A Two-Day Indian Wedding Inspired by French Bistros, European Gardens & Family Traditions

Sneha and Pranav's two-day Indian wedding was an invitation into the world they had created together. Honoring Indian traditions through a distinctly modern lens, the celebration paired the romance of the countryside with the energy of the city, balancing refinement with warmth and spontaneity. Event design drew inspiration from European gardens and French bistros, with long lunches, flowing cocktails, candlelit tables, and deeply personal details woven throughout. Fashion played an equally defining role. Sneha embraced contemporary Indian bridal style in a romantic ceremony look infused with couture details and intricate craftsmanship before changing into a vintage black Chanel dress that captured the spirit of the reception: effortless, understated, and impossibly chic. Stylish without pretension and sentimental without excess, every element reflected not only who they are as a couple, but the life they had already built — and the one they were stepping into next.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We met at a time when neither of us was looking for anything serious. For our first date, Pranav suggested drinks in Marrickville. What was meant to be a casual catch-up quickly turned into an evening of martini hopping. The funny thing is that we both walked away from that date thinking exactly the same thing: we'd had a great time, but neither of us was looking for a relationship. There wasn't a dramatic moment or an instant declaration that this was it. Instead, there was an ease to being together that kept drawing us back. Over the months that followed, we became close friends. We spent more time together, shared more of our lives, and somehow became each other's favorite person without really noticing it happening. Looking back, that first date in Marrickville feels like the beginning of everything. What started with martinis and a conversation neither of us wanted to end slowly grew into something neither of us had been looking for, but both of us were lucky enough to find.

^{The Proposal}

The proposal was very much us. There were no grand gestures, hidden photographers, or elaborate plans. It happened at home on an ordinary day, which somehow made it feel even more meaningful. Pranav proposed with a handwritten letter, flowers from my favorite florist, Grandiflora, and, fittingly, Burger Rings (my favorite chips). Anyone who knows us knows Burger Rings have become a running theme throughout our relationship, so it felt perfectly on brand. The moment was simple, intimate, and completely unexpected in the best possible way. One of my favorite things about it is that nothing felt performative. It wasn't about creating a perfect proposal story; it was about us. Looking back, I can't imagine it happening any other way.

^{The Engagement Ring}

The engagement ring was something we designed together, which made the process incredibly special. This happened after Pranav's original proposal with a Burger Ring—a temporary ring he chose because he wanted the proposal to be a surprise but wasn't sure what style of engagement ring I would want. Looking back, it was the perfect solution and meant we could create the real ring together afterward. My uncle is a jeweler and diamond specialist, and I always knew I wanted a ring that felt timeless and carried the charm of something much older. We spent time visiting antique and vintage jewelry stores, looking at rings from different eras and paying attention to the details that made them feel so special. Eventually, we found a vintage design that we both loved, and my uncle recreated it for us while preserving all of the character that had drawn us to it in the first place. It's a trilogy ring, which traditionally symbolizes the past, present, and forever. That meaning felt particularly fitting for us.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We never started with a specific wedding aesthetic. Instead, we focused on how we wanted the weekend to feel. Our relationship has always been built in the everyday moments rather than grand gestures—traveling together, collecting postcards from different cities, Friday night martinis, long walks with no destination, and finding good coffee and croissants wherever we happen to be. We wanted the wedding to feel like an extension of the life we had already built together.

It was important to us that the celebrations honored our Indian heritage while still feeling modern and true to who we are as a couple. Rather than making decisions based on trends, we made them based on meaning. Almost every detail was connected to a memory, a tradition, a place, or a story that already existed in our relationship. More than anything, we wanted the weekend to feel like an invitation into our world—warm and deeply personal. The overall aesthetic blended Indian traditions with subtle references to the things we love: French bistros, European gardens, vintage fashion, and incredible food. But beyond any visual inspiration, our hope was simply that every person who joined us felt welcomed, celebrated, and part of the story.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

We feel incredibly lucky to have worked with a team of people who genuinely cared about our wedding as much as we did. From the beginning, we were less interested in finding vendors and more interested in working with industry friends and collaborators whose work we admired. As soon as we started planning, I told Pranav there were two things I felt strongly about: working with The Make Haus for planning and styling, and A-Plenty for the food experience. Both were non-negotiables for me. I've admired their work for years, and I couldn't imagine such an important moment in our lives without them. Our planner and stylist, The Make Haus, understood immediately that we wanted the celebrations to feel elegant, personal, and effortless rather than overly produced. They helped us create a weekend that reflected us in every sense while encouraging us to trust the process and enjoy it along the way.

What made the experience so special, though, was how personal it became. Over the months of planning, our vendors stopped feeling like suppliers and started feeling like friends. They understood our story, cared deeply about bringing it to life, and approached every detail with so much thought and generosity. Looking back, one of the best decisions we made was trusting the people we'd chosen. Each person brought their own creativity, expertise, and perspective, and the wedding was far better because of it. We left the weekend feeling incredibly grateful—not just for what they created, but for the care and friendship they brought to the journey.

^{The Location}

The locations we chose ended up being some of the most meaningful decisions we made throughout the planning process and, in many ways, felt like proof that life has a funny way of bringing things together when the timing is right. Deep down, I knew that version of the wedding was never really going to happen for us, but I never let go of the feeling I was chasing. The moment I discovered La Gemme, it felt like the closest thing to that dream. With its European-inspired architecture, beautiful grounds, and sense of romance, it captured everything I had imagined while still allowing us to celebrate with all the people we love. For our reception, we chose Marrickville Town Hall, which carried even deeper significance. The venue sits directly opposite the apartment where Pranav lived when we first met and on the very same street where we had our first date. There was something incredibly special about standing in that room years later, surrounded by our family and friends, celebrating our marriage in the place where our story began. It felt emotional, serendipitous, and completely full-circle.

