Nitin and Bridget met at UVA Darden School of Business. Their graduate studies kept them very busy but the two became best friends. Over time, it was Bridget who nudged him into officially dating and the loving pair have been inseparable since.
Meet the Couple
“We already knew everything about each other,” Bridget said. “It was just natural.”
A Colorful Summer Wedding In Virginia Wine Country
Slightly less seamless was Nitin’s first introduction to Bridget’s family. On their first romantic weekend away Bridget stumbled while hiking, breaking both her legs.
Merging Cultures at an Indian-American Fusion Wedding
Nitin brought her home and helped take care of her during her recovery—an adventure they now look back on with laughter. While awkward, the time together under duress and with her family nearby helped create an unbreakable bond for the couple and the family.
Their wedding ceremony at Castle Hill Cider brought two different cultures and families together for the first time.
Designing an Indian American Wedding
Bridget’s family had never been to India or experienced Indian culture, and Nitin’s family and friends had limited knowledge of Western wedding traditions.
“I think the most beautiful thing about Indian weddings is how colorful they are,” Bridget said.
The floral arrangements at the Castle Hill Cider wedding helped meld the two, incorporating Indian flowers alongside American ones, filling the wedding with joy. Above, Briget with her Mother-in-Law wearing a beautiful Indian sari.
An Indian American Fusion Wedding at Castle Hill Cider
The weekend started with an intimate Nelengu ceremony, where both families blessed the bride and groom. This Indian part of the celebration started off the festivities with tradition that perfectly befits an Indian American fusion wedding celebration in Virginia Wine Country.
Bridget’s sister officiated the wedding, reminding the couple and everyone in attendance of the beauty and sacredness of wedding vows and a lifelong partnership. Nitin’s father gave a traditional Hindu blessing that touched the hearts of all the wedding guests. The romance of a wedding and its eternal gift is to remind all present of a cherished love that knows no bounds.
There were envelopes of dried flower petals for guests to shower over the couple for luck—an Indian tradition—as they walked down the aisle to an upbeat Hindi song. The tempo set the stage perfectly for a joyful party uniting the two families, Indian and American, at this colorful fusion wedding.
Brightly Colored Flowers for a Summer Wedding
They chose beautiful Castle Hill Cidery near Charlottesville Wine Country for both its convenience and its breathtaking spacious grounds. Bright summer flowers included magenta roses, pink and orange zinnias, feathery pink cosmos, yellow chrysanthemums and so many more colorful blooms.
The simple cake was decorated with edible flowers that included sprigs of lavender, yellow pansies and sweet pink petals.
Between the ceremony and reception, Bridget and Nitin changed from their Western gown and suit into traditional Indian attire. Bridget chose her lehenga with her future mother-in-law’s help, facetiming her from India and picking it out.
Details for a Colorful Fusion Wedding
Dancing is an integral part of Indian celebration, and their family and friends surprised the couple with a choreographed dance. As friends and family took the floor at Castle Hill Cider the couple were clearly delighted by the thoughtfulness and preparation that went into the dance. The many hours of planning and practice in advance created an incredible experience for everyone at the wedding.
Nitin had a surprise for Bridget as well—partway through, his two best friends pulled him onto the floor and they had their own routine within the dance. The couple then took to the floor for their own Bollywood-style dance.
Bridget and Nitin’s Happily Ever After
The food ranged from American appetizers to Indian fusion, with Nitin’s favorite dessert imported all the way from his hometown. The cake, adorned with pressed flowers, played an important role. Modern Indian wedding tradition has couples cut the cake and feed it to the wedding party and guests. Bridget and Nitin took a moment during their reception to pull their families aside, showing their appreciation by sharing that tradition (and their wedding cake) with their loved ones.
The most important thing to Bridget and Nitin was to share the joy they had found in each other with everyone they loved. Two lives—like two cultures—intertwined and melded into one, celebrating the best in each other. ~
For more inspirational advice about planning a wedding in Virginia Wine Country, be sure to get your copy of the Virginia Wine Country Wedding Planner or read the digital edition on our website. Find talented Virginia vendors on our partner pages, discover trendy wedding flowers and discover some of our favorite tips for choosing a Virginia venue for your summer wedding. Plan a weekend for your guests filled with fun visits to Charlottesville museums and attractions
wedding vendors
Photographer: Jen Fariello Photography
Venue: Castle Hill Cidery
Planner: Hannah Rose Event Design
Florals: Willow Branch Flowers
Caterer: The Catering Outfit
Hair: Avenue 42 Salon
Makeup: Hyer Beauty
Cake: CakeBloom
Wine: Wine Guild of Charlottesville
DJ: DJ Roman Zandi
Rentals: MS Events and Eventide Event Rentals
