AJAY & MICHAEL'S INDIAN WEDDING AT BORGO DI VIGNAMAGGIO, TUSCANY

Some weddings are built around one look. Ajay and Michael's was built around three. Over a July weekend at Borgo di Vignamaggio in the Chianti hills, this American couple, one groom with Indian roots and the other with Italian roots, celebrated both families' traditions with a Sangeet, an Indian wedding ceremony and an evening reception. Each event had its own color palette, its own mood and its own corner of the estate.

Here is how the weekend unfolded, followed by what we learned about planning an Indian wedding in Tuscany.

A Sangeet is the pre-wedding celebration of music, dance and family performances, and it is often the most joyful night of an Indian wedding. Ajay and Michael wanted a Sangeet in Tuscany that kept everything that makes the evening what it is, including the performances, while bringing in the Italian side of their story.

Burgundy and dark blue set the mood. The grooms arrived in embroidered kurtas, one in deep blue silk and the other in burnt red with a burgundy velvet shawl, among the rose-covered pergolas of the Borgo. Velvet appeared again in the red curtains and dark blue rug of the tarot corner, so the palette felt consistent across the evening.

In place of a seated dinner, guests moved between Italian food stalls in the courtyard, each with a hand-lettered menu board. From fresh pasta cooked in front of the guests to a tradition Tuscan meat feast grill, from local cheeses to a selection of bruschetta and focaccia to finish with a tiramisu and panna cotta stall. Baskets of fresh produce around the stalls made the courtyard feel like a village market.

Two more details gave guests something to do between performances. A tarot reader set up in a velvet-curtained corner and sketch artists were on hand to draw the guests. Both were easy ways for the two families to mix and for the evening to feel personal.

After the rich tones of the Sangeet, the ceremony went light. Pale orange and white took over the terrace, where the wrought-iron arch already present on the venue panoramic terrace was dressed with white roses, peach and orange blooms and long strands of orange and peach marigold garlands.

The ceremony space was sheltered by large umbrellas and guests found parasols and fans on each seat. In a Tuscan July wedding, these details are both practical as they are part of the design.

For the evening, the palette deepened to maroon, orange and green. Maroon velvet chairs and orange florals worked with deep green plates and pleated green lamp shades on the tables, set against the warm terracotta of the villa. The villa's double staircase became the backdrop for the head table, with its railings draped in white floral garlands.

Guests came back after the morning ceremony with a new look. the couple had carefully prepared a look book for the three events, which guests followed religiously. The grooms also changed for the evening, one into a red embellished jacket and the other into a black tuxedo with a bow tie.

Guests dined in the piazza at round tables arranged around a central dance floor, with a carved wooden bar topped with orange and burgundy flowers set by the stone gateposts. Dinner began at golden hour, with the Chianti hills and cypress trees behind the guests. As the light faded, the trees were lit from below and the dancing began on the piazza floor.

Following the venue outdoor music restrictions, later in the evening we moved everyone into the Borgo's club. A standard DJ table at the edge of the room can keep the dance floor at a distance, so we built a circular DJ booth that put the music at the center of the room . Blue light and a mirror ball did the rest, and the party carried on into the early hours.

Give every event its own identity. Three palettes made the weekend feel like three chapters, but a shared texture, in this case velvet, tied them together.

Keep the traditions and add your own. The Sangeet kept its performances. The Italian food stalls, tarot and sketch artists came from the couple's own story.

Design for guests who are new to the traditions. Many guests will be experiencing an Indian ceremony or an Italian wedding for the first time. A short program or a spoken introduction makes everyone feel included.

Plan for the July sun. Shade, fans and an evening schedule keep guests comfortable. Here the shade also became decor.

Budget. Indian or fusion weddings with three separate events (Sangeet/welcome event. Indian ceremony with Indian lunch and evening wedding reception) at Borgo di Vignamaggio planned by our team typically start from approximately €2.000 per guest.

Can you host an Indian wedding in Tuscany? Yes. At Borgo di Vignamaggio we planned a Sangeet, an Indian ceremony and an evening reception in one weekend, each in a different part of the estate.

Can you combine Indian and Italian traditions in one wedding? Yes. This couple's Sangeet kept the performances and added Italian food stalls so both sides of their story were present.

Do you plan weddings for same-sex couples? Yes. We plan weddings for all couples.

Is July a good month for a wedding in Chianti? It is warm and sunny, so plan for shade at the ceremony and for evening dinners outdoors. If you have the option choose an earlier date in July rather than a date after mid July.

If you are imagining a celebration that brings two cultures together, with the space and the schedule to do each tradition justice, we would love to hear about it. Tell us about your plans, including your dates, your guest count and the traditions you want to include, and we will come back to you with ideas and availability.

Email: info@italianstyleweddings.com | Phone: +39 391 478 8190

Related pages: Another real wedding at Borgo di Vignamaggio | Tuscany wedding venues | Wedding design | Real wedding galleries