Before moving to California and falling in love with the state’s rugged coastline, dramatic beaches and natural beauty, Sanjana Gopisetty and Christopher Philip’s paths first crossed in New York City. It was there that the duo found love as their friendship slowly blossomed into something more; leading to weekly movie nights, chasing sunsets and spending most of their time outdoors. “His cheeky jokes and quirky shirts often brought a smile to my face, while Chris says it was my adventurous spirit that first intrigued him,” the bride reveals of the early days of their relationship. “The more time we spent together, the more we knew we loved each other deeply. That’s when we decided to move to California to build a home together.”

Gopisetty, who is originally from Hyderabad, India, and Philip, who is American, knew the state’s rugged beauty would be the perfect backdrop for their intimate vineyard wedding – but first they wanted to have a private wedding. “We have always been in awe of California’s beautiful coastline and mountains. Big Sur and Yosemite were the perfect places to capture our vows of love and commitment,” the couple says. The ceremony itself was a surreal affair as they stood by the ocean and exchanged vows in private while waves crashed in the background. “Everything came together beautifully, from the clear weather to the breathtaking views.”

For their intimate wedding, which they celebrated with just 80 of their closest friends and family members, the couple chose to hold their mehndi and haldi celebrations at Philip’s parents’ house and their own home. For the haldi, the bride wore a cheerful yellow printed lehenga by Anita Dongre, which the groom complemented with a yellow kurta set. The mehndi was a boho-chic affair with lots of music, games and special moments captured on a Polaroid camera. For this, she chose a floral pink lehenga, also by Anita Dongre, while Philp wore a pastel green kurta for contrast.

The couple chose The Barn at Harrow Cellars for their wedding, nestled among vineyards in Sonoma, California’s famous wine country. The elegant outdoor venue was decorated with rustic florals in shades of peach, cream, orange and pink and lush greenery. “The wedding day was exactly how we imagined it. It was a minimalist setting and the vineyard views fit our vision perfectly,” the couple says.

They had a traditional Telugu wedding ceremony where Gopisetty eschewed the traditional red and white tones and instead opted for a solid pastel pink Kanjeevaram sari followed by an elegant cream and gold sari. The groom wore a dhoti style sherwani for a South Indian touch. For the reception, she donned a Seema Gujral lehenga. She wore subtle makeup and instead let her jewellery stand out with a polki necklace set and a maang tikka. For the reception, she then switched to an elegant diamond necklace to match her lehenga.

Reflecting on their big day, the couple say one of their most beautiful moments was when they saw each other for the first time as the veil fell between them during the Murthum ceremony. The joy of seeing their family and friends wholeheartedly embrace their two cultures was a powerful reminder that love truly has the remarkable ability to unite people and celebrate diversity. “This was our day – a true reflection of our love story and the beginning of a new chapter amidst the warmth of our loved ones.”