Vows: ‘Mi Luv Yuh’
Oncologist Riti Vora wed medical doctor Givenchy Manzano on Friday, July 14, 2017 at Borghinvilla, Discovery Bay, St Ann. Vows takes you from “Hello” to “I do”.
How they met…
Riti and Givenchy met in 2014. Perfect timing, really, since both were at a point in their lives where they were ready to settle down. Riti had relocated to Cleveland from Cuyahoga Falls and was working as a registered nurse at Cleveland Clinic’s Hillcrest Hospital and Givenchy had also just moved to Cleveland from Suisun and working as an orthopaedic surgery resident at University Hospital.
Eschew all thoughts of a ward encounter! The two actually met on match.com.
First date, as told by Riti…
Our first date was December 11, 2014, when Givenchy took me to dinner at the French restaurant L’Albatros.The attraction was immediate. We spent the evening talking and talking and talking. In fact, we talked so much and for so long that our waitress had to politely ask us to leave, as the restaurant was closing… we’ve been inseparable since that day and each other’s best friend.
The proposal…
Givenchy proposed to Riti on December 23, 2015. A dinner date had been set and Givenchy asked Riti to wear something nice for dinner that night. The evening’s meal was a delicious surprise — a private in-home, five-course dining experience, made from scratch by Givenchy complete with a hand-crafted menu! Dessert was crème brûlée, their favourite, which Givenchy suggested they sit on the couch and exchange early Christmas gifts. His gift was a hand-made scrapbook with beautiful memories shared from the past year. Together they leafed through each page of the book as he sweetly told the story behind the selection of every photo. When they got to the end of the scrapbook, there were only a couple of bites left of dessert. Givenchy told Riti she could have the last bite, which was very common for him to do. Riti took the second-to-last bite and noticed there was some sort of writing at the bottom of the crème brûlée ramekin. She initially thought it was name of the company that created the ramekin, but as she took the last bite, the words “Will you marry me?”jumped out at her. She looked up and Givenchy was on one knee. In shock Riti mouthed “Shut up!” which was quickly followed by an emphatic “YES!!!!”
They both recall the day as truly magical, unforgettable, and one they will cherish for a lifetime.
The ceremony…
The traditional Hindu ceremony took place at Borghinvilla. Dressed in a hot pink and gold lehenga wedding gown from Shyamal & Bhumika and gold Indian jellewery, Riti made her way up the aisle to the instrumental sound of Jodhaa Akbar Jashn E BahaarA. With the ocean as backdrop, the aisle was lined with rose petals and wooden signs. At the altar, Givenchy waited patiently, in a white sherwani, safa (turban) and modjdi (shoes) from Deen Fashion, New Jersey. The bridesmaids, dressed in pink sarees, and groomsmen in white sherwani made their way up the aisle to Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years. The ceremony was officiated by Pundit Errol.
The reception…
The traditional Hindu ceremony was followed by a lunch reception of Indian cuisine. Fresh coconuts and cane juice were served as guests enjoyed the view as well as the company, awaiting for the evening reception which was held on the beachside cliffs. It started just before sunset, which created a beautiful backdrop for photos of the newly-weds and their guests. Members of the bridal party danced their way in to the Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling followed by the newly-weds. The couple enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife to Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. Formalities continued with the cutting of the three-tiered vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cake filled and frosted with vanilla buttercream by The Joy of Food and a scrumptious Jamaican and Indian meal by chef Francis and Mystic India.
The newly-weds and their guests were entertained by firedancers. Memories were captured at a photobooth, and Japanese fire lanterns released. Guests partied the night away while enjoying late-night desserts such as cookies and milk served in shot glasses.
Honeymoon…
The newly-weds honeymooned at Koa Kea Resort in Kauai, Hawaii.
