Breathtaking garments, intricate embellishments, and floral garlands. A parade with the groom on horseback. Flavors, colors, and textures at every turn. This four-day Indian wedding celebration culminated in a Saturday night reception at The Columns Memphis, and each event included between 15 and 450 guests. But no matter how intimate or grand, every moment was a feast for the senses. Meet the couple behind it all: Ruth and Sahaj Singh.
Sahaj was home in Memphis for the holidays in 2019, and Ruth lived there then. They met through mutual friends and began a long-distance relationship almost immediately. At that point, Sahaj had been living in New York City for several years, and Ruth finally made the move in 2022.
In July 2023, Sahaj planned a beautiful proposal at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, then took Ruth on a surprise trip home to Memphis to celebrate with their families and friends. A 15-month engagement with some serious planning ensued. “We knew planning would be challenging from a distance and wanted to give ourselves plenty of time,” Ruth says.
Ruth says tapping Emma Cockerham with Infinity Events was the best investment they could have made. “We still laugh that Emma is the only reason we stayed somewhat sane through the planning process. She’s that good!” Ruth says.
“As soon as we decided on an Indian wedding, I dove into all things color, pulling from the beautiful hues of Indian weddings,” Ruth says. “We wanted reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges.” Ruth saved and collected photos of anything and everything that caught her eye, then turned over the vision to florist L & Jay Productions to bring it to life.
The wedding week started on Wednesday with the Mehndi, a pre-wedding celebration where the bride’s palms are adorned with a red-orange mehndi “stain.” Ruth invited about 15 of her closest girlfriends and a few family members.
On Thursday, the intimate Haldi and Choora celebrations were filled with dancing, food, and adorning the bride, groom, and wedding party with an array of traditional accessories like arm bangles and delicate floral headpieces.
Friday’s Sangeet signified the union of the two families. During this raucous night, Ruth’s bridesmaids and Sahaj’sgroomsmen performed dances to honor their friends. Multiple generations and friend groups joined on the dance floor, amplifying the weekend’s excitement and guest count.
Ruth’s lehengas for Friday and Saturday were from India, picked out by her mother-in-law and Sahaj’s aunt. “They shopped endlessly for dresses that looked like ‘me,’ and both outfits were stunning,” Ruth notes.
Rain nearly canceled Sahaj’s Baraat on Saturday — the parade led the groom, his friends, and family to the wedding ceremony. “It’s basically a huge dance party on foot, and it’s tradition for the groom to ride in on a horse,” Ruth says. “We were all really praying the weather stayed pretty so we could see that!”
After the Baraat came the Milni and Jaimala (exchanging of garlands) outside of The Columns entrance. “Then, we went straight into the Kirtan (hymns) and processional. The Laavs were next, which are loops around the Guru Granth Sahib by Sahaj, with me in step behind him,” Ruth explains. “After the Laavs were the Ardaas (prayers), followed by a blessing and lunch for everyone in attendance.”
Ruth wanted her reception gown to feel “bridal and show-stopping since Saturday night was our biggest guest count,” she says. “Since our wedding was non-traditional for me in many ways, it was special to have that ‘yes to the dress’ moment at Maggie Louise with my mom, sister, and aunt.”
A fusion of their favorite Indian and American flavors circulated during cocktail hour: chili potatoes, chili paneer, crispy fried tofu, gobi manchurian, and spinach and artichoke dip. Ruth went back and forth about having a seated dinner versus stations. “Ultimately, we wanted a high-energy reception, focusing on congregating, dancing, and wrapping up what we knew would be a crazy week of festivities!” So the 450 guests enjoyed culinary stations, each with a different theme: Indo-Chinese station, Indian, Mediterranean, and Italian.
Sahaj is a lifelong Memphis Grizzlies fan, so they made custom Grizz towels to commemorate the wedding weekend. After the send-off, the couple went straight to a bar around the corner to continue soaking up every minute they could with friends and family from near and far.
Ruth and Sahaj leave for their honeymoon exactly a year after their wedding weekend. “We are headed to the Serengeti in Tanzania for a safari, followed by a week in the (beautiful!) Maldives,” Ruth says.
If you’re in the throes of wedding planning, “Be patient and have compassion during the planning process,” Ruth suggests. “Every emotion is heightened during the process. You’re dealing with your wishes, those of your family, your partner, and their family. That’s a lot of feelings to keep track of and a nearly impossible task to do perfectly. Remember that you’re all just doing your best.”
Thanks for reliving your wedding week with us, Ruth!
RESOURCES
Friday venue and flowers: The Kent, Casey Cooper Designs
Wedding ceremony and reception: The Columns
Planner: Emma Cockerham, Infinity Events
Day-of coordinator: Emma Cockerham, Infinity Events
Photographer: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Videography: Kunjal Pathak Photography
Flowers: L & Jay Productions
Stationery: Bailey Morgan
Hair and makeup: Kasey Acuff
Bride’s gown: Maggie Louise
Catering: Walia Hospitality Group
Cakes: Crave Sweets Bake Shop
Bar and beverage: Candy Bartending
Entertainment: DJ Raju Productions
Rentals: Mahaffey Events & Tents
Glassware: Mahaffey Events & Tents
Linens: Elegant Chair
Transportation: Tennessee Limo
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