Priya, a dermatology resident at NYU Langone with a soft spot for trail-running and old Bollywood, and Arjun, a Boeing product manager who plays tabla badly but enthusiastically. After two years, three cross-country flights, and one very small ring hidden in a sunset at Cape May, we are getting married in front of the people who made us.
Priya swiped right on Arjun's prompt — a borderline-aggressive opinion about Junoon's chicken tikka being overrated next to the lamb chops. Arjun swiped right because Priya's profile photo was taken at a Junoon dinner he had also attended (he checked the geotag). They argued by text about the chicken tikka for three days before exchanging numbers.
A crisp 58-degree fall afternoon: they walked the High Line from Hudson Yards to Gansevoort and Arjun made Priya try every coffee cart on the way. Dinner was at Junoon (Priya ordered the lamb chops, Arjun ordered the dal — and then they swapped halfway, which is apparently who they are now). They closed the night at Veniero's in the East Village, splitting a cannoli on a bench on East 11th.
Arjun came to the Sharma family Diwali in Edison, met every aunty and uncle within sixty seconds, and survived two helpings of Sunita's gulab jamun. During the aarti — diyas in hand, smoke curling around the puja thali — he leaned over and whispered "I love you" to Priya. She said it back before the aarti plate had even finished its circle.
Priya flew with Arjun to Vadodara to meet Bhupendrabhai and Hansaben Patel — and, the real boss, Geetaben Shah, the matriarch maternal grandmother in Anand. Priya was so nervous she barely slept on the Etihad flight. By the second morning, she and Geetaben were arm-deep in a steel kadhai making kheer together; Geetaben handed her a steel thali of jeera and a knowing look that meant "approved."
Sunset on Cape May beach. Arjun had quietly coordinated with Aryan for two months to fly both sets of parents in under the cover story of a family beach weekend; they were crouched behind a dune with phones rolling. The ring belonged to Bhupendrabhai's late mother — a small old-mine cut Geetaben had pressed into Arjun's palm in Anand. Priya cried for eleven solid minutes before she remembered to say yes.
Priya was on a 36-hour derm overnight and couldn't fly anywhere, so the Roka happened on a Saturday morning over Zoom — Sharmas in the Edison living room, Patels in the Princeton dining room, Vadodara grandparents holding a phone up to a marigold-strewn pooja thali at 9 PM India time. Bhupendrabhai tied a red mauli thread over the camera and Geetaben passed sweet boondi laddoos through the screen. Half of the cousins came down with a sugar high anyway.
Eighty-three guests, a "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani" Bollywood theme, and a slideshow Aryan put together that made both moms cry inside the first three slides. Priya wore a midnight-blue gota patti lehenga from Meena's boutique; Arjun wore a velvet bandhgala with the saffron pocket square Geetaben mailed from Anand. The dance floor opened with "Pehla Nasha" and didn't close until almost two in the morning.
Ninety days out. Mehndi chairs are reserved, sangeet choreography is in its fourth rehearsal in the Sharmas' basement, RSVP nudges are going out tonight, and the welcome bags for the Westin block are stacked floor-to-ceiling in Aryan's old bedroom. Priya is on derm nights and Arjun is on Boeing red-eyes, but for the first time it feels less like a project plan and more like a wedding that's actually about to happen.
Patel Family Home · 14 Hodge Road, Princeton, NJ, 08540
Intimate Patel family pithi ritual. Turmeric and sandalwood paste applied by both sides of family — uncles first, then aunts, then close friends. Vegetarian Gujarati buffet (undhiyu, dhokla, fafda, shrikhand). Outdoors with shade tents and floor seating on the back lawn.
Bright yellow / orange / mango — traditional Gujarati casual (cotton kurtas, salwars, light dupattas)
Sharma Family Home · 27 Roosevelt Boulevard, Edison, NJ, 08820
Bridal mehndi for Priya begins at 4 PM in the main living room with henna artist Henna by Mona. Bridesmaids and mothers seated in the backyard tent from 5 PM. Punjabi dhol player (Tej Singh) arrives 6 PM for ladies sangeet. Light Punjabi-Mughlai dinner (chaat station, kebabs, biryani) served 7 PM.
