Featuring Maulik Joshi and Erika Sabalvoro
Maulik and Erika’s love story began far from home, in the restless, hopeful rhythm of New York City. Their first connection was a small one; a smiling emoji Erika sent on Bumble, but it carried the kind of sincerity that opens doors. Maulik replied with a question instead of a line: “What’s your favorite museum?” It was the start of a conversation shaped by curiosity, culture, and a shared love for travel.
They met in person for the first time at When We’re Young, a cozy restaurant bar in Manhattan. What was meant to be a simple first date stretched into hours of easy conversation about family, dreams, and the winding paths that led them to New York.
Erika recalls how natural it felt. “From the beginning, there was comfort,” she shares. “We understood each other’s stories, being raised by our grandparents, watching our parents work hard, and choosing to build something for ourselves.”
From that night on, museums, new cities, and long walks became their favorite rituals, small adventures that quietly stitched their lives together. Years later, those shared journeys led them back to one of their most meaningful places—Paris.
In early 2024, Maulik surprised Erika with a Valentine’s getaway and a couples’ photoshoot along the Seine. Though she teased about a possible proposal, she tried not to expect anything.
Still, the trip felt like a gentle countdown. On their second day, as the photoshoot wound down beneath gray skies, the photographer asked Erika to turn her back to the camera.
When she did, Maulik was already on one knee. “I didn’t even see the ring at first,” she laughs. “I just heard him asking me to marry him—and I knew my answer.”
Under the Eiffel Tower’s quiet presence, she said yes to a future they had been building all along.
Their wedding day carried that same sense of intention. The ceremony brought together Filipino, Indian, and American influences, grounded in nature and storytelling.
Erika wore a sculptural Francis Libiran gown adorned with pressed flowers, paired with her grandmother’s jewelry. Later, she changed into her paternal grandmother’s Filipiniana dress; a tribute to the women who shaped her.
“Both looks reminded me that love is something we inherit and choose at the same time,” she says.
The reception reflected their shared roots: botanical minimalism filled with orchids, marigolds, and coconut palm leaves. A mango shortcake; sweet with both Cebu and Indian mangoes, sat at the center.
Instead of a photo booth, guests gathered by a floral bench inspired by Central Park, where Maulik once asked Erika to be his girlfriend, and beneath a recreated “Avenue de New York” sign from Paris.
Erika describes their wedding day in one word: magical. For the first time in decades, both families were together, dancing late into the night.
“When I walked down the aisle, everything felt in its place,” she says. “Seeing our families laugh, cry, and celebrate together, that’s what made it unforgettable.”
Maulik and Erika’s Dream Team:
Ceremony & Reception: Shangri-La Mactan Cebu
Coordinator: Belle Marie Weddings
Cake: Cake by Maeko
Event Stylist (Flowers and Styling): First of April
Photo & Video: Rock Paper Scissors Photo
Gown designer: Francis Libiran
Suit designer: GoodFellas Tailoring
Makeup: Janice the Beauty Fairy
Hair: Shantal Davidson
