Vows That Wow – Himani & Akshay

Week after week, our team receives and showcases stunning weddings from across Greater Raleigh, all courtesy of the immensely talented wedding vendors and lovely couples who submit to us. Each month, our editorial team selects one spectacular wedding to highlight, one that stands above the rest for its uniqueness and beauty.

For February, we’re showcasing a vibrant, floral-filled Indian wedding honoring two distinct states and accompanying cultures. With multi-day events full of dancing, laughing, and love, Himani and Akshay’s wedding celebrations are sure to wow!

How the Couple Met

“Our love story sparked on a dating app called Dil Mil, rekindled through an Instagram DM, and sealed under a rainy Navratri sky. It went from being a disapproving union that crossed cultural boundaries to a vibrant celebration that intertwined Gujarati and Malayalee traditions, our wedding is a testament to love’s power to unite,” Himani writes.

When asked about how their cultures were a part of their day, Himani had this to share.

“Akshay and I’s wedding was a beautiful blend of both of our cultures. Akshay and his family is from the state of Kerala in India and my family and I are from the state of Gujarat in India. Both states are unique in their culture and heritage. Going into this ‘two-states’ wedding, if you will, it was really important to both of us to incorporate different elements of our culture into the wedding weekend. We knew we didn’t want to hold two separate ceremonies and so that made it even more critical to ensure we find the most creative ways to blend both cultures.”

Looking through all of the stunning images captured by Ellie McKinney Photography, you can immediately sense the deep love between Himani and Akshay, as well as the familial love and support that surrounds them. They tied the knot on 7/13/2024.

The Wedding Day

Himani and Akshay’s wedding was largely possible due to the labor of love from family and friends who poured their hearts into creating an experience that felt nothing short of luxurious for their guests.

“Our vendors, such as photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, and planners, brought our dream vision to life. They understood our cultural background and poured their heart into each detail,” Himani shares.

Thanks to Ellie McKinney Photography, there is no short of stunning photographs for the couple and their families to cherish for years. When asked about what stood out to Ellie most while capturing this multi-day celebration, she had this to say:

“Capturing this incredible wedding, as their photographer, was an absolute delight. I was privileged to witness the beautiful merging of multicultural events, unforgettable intimate moments, the pure joy of all who attended, and a lively dance floor that kept everyone energized. Himani and Akshay’s exceptional design choices added colorful touches that highlighted the uniqueness of their love story.”

After their ceremony, the guests enjoyed a movie-inspired Cocktail Hour and Reception.

“One of our favorite activities to do together is go watch movies in theater. What’s a movie without popcorn? We knew that our Cocktail Hour had to reflect this big part of our relationship. We decided to custom DIY a movie premier red-carpet style backdrop by displaying logos of our brands that have played a role in our story. We also converted our wedding hashtag into a movie name paying an ode to one of our favorite movie[s] in India.

The theme continued from Cocktail Hour into the Reception as a mini popcorn bucket with a custom wedding logo sticker on it was waiting for each guest at their dinner table. This is a brilliant touch as it gave guests something to snack on during speeches and performances. Himani shares, “We loved curating this experience for our guests and watching them enjoy something that is so important to our love story.”

Himani & Akshay’s Favorite Moment

“Our favorite part of the wedding was truly being next to each other and soaking in all the love our friends and family showered us with knowing just what it took from both of us to get to this point. From the playful haldi to music filled sangeet to traditional ceremony, all the little moments in between that were brought on to us through the food, decor, and chatting with our guests, it felt like a wedding weekend better than what we could’ve ever imagined.”