Mehndi green, teal, mustard, peach — chiffon and georgette lehengas, light shararas. Please no red (reserved for bride).
Royal Albert's Palace — Grand Ballroom · 1050 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ, 08837
Combined Garba + Sangeet evening. Garba opens 7:30 PM with dandiya raas (live garba band — Falguni Pathak tribute set), Sangeet choreographed performances 9:00–11:00 PM from both families. Open bar, Gujarati-Punjabi fusion stations (pav bhaji bar, chaat counter, dosa station). DJ Rishi takes over after performances. Late-night chai + jalebi station from 11 PM.
Chaniya choli + dandiya for Garba (vibrant pinks, oranges, electric blues, mirror work encouraged). Indo-western cocktail or sparkly lehenga for Sangeet performances.
Royal Albert's Palace — Mandap Garden · 1050 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ, 08837
Baraat assembles 9:30 AM at the Royal Albert's main parking lot — Arjun arrives on ghodi (white mare) with dhol players (Punjab Dhol Brothers), Patel family and groomsmen dance up to the mandap garden entrance. Milni and varmala 10:30 AM. Vivah Sanskar ceremony with Pandit Sharma Joshi begins 11:15 AM under the open mandap (Lotus Mandap Decor — marigold + jasmine garlands). Seven pheras, kanyadaan, mangalsutra, sindoor. Vegetarian Gujarati-Punjabi lunch buffet 1:00 PM (handi paneer, dal makhani, undhiyu, biryani, gulab jamun, kulfi). Shaded seating + misting fans on the garden lawn.
Traditional formal — red, maroon, gold, ivory for bridal party; sherwanis, kurta-pajamas, sarees, lehengas for guests. Please avoid red/maroon (reserved for bride). Sun hats welcome — outdoor garden ceremony.
Royal Albert's Palace — Grand Ballroom · 1050 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ, 08837
Cocktail hour 7:00–8:00 PM in the ballroom foyer (signature drinks: Priya's Pomegranate Spritz, Arjun's Bombay Old Fashioned, full bar). Grand entrance + first dance 8:15 PM. Plated dinner 8:30 PM (3-course Indian-fusion: amuse-bouche of avocado bhel, choice of butter chicken / palak paneer / sea bass moilee, dessert sampler). Toasts by Aryan (brother of bride), Kavya (sister of groom), parents. Cake cutting + sangeet round 2 with DJ Rishi from 10:00 PM. Photo booth + late-night chaat counter open through midnight. Sparkler send-off at 1:00 AM.
Cocktail formal / black tie optional. Indo-western gowns, sarees, suits welcome. Couples often wear blue, pink, silver, champagne. Bride and groom wear a second outfit (Priya in Meena's hand-embroidered ivory-and-rose lehenga; Arjun in midnight-blue bandhgala).
The Westin Edison Raritan Center — Atrium · 101 NJ-1, Edison, NJ, 08817
Relaxed farewell brunch for out-of-town family and bridal party. Vidaai ritual at 1:00 PM — Priya throws rice over her shoulder (symbolic repayment to parents), kalash poured at the threshold, doli send-off song. Brunch buffet: dosa + uttapam station, poha, masala omelette bar, chole bhature, fresh fruit, masala chai + filter coffee, mimosas. Family photos at the atrium fountain before send-off.
Comfortable smart-casual. Sundresses, kurtas, linen shirts. Bride traditionally in soft pinks or pastels for vidaai.
Met Priya on move-in day at Rutgers freshman year and somehow ended up roommates again through NYMC. Now a dermatology fellow at Cornell, Riya knows every story Priya has tried to bury and will tell exactly four of them in the speech.
Priya's Rutgers Cell Bio lab partner who taught her how to pipette and how to make a passable rajma. Aditi runs growth at a Newark biotech and has been the unofficial wedding-spreadsheet QA reviewer.
Med school sister-in-arms from NYMC, now an OBGYN at Westchester Medical. Anjali was Priya's on-call buddy through every brutal third-year rotation and is in charge of dance-floor energy maintenance.
Priya's friend since fifth grade at John P. Stevens HS in Edison. Aanya is a software engineer at Goldman and has been the keeper of every Priya middle-school journal entry, all of which are now leverage.
