Chandni Chowk to China

Photo courtesy: Sandhya Photography

Earlier this month, I planned Anita and Randy’s fusion wedding that blended her Indian and his Chinese heritage. This was my first Indian-Chinese wedding, and I was excited and confident that I could create a beautiful event with the unique possibilities it presented.

The wedding was a two-day affair with the rehearsals and the Chinese tea ceremony taking place on the first day. The Catholic ceremony, the Hindu ceremony and the reception were held on the second day.

In little details and elaborate ceremonies, the emphasis of this wedding was on integrating the two ancient, rich and vibrant cultures.

Anita and Randy served tea to the guests as a mark of respect following ancient Chinese customs during the tea ceremony at Empress of China restaurant. The ambience was resplendent in the colors and traditions of China. Anita wore a red satin Chinese wedding dress embellished with motifs of golden dragons. The tea ceremony at weddings also served as a gathering where each side gets to meet the extended family of the other side.

The majestic architecture and vaulted ceilings of the St. Paul’s Cathedral formed the backdrop of the Catholic ceremony. The venue needed little adornment. We just tied bouquets of colorful flowers on pew ends to lend a touch of festivity to the serene atmosphere. Anita wore a white wedding gown and Randy, a tux. Bridesmaids wore saris. The exchange of vows was a somber and touching ceremony.

The fabulous lion dance exhilarated the guests soon after. Professional performers clad in lion’s costume mimic the beast’s movements in this Chinese dance believed to bring good luck and happiness.

Cream and gold color scheme with splashes of red and green created a rich and classy elegance for the Hindu ceremony at the City Club in San Francisco. Delicately painted and carved Sankheda chairs, a cream walkway strewn with scarlet rose petals and tall white planters filled with sprays of colorful blossoms formed the hall ambience. Against it, the contemporary-style mandap, of flowing red fabric accented with fresh-flower balls hung like Chinese lanterns, stood out as a vibrant centerpiece. In it, the traditional Hindu ceremony took place. Randy’s cream and gold sherwani perfectly complimented Anita’s red and gold sari.

We customized several items for the reception which became conversation pieces. Among them were the centerpieces of Chinese orchids in Indian wedding colors -- red and green, candlesticks adorned with delicate mehndi design, place cards emblazoned with a Ganesh figure and a Chinese symbol, stretched red satin that served as the guest signing book, and cupcakes topped with frosting that looked like mehndi designs and Chinese letters.

A three-course American meal and a thali-style vegetarian dinner were served.

The first dance of the evening was performed to a Chinese song. Then Bollywood took over. Professional performers hired for the evening staged interactive entertainment, guiding the guests through dance steps. “Jai Ho” and numbers from “Chandni Chowk to China” had guests of all cultures rocking.


It was heartwarming to see how diverse cultures could come together so beautifully. The event turned out to be flawless.

“Thank you for helping us make our wedding day more memorable,
exciting and beautiful than we could have imagined. Every detail
was beyond perfect, if that's possible." -- Randy