Swati Patel & Brijesh Patel
January 3 & 4, 2020 Charleston Marriott Downtown
From their very first rendezvous over drinks and a long stroll around Charleston’s Battery, Brijesh and Swati Patel knew they had a good connection. Beyond the cultural tie of both being Indian American (he from New Jersey and she from Myrtle Beach) and also having the same last name, they had a strong love connection. It only took eight months before Brijesh popped the question with an over-the-top proposal that was merely the prelude.
For the Patels, family is paramount. So when Brijesh decided to propose in the fall of 2018, he made sure Swati’s family got to share in the excitement. Plenty of planning went into what Swati thought would be a sunset walk on the beach and dinner on Sullivan’s Island. Instead, she was led to a private beachside table with champagne, rose petals, candles, and lettering on the ground that spelled out “Marry Me.” “It didn’t hit me until I saw Brijesh down on one knee,” Swati recalls. “I don’t think he even had the chance to ask me. I immediately screamed ‘Yes!’ ” After their magic moment, Swati turned to see her entire family running toward them, including her grandmother. “I naturally started bawling at this point,” she says. Cheers, photos, and appearances from even more local and out-of-town family and friends followed throughout the jubilant night.
The wedding was an even bigger to-do, gathering between 300 and 450 guests to partake in various traditional Indian rituals and celebrations held over two days at the Charleston Marriott Downtown. Day-one festivities kicked off with multiple time-honored marriage customs, including the Mehndi, whereby the bride was intricately bedecked in henna, and led up to a “Streets of India”-themed Sangeet. The evening of spirited music and dancing included a smorgasbord of Indian street food. The colorful “Bollywood-Gatsby”-inspired Big Day, when Brijesh and Swati donned elaborate Indian attire in the traditional crimson color, included a Baraat (a procession for the groom with lively dancing), the ceremony (complete with a little brochure for attendees explaining the rituals) underneath a dazzling pillarless floral mandap, and a smashing reception to seal the union of two souls and two families.
Vendors
Design: Sumeta Satija, One H'Art Events
Coordination/Planners: One H’Art Events and Younesse Alami with Charleston Marriott
Photography: Nihar Photography
Florals: Loluma Events
Catering: Mast Masala Caterers
Dessert: Charleston Cake Pops
Rentals: Scooter Stop
Décor, linens, draping, lighting: Loluma Events
Dance floor design: Royal Events
Invitations: Parekh Cards
Bride’s attire: Dreams Collections LA
Henna artist: Bridal Allure by Aarti Amin
Beauty: Beauty by Ami Patel
Groom’s reception attire: Berlin’s of Charleston
Live painter: Wed on Canvas
Photo booth: MVP Photo Booth Charleston