Met Priya in a Rutgers organic chemistry study group and never left. Maya is a pediatric ICU nurse in NYC and the friend who quietly handles the logistics that no one else thinks of until the last minute.
Arjun's older sister and Priya's now-official big sister. Kavya is an ophthalmologist in Philly, mom to Vihaan and Anika, and the one who first told Arjun, 'You should probably ask her out before you ruin it.'
Arjun's Wharton case-study partner who somehow ended up at every Patel family wedding from Houston to Vadodara. Now a product lead at Apple in Cupertino, Karthik is responsible for the speech and the bachelor-party screenshots that will never see daylight.
Priya's younger brother and Arjun's co-conspirator on the Cape May proposal. Aryan works as a software engineer at Capital One in McLean, VA. He is the only person in this wedding party authorized to roast both the bride and the groom.
Arjun's brother-in-law, Kavya's husband, and the unofficial Patel family attorney. Rohit is a partner at Dechert in Philly and the dad of the two flower kids, both of whom may or may not stay on script.
Arjun's Cornell freshman-year roommate and the friend who introduced him to smoked-meat YouTube. Rohan runs a small ML consulting firm in Ithaca and still claims to be undefeated in Mario Kart against Arjun.
Cornell ORIE classmate, pickup-basketball teammate, and the only person who can keep Arjun on a workout schedule. Marcus is a strategy consultant in NYC and the friend Arjun calls when something feels off.
Arjun's day-one teammate at Boeing Defense Electronics. Mike sits in the cubicle next to Arjun in Ridley Park, has heard every wedding-vendor saga in real time, and is bringing his wife and a very specific Eagles jersey.
Arjun's four-year-old nephew, Kavya and Rohit's son. Vihaan has been practicing his slow-and-steady walk for three months and will accept negotiations in goldfish crackers.
Arjun's two-year-old niece, Kavya and Rohit's daughter. Anika is currently undefeated at being held by every aunty in the room and will be carried down the aisle, no notes.
Priya's five-year-old first-cousin-once-removed. Aanya is the petal-scattering veteran of two prior cousin weddings and considers this a stepwise promotion.
Arjun's six-year-old second cousin from the Patel side. Krish has been told that this is a serious job and that the rings are 'very, very heavy' (they are not).
101 NJ-1, Edison, NJ, 08817
Primary hotel block — also hosts the Aug 13 Vidaai brunch in the atrium. Complimentary shuttle Aug 10 (sangeet), Aug 12 (ceremony + reception). Block code PRIYAARJUN2026 holds 40 rooms Aug 9-13 at $189/night. Release date Jul 22 — push remaining out-of-town family to book early.
Reserve your room3565 US-1, Princeton, NJ, 08540
Patel-side family block for relatives staying near Princeton (Patel residence is the Pithi venue Aug 9). 20 rooms Aug 8-11 at $159/night under code PATEL2026. Shuttle to Royal Albert's NOT included — guests will carpool with Patel family for Aug 10 sangeet. Hyatt House suites have kitchens, which Hansaben (Arjun's grandmother) specifically requested for chai-making.
Reserve your room50 Raritan Center Pkwy, Edison, NJ, 08837
Overflow recommendation — no formal block, but typically has availability and is the closest hotel to Royal Albert's Palace (walkable for the ceremony + reception nights). Mention 'Priya & Arjun wedding' at booking for a possible courtesy rate.
Reserve your room1000 Roosevelt Ave, Carteret, NJ, 07008
Budget option for guests who don't need to be on top of the venue — about 15 minutes by car from Royal Albert's. Good for cousins and college friends watching the budget. Direct turnpike access if guests are continuing on to NYC after the wedding.
