A Traditional Pink Wedding Outdoors in California

Jaya and Jordan

When Jaya Kirtane and Jordan Hathaway first met as coworkers in Los Angeles, the attraction was instant. And before Jaya returned to business school in Philadelphia, they decided to take a chance on long-distance love.

The couple's wedding plan was to blend Jaya's Indian culture with Jordan's American roots in an intimate backyard fete. On June 25, 2011, Jaya and Jordan began with a traditional Hindu service complete with verses sung by the bride's aunt.

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A Tale of Two Weddings

Then, while guests enjoyed sweets and tea, Jaya swapped her sari for a gown and Jordan his sherwani for a suit. The couple exchanged Christian vows, and this time Jordan's mother recited a passage from Thomas a Kempis's "The Imitation of Christ."

See how the duo injected a good dose of their own personal style into both ceremonies.

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The Hindu Ceremony

Jaya's mother purchased the wedding party's pink, coral, and gold silk saris on a shopping trip to New Delhi.

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The Bride's Family

The bride and her grandmother and mom gather for a colorful portrait.

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The Entrance

In Hindu ceremonies the bride's maternal uncle walks her down the aisle. Jaya, in her Indian wedding sari, followed tradition by taking the arm of her mother's brother as she approached the altar.

While coming to the altar, she was hidden behind an antique pashmina held by her two brothers. Once she reached the altar, they "revealed" her to her groom.

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A Symbolic Tradition

Jaya and Jordan sit by the "agni," a fire that symbolizes God's presence. It was lit before the couple joined hands for the first time.

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The Details

Henna designs typically cover both sides of the hands and feet, but Jaya, here with her bridesmaids, adorned only her wrists and palms for a subtler look that also went with her white gown.

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The Christian Ceremony

Jordan's groomsmen don tan Brooks Brothers suits and Tom Ford ties, while his bride's best friends wear short Tibi frocks. "I loved the color and style," says Jaya, "and I hope they wear them again."

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Personalized Touch

This "something blue" is a signature element of every Carolina Herrera wedding dress. It was personalized for Jaya with an embroidered "J."

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The Bouquet

Jaya's bouquet of Coral Charm and gold peonies, David Austin cabbage roses, poppy buds, and seeded grass heads alluded to the property's swaying weeping willows. "It was wild, loose, and full of movement," says florist Kathy Hoffman.

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The Flower Girls

The flower girls, Jordan's niece and two cousins, wore white ruffled frocks by Blush that mirrored the flounces on the bride's gown.

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Ceremony Programs

Details like the elephant motif on the programs nod to Jaya's heritage.

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The Entrance

Jaya, who chose to forgo a veil for the second service, walks down the aisle with her father to a live rendition of INXS's "Beautiful Girl."

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The Ring Pillow

The ring bearer carried the couple's Neil Lane bands in a small silver chest that once belonged to the bride's great-grandmother.

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The Garden Reception

A shallow pool separated the garden cocktail area and seated reception dinner. To add extra ambience and warmth, copper lights were hung from trees above the dining area.

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Cocktail Hour

Cafe tables at cocktail hour were accented with peach paisley linens and antique copper vessels filled with fruit.

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Table Decor

The cocktail area's tall bistro tables were topped with Italian bay topiaries in copper pots. The bases were mounded with local fuzzy peaches, nectarines, apricots, and tiny crabapples.

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The Guests

Guests toast the bride and groom. A mix of rectangular and round tables were set with handblown bottleneck vases holding tall Coral Charm peonies and pink crabapple branches that had been stripped of their leaves.

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The Menu

The menu's farm-fresh offerings included an appetizer of tomatoes, burrata cheese, arugula, and aged balsamic vinegar.

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The Cake

"We wanted to end the meal with something light and refreshing," says Jaya. This vanilla cake layered with whipped cream and garnished with fresh cherries, apricots, and raspberries hit the spot. The three tiers are wrapped with colorful ribbons that match her sari's vibrant hue.

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