As a couple who loves spending most of their time outdoors, Sri Chintala and Mathieu Demarne, both knew they wanted something nature-inspired for their intimate vows. The couple first met at their workplace in Seattle, the city they both love and call home. They spent time getting to know each other over countless hikes across Seattle’s picturesque outdoors, the North Cascades and later on ski trips, as they would hit the slopes in the many ski resort towns dotted around the Pacific Northwest.
“We’re both romantics but also just as practical,” the bride shares. “We knew we wanted an intimate wedding and while we were excited to celebrate with our nearest ones, we also wanted to share a private moment and relish this next step of our relationship with something that was truly personal to us,” the couple says about their decision to have a private elopement. The crisp mountain setting was perfect as the duo went on a hike surrounded by forested valleys and snow-capped peaks in the far distance. They wrote their own vows; exchanging them at the top of a cliff; him dressed in a tailored black suit and her in a structured white gown, complete with their own backpacks and wedding rings that they had picked out for each other.
Demarne, who hails from Switzerland and Chintala from Hyderabad, India, had 150-odd close friends and family fly in from around the world to be a part of their wedding celebrations, which kickstarted with a fun mehendi evening at Magnolia Park, followed by the sangeet and wedding at The Admiral’s House, a neoclassical home dating back to the 1900s. “The most important decision for us was the venue. Even after seven years of living in Washington State, we are still blown away by its beauty,” Chintala says, adding that they finally landed on The Admiral’s House which overlooks the Pacific Ocean with unobstructed views of the Seattle skyline, the iconic Space Needle and the majestic Mt. Rainier. “Combined with Seattle’s balmy summer weather, it made for a magical outdoor wedding.”
The mehendi was designed as a laid back summer picnic at Magnolia Park, where guests indulged in charcuterie boards, champagne, smores and a variety of games. The bride chose a flowy, pale blue lehenga by Mumbai-based label, Simone Handcrafted, completing her look with minimal makeup, loose waves, a maang tikka and statement earrings. Her beau complemented in a matching kurta set. The haldi and sangeet celebrations were equally vibrant, featuring lots of floral decor, photo booths and references to their love for skiing.
For the wedding day, the venue was transformed into a romantic garden of sorts, with decor in shades of soft pastels and lots of greens. The bride donned an heirloom silk saree in shades of ivory and gold for their Telugu wedding rituals. Her makeup was muted with smoky eyes and a nude lip, while floral braided hair added a touch of drama. Layered necklaces and heavy earrings made up some of her wedding jewellery.
“Perhaps the biggest highlight for us was witnessing both our families come together and embrace each other’s traditions with open hearts,” the couple shares. “It affirmed our belief in the power of love to bridge cultural divides and create these moments of harmony and togetherness.”
