Ashna and Smit’s love story began like many modern romances—on a dating app. Despite a rocky start, with Ashna almost canceling and Smit rushing from a party, their first date in a dimly lit NYC bar on a snowy winter day lasted seven hours, setting the stage for a life-changing journey.
Though they came from different worlds—Ashna, a corporate strategist from a Sindhi family in Mumbai, and Smit, a stylish banker from a Gujarati community in New Jersey—they shared essential bonds. Both were eldest siblings, grew up in close-knit communities, and shared passions for dosas, Bollywood movies, and traveling.
This led Ashna and Smit to think about their wedding differently. They wanted to adhere to traditional Indian wedding events, but as hosts, they were determined to ensure that each guest felt important. Ashna and Smit were central to this love story, but they knew it wouldn’t have been the same without the upbringing and support of all their people through the years. They wanted to celebrate that, so they focused on their guests’ perspective and took everyone on a journey—through their prem kahani.
In Bollywood’s footsteps, Ashna and Smit dubbed their wedding weekend “Ashna & Smit Kii Prem Kahani”. Each event was a chapter in their story, focused on providing the best experience for their guests. From their designer outfits to the natural mined jewelry from her father and uncle’s business, to authentic Indian food, the best DJs, and beautiful venues, they were hyper-focused on creating an unforgettable weekend.
The celebration began with the Sangeet, where Ashna and Smit took their guests back to the beginning of their story in Miami’s Vizcaya Gardens. As an ode to the country club that Ashna’s family is a part of in Mumbai and the fun, carefree nature of Disco, they named the event “Royal Bombay Yacht Club: Disco Night,” where they celebrated their two sides, Sindhi and Gujarati, coming together. A special moment was when Ashna dedicated a surprise dance to both of her parents – her own and her in-laws, centering the love she has for both of them. Wearing Amit Aggarwal and custom fine jewelry by Moskh, Ashna and Smit danced the night away with their loved ones.
The wedding, held at the Biltmore, was an ode to their present, their life in NYC, and the moment when Smit proposed to Ashna in Central Park. Ashna elected to have her own baraat for that moment, wanting her side to have fun and share in the excitement of her wedding. Coined “Love in the Park,” Ashna and Smit got married on a park bench wearing Shyamal & Bhumika, exchanging personalized TriJewels (Ashna’s father’s business in NYC) wedding bands.
The reception was the final chapter of this volume of their love story. In the glorious Biltmore ballroom, Ashna and Smit paid tribute to their ‘rose-colored’ future. “La Vie En Rose” was the theme for the night, with roses and love filling the ballroom to the brim. That night, Ashna wore Zara Umrigar with a brilliant baguette necklace and earring set by Moskh, and Smit looked handsome in a Manish Malhotra suit. The best part, instead of the typical father/daughter and mother/son dance – Ashna danced with both her father and now father-in-law, and Smit did the same with his mothers to show the true coming together as family.
The entire weekend was memorable, filled with amazing food, great performances, emotional speeches, fantastic music, and a lot of fun—but most importantly, it was filled with love. From every corner, side, and moment of the weekend, between the families, the parents, and the couple, you could see the love that Ashna and Smit brought together.
