The General's Daughter

Hindu Ceremony

Sangeet

Cornerstone Gardens

Morning After

Seven Branches Venue and Inn

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour & Reception

Fall

Our Wedding

We met like most couples these days....via the internet. Despite my best efforts to meet someone in a Target or a Grocery store, being a traveling nurse during a pandemic does not bode well for meeting people in person. It all started with a kind smile, great teeth and an interesting question...."What can you talk about for 30 minutes without any preparation?" (I'll let him fill you in on my answer). Sanchit was kind, thoughtful, and patient from the beginning. Whether it was picking me up for our first date, smoothly holding my hand down the steps at Ghirardelli Square so I wouldn't fall, or showing up for a date in sweats so I wouldn't feel out of place in my scrubs this man showed me he cared and I began to fall...and hard. He never failed to be my safe space. He has become my calm when I need it, my reality check &amp; my best friend. He continues to be thoughtful and full of little surprises....like our engagement! He knew I loved to decorate the tree every year after Thanksgiving and went above and beyond to make sure this decorating day ended with a little bit more sparkle than when it started. I can't wait to continue on our journey in this life as husband and wife and we can't wait to celebrate with all of you!

Her Version

It starts with me searching for a particular wine at a local grocery store...just kidding. She was maybe bored at her lunch break or winding down after a long day of work when she decided to swipe right on me after getting mesmerized by this beautiful caramel smile. Her response though a bit dark, showed someone who was very passionate about her work and wanted to start this connection with a meaningful conversation. That love for her work then later led to us squeezing a quick Facetime call between her shifts, our first face to face interaction, which started in the most SHIT (SHannon-SanchIT) fashion where I saw her gobbling on Carbonara pasta while we tried to learn more about each other. That 30min call turned into a 2hour conversation which turned into a 20 month relationship before I got down on my knees and we became #engaged! That is because time has just flown by with the love of my life filled with all our travel/food/wine adventures, tv binge watching and lots of deep meaningful conversations. She has made me a better person in so many ways, and I'm constantly amazed by her passion, hard work and thoughtfulness behind everything. We are both really excited for 2023 and can't wait to celebrate our special day with you all.

His Version

Our Story

Photos

Becky & Steve have been married for 32 years and have been Shannon's role models for how a relationship should be. Whether together or apart their love and strength have stood the test of time. Becky & Steve are excited to welcome Sanchit into the family as their son in law as well as the Chhibber's as family as well. They hope you will join them in this celebration of love, culture & family.

Steve & Becky Riordan

Deepa & Sanjay began their love story 34 years ago and still continue to live, love, laugh and enjoy throughout this whole journey.  Their values and support have made Sanchit the man he is. They are beyond elated to welcome Shannon as their daughter-in-law and call the Riordans their extended family. Like true Punjabis, they look forward to celebrating this memorable day with you with lots of dance, music, laughter and delicious food!

Sanjay & Deepa Chhibber

Emily and Shannon met at Longwood University in 2011 when they were both RA’s. They became best friends almost instantly as they bonded over greys anatomy and the Longwood Ambassadors. Over the past 12 years they created many wonderful memories together and even though they live on opposite coasts, their friendship is never wavering. 

Emily Goard

If you have ever seen Timm and Sanchit together they seem to be have been separated at birth. They first met in a small vacation town of Fort Myers, FL during the magical days of Gartner. After Timm took Sanchit for a beach day they were inseparable, mostly by Timm’s never ending cycles of Late nights dancing, early morning breakfast and weekend after weekend benders. 

More than Friends they are brothers and aptly call each other “Hermanos” 

Sadly Shannon will have to sit on the sidelines at times during the reception to view their awkward in sync dance moves. Ironically those dance moves that they practiced together are the ones that won Shannon’s heart.

Be ready for Selfies, life of the party, and energy from parents that haven’t been out in forever. The one and only Timmy Tuesday.

Timm Silva

Cole and Shannon met while working at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Neuroscience ICU. These sassy ladies bonded over a shared love for travel, good food and good drink. After Cole moved away for grad school, the two remained close despite the distance. Since then, Cole and Shannon have taken several trips together, including to Utah’s Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Yosemite, Sonoma, and Napa Valley. Just like the fine wine they enjoy so much, Cole and Shannon’s friendship has only gotten better with time! 

Cole McConnell

Vaibhav met Sanchit on a Facebook group for the newly admitted Duke grads lol! Both connected instantly, primarily on Food, Music and Sports. Haha! From Coldplay to Jack Harlow, from Paradise Biryani to Bojangles Fried Chicken, from Golden State Warriors to Kansas City Chiefs, both have been a part of the same fanbase irrespective of name, style or genre. The memories and experiences they have shared from Durham, North Carolina to San Francisco, California, involved the most challenging yet exciting moments where they studied together, learned together, failed together but ALWAYS grew together with each other’s support. Here’s to many more exciting times and memories ahead that they look forward to in future.

