A Glamorous Waterfront Indian-Korean Fusion Wedding at Belle Mar in Newport, Rhode Island

Shruti and Ernest saw their wedding as the opportunity to fuse their different cultures. “The wedding really united my Indian and Hindu background with Ernest’s Christian and Korean heritage,” Shruti says. In keeping with Hindu tradition, Ernest entered the baraat on a white horse. At the ceremony, his mom rocked a hanbok as she watched the couple say their vows under a mandap covered in hydrangeas and roses. 

Shruti and Ernest found ways to incorporate their identities into their wedding weekend from start to finish, including the rehearsal dinner which also served as the traditional sangeet. “The first night of the weekend was just as important as the rest,” Shruti says. The pair chose the International Tennis Hall of Fame in honor of Ernest’s favorite sport and decorated the courtside veranda with bistro lights. Partygoers ate classic Indian dishes, hit the dance floor for the Gujarati Garba and sat down with an artist for custom henna tattoos.

Shruti topped her look with an intricately beaded Indian headpiece. Her bridesmaids also brought the glam in sparkling champagne-colored gowns. 

Guests found their seats with the help of cards bearing the couple’s gold crest. “When it came to design, we focused on clean, classic elegance,” Shruti says. Hydrangeas, roses and greenery made appearances throughout the couple’s wedding weekend, including taking center stage in tall crystal vases at the reception. 

The newlyweds cut into Gregg’s chocolate cake, a Tchoi family favorite. “We couldn’t have anything else,” Shruti says. Acrylic, wood-mounted panels marked with white calligraphy topped tables.