A three-day celebration blending heritage, artistry, and the beauty of multi-day weddings.
When I’ve had the privilege to be a part of Indian American weddings and multi-day wedding celebrations, I’ve noticed something: the authenticity of a blended celebration pulls from the deepest well of joy for the celebrating families. When a wedding spans days, from a Sangeet to a welcome party and a full wedding day, it becomes so much more than an event. It’s a living archive of culture, values, and the people who shaped them.
Kismet and Paul’s Indian wedding weekend in California was exactly that. Three days of intertwined color, ritual, and modern design. Three days where families met, and stories crossed. Three days of meaningful moments, from the tikka placed on the forehead during the Sangeet to floral garlands exchanged beneath old olive trees in Napa Valley. A fashion-forward and intentional weekend of events from start to finish.
What goes into planning a fashion-forward wedding? Read more here to find out how to plan your Vogue-worthy wedding.
This is the kind of celebration that reminds me why multi-day Indian American weddings feel so wonderfully alive. Here’s a look inside their wedding weekend.
The Sangeet | San Francisco
Sangeets have a pulse unlike anything else in an Indian wedding weekend: the music, choreography, shimmering colors of fabric, and the first merging of communities. And yet, the moments that stay with me are often the small, quiet rituals tucked in between.
One of the most meaningful is the placement of the maang tikka. Resting at the center of the forehead, it aligns with the Ajna chakra, the “third eye,” or the seat of intuition and emotional equilibrium. Traditionally part of the solah shringar (sixteen bridal adornments), the tikka symbolizes protection, clarity, and the spiritual joining of two families. Worn at the Sangeet, it’s not just jewelry. It’s a blessing.
Soft pink florals, glowing candles, and their monogram lit the gorgeous space at The Pearl as guests arrived.
Kismet’s maang tikka rested at the center of her forehead, a small, powerful symbol of intuition and the joining of two families.
A small pause and a quiet moment shared during a grand Indian American wedding, surrounded by the ones they love.
Guests gathered on the rooftop in a mix of jewel tones and soft pastels, glasses in hand as the evening loosened into laughter and easy conversation.
Dance performances unfolded one after another: parents, friends, and the couple themselves fully expressing the joy and welcome of the night.
The Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party | Napa Valley
Advancing through their wedding weekend, the pace shifted to a softer rhythm into their rehearsal dinner and welcome party. Family and friends gathered in the garden around lamp-lit tables littered with wine glasses. A wedding day itself moves so quickly, and it can be difficult to have time to speak with everyone. But on this day in Napa Valley, this was a place meant for slowing down and taking advantage of a sweet pause throughout a full Indian American wedding weekend.
The rehearsal dinner and welcome party were hosted in the Napa Valley, at Tre Posti on their vineyard. Harlene of Harlene Events incorporated traditional colors, while the setting provided a relaxed and lush space to enjoy cocktails and a dinner on the lawn.
An early look at the garden setup: the menu, the signature drinks, and the layout of the evening from above. A wonderfully calm start as loved ones gathered with the couple.
Additional opportunities to host your loved ones during the weekend of your wedding, especially if they have already traveled from far away, is such a special way to show your appreciation for their support.
Guests drifted into the garden with drinks in hand, settling into easy conversations as the weekend officially began.
Kismet and Paul moved through the garden for an intimate moment of quiet together, the evening light catching her neckline and his Ralph Lauren pinstripes.
How can your day be intentional and intimate? Sarah and Ben’s intimate elopement is one of my favorites. Read their elopement story here on the blog.
Pours of red and white circled the garden, the start of a long, easy dinner unfolding.
Between courses and candlelight, the rehearsal dinner eased into something cozy as stories were shared, glasses were lifted, and the weekend took form.
Speeches moved through the crowd, catching parents and friends in small waves of emotion that lingered between them.
The Wedding Day | Napa Valley
Modern design and cultural tradition were in perfect harmony throughout Paul and Kismet’s Napa Valley wedding day. Indian American wedding celebrations always feel uniquely layered: anticipation mixed with ritual, family mixed with stillness. Their wedding day, spanning from Stanly Ranch to Tres Posti to The Estate at Yountville, was no exception.
The wedding day opened in stillness. The Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley was the most calm, scene setting backdrop for the morning. Kismet, Paul, their wedding party, and families got ready throughout the property.
A quiet look at the pieces that grounded the morning: soft light, a beautiful gown, and thoughtful details that photograph beautifully.
Kismet, the morning of her wedding day, in a dress that moved with her. Simple, sculptural, and timeless.
Paul and Kismet’s first look. Sincerity, awe, and a moment of quiet before the rest of the day unfolds.
Amongst all the events of the day, a quiet moment together.
Bridesmaids in blooming pastels and groomsmen in black tuxes.
The Baraat brought the energy soaring yet again, a beloved tradition of Indian wedding weekends: drums, umbrellas, embroidered fabrics, and a groom arriving with joyful chaos. Paul rode a decorated horse, known as a ghodi, as part of the Baraat procession to the wedding ceremony at The Estate at Yountville.
Rain dotted the cobblestones as Paul arrived on horseback to the ceremony at The Estate at Yountville. Umbrellas lifted like a canopy as guests followed him, cheering through the mist.
Between two old olive trees, they leaned into each other, ringed by peach and pink blooms.
Floral garlands floated across the brick path, a soft blur of motion behind them. The crowd rose as they walked back up the aisle.
A little rain, a lot of joy. Guests gathered together as they moved from the ceremony into the celebration.
The reception details included custom chocolates for guests, candlelit tables, and a garden-inspired palette that made the evening feel intentional and romantic.
They stepped back into the room holding hands, the glass doors reflecting warm amber light around them.
Their friends cheered as they entered, and raised their glasses to the ones they were there to celebrate.
Kind Words from Kismet and Paul
“Blake — we are in love!!! Thank you, thank you! We’ve had so much fun going through these. You were truly such a joy all weekend. Thank you for helping capture these gorgeous lifetime memories. We can’t wait to look at them for years to come.”
Disco balls spun overhead, bringing New York all the way to Napa Valley as they danced the night away with their loved ones.
The reception opened up into a full party. Champagne flowed, blackjack and roulette tables were crowded around, and the crowd never stopped moving. It was classic reception moments with a twist. The perfect end to their Indian wedding weekend.
Planning An Indian American Multi-Day Wedding
Across three days, their Indian American wedding weekend was marked with signatures of heritage, intention, and celebration. Multi-day weddings allow the space for quiet rituals, loud joy, and every type of moment in between. Photographing this unfolding is one of the great privileges of my work.
Planning your multi-day destination wedding? Reach out to Blake to book your 2026 and 2027 multi-day Indian wedding celebration.
