Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Real Weddings Wedding Styles Seasonal Weddings Summer Weddings A Colorful Indian Wedding in Napa Valley By Shira Savada Shira Savada Shira is the former real weddings editor for Martha Stewart Weddings. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 27, 2018 Trending Videos Close this video player Mahncy and Anish Meg Smith Anish and Mahncy have different versions of how their classic office romance blossomed into their happily ever after. As Anish remembers, he was sitting in the open-plan office in their San Francisco consulting firm when he noticed a girl he hadn't seen before. They were introduced, shook hands, and went back to their computers, where he received a g-chat message, striking up a conversation from his new coworker, and serving as his recollection of her making the first move. The way Mahncy tells the story is a bit different. The same colleague that introduced the pair mentioned how great of a resource Anish was, and that they all use g-chat to communicate. She gave Mahncy his email address, and being the newbie that Mahncy was, she messaged him to give him her own, thinking it was mostly office protocol. That night at the company happy hour, he asked for her number. And from there, regardless of who made the first move, the spark had ignited. After four years of dating, Anish (who now works at Google), planned a Bay Area scavenger hunt that served as a walk down memory lane for their relationship and ended with him standing on the beach and proposing to Mahncy (who works at Facebook). A little over a year later, on July 2, 2016, the setting was equally dreamy for their Napa Valley nuptials. Meadowood Napa Valley came with stunning views and plenty of room to accommodate their 308 guests and fulfill their desire for a celebration with a modern, outdoor, rustic feeling. 01 of 23 Traditional Attire Meg Smith The couple made a trip to India to try on possible wedding ensembles—visiting multiple stores over a few days. Anish lucked out and found his in a few hours. But it took about ten additional hours to outfit the rest of the family—a task that had the groom exhausted to the point that he found a comfortable couch in the store and took a nap. "Overall, it was a tiring few days, but worth it in the end," he explains. He sported Manish Malhotra from head to toe. As did Mahncy, who loved the intricate work that embellished the pieces she found. "I immediately fell in love with the hand work," she says. "It was so unique. Growing up, I had seen traditional Indian weddings and had always envisioned myself in an outfit like that." 02 of 23 The Bridal Bouquet Meg Smith Mahncy asked for a "wild, organic, and colorful" bouquet and left the rest up to her florist. The result was this stunning creation, which included spray roses, fringe tulips, ranunculus, astilbe, gloriosa lilies, peonies, sweet peas, and anthurium. 41 Stunning Ranunculus Wedding Bouquets 03 of 23 Bridesmaids in Palette Meg Smith All of the bridesmaids and the one bridesman wore traditional Indian garb by Bhaavya Bhatnagar, in their own style and varying colors that were flattering on them. "We thought an ombré would not only be gorgeous and fun for photos, but also a creative way to make sure everyone could be happy with their color," says the bride. 41 Reasons to Love the Mismatched Bridesmaids Look 04 of 23 A Spin on Tradition Meg Smith Grooms traditionally arrive on a horse in an Indian wedding, but Anish wanted to change it up and decided on a vintage Mercedez Benz instead. So, during the baraat—when he proceeds to meet the bride's family before the ceremony—Anish was driven in in style, accompanied by the sounds of the dhol drums. 05 of 23 A Welcoming Tradition Meg Smith As the baraat arrived at the ceremony location, Mahncy's family welcomed Anish's relatives, and the bride's mother welcomed him by applying tilak (red vermilion powder) to his forehead to protect him from evil. Anish was then escorted to the mandap (nuptial canopy) where he awaited his bride-to-be. 06 of 23 Staying Cool Meg Smith Fans from India were placed on each seat to help guests stay cool in the sun—though it ended up being a perfect 70-degree day. And since Indian ceremonies have multiple steps, and each section is filled with meaning, programs explained everything to the guests, so that everyone could understand what was happening throughout. Like all of the paper goods, these incorporated the orange color that was a focal point of the wedding's design. 11 Wedding Program Fans to Keep Guests Cool 07 of 23 The Processional Meg Smith Joined by her parents, Mahncy entered the ceremony to the sounds of a sitar, specifically a song called "Ek Ladkee Ko Dekha" from an old Bollywood movie. "The song's title translates to 'The Time I Saw That Girl' and is a love song about the first time a man sees the woman he loves," Mahncy says. 08 of 23 The Ceremony Meg Smith The mandap anchored the ceremony, which was held in the Grove at Meadowood. It was covered with flowers and greenery, and the chairs were set up in multiple directions to optimize space and guests' visibility. The ceremony fused Mahncy's Hindu background and Anish's Christian upbringing. 09 of 23 Special Customs Meg Smith The ceremony began with the jaimala, or exchanging of flower garlands, which symbolizes the couple's choice and acceptance of each other. Other rituals included offerings to the sacred fire to emphasize the couple's joint responsibility to maintain their union, taking seven steps together to represent seven aspects of marriage that they strive to uphold together, the recitation of blessings from the bible, and finally, a hymn of peace, harmony, and happiness. 