We wanted to bring in a classic, elegant theme.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are both resident physicians in the US. I (Henna) am an Obstetrician and Gynecologist in Cleveland, and Jordan is a Urologist in Detroit. We both enjoy travelling (when not working), exploring different cuisines and restaurants, enjoying time with our families, and playing with our dog, Charlie.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met on our very first day of medical school and became good friends. Through the first year of medical school, we remained friends and later started dating in our second year. My first impression of Jordan was that he was clearly incredibly smart, but I had no idea why he dressed up for class when everyone else was in casual attire. Regardless, he has a great sense of style, a dry humour, and the most amazing blue eyes.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).
The vision we had for the engagement session was to have a casual spin on our plan for a formal wedding. We inherently knew we wanted to have a wedding in London, so there was no better background than the city itself. We wanted to bring in a classic, elegant theme because, looking back on our photos, we wanted it to look timeless. The simple, formal nature of the styling was so that nothing would be distracting in the pictures; the focus would be on us. Keeping it black and white with the outfit choices also prevented us from taking away from the stunning background of the city and the V&A museum.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
The most important styling element that we were looking for regarding the engagement session was an amazing and thoughtful photographer. It is one thing to have a vision, but to execute that vision takes a skilled eye, which we found in Ash (Joy, by Ash). Her portfolio was exactly what we were looking for. We were looking for a natural and candid style, and to make it look as if someone may have caught us at a sweet moment together.
As for our venue, we wanted something different than what we could find in the US, and since the majority of my family is in the UK, it seemed to be the perfect location. We were looking for an estate, something with grandeur and a romantic component, yet a venue we did not have to over-decorate. The venue itself would be the centrepiece, while we add components to enhance the space.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
Our favourite part was seeing the results of our engagement shoot. We got engaged on Christmas in 2023. Due to our hectic work schedules and our residency training, we decided to wait until 2026 to get married. Our engagement shoot was the first step in our wedding planning process, as well as visiting venues. We had the opportunity to do this in April, which finally allowed us to start to see our wedding as more than just an idea.
It definitely makes it feel daunting at times with our schedules, living in different cities, and planning an international wedding. Our tips for couples starting their planning journey are to bounce ideas off of each other, sometimes you have to play Devil’s advocate. One person may be completely entranced in an idea and may be unable to see the flaws or downsides to venues/caterers/etc, therefore, the other person can help see things with clear eyes.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Jordan gave me my perfect engagement ring. Yes, he did have some help from my best friends, and it may have included my Pinterest board called “My future engagement ring”. My ring is a solitaire radiant cut on a gold band, a classic style which I love.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
In relation to our 2026 wedding, a few elements that are important to us that we will be happy to spend a little more on are the venue, photographer, and food. We have already made our venue unique by being international, so to make it easier for our family/friends, we wanted to make sure there is accommodation offered on-site or close-by. The photographer is vital because we want to remember these memories in their most authentic moments, so we wanted someone who matches that vision. As for the food, our families are of different ethnicities and cultures, so we want to do them both justice and showcase a variety of versatile and incredible food.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
In relation to our 2026 wedding, we hope that our favourite moments will be both of our weddings! We plan to do a civil ceremony and a traditional Hindu celebration.
BRIDE Henna, @hennhenn430 GROOM Jordan VENUE Westminster Bridge; The Victoria & Albert Museum, London PHOTOGRAPHER Joy, by Ash, @joy_by_ash RINGS Custom made BRIDE’S OUTFIT Long dress – Abercrombie & Fitch, @abercrombie; Short dress – Revolve, @revole; Jacket – Aritzia, @aritzia BRIDE’S SHOES Zara, @zara BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Earrings – Francesca’s; Bracelet – Custom made from India; Sunglasses – Miu Miu, @muimiu HAIR & MAKEUP Natalie Stokes, @nataliestokesmua BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Vanilla 28 – Kayali GROOM’S SHOES Gold Label – Moretti GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Sunglasses – Ray-Ban, @rayban
