This Couple's Vibrant, Elegant Wedding Fused Indian and Western Traditions

Sahana and Jack first met during their college orientation weekend in 2015, but it wasn't exactly love at first sight. "We lived in the same dorm and were close friends for the first year and a half of college before we started dating," they say. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship, and when Jack proposed in November 2021, Sahana happily accepted. Before dropping to one knee on a rose petal-covered rooftop, Jack took Sahana on a walking tour through one of their favorite neighborhoods, making six special stops. "A different family member was stationed at each of the stops, each equipped with a letter Jack had written for Sahana describing the significance of each location and how they represent the values they cherish most in their relationship," says the couple. Everyone came together at the end of the tour, where Jack asked Sahana to marry him.

The venue was an easy choice. "It was always Sahana's dream to get married at her childhood home," says the couple. "We did the due diligence by looking at venues in search of a picturesque, organic environment that lent itself to an intimate and energetic wedding. In the end ... there's no place like home," they say.

The couple invited 190 guests to their Indian ceremony, lunch, vow exchange, and dinner at the bride's parents' home in Atherton, California, on May 28, 2023. The ceremonies and celebrations were preceded by a haldi ceremony, a rehearsal brunch, and a welcome party, sangeet, and mehndi. The couple's vision was "organic California, [with] details that reflected our cultures. A fusion Indian and Western wedding with all the flare and romance involved in both, with dedicated space and time for each." To bring the design to life, they chose Florabella Studios for event design, planning, and florals. "They made the process so enjoyable!" says the couple. "It is a tremendous amount of work to plan such a complex wedding weekend, and our amazing wedding planners did a fantastic job of making the process a joyful time while still capturing every element of who we were."

A color palette of pink, orange, and coral at the traditional Indian ceremonies ushered in a blend of gold, green, and white at the Western vow exchange and reception. Sahana and Jack incorporated their family and cultures into every detail, from a custom floral crest with Italian olive branches and California poppy to complementary Indian and Italian menus. "Make the wedding reflect you rather than what you think people want," says the couple. "Enjoy the process as much as you can. It's truly such a special time in your life."

Warm Hues at the Welcome Party

For their welcome party, Sahana wore a hand-embroidered lehenga that coordinated with Jack’s custom-tailored bandhgala; both matched the orange, coral, and pink color scheme. "At the entrance, the rickshaw was adorned with foliage and palm fronds with date palms tucked in for color," says the couple. 

Family Traditions

The welcome party included beloved pre-wedding traditions for both sides of the family. "It was an evening of poolside mehndi, choreographed Indian dances, and heartfelt speeches accompanied by Indian appetizers, onsite wood-fired pizza, and custom fusion cocktails," says the couple. "Jack’s family has an Italian tradition of baking cookies for weddings, so his five aunts all made cookies for the welcome party."

Her Exquisite Henna

Jinal Parmar of Henna by Jinal created the intricate artwork on the bride’s palms and wrists. 

Arriving on Horseback

On the morning of the wedding day, Jack climbed onto a white horse for a traditional Indian baraat ceremony. The groom, guests, and wedding party paraded to the bride’s parents’ home alongside a DJ and dhol drummer for the start of the couple’s Indian ceremony. 

So in Love

For the couple's Indian ceremony, Sahana accessorized her Kanchipuram silk sari and hand-embroidered blouse with traditional heirloom jewelry; along with his custom sherwani, Jack donned an Indian necklace given to him by Sahana’s family.

Bright Blooms

An existing cabana at the bride’s parents’ home became a lush floral mandap covered in coral, pink, orange, and cream-colored blooms. During the traditional Hindu ceremony, the bride’s and groom’s parents joined them under the mandap.

Happy Days

Guests tossed petals as the joyful newlyweds left the mandap after the ceremony, wearing vibrant floral garlands and holding hands. 

Lunch on the Lawn

Sahana and Jack hosted an al fresco lunch after their ceremony, where pale pink textured linens and white chairs complemented low bunches of butterfly ranunculus, spray roses, and baby’s breath. They also set aside time to stop at each table and welcome their guests individually. "To have a moment with each of our loved ones, who were overjoyed to see [us] so in love, was truly special," they say. 

Food With Feeling

The traditional lunch included kurma, bhindi fry, potato, dahi, pal payasam, and jamun served individually. "Each plate was plated as a thali, which is a series of small bowls with different dishes," says the couple. "Sahana wanted to capture details like this that represented what a traditional Indian wedding would be like where her parents grew up in Bangalore." Custom menus illustrated and explained the dishes for guests unfamiliar with the traditional service.

Luscious Lassis

Sahana and Jack also set up a lassi bar, offering three flavors of the classic yogurt-based drink (including a fragrant, floral rose concoction) in pretty glassware.

A Dazzling Bride

In contrast to the vibrant, embellished gowns she wore for her Indian ceremony and pre-wedding events, Sahana envisioned a "plain, silk princess gown" for the couple’s vow exchange. But while scouting boutiques to plan a weekend of stylist appointments that her family would attend, she stumbled across a Galia Lahav trunk show. The stylist suggested she test a gown that was "completely different—just to see" and pulled the brand’s Dazzle dress. "I put on Dazzle and could not stop smiling—I felt so incredibly beautiful," says Sahana. "That feeling was like none other, and I knew it was the one."