Reserve your roomWelcome to central New Jersey! A few favorites within 30 minutes:
• Oak Tree Road, Iselin — the heart of NJ's South Asian shopping, sweets, and saree boutiques • Princeton University campus — Nassau Hall, Firestone Library, the chapel; Arjun's hometown • Liberty State Park — Statue of Liberty views and a ferry to the city • Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton — outdoor art park, perfect for jet-lagged afternoons • Edison Hindu Mandir — community temple, open for darshan most mornings • New Hope, PA / Lambertville, NJ — antiques and the Delaware River, 45 min west
We have six events and each one has its own vibe. Here's the short version so you can plan: - **Pithi (Sun, Aug 9 — morning at the Patel home):** bright yellow, orange, and mango. Cotton kurtas, salwars, light dupattas. Casual and outdoors — wear something turmeric won't ruin. - **Mehndi (Sun, Aug 9 — evening at the Sharma home):** mehndi green, teal, mustard, peach. Chiffon and georgette lehendas or light shararas. **Please skip pure red** — that's reserved for Priya. - **Garba & Sangeet (Mon, Aug 10 — Royal Albert's Palace):** vibrant chaniya cholis for the Garba portion (pinks, oranges, electric blues — mirror work very encouraged). Indo-western cocktail or sparkly lehengas for the Sangeet performance hour. - **Baraat & Ceremony (Wed, Aug 12 — Mandap Garden):** traditional formal. Sherwanis, kurta-pajamas, sarees, lehengas. Gold, ivory, jewel tones. **Please avoid red, maroon, and pure white/cream for the ceremony** (red is for the bride, white reads mourning in our families). It's an outdoor garden ceremony in August — sun hats and sunglasses welcome. - **Reception (Wed, Aug 12 — Grand Ballroom):** cocktail formal / black tie optional. Indo-western gowns, sarees, suits. Couples often lean blue, pink, silver, champagne. - **Vidaai Brunch (Thu, Aug 13 — Westin Atrium):** smart-casual. Sundresses, linen shirts, light kurtas. Comfortable shoes — there will be hugging and crying. When in doubt, festive Indian formal is always right. We'd rather you over-dress than under.
All six events are within a 12-minute drive of each other in central New Jersey: - **Pithi (Haldi)** — Patel family home, 14 Hodge Rd, Princeton, NJ 08540. Backyard tents, floor seating, outdoor. - **Mehndi** — Sharma family home, 47 Plainfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08817. Main living room (henna), backyard tent (dinner + ladies sangeet). - **Garba & Sangeet** — Royal Albert's Palace (Grand Ballroom), 1050 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ 08837. - **Baraat & Ceremony** — Royal Albert's Palace (Mandap Garden — outdoor, same address as above). - **Reception** — Royal Albert's Palace (Grand Ballroom — same address). - **Vidaai Brunch** — The Westin Edison Raritan Center, Atrium, 101 NJ-1, Edison, NJ 08817. Each event card on this site has its own "Get Directions" link that opens Google Maps. If you'd rather use Waze or Apple Maps, the addresses above will work just as well.
We've arranged **complimentary shuttle service** between the Westin Edison Raritan Center and Royal Albert's Palace for the Sangeet (Mon Aug 10) and Wedding Day (Wed Aug 12). Two 56-passenger coaches loop the route on both nights. - **Sangeet shuttle:** Westin lobby 6:30 PM and 7:15 PM. Return loops every 30 minutes starting 11:00 PM until 1:00 AM. - **Wedding day shuttle:** Westin lobby 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM (so you arrive before the baraat). Return loops from the reception every 30 min starting 11:00 PM until 1:30 AM. - **Vidaai brunch (Aug 13):** the brunch is *at* the Westin, so no shuttle needed. Look for the Black Tie Limo NJ coaches with a "#PriyaWedsArjun" placard in the windshield. Drivers will have a guest list — please be patient at boarding, especially with grandparents. If you'd rather drive yourself, Royal Albert's is a 7-minute drive from the Westin via NJ-1 N / King Georges Post Rd. Valet is complimentary.
Yes, plenty. - **Royal Albert's Palace (sangeet, ceremony, reception):** complimentary **valet** for up to 100 cars at the main entrance. The valet team handles the bulk of guest parking. There is also a **self-park overflow lot** behind the venue with another ~150 spaces (free) for anyone who prefers to keep their own keys. - **Patel residence (pithi)** and **Sharma residence (mehndi):** both are residential and have limited street parking. We strongly encourage **carpooling or the Westin shuttle** for these two events. Aryan and Rohit are running a small valet stand at each home (just hand them your keys at the curb). - **Westin Edison (vidaai brunch):** Westin lobby valet ($18) or free self-park in the attached garage. If you've reserved a wheelchair-accessible spot or need help with mobility, please reply to your RSVP confirmation and we'll have someone meet you at the curb.
