Sneha & Jacob’s emotional, magical proposal at Chatsworth, with Priti Shikotra Photography

Published by Claire Gould on October 22, 2025October 22, 2025

Right on the home page of English Wedding you’ll see “This website is for everyone. It’s about love.” Sharing love stories of every kind brings so much joy to our screens, and while it’s been a little while since we’ve shared a proposal story, Jacob and Sneha’s is incredibly special. I will admit, as I did to their photographer Priti Shikotra on a quick email yesterday, that the way Jacob described the moment was so romantic it made me cry. And I’ve been writing about weddings for sixteen years! Over to Jacob who was kind enough to share their story, with those breathtaking images from Manchester wedding photographer Priti Shikotra. This is utterly gorgeous in every possible way. Enjoy!

Sneha and I have been friends since we were kids, growing up together in the same church. On a church camping trip, we ended up spending a lot of time together organising games for the kids and helping out. Somewhere between the laughter and shared moments, we began to see each other as more than just friends. When we started dating, it didn’t take long for me to realise she was the one. Just three weeks in, my birthday was coming up, and Sneha surprised me with a handmade scratch-off poster of a Bollywood film for us to watch together. I only mentioned the idea in passing, but she had spent hours making it. That simple, thoughtful gesture captured who she is: attentive, caring and always willing to go the extra mile in everything she does. It’s just one of many moments that made me fall in love with her.

Sneha has a gift for making special moments extra special, whether it’s staying up all night to bake and decorate a cake for her nephew’s birthday or planning the perfect getaway for her mum’s 50th. So when I decided to propose, I wanted to give her a night and day with the same love and care she provides. With help from my friend Amir, I recreated our first date, filling my living room with balloons, candles and flowers. We’re definitely not as good at decorating as she is: at one point, the helium tank spun uncontrollably around the rooms while we dived for cover, surrounded by popped balloons and chaos! Thankfully, she loved the finished product.

The next day, on our anniversary, I took her to brunch and then to Chatsworth House and gardens. After a lovely day, we walked down to a quiet spot by the river, which Amir, my brother Nathan, Sneha’s best friend Aneesha, and I had scouted beforehand. Amir had even driven all the way from Manchester to set up the spot beautifully, complete with a rose vine and white cloths, while our amazing photographer posed nearby, pretending to take scenic photos. When we reached the spot, the moment was emotional and magical, a little too much actually, as Sneha started crying and I forgot most of my speech. I must have said enough of the right things, because she said yes!

I am so grateful to my mum, dad, brothers and my friends who helped me in every way to make this moment so memorable. Proposing to Sneha was one of the happiest experiences of my life, and I feel incredibly blessed to be marrying such an incredible woman.

Absolutely Amazing! Priti photographed my proposal, and we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, she was fantastic, great at communicating, helpful in the planning stages, and so lovely to work with. On the day, she was incredibly smooth and discreet, managing to stay hidden until the perfect moment. She captured every emotion beautifully and then took so many stunning photos afterwards, making us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. I’d 100% recommend Priti to anyone looking for a photographer. Thank you so much, Priti, for making such a special day even more unforgettable! Jacob’s Google review for Priti Shikotra Photography

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