Vaibhav Bajaj

Maddie and Shannon met during high school in their hometown of Virginia Beach.  Even though they went to different schools, they quickly became great friends over weekend hangs, rom com movie nights (complete with Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies courtesy of Shannon’s mom), summer job visits, and swim practice run-ins. Over 15 years of friendship later, they still live nowhere near each other, but they catch up often and share a mutual love of a good margarita and a concert! 

Maddie Potter

Abhi and Sanchit have known each since the day they left India to build a life here in the US. It did not take long to go from roommates to close friends. Along with being Sanchit's EDM dance partner, Abhi also tries to push Sanchit off the couch to go participate in outdoor activities (still can't convince him to go Skiing or Camping though haha!). After 7 years of friendship, Abhi is proud to call Sanchit his brother and one of his closest friends.

Abhinav Kumar

Liz met Shannon at Longwood University when they were paired as Mentor/Mentee in Ambassadors - and they quickly became like sisters (the curly hair definitely helped with that!). After 10 years of friendship the two are states apart but just as close of friends. You'll be sure to find the pair getting down on the dance floor with champagne in hand!

Liz Greenwood

Sanchit and JK have been together at every step of the way, right from the day they embarked on their American journey from Duke University to being one neighborhood away here in San Francisco. From that day to this day, they’ve been there for each other be it through heart aches or pub ejections or trying to make sure we make it back home after a fun night out haha! They have been friends, family and home in what once was a foreign land.

Jaskaran Kalra

Dr. Michael Carter (or uncle Mikey as we like to call him) has been a presence in Shannon & Sanchit's relationship since the beginning. Since moving to CA Mike has been a surrogate father for Shannon and has been a wine teacher for Sanchit. Mike has been integral in weekend trips, foodie experiences, wine explorations & many belly laughs for the couple. When it came to who would officiate there was no other option for them.  They are SO excited to have Uncle Mikey officiate their ceremony.

Michael Carter

Annie is the daughter of Shannon's cousin Elisabeth. She is a sassy sweet spitfire and loves to play dress up! She can't wait to prance down the aisle and celebrate!

Annie Williams-Gross

These two adorable boys are the son's of Shannon's Cousin Nathan & Faith. They are full of spunk, personality & love. They would make their father proud. Shannon & Sanchit are excited to have these two as part of their wedding party. Good thing there are 2 rings so the boys won't have to fight over who gets to take them down the aisle.  

Teddy & Harry Williams

Wedding Party

What is a Sangeet?

The word Sangeet translates to ‘sung together’ from Sanskrit. ‘Gaun’, another word used to describe the event, means ‘songs’ or ‘to sing’ in Hindi. Traditionally celebrated in the Punjab regions of India, this ceremony has been adopted by many other regions as a form of celebration for the wedding to come. The event is formally known to comprise of only female attendees from both sides of the family, however modern times allow for men to join in on the fun too. Unlike religious ceremonies such as the Haldi or portions of the wedding ceremony, the Sangeet is solely conducted to relish in the happiness and joy surrounding the couple.

What time should I arrive?

The Sangeet starts at 6:00pm. Come join us for dancing food and celebration the night before our western ceremony! The ceremony starts at 4:30pm so we politely ask you to arrive no earlier than 4pm, and no later than 4.20pm. This will allow for smooth transitions, prompt timing &amp; allow for you to enjoy a welcome beverage!

Are the events indoor or outdoor?

It's both! Sonoma in October is beautiful and usually ranges from 60s (18-20 Celsius) during the day to 40s (10 Celsius) at night. The ceremony and cocktail hour will be outside and dinner and dancing will be indoors. We are hoping these plans will not have to change but if they do we will make sure to notify everyone as soon as possible.

What is the dress code?

For the Sangeet on 10/26 we are encouraging Indian attire. Please see the Dress code Explained tab for examples. For the Western Wedding on 10/27 Cocktail Attire is preferred, however if you feel more comfortable wearing traditional Indian attire, we totally welcome that too :)

Is Transportation Provided?

No, transportation is not provided. However, ride shares such as Uber or Lyft are accessible in Sonoma.If you choose to stay at one of the hotels/inns on or near the Sonoma square then walking is also a very viable option as the venue is only a 5 minute walk from the square.If you choose to drive, you may do so there is a parking lot at the venue. We do ask that no-one drinks and drives as you all are very important people to us. We chose this location because of its ease of access both by foot as well as by ride-share.

Can I take Pictures?

While we love a good photo you will have plenty of time at cocktail hour and at the reception to take them. We respectfully ask that all phones/tablets/I-pads be put away and on silent during the ceremony so our photographer can capture our day with an unobstructed view.

Are children allowed to attend the wedding/reception?

We hope you will understand, while we love your children, we have decided to make our wedding child free with the exception of our cousins. This is an adult only event and we hope you can take this opportunity to let you hair down and celebrate in style! Thank you for understanding!

Where should we stay?

We have listed numerous locations on our travel page. Direct links to those inns/hotels are available to you.

Where Can I buy Indian Attire?

