My parents had strict rules about dating ... i.e., I couldn’t,” laughs Manasa Reddy. In keeping with Indian tradition (her parents moved from India to the States before she was born), the New Jersey native was expected to hold out for an arranged marriage. But Manasa knew that once mom and dad met Will Thayer—a fellow student at Seton Hall University School of Law—they’d rule in her favor. And right she was: “They were thrilled with what a kind, respectful, and intelligent man Will is, and we started dating.”
One of said dates was a night out to see The Hobbit followed by cuddles on the couch. Suddenly, Will turned to Manasa, pulled out a diamond ring (which he’d been toting around for months and held his great-grandmother’s diamond), and proposed. “Apparently, the sight of me in fuzzy onesie pajamas made him realize he couldn’t wait any longer!” Manasa laughs.
The Jersey residents began scouring venues in New York City but weren’t sold. “We realized it wouldn’t be much of a celebration if our guests took the subway home at the end of the night,” Manasa says. So, they pulled a 180, bought plane tickets to Charleston (one of their favorite cities), and promptly fell in love with Middleton Place, which ticked every box on their must-list: outdoor, capable of seating 200, open to outside catering, and within view of a fireworks-friendly area. “They were flexible and willing to work with us to create the day we envisioned,” says Manasa. And planner Luke Wilson was no different. “If you are lucky enough to have a creative genius like Luke on your team, save yourself the stress and give him free reign.”
The Big Day embraced their blended traditions. After a priestess from the Hindu Temple of Charleston blessed the couple’s union, Will’s father delivered a Christian sermon. Fried chicken was served in waffle cones at cocktail hour, while supper included Indian classics like chicken tikka masala. Afterward, guests flooded the dance floor. “My family from India—who never dance—were breaking it down to Michael Jackson,” laughs Manasa. Not to be outdone, Will’s family threw down to some Indian tunes, as well.
In a word, it was magical. Speaking of magic ... before the ceremony, Will gave Manasa the password to an email address with her new last name, where reservations for a “mini-moon” to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter awaited (the real deal was an island getaway to Mauritius and Seychelles). As the night drew to a close, the newlyweds were Hogwarts-bound—and nobody took the subway home.
Globe-trotters in every sense of the word, Laura and Anthony traveled all over the world visiting each other during their nearly ten years of long-distance dating. Jetting to hot spots like Chicago,...
As we all know, the Holy City plays hostess to a large number of weddings every year (you just need to scroll back through all of our pages of posts to see that). And while some lovebirds choose to...
It’s time for some girl talk. We all know how nerve-wracking first dates can be, whether going in blind or not, and we’re here to impart a piece of solid advice from bride Megan. When agreeing to...
The Wedding Row: Tell us about how you two lovelies met.
Caroline: Zach and I met briefly in college. I traveled to Clemson from University of Alabama to attend a date party with a friend from high...
Morning, dears. With all the beyond beautiful sites our Holy City has to offer on the wedding venue front, finding the winner for your Big Day can feel impossible or perhaps endless. But no worries,...
No tricks, only treats for Mandy and Dan. The duo met on Halloween, of all holidays, in Greenville, South Carolina, back in 2013. They hit it off, became an “item,” and enjoyed each other’s company...
Eloping has come to mean something different these days than in years past. It can be the traditional version with a couple heading out for a getaway and a simple ceremony a deux; it can be that plus...
It was nothing but pure sparks (red, white, and blue perhaps?) when Alissa met Rick at a political fundraiser in Chicago. They were both supporting the Governor of Illinois and after hours of talking...
Rose gold is all the rage today, and rental houses and jewelers alike stock it in myriad forms. Here’s how to wield the trend like a true pro and let it warm up a cool weather wedding without overpowering it
