Jedel and Salil met three years ago while working in the San Francisco startup scene. On their first date, in true San Francisco style, they ate tacos in the Mission and drank old-fashioneds at a cozy backroom bar, where they talked late into the night. Three years later, Salil popped the question at the San Francisco Ballet’s annual rendition of The Nutcracker, which they’ve watched together every year since they met. “I had absolutely no idea Salil was planning to propose, which he did on an empty stage after the performance,” Jedel recalls.

With the help of event planning studio Bridal Bliss, the pair held a June wedding in Clackamas County, Oregon, at the Barn Kestrel, a historic working barn built at the turn of the 19th century. “It’s a beautiful family farm with horses, intricate gardens, a storied sequoia tree, and a big barn—the oldest in Clackamas County!” Jedel says. “We wanted to honor both of our families and our different heritages, so we aimed for a traditional Indian wedding with a Pacific Northwest feel. We were careful to ask for our families’ input, but we also tried to find a balance and create a day that was uniquely us.”

Real Weddings

“Before the rehearsal celebration, the women were invited to attend the mehndi ceremony, which is a traditional Indian pre-wedding ritual where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride’s hands and feet,” Jedel says. “We held the mehndi ceremony at our home, and each guest chose her own henna design. Melanie of Blue Lotus Henna did a beautiful job with the henna, and it was a really fun way to get some girl time in before the big day!” 

The groomsmen wore marigold-hued safas. 

Salil wore a custom suit from Hall Madden, a local haberdashery. Jedel found her dream wedding dress, made by Rue de Seine, in Los Angeles. “The dress featured lots of beautiful handcrafted lace and a structured bustier with floral appliqués detail,” Jedel says. Both Salil and Jedel also donned formal Indian attire for part of the day. Salil wore a traditional sherwani, and Jedel wore a tomato-red lehenga, which she accessorized with stacks of bangles.

Jedel’s bridesmaids wore blush chiffon maxi dresses from Monique Lhuillier. 

“Salil’s family participated in a baraat, a lively wedding procession for the groom, and my family welcomed his family at the barn,” Jedel says.

“Peter Corvallis and Bowerbird Events helped us design a Bollywood-inspired dancing hall in the barn, complete with lanterns, little accent tables, and couches covered in saris for our guests to relax on,” Jedel says. “Bowerbird Events also created a beautiful wedding mandap for us to get married under and did all of the lighting for the event.”

“The ceremonies were truly special,” Jedel says. “Father Kevin Yell presided over our Catholic ceremony, and Salil’s aunt officiated the Hindu ceremony. It was so gratifying to be able to honor both of our families’ traditions and share these moments with our guests.”

The couple splurged on the culinary aspects of their wedding. Papa Haydn designed their hexagonal cake, which featured four lemony tiers and etched piping. The towering treat was topped with fresh berries, lime-infused coconut, and cardamom-infused coconut—a nod to both Jedel’s Swedish roots and Salil’s Indian roots. Other sweets on offer included mini berry tarts, mini bourbon balls, panna cotta shooters, fresh macarons, mini carrot cakes, mini chocolate cupcakes, raspberry gateaus, and cappuccino brownies. “We both have quite the sweet tooth and wanted our guests to have as many yummy options as possible,” Jedel says.

Jedel’s advice to other brides and grooms? “Plan as best you can and try to stay within budget, but when the big day arrives, don’t sweat the small stuff! This day is all about celebrating the beginning of your journey as a married couple, and no one will remember the tiny things that didn’t go exactly according to plan.”

A rainbow made up for the drizzle earlier in the day.