10 of 23 The Recessional Meg Smith At the conclusion of the ceremony, the newlyweds walked up the ombré petal-covered aisle, hand-in-hand and bound together by scarves to signify their union and their connection physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It was right after Anish's most memorable moment of the day—when he got to call Mahncy his wife and the pandit pronounced them married. 11 of 23 The Sounds of a Celebration Meg Smith The sitar player continued during cocktail hour. The Pros and Cons of an Extended Cocktail Hour 12 of 23 Get Comfy Meg Smith The crowd moved to the golf course for the cocktail hour, where they relaxed in lounge areas and enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Wedding Lounge Ideas Your Guests Can Cozy Up To 13 of 23 A Colorful Seating Chart Meg Smith A large seating chart was on display during cocktail hour, so guests had plenty of time to find their table assignments for dinner. 25 Unique Wedding Seating Charts to Guide Guests to Their Tables 14 of 23 The Guests Meg Smith Friends and family traveled from near and far. Many wore traditional Indian attire, including these colorfully-clad ladies. 15 of 23 Ready for the Reception Meg Smith The same garlands that adorned the car the groom arrived at the ceremony in were repurposed for the golf cart the couple used to get to the reception. A quick outfit change for them both—Mahncy into a Manish Malhotra gown, and Anish into a custom tuxedo—had them ready to dance the night away. They were introduced into the tent as a mash-up of "Eyes" by Kaskade and "Drop it Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg played. 16 of 23 The Tent Meg Smith Lounge areas, a bar, the band, a dance floor, and a mix of tables filled the reception tent. The couple also wanted to honor their families by having them sit at two tables on either side of them. 33 Tent Decorating Ideas to Upgrade Your Wedding Reception 17 of 23 Just the Two of Us Meg Smith The happy couple opted for a sweetheart table. "We thought it would be nice to listen to the speeches throughout the night and enjoy our meal with some moments where it was just the two of us," Mahncy says. "We knew we'd be celebrating and dancing with our friends and family, so we thought this would be a nice way for us to cherish some of the special moments of the reception together." Colorful floral arrangements adorned the backs of their chairs. 40 Pretty Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Chairs 18 of 23 The Centerpieces Meg Smith Centerpieces of carnations, roses, peonies, ranunculus, and other colorful blooms topped each table, along with glass orbs that were arranged down the middle of each. Gold-beaded glass chargers anchored the place settings, which were complete with a linen napkin, petite vases holding individual blooms, and the watercolor menu. Guests chose between entreés of roasted rack of lamb, northern halibut, or grilled maitake mushrooms. 19 of 23 The Wedding Cake Meg Smith The cake, made by Jasmine Rae Cakes, was an organic design with a ruffled exterior and decorated with fresh flowers. The orange theme was tied in through the ombré of the decorations. Inside, a combination of unexpected flavors awaited guests: tiers were vanilla bean cake with passion fruit curd, coconut cream, and Swiss meringue buttercream; and chai cake with goat cheese, roasted apples, and brown sugar buttercream was stacked. 20 of 23 Dancing the Night Away Meg Smith After their first dance to "Come to Me" by the Goo Goo Dolls, the bride danced with her father to "My Wish" by Rascall Flatts, and the groom joined his mom to the sounds of "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac—and then the newlyweds joined back together with their parents coupling up to finish out the song. 21 of 23 The Favors Meg Smith The appreciative couple thanked their loved ones for coming by sending them home with a pair of stemless wine glasses from Tiffany & Co., also tying in to the wine country setting. 13 Destination Wedding Favors That Gave a Nod to Their Celebration's Location 22 of 23 The Reception Meg Smith Dinner and dancing kicked off the reception. A silent disco followed, and as that wound down, Mahncy plopped herself down on a couch near the dance floor. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by Anish, her parents, and her sister. "It was such a special moment as I realized that exactly that day my family had grown." 23 of 23 Sources Meg Smith Photography, Meg Smith Location and Catering, Meadowood Event planning and design, Alison Events Planning + Design Flowers and design, Shotgun Floral Studio Videography, Justin Fone Productions Stationery, Yonder Events Cake, Jasmine Rae Cakes Music, Ronobir Lahiri (sitar); Special Occasions (ceremony sound and DJ); Project M (reception band); Hush Concerts (silent disco) Rentals, Blueprint Studio; Bright; Found Vintage Rentals; La Tavola Fine Linen; Standard Tent, staging, lighting, and draping, Zephyr Tents Bride's and groom's ceremony attire and bride's reception dress, Manish Malhotra Bride's shoes, Badgley Mischka (ceremony); Michael Kors (reception) Bride's hair and makeup, and bridesmaids' makeup, Neja Cosmetics Fashion styling, The Wedding Detailor Bridesmaids' dresses, Bhaavya Bhatnagar Lighting, Illusions Lighting Design Transportation, California Wine Tours; Event Services Plus Travel agent, Life:Styled Group Restrooms, The Water Cottage Dance Lessons, Cynthia Glinka Was this page helpful? 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