^{The Ceremony}

Our ceremony was the emotional heart of the entire weekend. Before joining our families and guests, we exchanged private vows with one another. Having that quiet moment together before everything began is something we'll both treasure forever. For a few minutes, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared, and it was just the two of us reflecting on how we got there. The ceremony itself honored our Hindu traditions and the families who shaped us. One thing that was really important to us was finding ways to involve the people we love throughout the day.

As I walked down the aisle, my cousin Celine played one of our favorite Fred again.. songs, "Berwyn (All That I Got Is You)," on the piano. Fred again.. was actually the first concert we ever went to together, so it felt like a very fitting soundtrack to that moment. Looking back, what I remember most is looking around and seeing all of our favorite people in one place. Standing beneath the mandap, surrounded by generations of family and friends, felt incredibly special. In a weekend that went by so quickly, it was one of the few moments when everything seemed to slow down for a second.

^{The Reception}

If the ceremony was about honoring our families and traditions, the reception was about celebrating the life we had already built together. We wanted it to feel less like a wedding reception and more like the best dinner party we could imagine—elegant but never formal, beautiful but not intimidating. Inspired by French bistros and the places we naturally gravitate toward when traveling, the evening centered around incredible food, flowing martinis, heartfelt speeches, and a packed dance floor.

Food and wine were a huge part of the celebration. Our menu was thoughtfully curated by A-Plenty's Massimo and Michaela, who became true collaborators in bringing our vision to life. They embraced all of our ideas and came up with some brilliant ones of their own, including serving Burger Rings as part of the menu as a playful nod to Pranav's proposal and presenting the wedding cake before dinner because we've always believed dessert should come first. One of our favorite moments was looking around the room and seeing every part of our lives together—all gathered in one place. It felt incredibly rare and incredibly special, and we don't think we'll ever quite get over how special that felt.

^{The Special Touches}

Many of our favorite details were things that would probably only make sense to us, which is exactly why they mattered. Rather than choosing details because they looked beautiful, we tried to ensure everything connected back to a memory, tradition, or moment from our relationship. Burger Rings appeared throughout the reception as a nod to Pranav's proposal. Martinis featured heavily too, inspired by all our date nights.

Even our reception venue was chosen because it sat opposite the apartment where Pranav lived when we first met. One of the things we loved most about planning the wedding was finding ways to weave our story into the celebrations without making it feel forced. The details weren't there to impress anyone—they were there to remind us of our journey. Looking back, those personal touches are what made the wedding feel uniquely ours.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

It's hard to choose just one moment, but if we had to, it would be taking a second during the reception at Marrickville Town Hall to look around the room. The venue sits opposite the apartment where Pranav lived when we first met. Years earlier, we were drinking martinis nearby and confidently telling each other we weren't looking for anything serious. Neither of us could have imagined we'd end up celebrating our wedding there. Looking around, we saw every part of our lives represented, all together in one place. Meanwhile, both of our brothers were on stage abandoning any form of script and turning the reception into organized chaos. There was constant laughter, a few stories that probably shouldn't have been shared, and nothing felt overly polished or rehearsed. It was everything we wanted the wedding to be: meaningful, joyful, a little bit chaotic, and surrounded by the people we love most.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I've always loved fashion, so both of my wedding looks felt really personal. For the ceremony, I knew pretty early on that I didn't want to wear red, even though it's such a traditional bridal color. That's what drew me to The Rose Room. I loved how they approach Indian bridalwear in a way that feels modern while still respecting tradition. The final look felt exactly right—super romantic, timeless, and very much me. For the reception, I had a very clear vision. I wanted to wear black, I wanted it to be vintage, and I wanted it to be simple. I also knew I wanted it to be Chanel. I've always loved Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel, but I never thought I'd actually find a piece from that era that I could wear on my wedding day. Then one day, Sielian Vintage popped up on my Instagram FYP. After a few messages back and forth, I decided to take the risk and buy the dress. Thankfully, it arrived, and it was everything I'd hoped for.

^{The Groom Looks}

Pranav's approach to wedding style was very similar to his approach to life: simple, thoughtful, and timeless. For the ceremony, he wore a sherwani (an Indian ceremonial outfit) by Anushree Reddy, with understated embroidery that felt elegant without being overly formal. It was the perfect way to honor the traditions and significance of the occasion while still feeling true to his personal style. For the reception, he wore a custom P. Johnson suit. Both outfits felt completely authentic to him. He looked like himself throughout the weekend, which was exactly the point. Much like everything else about the wedding, the focus wasn't on making a statement. It was about feeling comfortable, confident, and true to who we are.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Focus on what feels meaningful to you rather than what a wedding is supposed to look like. Whenever we were unsure about a decision, we came back to one simple question: Does this feel like us? If the answer was yes, we knew we were on the right track. It's easy to get caught up in trends and expectations, but the details people remember most are the ones that feel personal. The things that made our wedding special weren't necessarily the biggest or most elaborate—they were the touches that reflected our relationship, our families, and the life we'd already built together. And finally, trust the people you've chosen. Once you've found vendors whose work you love, let them do what they do best. It makes the experience far more enjoyable and often leads to the most wonderful surprises.