This Couple Used Every Color of the Rainbow Throughout Their 4-Day Indian Wedding Weekend in Spain

When Mumta joined a mutual friend for rooftop drinks at Ian’s apartment in New York in July 2017, it was her shoes that he noticed first: “I jokingly tried on Mumta’s shoes after she arrived because they were made of a cool yoga mat material, and quickly discovered we are the same size shoe (which she doesn’t like to people to know),” he says. They quickly realized their shoe size wasn’t all they had in common. “From then on, everything fit naturally, felt easy, and conversation flowed endlessly. Our love of wine, good food, and the vibrance of New York City brought us closer together,” says the couple. “Eventually, we started dating seriously with a memorable first date at L’Artusi in June 2019.” 

By May 2022, the couple were sharing an apartment in the West Village, where Ian proposed with a custom book filled with sentimental sketches—and a three-carat oval diamond the couple had designed together with Manhattan jeweler Lauren B.

As the couple began to envision their wedding, they came up with a pair of very different ideas: “We debated between two extremes: a court marriage and intimate dinner in New York City, or a big, all-out, full-nine-yards multicultural wedding in Spain—which was also soon-to-be our future home.” Spain won, and the couple focused their efforts on finding a Barcelona-based planner. “We love a good party and knew that we would regret not going with the latter, so we committed ourselves to the idea of a big Indian-American wedding abroad,” they say.  

Planners Mireia Lozano and Alba Navarro from Cocó & Carl and wedding designer Andrea Llàcer helped the couple organize a multi-day series of events—including a mehndi, haldi, sangeet, civil ceremony, and Indian ceremony—between October 18 and 21, 2023, at several locations in Costa Brava, Spain. “Basically 99 percent of our guests were coming from the United States, which made communications, lodging, and guest management our top priority and most difficult feat,” says the couple. “Since we had multiple venues and lodging establishments, we constantly stressed on where to subsidize costs and how to manage things like transportation, check-ins, and welcome packages. We wanted everything to have a personal touch, which meant essentially memorizing where everyone was staying, which events they were attending, how they were getting there, and what dietary restrictions or allergies they might have.”

Each event had its own distinct aesthetic, from the casual atmosphere and blue-green palette of the mehndi to the dramatic, all-red hues of the Indian ceremony and disco reception that closed out the wedding. But the entire weekend was tied together by the couple’s focus on creating a memorable experience for their 94 guests. “We wanted to make sure our guests were always having a great time, especially engaging with each other since they were especially spending four days together,” says the couple. “We curated little things, like randomized raffle seating for the Sangeet followed by ice breaker questions on their seats. We also cared a lot about the food and wine, and we made sure the quality of the food was something we could take pride in.”

Their attention to even the smallest detail created an unforgettable weekend, but they encourage other couples to keep the planning process in perspective. “Stuff is always going to go wrong, no matter how much you prepare,” they say. “Find ways to de-stress yourself and protect your energy. It’s a marathon, not a sprint—sleep as much as possible! Pat yourself on the back for even throwing yourselves such an incredible event.” See every nuanced detail ahead, as captured by Erikawas Photography.

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The couple opened their weekend with a casual, modern mehndi‚ a traditional celebration during which the bride receives her wedding henna design, held at La Farinera Sant Lluís. “The significance of the henna is how dark the color appears on the skin the next day. The darker the color, the more loving the marriage will be,” says the couple. But instead of the intricate patterns that keep the bride seated—and away from the party—during a typical mehndi, Mumta chose a simpler design that allowed her to spend more time with the couple’s guests. Mumta and Ian did defer to tradition in other ways, though. “We both had each other’s names hidden within our mehndi,” says the couple. “This comes from a tradition where couples would get each other’s names hidden within their mehndi and need to search for it on each other’s body to initiate touch as the wedding ceremonies began.”

The mehndi guest was co-ed, a departure from traditions in which the bride and groom celebrate separately. The couple kept the atmosphere low-key, serving artisanal pizza from a food truck for dinner. “We wanted this night to be easy and relaxed as our guests arrived and got settled into their lodging,” they say. “We kept the arrival time and dress code pretty loose. Our guests could enjoy pizza, drinks, and take their turn at the henna station at their leisure. We loved the pergola area of Masos Can Sot at La Farinera—the flowers and openness were perfect for our welcoming vision.”