Indian weddings feed people seriously well, and we want everyone to actually eat. Every event offers at least: - **Vegetarian** (always the default) - **Jain** (no root vegetables — please flag on your RSVP so the kitchen can prep separately) - **Halal** at the Sangeet and Reception (Spice Route and Royal Albert's both have halal-certified suppliers) - **Vegan** - **Gluten-free** (limited at Pithi/Mehndi — full options at the Reception) - **Nut-free / dairy-free** — please flag on your RSVP When you RSVP, the form has a dietary section. Please be specific — "vegetarian but no onion or garlic" tells the kitchen something useful; "picky eater" doesn't. If you have a serious allergy (peanut, sesame, shellfish), tell us *and* tell us again in person the night-of and we'll make sure the right chef is the one plating your meal. Kids 12 and under at the Reception have a separate **kid-friendly menu** (chicken nuggets, paneer tikka skewers, mac & cheese, fruit cup, gulab jamun).
Absolutely yes — we have 18 cousins under twelve and we want all of them on the dance floor. - **Pithi & Mehndi:** kids are very welcome. There's lawn space at both homes for them to run around. The Sharmas' backyard has a kiddie pool set up if anyone wants to dunk between mehndi sessions. - **Sangeet:** kids are welcome and a **separate kids' dance area** with a couple of aunties supervising will be set up off to the side of the main ballroom. Dinner stations are kid-friendly (pav bhaji, dosa, chaat). - **Ceremony:** kids over 5 are welcome to attend. The ceremony is ~2.5 hours so we recommend a snack pack. Our **flower kids — Vihaan (4) and Anika (2)** — and a few other little ones are in the wedding party. - **Reception:** kids are welcome until 10 PM. After 10 the music gets loud and the bar gets busy, so most families with little ones quietly head back to the Westin. - **Vidaai brunch:** kids welcome — and there are mimosa-adjacent virgin lassi setups for them. If you'd like a **babysitter** at the Westin during one of the events, reply to your RSVP and we'll connect you with the sitter group three families have already pre-booked.
Your invitation and your personal RSVP link will tell you exactly which events you're invited to and whether a plus-one is included. We were very intentional about this so each event lands at the right size for the space — please don't be offended if your invite is for just you. If your plus-one situation has changed since the invite went out (new partner, broken up, etc.), please text or email Priya or Arjun directly — we'll figure it out. We'd rather you ask than guess. For guests bringing kids, the RSVP form has a separate spot to list each child by name and age. This helps us with the kids' menu, name cards, and seating.
The baraat is the **groom's procession** to the wedding venue, and it is *the* most joyous, slightly chaotic part of an Indian wedding. Here's what to expect: - **9:30 AM Wed Aug 12** — gather in the Royal Albert's main parking lot, west side. Look for the marigold archway. - **The setup:** Arjun arrives on a **ghodi** (a white mare, traditional for Gujarati and Punjabi grooms) accompanied by three **dhol** players (large, two-headed drums you can hear from a block away). His side of the family and friends — the *baraatis* — dance in front of and around him as he rides toward the mandap. - **What to do:** *dance*. Seriously. The whole point of the baraat is for the groom's side to arrive at the bride's family with as much noise and joy as humanly possible. Dance in a circle, throw your arms in the air, follow the dhol. There is no choreography — just enthusiasm. - **Duration:** about 45 minutes from parking lot to the Mandap Garden entrance. - **Then:** the **milni** — the two families formally greet each other with garlands and embraces, the *varmala* (the bride and groom exchange flower garlands), and the ceremony begins. If you're a baraati and you've never danced bhangra-style, the move is: **arms up, shoulder shrugs, screw in the lightbulb.** You'll get it within thirty seconds. Wear shoes you can dance in.
