Suhani and Bhavik
Suhani Jain, a Software Engineer at Microsoft, and Bhavik Desai, a Commissioning Engineer at CBRE, have a beautiful love story that began in middle school. Their friendship grew over the years, becoming a deep connection during high school. By 2014, they started dating in 11th grade. Their bond remained strong, and they both decided to attend Georgia Tech for college, continuing their relationship. After dating for 9 years, they got engaged and decided to marry on their 10th anniversary in November 2024.
The proposal happened serendipitously during a venue tour in August 2023. Suhani was transitioning to jobs, and they had already decided to get married in November 2024. Bhavik, knowing the importance of the moment, had secretly arranged the proposal at Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach. Suhani was completely surprised when she stepped out onto the beach and saw Bhavik waiting with the proposal setup. This venue, which they later chose for their wedding, became the perfect place to celebrate their love.
BANQUET HALLS Embassy Suites by Hilton St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort 904-342-4410 | BEAUTICIANS Beauty Marked 813-445-6485 | Manus Beauty Care 904-525-5602 | CATERING Maa Vimla Catering 407-408-6030 | The Flame 305-989-1186 | DANCE FLOOR WRAP St. Johns Illuminations Event Rentals 904-436-5973 | DECORATOR Utopian Events 678-570-4443 | DISC JOCKEY Dudha Productions 727-418-8498 | EVENT PLANNER Elite Dream Creations 407-466-4247 | PHOTO BOOTH LetsBoothIt – Photo Booth 662-801-8552 | PHOTOGRAPHER / VIDEOGRAPHER Noor K Photography 407-729-0388 | PRIEST Mahesh Gor 321-297-6167
For the wedding planning, they hired a wedding coordinator for month-of and weekend-of coordination, which they highly recommend. While they handled finding vendors themselves, having someone manage the schedules and event details was invaluable. Both Suhani and Bhavik are from Jacksonville, so the wedding venue was conveniently located 30-45 minutes away from their hometown, with their families still living in the area.
The pre-wedding events were held in their backyards, with both families hosting Haldi/Pithi and Mehendi. Colorful decorations and flowers, particularly carnations and yellow blooms, added vibrancy to the occasion. The brides’ side had market lights while the groom’s side had a tent with lighting inside. Fun games, including trivia, added an interactive element to the celebrations. The wedding itself took place at 9:30 am on a beautiful beach-facing lawn, with the sound of the ocean creating a serene atmosphere. The mandap, adorned with white flowers and greenery, was the perfect setting for their vows. As a personal touch, guests received snack bags and a newspaper-style program, with games and stories about the couple.
Music played a key role in the wedding, reflecting the couple’s love for dancing. The Baraat was loud and lively, with Indian and popular music playing as Bhavik arrived in an open-roof Ford Bronco. He soon joined his friends and family for dancing, even carrying a toy horse head for fun. The bridal party walked to the ceremony site from the hotel, as all events were hosted at the same location.
For the reception, the couple chose a Jacksonville Jaguars theme, showcasing their love for the team. The tables were draped in black covers with white flowers, and the space featured black and gold accents. The couple made a grand entrance to an Indian/hip hop rap song, followed by a lively WWE-style call-out introduction. The cocktail hour featured personalized elements like posters from each year of their relationship and a photo/video booth. A unique seating chart with hexagonal wooden tiles displayed guests’ names and table numbers.
The first dance was to “My Girl” by The Temptations, while the father-daughter dance was to “Shava Shava” and the mother-son dance to “Jaane Kyu” and “Crank Dat” by Soulja Boy. The reception continued with performances by the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and friends, all dancing to a mix of Indian and hip-hop music. Suhani and Bhavik added creative touches throughout the celebration, including personalized dandiyas for the Sangeet, a newspaper-style program for the wedding, and custom cocktails for the cocktail hour. They even had shirts with each other’s faces for the after-party.
In a fun twist, their food stations at the Sangeet featured animated photos of the couple, and the cocktail hour had personalized tiles. The biggest “wow” moment was the stunning wedding scenery, with the beach providing a breathtaking backdrop. Looking back, Suhani and Bhavik share advice for future couples: seek help, enjoy the process, and incorporate personal touches to make the celebration more meaningful for everyone involved. Despite a few vendor hiccups, like a last-minute DJ change, everything came together beautifully, creating memories they’ll cherish forever.
