Passage to India

When bride-to-be Puja Seam approached Tara Guérard and her event design team at Soirée, she and fiancé Jamey Thompson had a daunting request: plan two weddings and two receptions, all in one day—October 7, 2006. Soirée’s solution? First, hold the Hindu ceremony and luncheon at the William Aiken House, which would later be transformed to host a black-tie fête after the early evening church nuptials. “The Indian celebration was definitely the most challenging, but that made it fun,” says Tara. “Because the evening reception would be formal, we wanted the luncheon to have a relaxed feel.” Tara and Soirée coordinator Kate Badger Little infused the reception décor with a color palette of deep orange and red—the customary hues for Indian weddings—and added punches of marigold yellow. Picnic tables shaded by large umbrellas lent a casual feel, while silk tablecloths and mums arranged in Indian pottery added plenty of festivity to a feast of traditional Indian dishes. Create Your Own Signature Spritzer Greet guests with colorful cocktails 1. Choose a “mixer.” Puja used a purée of mango, India’s national fruit. 2. Combine mixer with club soda to taste. Add liquor if desired. 3. Garnish with a slice of fruit, an edible flower, or a custom stirrer. Visit www.stirrings.com for ideas. 4. Place on decorative tray and serve to guests as they arrive.