A Glamorous Multicultural Wedding at Taj Boston in Boston, Massachusetts

California-based couple Gabriel Willey (39 and a compliance manager) and Pavana Tiriveedhi (38 and a family physician) headed to Taj Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, for a glamorous, formal fete that paid tribute to Gabriel’s New England Roots and Pavana’s Indian heritage. The pair combined Hindu and Western traditions to infuse their wedding with personal flair, starting with a ceremony they wrote themselves. “The traditional ceremony takes at least half a day and has rigid gender roles, so we worked with our priest to pare it down to just the elements that we thought were essential and would blend well with the necessary Western elements, like exchanging rings and a procession,” Gabriel says. After saying “I do,” the couple kicked the festivities into high gear with a cocktail reception complete with a live jazz band and Indian street food, followed by a sit-down dinner featuring Taj’s decadent modern Indian cuisine. A classic southern Indian dancer entertained guests between courses and a Taj Mahal-inspired wedding cake put an artful twist on dessert. To honor the storied and traditional spaces at the Taj Boston, Pavana and Gabriel opted for an elegant gold and ivory palette with subtle pops of red throughout. Terrariums filled with moss, ferns and varied foliage served as the focal point for the tablescapes, an unexpected alternative to traditional marigolds that put an earthy, masculine twist on the decor. As a nod to their love of travel, the newlyweds gave their guests luggage tags embellished with a vintage map of India. A tip from Gabriel: “Hire an experienced planner who you get along with, then trust them.” —Libby MacCarthy