Some weddings whisper elegance—this one turned up the volume. From an orange-and-bougainvillea pre-party to a starlit reception, Devi & Darshan’s celebration blended Indian tradition with modern, editorial flair. Think heirloom romance, red-carpet confidence, and just enough cheekiness to make every guest grin.
Few venues deliver jaw-drops quite like The Richard Nixon Library. Courtyard fountains, palm-lined vistas, and immaculate gardens framed the ceremony in luminous SoCal light. The reflecting pool became a mirror for vows, florals, and the gentle rustle of Dupattas; by night, the property transformed into a cinematic promenade for portraits. It’s the kind of location that makes classic architecture feel intimate—and every aisle walk feel epic. Ethnic Essence orchestrated a celebration that glided from vibrant to regal. The pre-wedding scene popped with marigolds and fuchsia accents, while the ceremony palette leaned timeless—ivory, blush, and greenery. By reception, the mood shifted to luxe sparkle: soft florals, candlelit romance, and that star-kissed digital backdrop that had everyone reaching for their cameras.
Devi floated through each chapter with effortless grace. For the ceremony, she chose a rich, embroidered red lehenga (hello, queen energy), later changing into a champagne-gold shimmer lehenga that caught every beam of light on the dance floor. Glamorized by Penny Kohligave her softly sculpted glam, a dewy glow, and perfectly placed gajra to complement her jewelry.Her intricate mehndi by Priti Henna Art wrapped around her bangles and bouquet like poetry. Bridal fashions were curated by Frontier Heritage, bringing together craftsmanship and couture worthy of the spotlight. Darshan looked every bit the modern maharaja in an ivory sherwani with a crimson stole for the ceremony—classic, crisp, and confidently understated. For the reception, he swapped into a midnight-blue tux that matched the evening’s celestial vibe and his leading-man entrance on the dance floor. Arriving courtesy of Turo(BMW for the win), Darshan set the tone: this party would move. Sodjla kept the energy high from baraat beats through last call, weaving in favorites that had friends, aunties, and uncles shoulder-to-shoulder in celebration.
Guests enjoyed a delicious collaboration between Rasraj and White House Catering, serving crowd-pleasing bites and elegant courses that paired beautifully with the day’s East-meets-West sensibility. A wedding this stylish needs a lens to match, and Lin and Jirsa delivered signature magic. From that hush-soft moment of Devi’s dupatta being placed, to the sun-kissed vows by the fountain, to the night-portrait silhouette along the water—every frame felt editorial yet intimate. Their reception coverage stacked the drama (sparklers, fog, dip-kiss!) while preserving the tenderness between two people who never stopped smiling at one another. These are the photos you frame, share, and pass down. The “VOGUE” style Ofek Events photo booth had guests channeling their inner cover star—equal parts chic and cheeky. And the custom “Devi & Darshan” signage set the scene at each event, threading the celebrations together with personality and polish.
How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Darshan and I met during the first week of our freshman year at GW. He and his friend saw me and my friend trying to navigate DC and wanted to help us find our way. We were all going to the same place, so we started walking and talking. Darshan and I talked most of that night as we made friends, walked to the Monuments at midnight, and even snagged our very first picture together!
I knew Darshan was “the one” one night when we were making ravioli from scratch together, and I was concentrating very diligently on the recipe. Suddenly, instead of helping me knead the pasta dough, he threw some flour at me, and we dissolved into a flour fight. It was a funny, lighthearted moment that made it into my vows!