Yes at some events, no at others — and this isn't an accident. - **Pithi, Mehndi, and Ceremony:** these are **dry events**. The pithi and ceremony involve sacred rituals our families prefer to keep alcohol-free; the mehndi is at the Sharma home and Sunita's parents (Pushpa and the late Mohan) always kept the family mehndis dry. Mocktails, masala chai, fresh-pressed juices, lassi, and a full chai counter will be flowing. - **Sangeet (Mon Aug 10):** full **open bar** — house liquor, beer, wine, plus two signature cocktails (**"Sangeetik"**, a saffron-cardamom martini, and **"Cape May Sunset"**, an Aperol-mango spritz). The bar opens at 7 PM and stays open through midnight. - **Reception (Wed Aug 12):** full **open bar** plus two signature cocktails (**Priya's Pomegranate Spritz** and **Arjun's Bombay Old Fashioned**). Bar opens at the 7 PM cocktail hour and runs until the 1 AM sparkler send-off. - **Vidaai brunch:** **mimosas and bloody marys** are available. Most of us will be hungover and emotional. Pace yourself. NJ has a hard last-call at 2 AM, so the Reception bar closes at 12:30 AM regardless.
Your presence at our wedding is genuinely the gift — we mean that. We waited two years to get our families in one room together and you flying in for it is more than enough. That said, we know some of you are going to ask, so: - **Shagun (cash blessing) is the traditional Indian wedding gift.** It's given in a decorated envelope (an *envelope of shagun*), typically with an amount ending in **1** — $51, $101, $251, $501, $1,001, $2,501 — because in our tradition the extra rupee/dollar represents the gift continuing (it's never a "closed" round number). Cash, check, Zelle, Venmo (`@priyasharma-md` or `@arjun-patel-nj`) all work. - **Physical gifts:** if you prefer to send something tangible, we have a small registry on Crate & Barrel and Williams Sonoma — links on the **Gifts** page of this site. We also have an Amazon honeymoon fund (Italy, Sept 2026) if you'd rather contribute toward a trip than a thing. - **Where to leave gifts:** at the Reception, there will be a labeled **gift table** near the entrance with someone watching it (it's Rohit — say hi). For shagun envelopes specifically, please bring them to the Sangeet or Reception rather than the ceremony. The most meaningful gift you can give us, honestly, is a great hug and a great dance.
Yes — we've blocked **40 rooms × 4 nights** at the **Westin Edison Raritan Center** (101 NJ-1, Edison, NJ 08817). - **Group rate:** $149/night plus taxes & resort fee (regular rate is ~$229). - **Booking code:** **PRIYAARJUN2026** - **Booking link:** marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link?id=PRIYAARJUN2026 (also linked on the **Travel** page of this site) - **Dates:** check-in Sunday Aug 9, check-out Thursday Aug 13. - **Cut-off date:** **July 22, 2026**. After July 22, unbooked rooms in the block release back to the public at full price, so please book before then if you'd like the group rate. - **Shuttle:** complimentary shuttle to/from Royal Albert's for the Sangeet and Wedding Day (see the "Shuttle" FAQ above). The Westin also hosts our **Vidaai brunch** on Thursday Aug 13 in the Atrium — so if you stay at the Westin you can roll out of bed and into brunch. If the block fills up or the dates don't quite work, the **Hyatt Place Edison** (10 min away) and the **Holiday Inn Iselin** (12 min away) are good fallback options.
We're so excited you're making the trip. A few logistics: - **Airport:** Newark Liberty (EWR) is closest to Edison — about 25 minutes by car. JFK and LGA work too but the drive is 60-90 minutes depending on traffic. - **Airport pickup:** we have a coordinated airport pickup squad (cousins on the NJ side with cars). Please **share your flight details** (airline, flight number, arrival date/time) by **July 15** so we can match you with a pickup. There's a form on the **Travel** page of this site, or just text Aryan (+1-703-555-0105) or Rinkal (Patel side, +1-732-555-0140). - **Visa letters:** if you still need a visa support letter from us, email Sunita (sunita@example.com) — she has a template and turnaround is usually 2 days. - **Cell service:** Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile all have international plans. Most Indian carriers (Jio, Airtel) charge punishing roaming fees — we recommend an **eSIM (Airalo, Holafly)** for the trip, ~$25 for the week. - **Weather:** August in NJ is hot and humid (85-95°F / 29-35°C, 60-70% humidity). Bring light cottons and an umbrella — there's usually one thunderstorm during the trip. - **WhatsApp group:** we have a **#PriyaWedsArjun-India-Travelers** WhatsApp group — Tanvi Khanna is the admin. Text her at +1-703-555-0106 to be added. If you're going to be jet-lagged through the pithi (Aug 9), we get it. Show up to the mehndi and the rest is gravy.
