Chapters of Love: Shanuki and Josh's Chic Wedding at Boston Public Library

Love Story

Shanuki and Josh's love story began in the halls of their college,where they were initially just acquaintances. It wasn't until their senior year that fate brought them together as research assistants for the same professor. " We bonded over our mutual love for food and adventure, exploring new places and restaurants together," Shanuki reminisces. "Now, after 10 years together, our relationship continues to be filled with laughs, adventure, and delicious meals."

Their journey to the altar was a patient one, with the couple waiting until the time was right. Josh proposed in December 2021 during a romantic getaway in Mexico. Shanuki recalls the intimate moment: "We had just returned from a morning of horseback riding to our beautiful, secluded villa at the One&Only Mandarina when proposed. We had champagne and lunch and then spent the afternoon relaxing at the spa. It was super intimate, and I wouldn’t have liked it any other way."

Shanuki and Josh's dream wedding came to life on August 4, 2023, at the iconic Boston Public Library. With 135 guests in attendance, they created an intimate celebration that perfectly balanced timeless elegance with modern chic. "We wanted a wedding that felt very intimate, that was timeless and elegant but also chic," Shanuki explains. "I remember saying I wanted it to be very Sex and the City, very Vogue."

The couple's vision for their big day was clear from the start. "At first I envisioned white flowers with a lot of candles, very simple but romantic and elegant," Shanuki recalls. "When we started picking out colors, flowers, linens, etc., we decided to throw in accents of a dusty rose which I loved even more than I thought I would."

The planning process, which took about 1.5 years, was a labor of love. "It was a lot of work but it was really fun to bring this vision to life. We couldn’t have done it without both our parents and my sister helped a ton – she is the artistic one."

What inspired them most during the preparation? "We were just really excited about having all our family and friends together, and wanted to make sure that everyone enjoyed being there," the couple enthuses.

When asked about the key moments they'll remember from their wedding, Shanuki doesn't hesitate: "I really loved walking down the aisle. I thought about what it would be like leading up to the wedding all the time. It was a very surreal moment." Josh, on the other hand, has a different favorite. "Josh's favorite was the cocktail hour," Shanuki reveals. "He really loved getting time to spend with all our friends and family."

The couple's approach to wedding planning was refreshingly open-minded. "We into the planning process with little preferences on the specifics just the vague vision that it would be classic but chic," Shanuki explains. "So it was really fun making the small decisions, seeing what felt and looked right."

As they look back on their perfect day, the couple is filled with gratitude and joy. "I still think back to our wedding and it was truly the most incredible experience," Shanuki reflects. "It really was so special being able to share such a special day with all the people that we love."

Morning details

The morning of the wedding was filled with excitement and meaningful details. Shanuki's sister designed all the wedding stationery, adding a personal touch to their big day.

One of the most special elements was Shanuki's jewelry. "I wore my grandmother’s necklace that she wore on her wedding day and that my mom also wore when she got married," she shares. "I would have worn it regardless but it really looked perfect with my dress. My sister and I wore matching earrings that my parents gifted us for the wedding."

The couple's wedding rings were chosen with care at Tiffany's. "We had a lot of fun picking out our wedding rings. Josh thought he wanted a silver band but he ended up liking a gold band better," Shanuki recalls. "I thought I wanted a classic diamond band but I fell in love with Tiffany’s Jean Schlumberger ring, we are still obsessed with it."

Bride getting ready

Shanuki's bridal preparations took place at the couple's condo in Beacon Hill, creating an intimate and personal atmosphere for the start of her big day. "I had so much fun getting ready with all my bridesmaids, my mom, some of her close family friends, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-laws, and my flower girls," she gushes.

The bride stunned in an Oscar de la Renta gown from L'elite Bridal. Shanuki's dress-shopping experience was a journey of discovery. "I went into wedding dress shopping with my mom, mother-in-law, and my sister. I had absolutely no idea what kind of dress I wanted which is probably unusual," she admits. "I tried on every style before I got to my dress. When I put on the dress we immediately knew it was the one. It was the perfect combination of classic and chic."

To complete her bridal look, Shanuki chose Valentino shoes and a custom veil from L'elite Bridal. These carefully selected accessories perfectly complemented her gown, creating a harmonious and elegant ensemble.

The bridal bouquet, crafted by Copper Penny Flowers, was a dream come true. "I didn’t know and still don’t know much about flowers so I probably didn’t make it easy but our florist, Copper Penny Flowers, was just incredible," Shanuki laughs. "Given the relatively vague preferences I probably gave, not quite being able to articulate what I wanted, they figured out exactly what I would love." She had mentioned Lily of the Valley, but as they were out of season, the florist created a perfect alternative that captured the bride's vision.

Adding a touch of coordination to the bridal party, the bridesmaids wore dresses designed by Bec + Bridge. The chosen style perfectly complemented Shanuki's gown while allowing each bridesmaid to shine.

Groom getting ready

Josh prepared for the big day at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, surrounded by his groomsmen. He looked dapper in a custom-made tuxedo by Aaron Greenberg. "Aaron was really fun to work with!" Josh enthuses.

First Look

The couple's first look took place on the Grand Staircase in the library. Josh stood at the top, facing away toward the balcony overlooking the courtyard.