The next morning, the couple’s guests joined them for a Haldi ceremony and brunch. Both Mumta and Ian wore white—she accessorized her Label Aishwaryrika kurta set with a bandhani shawl on loan from her mother. “The purpose of the Haldi ceremony is to cleanse the bride and groom before they get ready for their wedding. The haldi, or turmeric, is put on their faces, shoulders, knees, and feet by their family members. Then the bride and groom wash off the haldi mask and have a small prayer ceremony with their family,” says the couple. “With Ian’s family joining in our Indian traditions, we thought it would be fun to make it a casual yet festive brunch party with both families and close friends in attendance.” 

The aesthetic of the pre-wedding sangeet held the night before the couple’s civil ceremony was inspired by the bride and groom’s trip to Andalucia, with earthy ceramics, natural wood tones, and bright pops of pink and turquoise. Barcelona restaurant Tandoor provided a menu of Indian food for the couple and their guests.

The couple organized a program that included nine different dances, performed by their family and friends during the sangeet. “This program is typical, as the purpose of a sangeet is to have a night of singing and dancing before the couple’s nuptials,” they say. “The dances required a lot of time and attention to bring to life, particularly because all the people in the dances were remote. We spent hours in our kitchen (with the dining table moved to the side) choreographing dances, videoing each other, and practicing to make the Sangeet come to life.” All their work paid off: “This was probably the most high energy and vibrant night of all the celebrations,” says the couple. “There was so much engagement from our guests during the performances, everyone was on their feet.”

For their civil ceremony and dinner, Mumta and Ian chose “classy and elegant” Castell de Peralada. “We loved the sophisticated look of the castle, the quiet elegance of the cloisters outside the church, and the lush and peaceful gardens surrounding the castle that our guests could explore,” says Mumta. “We also wanted to keep this night a bit more exploratory and relaxed since the night before and after were intended to be more high energy. We pictured our guests walking through castle grounds, slow-dancing to live music, and having cocktails on the lawn by the castle.”

After trying on more than 50 wedding dresses, Mumta resigned herself to settling on a gown she didn’t love for her civil ceremony—until she spotted a silk and satin fringed sheath from Alejandra Alonso Riojas on Instagram. “It wasn’t a wedding dress, but I thought it could work for the occasion,” she says. “When the dress was ready, I got to meet the designer and was super happy with how it turned out.”

Floral lace embellishments decorated her trailing tulle veil, while Christian Louboutin stilettos and a set of Swarovski jewelry—gifts from her mother-in-law—added timeless polish. “Ian’s mother is very generous and loves to take us shopping, which made this such a fun and memorable experience.” she says. “These [jewelry pieces] are evergreen pieces for me because they go with anything and are easy to travel with for future weddings and events we attend.”

She asked Teresa Snowball for a “refreshed and bronzy” look—giving her skin and hair a brief respite from the heavier make-up application and tighter hairstyles of the pre-wedding events and Indian ceremony. “I knew I wanted to do something different for the civil ceremony—I wanted a soft look with pinks and neutrals, with very little coverup and a bolder lip color for the dinner,” says. “Teresa did an amazing job achieving this.”

Ian’s custom tuxedo from Alexander 1922 included black satin cuffs, worn with a hidden-button tuxedo shirt and a black bow tie. His blue velvet Tom Ford loafers were a gift from Mumta’s parents, while his Rolex watch and engraved cufflinks were gifts from the bride. 

For the civil ceremony and the dinner that followed, Mumta and Ian designed an aesthetic they describe as “elegant and sophisticated, with a touch of flare.” They requested a black-tie dress code and decided on a palette of sage and cream, brought to life with lush florals from Rita Experience. 

Mumta and Ian wrote their own vows, which they exchanged before their ceremony. “It was a special, private moment we wanted to share with each other first thing that morning while still in bed…and we cried a lot more than during the actual ceremony,” she says. Their civil ceremony, officiated by Ian’s best friend, was based on the traditional script but customized with details unique to the couple. 

Some of the couple’s favorite moments together took place directly after they were pronounced husband and wife. “We really remember having an incredible time during our couples portraits in the Cloisters of Castell de Peralada after the ceremony,” they say. “We were on a high from the emotions of the ceremony and we were finally alone together to really soak in the moment. We had some incredible food and wine while we laughed and danced and took photos with our amazing photographer, Erika. She always made us feel so comfortable and beautiful.” 

