When Aneri and Abhi look back on their love story, it feels like something straight out of a rom-com — filled with serendipitous meetings, creative dates, and a surprise proposal surrounded by family and friends at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Rose Garden.

How They Met

Their paths first crossed in June 2022 at a wedding in the Bay Area. Abhi noticed Aneri’s Bollywood dance moves during the reception and struck up a conversation. They soon discovered they both lived in New York City and promised to catch up once back home.

Life got busy, and they only saw each other once that summer. Then, one evening in September, fate stepped in again. Abhi was leaving a work happy hour in the Financial District just as Aneri was walking to Sephora. He recognized her instantly and sent a text. A week later, they met up — what would become their first real date. From there, everything began to fall into place.

Building Their Love Story

One of the most unique parts of their relationship is their “Alphabet Dates” — a creative way to plan adventures based on each letter of the alphabet. They alternated who planned each outing, from boxing and brunch for “B” to comedy shows and cocktails for “C.”

But beyond the big adventures, their connection shines through the little things. Their love language is quality time — whether that means eating together, watching movies, or enjoying spontaneous activities with friends around the city. They love playing board games, trying new restaurants and bars, and mixing shared interests with personal passions. Abhi enjoys chess and tennis, while Aneri loves live concerts and cooking.

Some of their favorites included:

• I Date – A California road trip down Interstate 5, stopping at Malibu, sea lions, In-N-Out, and ending at Abhi’s college in San Diego.
• O Date – A morning Orange Theory class, followed by a Vespa ride to Olive Garden in Queens.
• W Date – The most special of all. Abhi planned “Waterfall, Wander, and Wine” at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. But he had one more surprise up his sleeve: turning “W” into “Will you marry me?” at the Cranford Rose Garden.

The Proposal at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The proposal day was unforgettable. Aneri’s family flew in from Dallas and Mumbai, while Abhi’s family joined from California and Texas. Together, they witnessed the moment Abhi got down on one knee among the blooming roses.

Afterward, about 70 of their closest friends gathered for a surprise engagement party — a true celebration of love with people from every stage of their lives.

Despite a chance of rain, the skies held off, giving them a perfect backdrop. The Rose Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden proved to be the dreamiest setting for an NYC proposal.

Favorite Memories

Words from the couple: Seeing our families together was so touching and special, the moments alone we got to debrief about the proposal after it happened were especially fun. Yelena was great, she had a quick turnaround on the proposal video and edited our favorite pics to share on instagram (our most liked post yet!). The rose garden was a beautiful spot to propose and we narrowly escaped the rain.

As their photographer, it was such a joy to be part of this moment at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Capturing the laughter, the happy tears, and all the little details reminded me why I love documenting proposals in New York. If you’re dreaming up your own surprise proposal, I’d love to help you plan and capture it so you can relive it forever.