Every wedding vendor team is created a little differently. In this series we explore how and why each couple selected the right wedding vendor team for their wedding day.
Moving in together is an exciting step for any couple, and your new, shared home instantly becomes a place full of cherished memories. This is especially true for Meredith and Eshaan. The couple had talked about marriage, and even shopped for engagement rings in early 2020, but once the pandemic started, Meredith assumed a proposal would be postponed. That May, Eshaan surprised her on her 30th birthday when he popped the question in their backyard.
The couple kept their wedding close to home too, choosing a venue less than a mile away from their Austin, Texas, home for their October 2021 celebration. It made the wedding planning process a bit easier, and from there, their dream wedding took form.
The first decision the couple made was hiring Kate Goddard of Wild Sky Events as their wedding planner. Kate assisted the couple in turning their wildest wedding dreams into reality, while also keeping them calm throughout the ups and downs of planning a wedding during a pandemic.
From the moment they got off their first call with Kate, Meredith and Eshaan knew she would be their wedding planner. That she had experience planning Indian fusion weddings was a valuable bonus, in that she knew the nuances involved.
The wedding weekend was a lot to plan and produce, and Kate handled it with confidence and calmness. She took words and images that Meredith gathered as inspiration and set out to implement them into tangible elements. She then guided the couple in selecting the rest of their vendors, and gave them assurance in knowing that they’d have an epic team of talent.
She also helped finesse the couple’s celebration aesthetic. What began as an “Italian disco jungle” vision evolved into “India meets Italy meets Austin.” The color palette was just as fun, since Meredith’s favorite is yellow, which expanded into all the citrus hues, and Eshaan loves all things blue. The end result was somewhat unexpected but completely stunning, and entirely befitting of a fusion wedding.
Meredith and Eshaan booked the Commodore Perry Estate while it was still undergoing restorations. After their engagement, they took a hard-hat tour of the venue, and it was plain to see that it was the ideal place for them to say “I do.”
When the couple first moved to town, they frequently drove by the estate, which is part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, and could tell it was going to be someplace special once construction concluded. They loved the Italy-meets-Austin feel of it with its massive oak trees and formal gardens, as well as its classical architecture fit. They also wanted to host their 180 guests in Austin in a unique setting. Commodore Perry Estate made that possible, since it’s not only a cool venue, but also a hotel. Although Meredith and Eshaan considered other options, this venue was their true front runner from the start.
“We would frequently walk or drive by, which was a fun way to see the progress as the property was being finished. The week before our wedding, I even took our dog on a walk by the venue to see how the lighting would look during sunset.” —Meredith, bride
The stunning details all around the property created so many special moments for the couple and their guests. From the yellow umbrellas by the pool to the tropical Mediterranean courtyard where they did their first look, the design of the space created an unforgettable backdrop for their soirée.
“Commodore Perry Estate is a great venue in every way. The rooms are all beautifully decorated and have great lighting. There are also plenty of areas for photos, rain or shine. The gardens have a European feel, making them a very elegant backdrop for photos. Oh, and the food is delicious!” —Caroline Benusa, photographer
Meanwhile, the big day’s menu was how Meredith and Eshaan brought a taste of Texas into the fold. As the hotel specializes in cuisine that incorporates local ingredients, the Southern flair came naturally. Appetizers included pimento cheese toasts and fried green tomatoes, and late-night honey chicken biscuits inspired by Whataburger made an appearance too. As a native of San Francisco where sourdough bread reigns supreme, Meredith couldn’t resist adding a taste of home in the form of bread baskets filled with warm, house-made sourdough at dinner.
Italy inspired many of the bar offerings throughout the night too. Aperol spritzes welcomed guests into cocktail hour and espresso martinis made the rounds late-night to keep everyone partying. Another late-night treat? The olive oil wedding cake with orange and chocolate cremeux icing, which the couple cut into after they changed into their second outfits of the night.
The cherry on top? The dog-friendly venue meant that their dog, Kygo, could join in for photos after Meredith and Eshaan did their first look.
The next move was hiring Caroline Benusa of Carolina Lima Photography, whose vibrant photos stood out to Meredith. The bride-to-be appreciated that the images touted an elegant, classy aesthetic that simultaneously captured palpable emotion. Plus, since the couple knew their wedding would be full of color, they wanted to make sure their photos celebrated and accurately portrayed that vibrancy. And of course, Caroline delivered.
“Caroline is an absolute professional while also having the most positive and calming presence. You really do spend more time with your photographer than anyone else on your wedding day, and I was so happy to have Caroline with me along for the ride.” —Meredith, bride
“It is hard to pinpoint my favorite part of the day; I absolutely loved that Meredith and Eshaan seemed very present the whole time. They were relaxed, they enjoyed their loved ones to the fullest and they made everyone feel special.” —Caroline Benusa, photographer
Because the couple also wanted their big day captured with motion and sound too, their next focus was choosing a wedding videographer. A friend of theirs recommended Ampersand Family for the job, who had documented their wedding previously.