Please, yes! Our hashtag is **#PriyaWedsArjun** (and #PArjuningTheKnot if you're feeling clever). - Share to Instagram, Facebook, or directly to our shared photo album (link on the **Gallery** page once it's published). - Our official photo + video team — **Desi Moments Photography** (Amit Agarwal) and **Roka Films NJ** (Karan Joshi) — will be covering every event. Their final gallery comes out about 6 weeks after the wedding, so don't worry if you didn't catch every moment. - **One ask:** please *don't* livestream the ceremony itself. We're keeping that part for the people in the room (and a quiet documentary edit). Photos are absolutely welcome at the ceremony — just keep the recording to short clips. - **A note about elders:** some of our older family members (especially the India-side grandparents) prefer not to be photographed up close — please ask before snapping a portrait. If you have great phone-camera shots, please add them to the shared album so we can include them in our wedding video edit. Real candids are gold.
Yes! We'd love for you to. **Anokhi Henna NJ** (the wonderful Kavya Sundaram and her three-artist team) will be set up with **three henna stations** in the backyard tent at the Sharma residence from **6 PM to 9:30 PM** on Sunday Aug 9. All eighty mehndi guests are welcome to get henna applied — first-come, first-served. - **Designs:** anything from a small palm motif (~10 minutes) to full hands or a forearm cuff (~30-45 minutes). - **Drying time:** henna takes about 30-60 minutes to dry, then another 4-12 hours of "sit" to deepen the stain. Plan accordingly if you're going to eat or dance. - **The stain:** good organic henna (which Kavya uses) deepens overnight to a rich red-brown. Don't wash it off — let it flake off naturally for the best color. - **For kids:** absolutely welcome. Mona will do gentle, food-safe designs for the little ones. - **For non-Indian friends:** *please get henna.* It's a sign of celebration and good luck for the bride; there's nothing appropriative about a guest joining in — it's literally what the mehndi event is for. If you have an allergy to anything plant-based or you've reacted to henna before, please skip — Kavya only uses organic, certified cones but reactions can still happen on sensitive skin.
Please don't be. We say this with love. The ceremony has a hard cultural timing — the **muhurat** (auspicious window) Pandit Vinod calculated is **11:15 AM to 12:45 PM** on Wednesday Aug 12, and the **pheras** (the seven sacred circles around the fire) happen inside that window. You really don't want to be the person walking down the aisle during the kanyadaan. - **Baraat assembly:** 9:30 AM, Royal Albert's main parking lot (west side, marigold archway). - **Milni and varmala:** 10:30 AM at the Mandap Garden entrance. - **Ceremony start:** **11:15 AM sharp**. - **Doors to the Mandap Garden close at 11:30 AM.** Latecomers will be quietly seated in the back behind a screen until the pheras complete (~12:20 PM). - **Buffer your drive:** Wednesday morning Edison traffic is real. The 7-minute Westin→Royal Albert's drive can be 25 minutes if there's an accident on NJ-1. **Plan to arrive by 11:00 AM**. If you're traveling from India and your jet lag is real, no judgment — but please text Aryan or Rohit so we can save you a seat in the back row.
Royal Albert's Palace and the Westin no longer require masks or vaccination proof, and we're not requiring them either. That said: - We'll have a **mask station** (KF94s) at the entrance of every event for anyone who wants one. Take as many as you need, no questions asked. - We have several **immunocompromised guests** (including a couple of grandparents and one cousin going through chemo) — if you're feeling under the weather, we'd really appreciate it if you'd mask up around the elderly tables and skip the close-contact dancing. - **If you're actively sick:** please be honest with yourself and us. We will love you from afar and a video call from your hotel room is genuinely better than the alternative. We'd rather have you healthy at our 5-year anniversary party than not. - The Pithi and Vidaai brunch are largely outdoors; the Sangeet, Ceremony, and Reception venues all have strong HVAC and the Mandap Garden ceremony is open-air. Hand sanitizer stations are at every event entrance.
