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A modern Bay Area Indian wedding

September 7, 2016
Modern Indian bride and bouquet

Scroll through all the photos by Paper Antler of this Montalvo Arts wedding and you’ll be convinced that creative directors Nicklesh + Rashi wrote the book on merging modern design with tradition. They envisioned a day that would incorporate their Indian culture + Hindu traditions, but felt like a modern take on their personal styles. Well, not only did they pull it off with the help of Events by Satra, they did so from across the country with 320 guests in mind. So impressive!

modern pink and blue wedding invites Rustic Bay Area wedding portraits

Rashi’s Lengha had gold piping with gold and magenta thread work, and for the reception she wore a navy blue Vera Wang dress that she embellished with a Vera sequin and lace necklace turned appliqué.

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All that color, gah!

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Rashi says, Our color palette was made up of navy blue, light pink, whites and greens. I love flowers and foliage, and wanted to achieve a floral look that felt wild, organic, but intentional. Our mandap (altar) was a simple wooden structure draped in white chiffon and lined with white and ivory flowers. The centerpieces were a blend colorful and slightly muted succulent and driftwood arrangements. With the both of us being designers, the decorative elements were very important to us. We carried our navy and light pink theme, with touches of copper, throughout the invitations, table numbers, candle favors, and programs.

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R + N loved the timelessness of the natural setting and historic architecture at Montalvo Arts. They say, When we came home to tell our parents about the venue we learned that Rashi’s parents went to a concert at the Montalvo Arts Center 20 years back and her dad whispered to her mother “I hope Rashi can get married in a place like this someday.” That pretty much sealed the deal.

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Wedding music
Aisle: Explosions In The Sky: Your Hand In Mine
First Dance: Laura Mvula: Green Gardens & London Thumakda from the Bollywood film Queen

Planning an Indian wedding for 320 people from across the country was a tough challenge, but we are more than stoked on how the weekend turned out. Our biggest planning advice: don’t forget about the enjoyment and comfort of your guests. After all, a wedding is a big party declaring your love and new union. If your guests are not having a good time, then it puts a damper on the whole evening. We definitely knew what we wanted and our wedding was a true creative outlet for us (aka, we cared a lot), but at the same time, the comfort and enjoyment of our guests was paramount to us. We tried to keep them in mind with every decision we made. If we were going to have the time of our lives, we wanted our guests to as well! 

Cheers to the happy couple!

Photographer: Paper Antler / Videographer: Brinton Films / Venue: Montalvo Arts / Designer & Wedding Planner: Events by Satra / Florist: Mandolin Floral / Hair & Makeup: Artistry by Christal / Invitations: Bride & Groom / Catering: Jalsa Catering / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Ceremony Lengha & Chunni: Sabyasachi in Kolkata, India / Reception Dress: Vera Wang / Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Bario Neal / Groom’s Suit: Designed by Groom and made in India by Nivedita Saboo / Shoes: Wills London / Reception Suit: Hugo Boss / Pocket Square: J. Crew / Shoes: Aldo / Cufflinks: Andreas Schiffer