If there ever was a wedding overflowing with so much pretty I could barely contain my excitement – it would be this cultural beauty by Dream A Little Dream Events and Closer to Love Photography. Honestly, each image made me squeal louder than the last – from the sparkly heels to the Groom and his white horse (and everything in between). It simply doesn’t get prettier than this, and it’s all waiting for you right here.
From the Bride… Kabir and I wanted an intimate wedding that blended tradition with our modern and whimsical sensibilities. Striking the right balance proved to be challenging because Indian weddings are generally very rooted in tradition, down to certain color themes, clothes and food. Knowing us, it’s no surprise that we wanted to do things our way, breaking from tradition while incorporating cultural elements that mean so much to our families. The first critical decision was the venue. We looked at vineyards, dozens of hotels, even farms out in the countryside. The St. Regis fit the bill perfectly – the comforts of a hotel without the hotel feel. The spaces were clean and modern, urban but not jarringly so, ready for us to craft them into anything we wanted. The second most important thing was nailing down our color theme and overall look and feel. Our colors were a fresh take on vibrancy – a mix of light and dark pinks, creams, subtle soft orange accents and pops of bold turquoise. I am obsessed with peonies, which incidentally were in season and come in an array of pinks and creams, perfect for our big day.
To accommodate tradition and our modern style, we created four distinct spaces within the St. Regis over the course of our wedding day. First was the wedding ceremony itself, which we kept traditional. The focal point was a mandap, or altar, constructed by our incredible florist Asako of A.Hana Designs. I wore an Indian wedding dress of my dreams – not the traditional red, but a cream, pink, gold and pomegranate-colored design which I created with my mom during a whirlwind wedding shopping spree in New Delhi. Bridesmaids were a decidedly Western touch, but I loved having my friends be a part of our ceremony, clad in purple and gold outfits that I had also designed for the occasion. After the ceremony, it was onto cocktail hour, where we created a subtle travel-themed space in the windowed foyer. We made colorful pennant flags that we draped across a table featuring old family photos of our grandparents, parents and siblings. A huge framed map was turned into our seating chart, with each table named after places we love.
We then swiftly moved guests to the tented terrace, which we transformed into a vintage garden inspired space for dinner. The clear tent allowed you to feel San Francisco around you. Soft white draping and ivory carpeting were the perfect backdrop for grandiose crystal chandeliers, blush pink linens and gorgeous centerpieces adorned with peonies, succulents and parrot tulips. When we were introduced and walked into the tent, I remember feeling in awe of how wonderfully it all came together. Kabir, my dad and I tasted and tweaked every last detail, and the St. Regis executed to perfection. The last space was my favorite because I absolutely love to dance! We had dessert, an open air photo booth, three bars and a huge dance floor set up in the ballroom where we had our traditional ceremony. Only now, it was a modern lounge space with a dessert bar setup under our mandap. We opted to skip the traditional cake and created a spread featuring our favorite sweet endings including strawberry shortcakes and mini nutella-filled donuts. We had drink specials at the bar, one chosen by the groom (an old-fashioned) and one by the bride (a lychee martinis). The party didn’t stop until 2 a.m. — that’s how you know it was good. I can’t end without thanking our family, friends and incredible vendors for making this day happen for us. Above all, I’d like to thank my parents for being extraordinarily and tirelessly supportive. Thank you!
Wedding Photography: Closer to Love Photography / Wedding Venue: The St. Regis San Francisco in San Francisco, California / Event Design: The Bride / Event Planning: Kathryn of Dream A Little Dream Events / Floral Design: A. Hana Design / Wedding Cinematography: SK Photos / DJ: DJ Salim / Lighting: Got Light? / Baraat Drummers: Lal Singh Bhatti / Place Cards + Table Numbers: Jane Woodall (A Friend of the Bride) / Tent + Chandeliers: Hartmann Studios / Linens: La Tavola / Photo Booth: Night Owl Photo Booth / Bride’s Ceremony Dress: From India / Bride’s Reception Dress: Matthew Williamson / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair: Hair by Anaa K / Makeup: Benefit Cosmetics / Groom’s Reception Suit: Gucci