Rasoi III

Wedding Ceremony

Our Wedding

Pat and Diya’s story began in the most unexpected of places—the firehouse. It was one of those ordinary days, and Diya had just dropped by to meet a few old friends when she first saw him. Pat, standing tall in his firefighter gear, was laughing with his colleagues. His easy smile and the warmth in his eyes immediately caught her attention. She’d never believed in love at first sight, but in that moment, something shifted. It was as though time slowed down, and all she could focus on was the way Pat made everything around him feel brighter. She melted, heart racing, knowing that somehow, this was the beginning of something special. Pat noticed Diya, too. There was an unspoken connection, a spark that drew them to one another. They exchanged smiles, and it didn’t take long before they found themselves talking. What started as small talk quickly grew into deeper conversations about life, dreams, and everything in between. They became best friends, each relying on the other to navigate the ups and downs of their worlds. No topic was too small or too big—Pat and Diya shared it all, from the funniest stories to the toughest challenges. There was something about their bond that made everything feel easier. They were each others confidant, helping to problem-solve and offering support whenever the other needed it. The friendship flourished, and over time, they found themselves spending more and more time together. Then came May 15th, 2021—a day neither of them would ever forget. Pat and Diya’s first date was simple yet unforgettable. They spent the day talking and laughing, surrounded by nature, and at the end of it, they made a whimsical yet meaningful decision—they got their ducks. It was a symbol of the new chapter they were starting together, a playful and loving reminder of the bond they shared. As time passed, life presented both challenges and joys. There were big changes along the way—things they never saw coming—but through it all, Pat and Diya stood by each other. They faced the highs and lows together, always supporting, always loving, and always growing. Their love strengthened with every passing day, and it became clear to both of them that it was time for the next step. With unwavering certainty, Pat asked Diya to marry him, and she said yes, knowing deep down that they were ready to take on the world together as one. Their wedding is a celebration of the friendship that had brought them together, the love that is growing between them, and the future they are excited to build. Pat and Diya’s love story isn’t just about two people falling in love—it is about two best friends who never gave up on each other, no matter what life threw their way. They had found something real, something unshakeable, and as they walk into their future hand in hand, they know they are exactly where they are meant to be.

Patrick and Diya

Our Story

Engagement Photos

Alexis Krisinski

Janvi-Jaanu

Mansi Shah

Kruti Sutaria

Pari Shah

Isha Shah

Krishna Parikh

Pooja Parkih

Jeffery McNulty

Mike Finlay 

Hrsh Shah

Craig Lyle

Louis Rua

Paul Rua 

Wedding Party

Q + A

Grah Shanti & Pithi 

Location: Shah Residents (12 Jillian Ct Monroe twp, NJ 08831   Time: 3:00PM- 7:00PM

June 20th, 2025

Grah Shanti: What is the Grah Shanti Pooja?It is a pre-wedding ritual which is performed to remove all the obstacles and bring happiness and prosperity into the lives of the couple. As it is believed that the stars and the planets have a great influence on our lives, this pooja is performed to ensure that the Navagrah or 9 planets are aligned for both the bride and the groom in order to live a happy life together. Like the name suggests, Grah means the house and Shanti means peace, thus it means the peace of the house. When Is it Performed?Grah Shanti pooja is the final step taken by the bride and the groom before they enter married life. That’s why it is performed a day or two before the wedding ceremony. It is also a way of beginning the festivities officially with the blessings of the Almighty. In Hinduism, it is considered very important that all the god and goddesses attend the marriage ceremony to bless the couple. That’s why they are invited in this pooja to give the celebration an auspicious start. Also, the ancestors and the forefathers of the bride and groom are invited. How is it performed?The ceremony is performed with the bride and the groom separated into their respective houses with their families. It is done this way to get rid of individual doshas that either of them may possess. Learned priests perform the pooja at both the locations. As Lord Ganesha is considered to be the remover of all the obstacles, he is invoked during this ceremony. The venues are adorned with icons, flowers, and other elaborate decorations. Close friends and family are also invited to bless the couple. Benefits of the ceremony include:- It helps to get rid of all the negative energies of the person doing the pooja.- It helps to purify the surroundings with holy vibes and also bestows the house with peace and prosperity.- It helps to remove all the obstacles that may come in the life of the couple and gives them protection from the evil eyes.-Another benefit of this pooja is to ensure that there is no negative effect on your spouse’s planets on you. What to wear for this ceremony?- Something Traditional-Avoid Black&nbsp;-Avoid leather accessories&nbsp;-Wear colorful clothing (Proper attire) What is the Haldi Ceremony?The haldi is a prewedding ritual common at traditional Indian weddings. The haldi ceremony is a significant prewedding event and ritual in almost every Indian regional wedding. It is celebrated on the wedding day or one day prior to the wedding day and is usually a close-knitted event. The closest family, relatives and friends come together on this auspicious occasion to apply turmeric paste (haldi) on the bride and groom's face and body. Some families also smear chandan (sandalwood powder) with rose water on the bride's face and hands and shower flowers on the couples. The occasion is celebrated with dhol (drum beats), Bollywood songs and endless dancing."

