This Chic Indian Wedding Eschewed Tradition With a Color Palette of Pastels and White

The couple paid homage to their culture, but made the day their own.

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Published on February 26, 2024

neil and disha — Photo:
L Hewitt Photography

When Disha Patel and Neil Mehta met on a dating app in 2019, she was living in Baltimore, and he was in Virginia. But, because they both love to travel, they didn’t let the distance come between them. "We started taking trips together," Disha says. "We visited Miami, New York, the Smoky Mountains, and just back and forth to see each other."

One trip in particular, to California in 2021, was special. Neil made the arrangements, booking business-class flights and a five-star hotel. "We rented a nice car and went to Los Angeles and Laguna Beach; our final destination was at a beach in Santa Barbara," Disha remembers. "We got dressed up, took photos, and went to a beach. He set up a special picnic there, then got down on one knee and proposed."

Despite their love of travel, the couple stayed local for their wedding on June 3, 2023, in Tysons, Virginia. They enlisted SW Events to help plan the event, honoring their heritage with a traditional Indian ceremony—but still making it their own. "I’m very minimalist and wanted simple and chic, but also very modern, with clean lines and a clean palette," Disha says. "We went for a very light look, with white and pastel colors, which is quite different for an Indian wedding." They eschewed the bold red, gold, and yellow commonplace in traditional celebrations for a palette of white, nude, and blush pink.

The couple’s 300 guests were invited via email—the bride’s sister designed a digital invitation using Canva, a fitting nod to their wedding hashtag theme: #DishaEntersTheMehtaVerse—and gathered in Virginia to celebrate the multi-day event.

A Colorful Sangeet

Leading up to the minimalist wedding, the couple hosted their sangeet, a festive and celebratory pre-wedding event that celebrates not just the bonding of the couple but their families. In contrast to the black-and-white vibe of the wedding reception to come, the sangeet was an explosion of pastel color, from the lush florals to the couple’s traditional attire.

Matching Mehndi

Disha’s hands and forearms were adorned with henna, but groom Neil got in on the action, too, wearing henna that featured his bride’s name in a heart on his palm.

Custom Attire

"In a lot of Indian weddings, there’s a lot of heavy, sparkly attire on the bride, and I’ve never been a big fan of that; I like the simpler look," Disha says. Her aunt custom-designed a two-piece lehenga for her in raw white silk with gold detailing. "She went from market to market in Bombay, picking out fabrics, the gold borders, the veil. She had a designer create the blouse and add the borders, and she put everything together," says Disha.

Meaningful Accessories

Disha worked with her aunt to custom-design accessories to match. "I also wore my mom’s hand jewelry, which she had worn on her own wedding day, and a small pin gifted by my cousin on the inside of my blouse. It had a picture of my grandparents and my dad," she said.

The Groom’s Look

Disha wasn’t the only one in white—Neil wore it, too. "We took a trip to India to go wedding shopping," the bride says. "We got a chance to meet each other’s extended families, explore Bombay together, and eat some really good food, all while doing our outfit shopping." They ultimately found Neil’s final look at a small boutique in Mumbai.

The Bridesmaids

Disha’s aunt also crafted attire for the bridesmaids. "The outfit was a Champagne gold skirt and blouse with a baby blue dupatta for a pop of color," Disha says. "I wanted something simple and versatile so my friends could re-wear the pieces in the future."

A Festive Barrat

The one area Disha did allow color? The celebratory barrat, a processional parade for the groom, friends, and family. Groomsmen carried colorful smoke bombs that made for epic photographs, and Neil rode in a sleek green sports car rather than on the traditional white horse.

Organic Ceremony Decor

"I told our decorator, Sarah, that I wanted something very different from the traditional four-pillar mandap," Disha says. "She came up with something sleek, original, and very modern. Capitol One Hall was so beautiful itself, I didn’t want to overwhelm it with too much decor." Pale pink florals climbed up live flowering branches, and four white chairs were set with pillows for the ceremony.

An Emotional Entrance

According to Hindu tradition, Disha’s uncles escorted her down the aisle.

Baby’s Breath Garlands

The bride and groom adorned each other with flower garlands in a rite known as the varmala exchange. Each garland was made of roses separated by colored baby’s breath for a chic modern twist on tradition that matched the wedding aesthetic.

A Traditional Ceremony

In addition to the garlands, Neil and Disha took part in a host of other rites specific to their culture, each of which carries deep symbolism. They circled a small fire seven times in a ceremony known as the seven steps, poured puffed rice into the fire, and at the end, the groom applied sindoor to Disha’s head, symbolically marking her marital status.

Romantic Portraits

As their guests enjoyed cocktail hour—there were passed apps and music from a hip-hop violinist—the couple snuck off with their photographer, Leah Hewitt, to take portraits. Hewitt used the golden hour light to capture beautiful and romantic imagery of the newlyweds.

Black-Tie Reception Looks

For the reception, Neil and Disha changed into sleek second looks. The groom opted for a black tuxedo, while Disha wore a modern lehenga from Kalki. "It was lilac with embroidery throughout the piece," she says. "We custom-picked the color and shape of the blouse."

The Venue

"I struggled a lot with venues with bad carpeting, which made me search for more unique venues," Disha says. "We chose Capitol One Hall for its modern and sleek look, grand architecture, ceilings, and massive windows with pretty natural light coming in. It was such a unique place." They seated their 300 guests at tables with black linens and made the space their own with a custom dance floor bearing their monogram and wedding date.

Sophisticated Decor

Simple but elegant was the vibe: Crystal centerpieces topped tables with black and gold touches, and the stage featured a white couch for the newlyweds. Floral installations surrounding it brought back the subtle pop of color with soft pink roses and further incorporated baby’s breath.

Signature Cocktails

As they entered the space, guests stopped by the bar for signature his-and-hers cocktails: A dirty martini (Neil’s drink) and a skinny margarita (Disha’s). "Our reception dinner was catered by Bollywood Bistro, and it was mainly Indian food," the bride says. "We included a few of our favorite Indian dishes: Neil’s is paneer makhani, and I love dal makhani."

The First Dance

The duo took the floor for their first dance to John Legend’s "Conversations in the Dark." "We selected this song because the lyrics resonated with us, echoing sentiments that mirrored our journey—a beautiful narrative of a love that surpassed challenges, a love that was resilient, enduring, and profound," Disha says. "It encapsulated the emotions, the promises, and the unique bond we share."

A Sweet Finish

They cut into an understated three-tier white buttercream cake from Amphora Bakery; inside was Neil’s favorite flavor, funfetti.

Dancing the Night Away

The couple gave their DJ specific parameters to keep the dance floor packed all night. "Neil is really big on music, which I love, and we wanted a lot of throwback, older music that we grew up on," Disha says. "We played a lot of hip hop and R&B from the early 2000s. I was happy to see so many people on the dance floor, and it was awesome to see everyone know all the words to all the songs."

After all, it was all about the guest experience. "We really wanted to make sure our guests were well catered to and had a great time," she says. "Keep guests in mind so everyone can enjoy the big day—as long as everyone is having a good time, they won’t notice the small details."