It was love at first dance for college sweethearts Erica Bhachawat and Hersh Verma who met at the University of Texas, Austin. The would-be couple’s first encounter was in an elevator (which he doesn’t remember), and continued later that evening at a dance mixer (something they both wouldn’t forget).
The couple chose the St. Anthony Hotel and Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, Texas as the locations for their wedding festivities, and on July 6, 2018, in a ceremony themed after the movie Padmavati, Erica and Hersh celebrated their union in traditional red and gold splendor complete with statues of elephants. She honored her Rajasthani heritage by being brought in on a dolhi by her brothers and then, performing a dance to the movie’s song “Ghoomar” in front of the mandap where her groom and both families watched in appreciation. Later a reception, themed purple and green, concluded the festive wedding celebrations.
The most memorable and important moment for both was on the morning of the wedding when Hersh and Erica exchanged personalized gifts. She gave him an album filled with photos from their history, and he gave her a necklace with a heart locket that had a photo of him and their cat inside. Erica says. “Our cat was a first anniversary gift and has been like our little child so that was very special.”
She says: I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on Hersh. I was standing in an elevator after taking a grueling morning exam. Right as the doors were about to close, the cutest guy in a light blue button down dress shirt rushed in. I chuckled quietly to myself as I saw him struggling to remember what floor he needed to get off on. I naturally assumed he must have been distracted by my ungodly beauty. I tend to have that effect on people. I eventually got off on my floor and realized that Hersh really didn’t know where he was supposed to go. I found out he was actually visiting some of my friends, so I pointed him in the right direction and went on my way. I thought to myself, what were the chances of bumping into “elevator guy” again?
As fate would have it, I would meet him again at an Indian dance mixer. The elevator gods had blessed us with a second encounter! Naturally intimidated by my dance moves, Hersh had to gather up some courage before he asked me to dance. Recognizing how hard it must have been to approach me, I said yes. We hit it off immediately, bonding over our mutual love for killing it on the dance floor. At the end of the night, he had my number and I had butterflies.
He says: I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Spring 2011 at The University of Texas at Austin. Erica was 19 and I was 21 when we first met. Erica was a part of an all-girls Indian dance team called Ajooba, and I was a part of an all-boys, kick ass Indian dance team called Punjabawockeez. In the spirit of friendly competition, both teams decided to host a mixer to get to know each other, but little did they know that the mixer would turn out to be the setting of a beautiful love story, our love story.
That night was the first time I saw Erica. She claims to have met me earlier that day in the elevator, but I am 90% sure she was just creeping. The dance mixer was filled with competitive dancing games and a trip to Sixth Street. But the entire night I couldn’t keep my eyes off the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She had really short hair and was wearing a light brown dress. I can still picture it. I approached her, not knowing what she would say, but luckily Erica and I connected instantaneously and talked all night. At the end of the night, I knew this was the start of something special and asked for her number. And Erica, having never seen a man as handsome and awesome as me, gladly gave it. We hung out often in college and got to know one another inside and out. Before we knew it, we had fallen in love.
Photographer: Bella Lumi
Videographer: Epique Cinema
Wedding Planner (partial): Dilshan Events
DJ / Entertainment: DJ Impact- Dhol Beat International
Decorator: Décor One