Wedding Ceremony 

Location: Rasoii 3       Time: 9:00am- 2:00pm

June 21st, 2025

Ganesh Puja: The First PrayerBefore the ceremony, the priest leads a prayer (puja) to Ganesha, the Hindu god of beginnings. “The priest begins the puja with invocations and offerings to Lord Ganesh, remover of all obstacles. He asks for Lord Ganesh's blessings to provide a peaceful atmosphere before commencing the ceremony.” Baraat: The Groom's Procession“The groom arrives accompanied by family, friends, music and dancing. They are welcomed at the entrance of the ceremony by the bride's parents.” Sometimes the bride’s family will toss rice over the groom when he arrives and apply a tilak (a mark with a paste made of ash, clay, sandalwood, turmeric, charcoal or red lead) to his forehand. The tilak represents devotion to God and incites positive thoughts and energy.&nbsp; Kanya Aagman: The Arrival of The Bride“The bride arrives at the mandap escorted by her uncles or her brothers, although nowadays Hindu brides are increasingly choosing for their dad to walk them down the aisle, as commonly happens in Western culture. This can be so beautiful too.” The mandap is a decorative structure under which the marriage ceremony is performed. It’s typically adorned with flowers, foliage, lengths of colourful fabric, crystals and often twinkling lights, with ornate chairs for the bride and groom and their parents to sit on.&nbsp; Jai Mala: The Exchange of GarlandsA jai mala is a flower garland exchanged between the bride and groom. “It’s symbolic of the first step taken by the newlyweds into marriage”, says Karishma. “Most couples follow a playful tradition whereby their uncles or brothers lift the bride and groom up and they compete to see who can garland the other first.”&nbsp; Kanyadaan: The ‘Giving Away’ of The Bride&nbsp;&nbsp;“'Kanya' means unmarried daughter and 'daan' means to offer or gift. According to Hindu scripture, there is no greater gift than the gift of one's daughter. The bride's father places the bride's right hand into the groom's right hand to symbolise their lifelong union as partners.” Rohita explains that “a Hindu bride is also given a mangalsutra, which is a gold and black beaded necklace that symbolises that she is now married. It’s said that the bride receives blessings throughout her marriage when wearing it.”&nbsp; Saptapadi: The Seven Sacred Steps Around the Fire“To signify the viability of the ceremony, a fire is kept burning in the middle of the mandap to bear witness to the marriage”, says Rohita. “Offerings are made to the fire during the ceremony”. Karishma details that “the bride and groom hold hands and take seven sacred steps together around the fire while the priest chants Vedic mantras, representing the seven sacred vows of marriage. This ritual marks the beginning of the bride and groom's journey as a married couple.”&nbsp;Rohita highlights that the bride and groom are often physically joined to one another for the saptapadi too. “Before making their vows and circling around the fire, the bride and groom tend to each wear a scarf or piece of long material which are tied together – typically the bride’s veil or dupatta and the groom’s sash”. This denotes their eternal bond. Sindoor: Declaring the bride as married&nbsp;Depending on the couple’s preferences and family tradition, “a red powder, called sindoor, is applied to the bride's parting by her new husband to symbolize that she is married”, says Rohita. The bride may choose a bindi dot instead. “Some women carry on this tradition on a daily basis, or only when they have traditional family occasions” explains Rohita. Vidai: The Send Off“This is the most emotional moment of the marriage ceremony as the bride's family and friends bid her a teary farewell”, says Karishma. “The family blesses the bride and wishes her a happy married life, then the father of the bride takes her to the car or the doli (a wedding carriage) and hands her to the groom.”&nbsp;

Reception

Location; Rasoii 3          Time:  6:00pm-11:00pm

IT'S TIME TO PARTY!!!!Please join us for an eventful night of celebration post wedding. There will be plenty of games, dance performances, speeches and ofc an open dance floor

Event Details

Things to know for the room block: -If you are not sure of which events you would like to attend, please go to the events page and read what each event holds. That will help you make the decision as to which ones you would appreciate the most though we would appreciate if you came to all!- Free parking available- Rooms can hold up to 4 people- IF you are planning on attending the Pithi, we recommend that you block the room for Friday night &amp; Saturday Night to avoid travelling early morning for the wedding day.-We recommend that all friends and family stay at the hotel so that we can all be together and enjoy as a group.- After party will be at the hotel POST reception (cash bar).- Please feel free to bring board games/ Cards there will be some downtime in between both days.-Please plan to uber or taxi for your travels to and from hotel.

Crowne Plaza Princeton - Conference Center, an IHG Hotel

Travel/ Hotel 

Registry

Things to Do

Sign Up For Any & All Performances

Dear Family &amp; Friends,We are so excited to see all the love and creativity you’ll bring to the wedding reception with your dances, performances, and speeches! Each of you holds such a special place in our hearts, and we know your contributions will make the day even more memorable. Whether you're sharing a heartfelt speech or dancing from the heart, we just want you to know how much your presence means to us. You’ve always supported us in countless ways, and we can’t wait to celebrate together with joy, laughter, and love. Thank you for making this day even more incredible. We’re so lucky to have you! <a href="https://forms.gle/L69bUBD1zMfNYMTN8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/L69bUBD1zMfNYMTN8</a>

Performances

Our Email:DiyandPat@gmail.com Bride's ParentsBhavik Shah(551)-580-2894Shital Shah (551)-580-2905 Grooms Parents Lydia Lyle(732)-718-3948

Contact Us

Hey there everyone!!below is link to all the wedding videos on our youtube channel! We are beyond joyful to share our special day and our special memories with everyone! https://youtu.be/xl-9pwTmMDU?si=QJsDe2UrRNdEOV4j

Pithi & Ghra Shanti Photos

Wedding Ceremony Photos 

Diya & Patrick

Diya & Patrick

Pithi & Ghra Shanti Photos