A Colorful Multicultural Wedding at Windows on Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mayura Iyer (24 and a lawyer) and Mitchell Noordyke (25 and a graduate student) met while living in the dorms at the University of Minnesota. “Our friends knew we were interested in each other before we did,” Mayura says. “We became best friends, then realized we were more than that.” While planning the wedding, it was important to the couple to find a centrally located venue that could host both the ceremony and reception, with easy access to public transportation (only their immediate families lived in the Minneapolis area, and they wanted to make it easy for out-of-town guests). Once they toured Windows on Minnesota, they were sold. Located on the 50th floor of the Marquette Hotel, set within the IDS Center, the room afforded stunning views of downtown Minneapolis. It was “the perfect setting for us as an urban couple who prefer the glamour of the city over a quiet rural location,” Mayura says. The couple merged their Hindu and Christian cultures and beliefs, starting with a colorful Indian ceremony at Windows on Minnesota, complete with red and gold Indian attire, henna, gold jewelry, shehnai music and cultural traditions. The mandap served as the ceremony focal point. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour before heading to the reception space, filled with linens, florals and candles in pink, orange, gold and red, elegant window draping, twinkle lights and hanging paper lanterns. Christian elements were brought into the reception through Mitch’s family reciting passages from the Bible, leading a prayer before the family-style Indian meal and the couple lighting a unity candle. The 220 guests had fun with the photo booth and danced the night away as the DJ played a variety of tunes, including Hindi music, to appeal to everyone. Mayura's advice to future couples is to remain calm and be organized and thoughtful with your guest list. That way, she says, “You spend your day with those most important to you.” —Chrissy Sorenson