The semi-sheer trumpet gown, with its sweetheart neckline, feathery off-the-shoulder straps, and cathedral-length train, included sparkling silver sequined lace—but formed a silhouette very different from what Sahana had in mind. "I still wanted to have the drama of a princess gown," she says, so she added a detachable tulle skirt with waistline beading that matched the bodice. "This was truly the perfect balance of feeling like a princess as I walked down the aisle while having a more fitted gown for the evening of dancing," she says. "I’d never seen a dress like Dazzle, and I’m still in awe of it."

Custom Classic

Jack chose a classic black wool-and-silk tuxedo, custom-made and tailored by Massimo Roma. After the ceremony, he traded his cummerbund and bow tie for dance floor-ready suspenders.

At Last

For their first look, a blindfolded Jack waited in the ceremony aisle while Sahana stood under the floral arch. "I was so excited and nervous," says Sahana. "It was so surreal seeing each other in our wedding attire—it was happening! My dress was so different from my original vision, so I could not wait for Jack’s reaction."

The secrecy paid off. "Naturally, Sahana had shown everyone in the world her dress except me, and everyone told me it was absolutely stunning and like nothing I could ever imagine," says Jack. "They were absolutely correct. When I turned around and saw my bride-to-be, my face filled with an overwhelming smile that stayed right through the end of the wedding."

Surrounded by Love

The couple shared a toast with their wedding party before the ceremony. Sahana's bridesmaids chose Jenny Yoo satin slip dresses with a cowl neckline in a delicate neutral, while the groomsmen wore ebony tuxedos from The Black Tux.

A Fountain of Flowers

At the ceremony entrance, a flower-filled fountain added organic, natural color to the outdoor space. Matching overflowing urns from Florabella Studios flanked the end of the aisle.

At the Altar

Sahana and Jack wrote their own vows and exchanged them during a ceremony officiated by Jack's aunt. "The vow exchange was the perfect blend of relaxed formality," says the couple. "While we stood up at the altar reading, it felt like we were immersed in our own world of love. Everything else melted away; it was just us up there sharing with one another just how monumental our love was."

The New Mr. and Mrs.

White flower petals lined the aisle as Jack and Sahana—carrying her bouquet of cascading phalaenopsis orchids and gypsophila blossoms—left the ceremony as husband and wife.

Cheers!

Custom escort cards circled the stems of Champagne glasses, which were suspended on hanging shelves mounted on a white, wooden wall. Guests sipped the couple's signature cocktail, La Gin en Rose, and recognized the instrumental versions of favorite songs performed by Garden Strings. "We enjoyed watching Bridgerton together and absolutely loved the soundtrack, so we requested they play it throughout the cocktail hour," says the couple.

Under the Lights

String lights lined the draped ceiling of the tent set up next to the backyard's lush landscaping. Silver-gray linens, gold taper candle holders, and wooden cross-back chairs created an atmosphere of relaxed elegance. "We focused on an Italian/Western reception style menu," says the couple. "The Italian/Western spin balanced out the morning and lunch’s Indian food. This allowed us to express the combination of both cultures."

Golden Touches

Hammered gold flatware and gold-rimmed chargers added a subtle gleam to the tablescape, while flawless individual blooms added a natural pop of color.

Sweet Stuff

The couple's five-tier cake from Cake Coquette included three different flavor combinations: vanilla buttermilk cake with fresh strawberries, citrus buttermilk cake with lemon curd, and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The couple also served a groom's cake decorated with an image of Jack's mobile phone background—the same photo of Jack and Sahana together that he set when they began dating.

Quick Change

Before the reception, Sahana removed the tulle overskirt from her gown to reveal the original trumpet silhouette. She also changed into handpainted sneakers adorned with the custom crest the couple designed for their stationery—a wreath of flowers and plants native to California and Italy.

Their Favorite Moment

After days of memorable moments shared with their families and friends, Sahana and Jack's first dance, to "La Vie En Rose" by Emily Watts, was one of their favorites. The song, which they first danced to at sunset on a sailboat during a trip to Key West, wasn't the only callback to their earlier relationship. "We fell in love on the dance floor, and it felt like home to be together dancing our wedding night away," they say.

Vendors

Photographer, Jeremy Harwell
Haldi Photographer, Claudine Gossett 
Planner, Florabella Studios
Videographer, Hud Productions 
Florist, Florabella Studios
Invitations, GGL Creative (design); The Artistic Group (printing)
Other paper products, Fleming’s Printed Affair
Bridal gown and veil, Galia Lahav
Shoes, Christian Dior
Hair and makeup, Jasmine Choi 
Bridesmaids' dresses, Jenny Yoo
Groom's attire, Massimo Roma
Groomsmen's attire, The Black Tux
Engagement ring and wedding bands, Kirk Jewelers 
Guest book, SF Booths
Music, Notorious; Garden Strings (ceremony and cocktail hour); DJ Salim (welcome party and Indian ceremony); Prasant Music (Indian ceremony)
Catering, Sage Catering (Western reception); Jewel of India and Rise Woodfire Pizza (welcome party); Sri Ananda Bhavan (Indian lunch)
Cake, Cake Coquette
Rentals, Bright Event Rentals, Hensley Event Resources, Nuage Linen, Standard Event Rentals
Favors, Florabella Studios
Transportation, Peninsula Parking
Lighting, Love in the Mix 
Henna artist, Henna by Jinal 
Saree draping, Perfect Saree Draping
Horse rental, Hackney Horse & Carriage