“The wedding was really fun and unique, but what I remember most was their sangeet the night before. The way their two families came together, danced, sang, ate, laughed, and cried was beautiful. It really set the tone for their wedding day. Working that into their video was really important to them and to us, and I think we were able to do that in a fun way that also set the tone for the rest of the video.” —Matthew Lee Moore, videographer
Swell Press was then chosen as the stationer. Of all the elements of a wedding, Meredith had long thought about what her wedding invitations would look like. A lover of paper goods and the tactile quality they bring, she knew a letterpress approach was a must. She was drawn to Swell Press because of their imaginative designs that felt more like art than stationery, and the subtle ways wedding locations are referenced in their designs. Not to mention, color and bold typography is warmly welcomed.
The invites—which were yellow, red, peach, and white—hinted at the colorful celebration to come. Those colors continued into the day-of pieces, which included a seating chart honoring the couple’s love of music, plus table names (instead of table numbers) highlighting some of their favorite artists, like South Korean girl group Blackpink and Spanish singer Rosalía.
Botanical No. 9 embraced color when it came to the floral design. The focal point for the Hindu ceremony was a large mandap covered in tropical greenery and citrus-hued blooms. Indian-inspired strands of marigolds were married with pink roses to symbolize the cultural fusion. The fountain at the start of the aisle was decorated similarly, adding balance to the space.
Meredith carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley (the flower of her birth month), which had long been a wedding-day dream of hers. The bouquet also provided a delicate contrast to her yellow lehenga. Her bridesmaids (who donned custom lehengas in soft blues and greens) held more vibrant bouquets made of yellow and orange flowers accented by fresh greenery.
For the outdoor reception, low, lush, citrus-colored floral arrangements adorned the tables, with cut fruit and glowing candles surrounding them.
For her wedding-day glam, Meredith wanted to look like herself, but even better. She tapped Miranda Canatella and Sofia Artistry of LoLa Beauty to create a look for her that was equal parts classic and bridal but with a modern edge.
“I went back and forth on whether or not to wear my hair up or down, or to change hairstyles after the ceremony, until the morning of the wedding! Ultimately I decided to go with a sleek modern bun, and kept it for both the ceremony and reception to maximize time with our guests. I had always loved a modern, sculptural low bun, and my hairstylist executed my vision perfectly.” —Meredith, bride
As the couple first connected at a concert, music was a big part of the equation. Music filled the air in multiple ways over the course of the weekend. A DJ from Desi Junction DJs was booked for the sangeet and also emceed multiple dance performances by family and friends. Meanwhile, a live dhol drummer from the Desi Junction team added tons of energy to the dance floor.
During the ceremony, Terra Vista Strings (who was confirmed shortly thereafter) performed an instrumental version of “We Found Love” by Rihanna and Calvin Harris. And for the wedding reception, it was back to a lively energy thanks to a DJ from Dart Collective with a sax player. The newlyweds chose Rüfüs Du Sol’s “Treat You Better” for their first dance and another recent jam, Kygo and Whitney Houston’s remix of “Higher Love,” for their last song.
“We wanted a club vibe, and Dart definitely delivered on that vision. We had a lot of great dance music with disco mixed in, and of course some Bollywood hits!” —Meredith, bride
The reception once more combined the bride and groom’s favorite colors, thanks to blue-and-white linens from BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linen, on which the centerpieces popped. Pieces from Loot Rentals, Table Manners, and Strong Events added more color, texture, and personality to the ceremony and reception.
“For the dancing area, I remember Eshaan saying ‘I want a disco jungle.’ Those words really stuck with me and I had an enormous amount of fun designing that space. Strong Events did a fantastic job building the custom dance floor structure. I sent a sketch of a four-post pergola that I wanted over the dance floor with curved top pieces to hang as many disco balls as possible. The structure was elegant and really allowed us to create a beautiful dance floor space.” —Kate Goddard, planner
A sailcloth tent was put on hold from Whim Hospitality a couple months before the wedding, and then confirmed the week of.
“Adding the tent was something that we went back and forth on but in the end with the Texas weather being so unpredictable, I always push our clients to opt for the tent.” —Kate Goddard, planner
Ilios Production Design made some of the bride and groom’s biggest wedding visions come to life with lighting. At the sangeet, they created a sparkly night sky with lanterns suspended from the ceiling. And for the wedding reception, they lined the ceiling of the sailcloth tent with lights for an effect that was simple yet truly magical.
The final move made in planning their Indian fusion wedding centered around the baraat. Fantasia Carriage and Desi Junction were confirmed for the horse Eshaan would ride in on and the dhol drummer that would accompany the procession, respectively.