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We planned a trip to Maui, Hawaii, in April 2021. When we landed, we found out that the airline had forgotten to load my suitcase onto our flight and was now sending it on the next flight. I casually suggested that we skip dinner after the long travel day, but Darshan was adamant about keeping the plans as is. After waiting for the suitcase and getting ready in record speed, Darshan led me to the restaurant along the beach. We were dressed up, so I was confused why he wanted to go to the beach, but he led me gently to the Ironwood Cliffs. We took in the scene, and I noticed the rose petals on the beach. Worried that we were in someone else's space, I insisted that we go on to dinner, but Darshan took my hand and went down on one knee. It turns out that the display was for us, complete with a hidden photographer and videographer! We did our Engagement shoot, FaceTimed our friends and family (most of whom knew Darshan's plan beforehand!), and celebrated with a romantic dinner on the beach.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We had a lot of fun planning our wedding. The first week we got engaged, we received some great advice that took us through planning: "However long you take to plan your wedding, whether it's 6 months or 2 years, that's how long it'll take." So, we first enjoyed some time being engaged before starting to plan. Then, we went about it as a team: I handled the decorative and stylistic elements, while Darshan was a star at handling the contracts, logistics, and vendors. We knew we wanted to get married at the Richard Nixon Library when we had visited it earlier in the planning process, and from there, we chose our vendors with care. We wanted to feel comfortable with trusting our planners, hair/makeup/henna people, photo/video, and music-pros, and we wanted them to be comfortable with us as well. We found that once we created a community between our vendors and us, things fell into place easily. Not to mention, our planners at Ethnic Essence were phenomenal at keeping us on track while keeping with the essence of us as a couple and what we wanted for each event.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
I found my bridal lengha on my birthday in September 2023! I knew I wanted to wear the traditional red, and I knew I wanted my entire bridal look - even down to the henna details - to tell our story. Darshan and I customized my bridal lengha (complete with a butterfly motif that means a lot to both of us) and were lucky to find a designer willing to work with us to design the bridal lengha of my dreams.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Bringing together all of our closest friends was by far the most enjoyable part of our planning process. It was amazing to see everyone working together, having fun, working through late-night dance practices, mic-checks, and choosing entrance songs all for us. It was humbling to see such amazing people rooting for us and in our corner as we counted down to our big weekend.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Darshan insists that his street taco truck at our Sangeet stole the show (and I have to agree)! I would also argue that the Vogue Magazine Photobooth at the Reception competed with the street taco truck, but it's a close call indeed!
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Our First Dance sticks out as a really special moment in our wedding. We practiced for weeks beforehand, making each practice a weekly date night, and right before our grand entrance, Darshan and I were SO excited (Darshan was literally peeping through the crack in the door waiting for the DJ to announce us). It was clear our happiness was contagious as we debuted as husband and wife. From the same-day edit to the fog machine, to every lift that we nailed, our First Dance was nothing short of Enchanted (Taylor's Version, of course).
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
For our Sangeet, we went for a truly cultural carnival, with all of our favorite foods, vibrant colors, and an overall fun vibe. We transformed into our most regal selves for our wedding morning, draped in red and gold. Our bridesmaids and groomsmen complemented us in cream and gold, and our family coordinated in light pink and peach shades. We went all out for our reception, going for an enchanted, starry-nights aura in the ballroom at the Nixon Library, utilizing the dramatic gold furniture and accents such as the grand chandelier.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
1-When you’re getting your makeup done, don’t hold your breath (it will make your eyes watery).
2-I definitely felt the FOMO when I heard the baraat, and all of our friends and family dancing and cheering. It really helped to have my bridesmaids by my side for the beginning of it (we got a great photo op!) before I sent them off to enjoy the baraat!
3-Soak it all in. It WILL fly by, but the more you can find yourself where your feet are, the more present you will feel. Spend as much time as possible by each other’s side as possible.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
Venue: Richard Nixon Library (Marisa)
Planners/Decor: Ethnic Essence (Jennifer)
Panditji: Praful Joshi Maharaj
Catering: Zapata Taco; Rasraj; White House Catering; SoCal Mobile Bartenders
Hair & Makeup: Glamorized by Penny Kohli
Henna Artist: Priti Henna Art
Entertainment/Lighting: SODJLA (Amir)
Photo/Video: Lin & Jirsa (Sean and Shawn)
Hotel Block: Hyatt Orange County
Baraat Car: Turo
Magazine Photobooth: Ofek Events
Bridal Outfit: Frontier Heritage (Saurabh)
Bridal Jewelry: Sokora Jewels; Nadri Jewelry; Sari Palace (Heeral)
Groom Outfit: Frontier Heritage (Saurabh); Sari Palace (Heeral)
Rings: James Allen
Invitations: Truly Engaging
Wedding Website: Zola
From vows by the fountain to stars at night, may your love story keep dazzling on. Ever after.
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