in this area. When the pair met while working at CVS during Danielle’s pharmacy school rotations, they had no idea the journey they would soon embark on together would unite not only their lives, but their cultures as well. It started as a slow burn between casual coworkers, but once mixed with a bit of chemistry, and a fun work outing to an escape room, there was no escaping the fact that these two were writing their own recipe for a true love story. Who would have guessed that Danielle, originally a Seattle native, would find her heart’s home in that of Northeastern Philadelphian Jatin! Time, patience, and a little bit of fate must have been the recipe for success in this fairytale, and the couple now live happily together in Elkins Park with their two dogs, and soon to be baby girl.
The union of Danielle and Jatin not only symbolized their commitment to each other, but also the merging of two very different and unique cultures. For Danielle, getting to plan both an American wedding and a Hindu wedding was a deeply enriching experience. Though she had grown up with American traditions, immersing herself in the cultural significance behind each Hindu ceremony was eye-opening. “I really did love learning about the culture, not just during wedding planning, but before as well, and I will still be learning for a long time. Learning about the meaning behind everything that goes into the ceremony was really interesting,” she explained. As the couple moved into the details of the ceremony, Danielle turned to Jatin’s family for guidance. His mother and aunt, or Mami, took on much of the planning for the Hindu rituals, ensuring that each step reflected the traditions of not only their heritage, but their individual family as well. “I very quickly learned how many different variations there were in Hindu weddings. Not just [in] some states doing stuff differently, but down to the families doing things a bit different,” she marveled.
With all of these captivating and unique ceremonial features, Danielle and Jatin undertook the task of finding the perfect venue. They knew they needed somewhere that could accommodate a grand celebration, but also be practical for their guests, many of whom would be traveling from afar. Their checklist was clear: a venue that was accessible, allowed outside catering, and had the necessary infrastructure for the demands of a Hindu wedding. “Part of the Hindu ceremony involves an open flame, so finding a venue that allowed that was a necessity, and we needed the ceilings to be high enough to fit a 2 foot stage and 10 foot Mandap structure,” she detailed. The Mandap is a covered structure with four pillars, typically used as the central altar during ceremonies. Thankfully, their extensive venue search paid off when they came across a hotel in King of Prussia. “We found The Alloy, which has had South Asian weddings before and it was a perfect fit for us. Finding a venue that was familiar with what went into the wedding was ideal,” she happily reported. Once the main venue was secured, the couple chose locations for the other events, ensuring they were within a 20-30 minute radius, making logistics smooth for everyone involved.
In Hindu culture, weddings often span several days, and Danielle and Jatin embraced the full experience all while packing their celebration into three exciting days. The celebrations began with Danielle’s Mehndi on Wednesday morning, where she spent four hours having intricate henna designs applied to her hands and feet. Although the henna had dry for several hours, Danielle enjoyed every moment of it. “I had Jay's sisters with me to keep company and watch Mamma Mia, and Jay eventually came over as well to feed me lunch,” she gushed.
Thursday brought another gathering for the ladies, with family and friends coming together for a Mehndi session themselves, followed by the lively Sangeet that evening. "This is what I refer to as the huge welcome party,” Danielle recalled. “We went with a Hollywood meets Bollywood theme, the night included games, food and dancing!” And after a fun night of jovial celebration, Friday morning marked the start of two more important rituals: the Pithi and the Grah Shanti. In the Pithi, a turmeric paste is applied for glowing skin, while the Grah Shanti is a ceremony to remove obstacles and bless the couple with health and prosperity. With both families coming together for these events, it was a beautiful way to prepare for the big day still ahead.
Saturday was the grand finale, with the wedding ceremony taking center stage. Danielle’s early morning began at 3 a.m. for hair and makeup, followed by an intimate first look with her husband-to-be, and a grand baraat, where Jatin made his entrance in a horse-drawn carriage. “The DJ was there in a van playing music with our MC Alvin, making sure everyone was having the best time possible,” Danielle mused. “Once they made their way to the entrance and were welcomed by my family, everyone was able to dance in the parking lot together for a little before heading in for the ceremony to begin.” The ceremony itself was a whirlwind of awe-inspired rituals, with Danielle and Jatin literally tied together to signify the joining of their souls. “We did 4 circles around a ceremonial fire surrounded by our loved ones, and we took seven steps together signifying seven vows to each other. Instead of exchanging rings at the ceremony, Jay ties a Mangalsutra on me, which is a necklace I wear everyday. We finish with married ladies from our families whispering blessings into my ear,” Danielle recollected. The special experiences only continued as the couple moved on to get ready for their American ceremony, and reception to follow.
Reflecting on the entire experience, Danielle has no shortage of favorite memories. “My first favorite [memory] would have to be with Jay feeding me while I couldn't use my hands after the Mehndi. It was the start of all the events and felt like the start of him helping to take care of me for the rest of our lives,” she explained. Another came after their rehearsal dinner when the couple had slipped out, just the two of them, to grab breakfast supplies from the grocery store for the following morning. Although it was stressful, it was “a moment we had to ourselves after such a crazy couple days being constantly surrounded by loved ones.” These intimate moments continued later on the night of the reception when the couple snuck away to enjoy a quiet dinner together, away from the guests. “We chose to eat alone during the reception instead of having a newlywed table, which I really loved. We got to kick off our shoes for a little and hide away while eating our dinner,” she recalled.
This brought Danielle to her biggest piece of advice for couples planning their own wedding: Create space for moments together.
“I'm sure you've already heard how the day goes by so fast, but definitely try to create little pockets in the day for just you two. Whether it be after the ceremony, or during the reception, or both. Emotions are so high and it's nice to take a minute with your new spouse to really have that ‘we did it’ moment together. You've spent months, maybe years planning every detail of this wedding, as hard as it is when the day starts you just have to trust that everything will work out. Yes, something will go wrong (our Hindu priest called out sick the night before the wedding) but at that point you'll do more good for yourself by not trying to control things, that's what the Divas are for :)”
We were incredibly thankful to be a part of this amazing day, and helping to ensure the beauty of your shared cultures was honored and celebrated. Wishing you all the happiness in the world!
Vendors
Venue: The Alloy KOP
Caterer: Catering by Rasoi
Bakery: The Master's Baker
Photographer + Videographer: ICON Photo
Mandap Setup: Royal Vivaah Creations
Rentals: Lilac & Lace
Florist: NE Flower Boutique
DJ: Premier Events DJ
Hair + Makeup : Lauren Berlingeri Makeup
Saffa: Jersey Paggs
Horse (Baraat): NJ Pony Parties
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