Wave-shaped tables dressed in flowing white cloths sat under a bamboo-pole tent during the couple’s dinner reception. “Andrea did an incredible job decorating this event with beautiful florals, candelabras, and classic yet sophisticated themes,” says Mumta. Individual menus detailed the elements of the Spanish meal provided by Michelin-starred chef Paco Perez: Catalan-style spinach dumplings, vegetable rice, grouper in a sour-cream-and-caviar sauce, and Peralada wine. 

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Mumta and Ian embraced the rustic charm of El Molí de la Torre for their Indian ceremony and celebration. “The crumbling castle felt exactly like ancient dilapidated fortress grounds in parts of northern India,” says Mumta. “There is a special energy there. It feels as though you are traveling back in time and experiencing the whispers of dinner party nights and long days overlooking the fields of Emporda. It’s not a place for everyone, but to those that find it special, it’s really special.”

Mumta chose a bridal lehenga in red not just for the color’s traditional history, but for how well it coordinated with the color palette of the couple’s Indian ceremony. “I also loved the idea of mirror work on my bridal lehenga, it gives it a regal look with some sparkle,” she says. However, it took her a few return trips to Odhni bridal salon in New Delhi to choose one. “I tried on many lehengas and found myself constantly going back to the one I ended up choosing,” she says. “We knew after I tried it on for a fourth time that this was going to be the one.”

The bridal lehenga was just one of the many items Mumta and Ian purchased during a 10-day buying spree in India. “It was shop ‘til you drop,” she says. “We had to shop for myself, my fiancé, and all of our immediate family members, including jewelry and accessories. We shopped from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyday and bought over 30 outfits for everyone. It was also Ian’s first time in India and first time shopping in India, which was a very unique experience for him.”

Ian donned a green sherwani with a black floral print and black juthi loafers for the ceremony; a gold shawl, gold pagdi hat, and ivory and gold necklace completed his look. Mumta’s parents escorted Ian down the aisle to begin the ceremony, while Mumta walked with both her sisters as her male cousins held up the covering. 

The bride’s entrance was one of the most memorable parts of the entire weekend, says Ian. “She looked stunningly elegant and there was a palpable feeling in the air as she held everyone’s rapt attention striding down the aisle,” he says. “I remember sitting on the mandap with the sun hitting my bare feet and wind gently breezing across my face and being captured by the sight of her and crying for the umpteenth time that weekend.”

Hand-dyed flowers and red fabric decorated the mandap where the couple held their ceremony. Mumta and Ian enlisted the help of an English-speaking pundit who could lead guests through the 90-minute ceremony. “When the bride and groom meet each other at the altar, they exchange malas (floral necklaces) and are seated around the fire with their parents and the pundit,” says Mumta. “They continue the ceremony with many rituals including walking rounds around the fire, exchanging vows, and then leave the ceremony together.” 

The evening’s dress code called for formal Indian attire, and the couple requested that their planner “bring the drama” with the decor and styling. “We wanted this night to be our grand finale, with a vibrant theme of red everything,” says Mumta. “We wanted deep shades of red with touches of pink in all of the florals, and red candles and lighting in the dinner area.”

A dinner buffet included Spanish favorites from Sibaris Catering and Indian specialties from Tandoor. “This look and feel of this event will stay with me forever,” says Mumta. “The element we all remember is the red hues for the dinner lighting and overall drama of the night.”

After the meal, Mumta and Ian led their guests inside for a purple-themed disco dance party. “Since we had met and fallen in love in New York City, it was important for us to bring some of those Brooklyn warehouse nights to our disco-themed reception,” says the bride. Mumta and Ian changed into party-ready looks—hers from Aza Fashions—and opened the dance floor with the help of DJ Ronin. “Even after multiple days of celebrating, the energy on the dance floor was non-stop,” says the couple. “We kicked off the dance floor with our final dance performance and soon after I was convinced to do a backflip (as a former gymnast, this is my main party trick). The dance floor ended with ‘Empire State of Mind’ by Jay-Z, which just felt so appropriate for our New York time together.” 

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