Nauman Butt and Sachin Soni, New Jersey

Woven with love and shared cultural heritage, Nauman and Sachin’s wedding celebration was as beautiful as it was heartwarming. Witness the magic unfold!

How they met
Nauman Butt, who is currently in school to become a clinical mental health counselor, first met IT Director Sachin Soni in 2006. He shares, “We crossed paths at a monthly social event of Trikone Atlanta Desi LGBTQ group. We dated briefly but things didn’t work out and we decided to become friends. Gradually our friendship grew and we became each other’s best friends, growing through life’s ups and downs, and one day I realized I had fallen in love with him. After being friends for almost 9 years, I was very scared to take a chance on love and lose my best friend. Turns out luck was on my side! He confessed that he had never stopped liking me romantically, and we started dating once again. Even though we had known each other so deeply, our first date still gave us butterflies! We could barely stop smiling, and 8 years later, we still smile when we look at each other.”

The Wedding Proposal
“After four years of dating, Sachin took me to London for a trip, where one morning, I was serenaded by a Saxophonist playing my favorite song! At that moment I knew my world was about to become more beautiful, as he went on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of our lives together.

We had originally planned on getting married in 2020, but when Covid hit the world, we put our plans on hold. After a long engagement of 3 years, we finally tied the knot in August of 2023.”

Meeting each other’s family and friends
“I had already gone through the struggles of coming out. Being born in Pakistan to an Islamic family, being gay was simply not acceptable. And sadly as expected, when I told my parents, they didn’t take the news well. They cut me off completely and didn’t speak to me for over a year, but I knew who I was, and I wasn’t going to apologize for that. I was patient with my family, and after a few years, my mother slowly started accepting me. She danced at our wedding with a lot of love.

Sachin on the other hand didn’t come out to his parents until much later in life and when he did, his parents were happy that he had found love in his life. Even though they initially hesitated a bit, but soon accepted me as his partner. They, along with Sachin’s elder brother and his sister-in-law (Bhabhi), all celebrated our wedding with lots of joy.”

Wedding Planning
“As a nod to our multicultural upbringing, we wanted to incorporate both Desi and American touches in our wedding at the New Jersey home of Sachin’s brother and sister-in-law. With Sachin’s family being Hindu and mine being Muslim, we didn’t want to have a religious ceremony and instead opted for a fun celebration with shared moments of cultural enjoyment.

Our DJ, who is popular for his mixes across many desi and gay bars in NYC and is our very good friend, had everyone grooving to his beats at our Sangeet. Lastly, our photographer Andrea Marie immortalized our moments in shots that capture not just our celebrations but also our true feelings and emotions.”

Wedding Functions
Nauman’s Dholki ki Raat
An intimate gathering kicked off the festivities with tons of fun and traditional Dholki music. Getting his hands painted with henna, Nauman was all smiles as all his loved ones gathered around to celebrate.

Sangeet
The garden sangeet was all about marigold flowers, vibrant colors, and lots of dancing. There were Mehndi artists for guests who wanted to get henna done, along with delicious food counters from their respective hometowns of Lahore and Chandigarh. Nauman shares, “Sachin sang my favorite song from DDLJ and I danced to my favorite Pakistani song “Boohey Barian”. It was truly a magical night for us, being surrounded by our families and friends and having their blessings.”

Wedding
Nestled in lush greenery, the vow ceremony was an elegant affair in white. The white floral decor and table arrangements set an ambiance of sophistication, which was completed with fairy lights, plush seating, and more.

“Dressed like a prince, Sachin came on a white horse with his family and my family greeted them to celebrate the custom of “milni”. Afterward, I walked down the aisle and we shared our vows. The best part about that night was our family giving their heartfelt speeches and it felt so amazing to feel accepted, loved, and acknowledged as a couple.”

Advice for LGBTQ couples
“Don’t forget who you are! Embrace your culture and heritage but don’t let it dictate your life. Customs, traditions, and even religion are brushes and paints, but in the end, the canvas is your life, so color it according to your happiness.”

The Wedding Makers
Location: Colonia, New Jersey
Catering: Moghul Caterers
Entertainment: Dynamite Foundation (Sangeet)
Wedding Outfits: Kanj By Aruna & Priyanka
Photography and Videography: Andrea Marie

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