When asked about his thoughts upon seeing Shanuki, Josh shares, "I always thought she would be a pretty bride and she looked just as good as I was expecting and I also thought she picked out a good dress, I knew she would pick out a good dress."

Shanuki, meanwhile, was focused on not tripping as she walked up the stairs. "I was in such a daze this whole day I can barely remember what I was thinking. Honestly, I was really focused on not tripping as I walked up the stairs," she laughs. "I remember being nervous and excited. I hadn’t told him anything about my dress and I thought he would be really excited about it because he always compliments all my outfits and style."

Photoshoot before the ceremony

The couple chose to have their pre-ceremony photoshoot around the library. "We were most excited about the Grand Staircase and the courtyard," they explain. These iconic locations provided the perfect backdrop for their timeless wedding photos.

Ceremony

The ceremony took place in the picturesque courtyard of the Boston Public Library, creating a romantic and magical atmosphere. "We had a string quartet, the weather was perfect, it felt so romantic and magical," the couple reminisces.

As the guests settled into their seats, the air was filled with anticipation. The string quartet began to play a beautiful rendition of Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams," signaling the start of the processional. "I walked down the aisle with my parents," Shanuki shares, her eyes sparkling at the memory.

Adding to the charm of the ceremony were Josh's two adorable nieces as flower girls, spreading joy and petals down the aisle. Josh's brother Jason took on the important role of ring bearer, making it truly a family affair.

The couple beautifully blended their cultural backgrounds into the ceremony. "I am Buddhist and Josh is Jewish," Shanuki explains. "Neither of us is very religious but we wanted to incorporate some traditions that we thought were special and meaningful into the ceremony." From the Buddhist tradition, Shanuki's uncle performed a touching ritual. "My uncle tied mine and Josh’s fingers together with a “pirith nool”, a piece of blessed thread which represented unity," she describes. The ceremony concluded with a nod to Jewish tradition as the couple broke a glass, symbolizing the finality of their vows and the beginning of their new life together.

One of the most heartfelt moments came when the couple exchanged their personally written vows. "We wrote our own vows which was one of my favorite parts of the ceremony," Shanuki gushes. "The whole thing was like an out-of-body experience."

Adding an extra layer of intimacy to the proceedings, one of the couple's best friends officiated the ceremony. "It was really special," they note, appreciating how personal this made their union feel.
As Shanuki reflects on the ceremony, her joy is palpable. "The whole ceremony was so wonderful, I loved every second of it," she beams. From the meaningful cultural touches to the personal vows and the involvement of loved ones, every element came together to create a ceremony that was uniquely Josh and Shanuki's.

In a refreshing twist, the couple opted to skip the post-ceremony photoshoot. "We wanted to enjoy every second of our cocktail hour and reception, and spend time with all the people who traveled from all over the country and world to be there," they explain. "We don’t regret it one bit. We still have the most beautiful pictures and we got to enjoy every second of our wedding with each other and our friends and family."

Wedding Venue & Decor

The Boston Public Library provided a stunning backdrop for their elegant affair. "We have lived in Boston since we graduated from college. Getting married in Boston made sense to us but we weren't sure,where exactly," the couple shares. "The second we toured the library we knew it was the place - it was so beautiful, so elegant and grand, so historic. It felt special."

The decor was a vision of timeless elegance, with a color palette of neutrals accented by dusty rose. Copper Penny Flowers brought their floral dreams to life, creating arrangements that perfectly complemented the library's grand architecture.

Reception

The reception was a joyous celebration of love, family, and cultural traditions. The couple's first dance was a touching moment that showcased their bond. "Josh chose our first dance song," Shanuki shares with a smile. "It was the acoustic version of 'Cinema' by Gary Go. I hadn't heard it before, but it's a really sweet song and I really loved that he picked it."

The culinary experience at the reception was nothing short of exceptional, courtesy of The Catered Affair. "The Catered Affair did all our food and dessert," Shanuki explains. A standout feature was the wedding cake - a chocolate biscuit cake that became an instant hit. "My mom chose it because she said that it is the wedding cake that all the royals have," Shanuki laughs. "I don’t know if this is true, but it was a really big hit – people still talk about the cake."

Adding a touch of Sri Lankan tradition to the celebration, each guest received a piece of date cake, specially made and brought from Sri Lanka for the wedding. "It is traditional in Sri Lankan weddings," Shanuki notes, proud to share this aspect of her heritage with their guests.

The couple's praise for their vendors was effusive. "Each of our vendors was exceptional," Shanuki gushes. "I can't thank them enough for making the whole wedding planning process fun and easy." She particularly highlighted Maddy Chambers from The Catered Affair, who guided them through the planning process despite not having hired a dedicated wedding planner.

The photographer, Alex, also received high praise. "Alex, our photographer, was such a blast to work with. He made taking pictures feel so natural and fun," the couple recalls.

The floral arrangements by Copper Penny Flowers were another highlight. "Lynne was so sweet – she really listened to what I wanted and executed perfectly," Shanuki adds.

As the night progressed, the dance floor filled with joyful guests, the air buzzing with laughter and music. The carefully curated playlist kept everyone moving, from the youngest flower girl to the oldest grandparent. Throughout the reception, Josh and Shanuki made sure to spend time with each of their guests, many of whom had traveled from across the country and around the world to be there. The couple's genuine warmth and happiness were infectious, creating an atmosphere of love and celebration that lasted well into the night.