A Beloved Wong Kar-Wai Film Inspired This Couple's Color-Drenched Celebration

There’s a moment every couple must go through before saying “I do.” A sort of initiation, if you will. And no, we’re not talking about meeting the parents, shopping for rings or even getting into your first argument. We’re talking about when loved ones break out your childhood photos and old yearbooks. We all look forward to the day we get to see our partner’s gap-toothed smile in a weathered photo album (and dread the day we’ll have to show our own), but few of us are actually in those photos smiling right alongside our partner.

Christina Qiu (28, a law student) and Ajay Somaraju (28, a data scientist) have a love story that’s one of those rare exceptions. In fact, it’s more like living proof of the invisible string theory. The two met as kindergartners in Plano, Texas. Their friendship flourished until they went their separate ways for college.

Here’s where the invisible string theory comes in. Christina and Ajay kept in contact through frequent phone calls, even as life led them to different states. But when things started to get, well, flirty, they thought it was time to reunite in person. While living and working in New York City, Christina decided to hop on a flight to East Lansing, Michigan, where Ajay was working on his doctorate degree.

It didn’t take long for their friendship to turn into something more. “Since we’ve known each other since childhood, we already knew so many things about each other that other couples probably spend the first few months of dating learning about each other,” Christina explains. “Once we reunited in person, it was obvious to both of us that we were meant to be together forever.” They had their first official date during that meeting in East Lansing. “We went to Whole Foods and picked up a lot of snacks and headed back to his apartment to watch the Fyre Festival documentary,” Christina recalls.

Their engagement was a lot like that first date: low-key, intimate and, most importantly, unique to them. “We went out to a neighborhood spot for dinner, and when we got back home, I was hanging my coat up. When I turned around, Ajay was on his knee with the box. I didn’t even wait for him to ask before screaming, ‘YAAAAASSSSS.’”

Christina and Ajay may be from the same hometown, but their cultural backgrounds could not be more different. Christina’s family is Chinese while Ajay’s is Indian. Their goal was to plan a wedding that would honor their heritage and Texan roots at the same time. They entrusted Samiya Brasfield from SB Events Co. with the task of planning a multiethnic, multicultural and multi-day event. “We really relied on Samiya’s expertise to create an experience for us and our guests that truly reflected the coming together of our diverse families and cultures,” they explain.

Several months before their wedding, they held an intimate Hindu ceremony at Ajay’s parents’ home. For the decor, they chose vibrant tropical tones of magenta, orange, coral and yellow, along with many marigolds and fresh fruits. Christina wore a red-and-gold saree paired with matching jewelry and henna on her arms. Ajay wore a traditional white kurta set.

A few months later, the main wedding ceremony took place just outside of Fort Worth, Texas, not far from the Montessori school where they first met. As the venue, they chose Stoney Ridge Villa, which had a homey, welcoming vibe (unsurprisingly, since it was once the owner’s home).

One of Christina’s favorite movies, In the Mood for Love, inspired the wedding day decor. The film is known for its unique cinematography style featuring bold, saturated colors, making red the natural choice for the event’s color scheme. (It also nodded to Chinese tradition.) For their ceremony, Christina and Ajay walked down a red-carpet-lined aisle to take their place at an altar surrounded by red flowers: orchids, anthurium and other bold blooms.

“We re-used a lot of the flowers from our ceremony at the reception,” the couple says. Red floral centerpieces and chinoiserie vases sat atop tables covered with black linens, creating a moody vibe reminiscent of the Wong Kar-wai film. The flowers that served as the backdrop for their ceremony surrounded their sweetheart table. To balance out the dark colors, the couple opted for robin’s-egg blue place settings. “For our reception, we also had bespoke elements such as a ‘memory wall,’ where we displayed family photos and other tchotchkes that represented our culture and personal histories,” they recall.

When it came to their attire, the couple sought a harmonious fusion of their Indian, Chinese and Texan backgrounds. “I had four outfit changes throughout the day, because I love dressing up, and I love clothes,” Christina shares. She started the day in a silk pajama set with a dramatic teal robe before changing into a Western-style white wedding dress: an off-the-shoulder A-line gown from Georgia Young. At the reception, she wore a colorful embroidered lehenga set from Aisha Rao. “Finally, for the dancing, I changed into a 1920s-inspired white dress paired with a birdcage veil,” she says. Ajay was no stranger to an outfit change either: He sported a custom navy blue suit for the ceremony and, later, a light teal sherwani suit his mother brought back from India.

Of all the memories Christina and Ajay made throughout their multi-day event, one holds the most special place in their hearts: writing their own vows. Christina recalls a highlight from Ajay’s: “In different cities, as different people, we’ve met each other again and again. Each time felt like the first time.”

The couple and their loved ones spent the evening dancing, laughing and indulging in Asian fusion cuisine before bidding good-
night with a paper lantern farewell.