Blending both of their cultures, Tina and Amit’s wedding at Phipps Conservatory was a celebration of unity as two families and two hearts (three if you count the couple’s son!) were joined together forever. After a Hindu ceremony in Phipps’ outdoor garden, this stylish pair changed out of traditional attire and into a tuxedo with a blush pink jacket for him and a Fiore Couture gown from The Exquisite Bride for her. Then, they said “I do” all over again in a Western-style ceremony before the elaborate party began. Overseen by Soiree by Souleret, the festivities were inspired by Tina’s rose gold Henne Jewelers engagement ring and featured a color palette of blush, mauve, and shimmering metals. Tall, blossoming arrangements of dahlias, roses, and hydrangeas from Fragile Paradise sat atop tables adorned in embroidered linens from Lendable Linens. The romantic ambiance came courtesy of EF Lighting and a candle wall behind the newlywed’s sweetheart table. Brass lanterns hung from the ceiling as a nod to Amit’s heritage, while Tina infused her personality with DIY’d menu cards and table numbers. Fusing luxurious details and regal flair with multi-cultural mentions and heartfelt touches, this wedding was gorgeously captured by Kristi Telnov Photography.
About the Couple
Amit and I met in 2007 while I was working as a nurse in the ICU and he had just started his residency. Unbeknownst to me, Amit had a “crush” on me. He used to come to the ICU to check the schedule to see when I worked next, but he never understood how to read the schedule. In December 2007, Amit and I met up at an ICU Christmas party. Shortly after, we began “hanging out” a lot until we officially started dating sometime in May 2008. In 2010, Amit completed all of his medical training in PA and had to return to Canada because of his visa restrictions; therefore, we opted to go our separate ways. After all, being from two different countries and two different cultures didn’t seem very promising. Neither of us were happy with this decision.
Amit returned to the US multiple times in 2011 to visit me until he accepted a position at Altoona Hospital in 2012. We reconnected and moved in together in April 2012. Despite our cultural differences, we tried very hard to make it work this time, but in April 2014 we separated again. We saw each other occasionally and still talked now and again… I guess enough that I found out I was pregnant in October 2014! Our son brought us together. We bought a house and celebrated our families’ acceptances. Here we are today, finally living God’s plan! My motto through all the years has been that God gives us what we need when we need it most. His timing has proved to be perfect.
About the Wedding
We wanted a wedding that celebrated who we are as a couple, but also that celebrated both of our cultures. We chose a palette of blush, mauve, and rose gold – something that I love and even incorporated into the design of my rings. To make for an even more personalized event, I enjoyed taking on some of the event details myself. I DIY’ed menus, table numbers, and ring security briefcases for my son and nephew. The reception space featured detailed floral linens, a candle wall behind our sweetheart table, and rich blush tones. To incorporate Amit’s culture, we chose a menu that featured tikka masala and we hung brass lanterns from the reception space’s ceiling.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment of the day was Amit’s reaction when he saw me for the first time. I loved how intimate the reception felt and the “royalty” effect of the Hindu ceremony. I loved the lighting of the night ceremony and how much fun we had taking bridal party pics. I loved how my planner’s design was spot on with my vision and that Kristi captured the story!