* <a href="https://www.houseofindya.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">House of Indya</a>* <a href="https://www.perniaspopupshop.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Penria's Pop Up Shop</a>* <a href="https://www.utsavfashion.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Utsav Fashion </a> (Options for Men too)* <a href="https://www.kalkifashion.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kalki Fashion</a>* <a href="https://www.panashindia.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Panash India </a>(Options for Men too)* <a href="https://www.hatkay.com/?https://www.hatkay.com/&amp;utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=cpc-search&amp;utm_content=Hatkay&amp;utm_campaign=PPM_SEO_Safeguard_Search&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiArsefBhCbARIsAP98hXSZbyyBzkW7N8G_5S49T9rG-I44vbZ8JMvAQouzzJ4zJUCnpjEbm84aAhtREALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HatKay </a>

Don't want to buy? Here are some sites you can Rent From. 

* <a href="https://borrowthebazaar.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Borrow The Bazaar</a>* <a href="https://preserve.rent/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Preserve</a>* <a href="https://www.allborrow.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All Borrow</a>* <a href="https://almari360.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Almari360</a>

Q + A

Indian Attire Explained

Indian attire for women typically have 3-4 options.1. Lehenga2. Saree3. Kurta4. Sharara Suit Indian attire for men typically have 2 options:1. Kurta Pajama2. Kurta Vest Pajama Below are some photos of what you can expect to be seen and or what would be appropriate to be worn. We do ask that when choosing your attire please avoid Maroon as this color is reserved for the bride and groom. However, please feel free to glam out your outfit with jewels, sparkles, embellishments etc.***Also make sure you look for sets otherwise you may only received 1 part of the outfit.***

Lehenga (Blouse top, Skirt & Duppta (the shawl)

Saree (Blouse top, Pallu & saree skirt)

Kurta (longer blouse with pants called pajamas)

Sharara (blouse top, short or long, with pants or a skirt)

Kurta for Men

Cocktail Attire Explained

Cocktail attire is a balance between formal and casual and elegant and comfortable. It is meant to bridge the gap between day and night. Men typically wear a suit & tie, while women wear a cocktail dress (knee length or ankle length) or a Jumpsuit. We ask that you please avoid wearing white or maroon on the wedding day as these colors are reserved for the bride and bridal party. Below is a 25% off code for Pashion footwear (the shoes with the convertible ability!) WGSHANNONRIORDAN

Dress Code Explained

Inns

For the Inn's you will need to call and tell them you will be attending the Riordan-Chhibber wedding this will get you a 10% discount. Before you book shoot one of us a message to let us know and we can give the booking company a heads up that you will be calling :)

9 Room Inn15 min walk to the venues

Cottage Inn & Spa

6 room Inn8 minute walk to the venues

An Inn 2 Remember

4 Cottages. Only 1 sleeps 4 the rest sleeps 2.37 minute walk to the venues or 6 minute drive

Sonoma's Best

Airbnb & VRBO

When searching for an Airbnb or VRBO keep in mind distance. Some areas around Sonoma are:Buena VisaFour CornersEl VeranoFetters-Hot SpringsBoyes Hot SpringsGlen Ellen (this is about as far north as I would go)

5 Bedrooms &amp; can accommodate up to 10 people. 3 night minimum stay.

Bancroft Inn of Sonoma

Hotels

13 min walk to the venues

El Pueblo Inn

17 minute walk to the venues

Inn at Sonoma a Four Sisters Inn

35 Minute walk from the venues or a 6 minute drive

The Lodge at Sonoma Resort Autograph Collection

Hotels, Inns & Airbnb's

San Francisco International Airport

SFO is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sonoma square. A rental car will be needed.

Oakland International Airport

OAK is about 1 hour &amp; 10 minutes from Sonoma square. A rental car will be needed.

Charles M Shultz-Sonoma County Airport

Charles-Shultz is about 50 minutes from Sonoma square and is accessible by ride share i.e. Uber/Lyft.

Rental Cars, Taxies, Uber & Lyft

For a rental car, both OAK and SFO have plenty of options.Some money saving tips however would be to book through:* Costco Travel* IDme.com (for nurses, teachers, military, students etc. website just needs proof of licensure. Shannon uses this all the time) For a taxi:* Vern's Taxi Service* Executive Car Service Napa Valley* Friendly taxi* Napa Sonoma Wine tasting Diver (for those that may want to explore the wine country before or after wedding festivities)*NorthBay Shuttle For Uber or Lyft:Use your apps to find the best deal :)

Airports & Rental Cars

Welcome to Wine Country!

Welcome to wine country y'all! Sonoma is one of our favorite spots and we are so excited to share it with you! Below you can find some winery suggestions as well as restaurant recommendations.

Places to See

Cornerstone Sonoma

This is a little square full of restaurants, shops, wine shops, tasting rooms &amp; a little History.

Shannon & Sanchit

Shannon & Sanchit

Things to Do

Welcome to Wine Country!

Places to See

Cornerstone Sonoma

Sonoma Plaza

Sonoma Coast State Park

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Sonoma Zipline Adventures

Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center

Wineries & Tasting Rooms

Bedrock Wine Co. - By Appointment

Gundlach Bundschu Winery

Buena Vista Winery

WALT Wines

Domaine Carneros

Goat Rock Cider Company

Restaurants

the girl & the fig

The Red Grape

Sunflower Caffé