A Glamorous Multicultural Wedding at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C.
When it came to colors, Courtney Kraus (34 and a pediatric ophthalmologist) and Shaun Desai (34 and a facial plastic surgeon) took their palette inspiration from Washington D.C.'s iconic pink cherry blossoms, adding the blooms as accents to both their Hindu and Christian ceremonies, as well as their sophisticated reception. Courtney and Shaun, who describe their décor as a “clean and modern way to blend two cultures,” used a soft blush and gold scheme for their Western ceremony, but saturated their colors to jewel-toned coral for the Indian portion. After Shaun arrived to the traditional baraat on a white horse, the couple met under a flower-embellished mandap. Courtney walked down the pink ombré aisle in her own pink lehenga, which she picked out with her mother-in-law in India. In contrast, Shaun donned a gold silk-brocade sherwani. To transition smoothly between the two ceremonies, cocktail hour gave guests the opportunity to sip, snack and mingle. At the Christian ceremony, towering arrangements of cherry blossoms framed Courtney and Shaun as they exchanged vows. Elegant gold décor, lots of candlelight and translucent chairs set a glamorous tone in the grand space. Guests sipped dined on fusion food, which Courtney says "channeled the duality of the wedding."