A Vivid, Lively Sangeet at San Jose's Mexican Heritage Plaza

You could say Ketaki and Ashish are high school sweethearts, though they only began dating in their senior year. The two met during their freshman year, quickly becoming best friends after that initial encounter. It wasn’t until their final year in high school that they considered something more. Throughout the years, the couple grew together even as they attended separate universities. From San Francisco to New York, they built lives together in their first homes, traveled to different countries and even adopted a pet. “What makes our relationship special and unique is that we've had the privilege to grow up together and see each other blossom into the people we are today,” the couple says.

Fourteen years after meeting as freshmen, Ashish wrote the next chapter in their love story: the proposal. In the year leading up to the big moment, the two discussed rings and settled on something they both loved. Ketaki says, “Both of us went on the hunt for a Moissanite ring together a year before the proposal, and after looking at all kinds of shapes, bands and cuts, we found the ring.”  Ashish still had to find a way to surprise his bride-to-be, however, and he worked with his future in-laws to coordinate a cover story for the proposal. “I knew Ketaki well enough to know that she would be suspicious from the get-go, so I downloaded secret messaging apps to keep our whole family updated with proposal plans,” he says. “I found a rooftop venue in San Francisco that I rented out for the evening. I lured Ketaki there under the ruse that her brother-in-law was performing a set there with his jam-mates.” From there, she followed a path of rose petals under an arch that Ashish and his father built together. With Etta James’ “At Last” as the moment’s soundtrack, he got down on one knee. But in an even more unexpected twist, Ketaki also got down on her knee with a ring for Ashish, a dual proposal where they asked to “share this lifetime together.”

When the two look back on their relationship, neither thinks there was just one “aha!” moment when they knew they were in love. Rather, it was a recurring theme that strengthened over time, until eventually they confronted their future together right before they went to different universities. “That was reinforced throughout our time visiting each other in our colleges. It was not until the end of university where we were steadfast in our belief that we wanted to get married,” Ketaki and Ashish add.  One thing the nearlyweds attribute to their strong love is their separate and shared interests. They say, “We both have incredibly different hobbies – Ketaki loves to sing, paint and write, and Ashish loves playing basketball and athletics, but we have also developed many hobbies together naturally over time, such as cooking, watching TV, yoga and reading.”

Now, the couple has another shared interest, planning their wedding day. Bringing their culture and heritage to the forefront has been a must, with traditional ceremonies and pre-wedding events like the Sangeet. They say, “Our sangeet was our favorite event to plan, because the Mexican Heritage Plaza was the perfect canvas for us, and we took free [rein] in deciding how to design the event.” Throwing this vibrant celebration at San Jose’s outdoor venue involved an array of jewel tones and accents to make the space pop with color.

“From the tented Indian food stalls, to the mandala dance floor, to the market lights, to the bright colors, each part made us feel like we were in a vibrant Indian bazaar and provided the perfect setting for us to sing and dance the night away with our loved ones,” say Ashish and Ketaki. The outdoor venue was decorated with vivid floral displays, velvet couches, bright linens and hanging decor from the trees. String lights from above gave lighting to the colorful dance floor, where guests and the to-be-weds danced the night away with traditional routines. Their loved ones wore multicolored lehengas, sherwanis and other classic Indian wedding attire in shades that matched the color palette. They also had a henna station for guests and an assortment of musical entertainment, including the groom-to-be with his guitar as his future wife sang a song. Bringing their vision to life from their shared culture was a team effort, and their wedding is sure to have the same liveliness as their Sangeet.