“I carried the ring with me for an entire weekend before I popped the question,” Korey Dowell says of his proposal to Mansi Kothari, who he had first met at work nine years prior. “We were in some nice places but none of them held any meaning for us. The night we got home from our trip I proposed in a place that means a lot to us, right in our living room.”
With their engagement underway, the couple brought on Blossom Events to plan and design their autumn wedding. They chose their Brooklyn venue for its architectural appeal and neutral tones, allowing the vibrant traditional sangeet attire to stand out. To set the tone, The Drama Queen designed the invitations. Afrik Armando captured every moment on camera, while Nato Tuke ensured the day was documented on film.
The couple’s wedding wardrobe was curated under the guidance of Chintan Shah. “We spent a little over a week in Mumbai getting our wedding outfits,” Mansi says. “An Indian bride can wear a lehenga, saree, sharara, gharara, anarkali. Now imagine choosing just one with hundreds of color options! After 10 days, I narrowed it down to two looks I had found on our first day of shopping.” On the day of the wedding, Mansi’s beauty look came together with makeup by Kristen Daryl and hair styled by Eve Whittington.
On November 11, 2023, the wedding began with a spirited baraat, as Korey processed to the beats of dhol drummer Nihal Singh. The groom’s family and friends danced their way to the venue’s entrance, where Mansi’s family waited.
The ceremony took place under a round mandap, decked with florals by Elegant Affairs. Korey entered with his mother, followed by Mansi, who was escorted by her four uncles, as her late father’s favorite Bollywood song played in tribute. The bride’s sister officiated the ceremony—a personalized service that honored Indian culture and centered the couple’s story together. “We were overjoyed and overwhelmed,” Korey says of the service. “The venue was so beautiful. It was ethereal.”
When it came to the menu for the reception, Mansi ensured her Indian heritage was represented. As both she and Korey are vegetarians, the couple curated an entirely vegetarian menu with ample Jain and vegan options. CGA Catering presented an Indian and Chinese fusion station, a Pav station, and a traditional Indian buffet complete with a live tandoori oven for freshly made bread.
As an avid baker, Korey had a hand in the search for the perfect wedding cake. The couple chose Pip n Bits to create a three-tier cake featuring layers of vanilla with fresh strawberry buttercream, hazelnut praline, and chocolate.
The music for the evening was provided by DJ USA. “Knowing him from when he first started in the business to watching him grow, it was a sentimental moment to have him play at our wedding,” Korey notes.
The celebration ended on a high note with dancing late into the evening. The next morning, the newlyweds set off for their honeymoon in New Zealand.