A Colorful Indian Wedding in Savannah, Georgia
Lena (a nurse) and Zubin (a tax accountant) met while students at the University of Georgia. The couple were married a little over a year after getting engaged in Savannah. Although they live in Atlanta, they wanted to have their traditional Indian wedding in another destination as a way to bring together family from around the world.
The bride wore a gold and red silk sari with a red veil, paired with simple jewelry and a red rose bouquet. “What sealed the deal for me was the beautiful high-neck blouse and design,” Lena says. The same colors were translated through the ceremony, including on the altar and centerpieces, with red rose petals scattered throughout the room. She changed into a Megha Ramani gown for the reception in gold with embroidery. Her bridesmaids—her sisters and close college friends—provided a pop of color in teal and fuchsia saris with sheer backs. Zubin also wore traditional attire in white and gold with red accents. “I did not want to wear the traditional hat, but alas I don’t think I had much of a choice. However, I did look dashing, didn’t I?” Zubin says. His six groomsmen, friends from UGA, wore traditional attire in cream with teal scarves that matched the bridesmaid dresses.
Tradition was important to the couple, who had a mandap, or altar, that served as the centerpiece for the Hindu wedding, covered in crystals and candles. The groom arrived by boat to the bride’s family for the baraat. A musician played the dhol, a double-headed drum, to signal his arrival. Reception fare included a lunch after the ceremony catered by the hotel of light Italian food. For dinner, Taste of India created a menu of popular Indian dishes, including curry chicken and rice and vegetarian dishes. The four-tier cake featured only one real layer, which they cut. It included Georgia peach flavor with cream cheese icing and yellow cake with buttercream icing. Bulldog cake toppers were added as a nod to their alma mater. Blush pink was added to the color scheme for the reception, also held in the ballroom, where the altar was opened up to create the stage. Volcanik Entertainment provided music for the reception, which included Indian and American tunes. The couple’s first dance was to “Crazy Love” by Irene Diaz, which Zubin chose. The couple left their reception on the same boat that brought Zubin to the wedding, setting off into the Savannah harbor before they honeymooned in Tokyo and Bali. —Caroline Eubanks