Dr. Padmavathi Karri, “V,” and Dr. Duncan Trimble met through a mutual friend while attending medical school. A casual first date started as a stroll through Houston’s Rice University campus and ended with dinner at their soon-to-be favorite fried chicken joint. 10 minutes after he dropped V off, Duncan had already texted her with details for their next date: a concert at the House of Blues.
Just a little more than two years later, Duncan proposed during a trip to Seattle and Vancouver in February 2020. “His proposal was simple and sweet, just seven words, but it was perfect for us,” V shares. Once engaged, they began looking for venues in their favorite weekend getaway locale of Austin. Once the two visited Pecan Springs Ranch, they knew right away this was the relaxed yet elevated ceremony and reception space they were looking for.
For the Sangeet, they found the industrial-chic 800 Congress. “Its prime location downtown boasted stunning views of the vibrant city whereas Pecan Springs Ranch was nestled in Hill Country, a fabulous contrast for our guests to experience,” V notes. “We wanted to showcase the rich tradition of an Indian Sangeet while also reflecting our own personal tastes, and we were thrilled with how our vendors brought our vision to life.”
“We cannot express enough gratitude for our wedding planner, Nicolet LaVeau of Westcott Weddings,” V shares. “Her patience, expertise, and unwavering dedication were invaluable as she worked with us to refine the aesthetic of our wedding day. From the outset, our vision was constantly evolving, but one thing remained constant: a desire to infuse the outdoors into our reception space, while creating an ambiance that was both fun and artful.” The stationery with custom imagery by an artist in Rajasthan and the reception hall’s green velvet adornments encapsulated an enchanting and “otherworldly” aesthetic. Gypsy Floral eschewed containers and instead made the flowers appear as though they were growing out of moss, which truly helped to create an immersive, natural atmosphere. Party at the Moontower Event Rentals provided the rental pieces. Gracie Byrd Jones documented every picturesque sight and moment.
Wedding guests still rave about the event’s personal touches, like the whiskey and cigar bar and the cake stand made by the owner of the ceramic studio V attends. She describes it further, “It has all of these beautifully painted flowers and birds on a lattice patterned backing complete with special dates in our life like the first day we met, our proposal, and our wedding.”
Distance and time proved to be the biggest constraints for their wedding wardrobe. “With the help of technology, we were able to shop over Zoom and enlist the expertise of designers, stylists, and jewelers in India,” V shares. She immediately thought of Abhishek Sharma and his modern, edgy designs informed by nature for her Sangeet lehenga, “His intricate custom cape was a true masterpiece that added an unexpected element of surprise.”
The bride turned to Nisha at Bridelan to find a saree that would reflect V’s South Indian roots with her own personal flair. Nisha presented V with the botanical and delicate Hans Bageecha organza silk saree by Rahul Mishra. “Although the reception outfit was the last one I wore, it was the first one I picked out,” V laughs. The thoughtfully constructed JADE lehenga in Aegean Blue immediately caught her eye. She knew it would complement the Austin sky during their sunset cocktail hour.
V accessorized with jewels from family-owned Umrao Jewelers in Jaipur. “Shashwat is a master at what he does and was truly so kind throughout the entire process,” she says. For the Sangeet, he and Nisha presented her with a lattice patterned necklace, punctuated with an emerald cabochon. To contrast her delicate ceremony outfit, she donned an emerald and diamond pendant of two parakeets kissing. “The intricate detailing and whimsical design captured my heart; however, the emerald strands holding the pendant felt too dark, so Shashwat replaced them with pearls that paired beautifully with my saree.” Her other jewelry either belonged to her mother or was sourced from local jewelers in her parents’ hometown in Vizag, India. V already looks forward to re-wearing all of these pieces soon. She also cannot say enough kind words about Chassie at Crown of Glory, who V deems a “true artist, a master of her craft, and an absolute magician when it comes to bringing out the best in a bride’s features.”
The groom sported a custom sherwani from Anushree Reddy for the ceremony with dainty embroidery. For the reception, Duncan switched into a custom tuxedo by Mike Balani with cufflinks from a dear family friend. His groomsmen coordinated in Indian bandhgalas and kurtas from a Jaipur outfitter, RNG Safawala.
On October 28, 2022, Duncan sat in the back of an open-top Rolls-Royce with his sister for the Baraat. Guests led the groom to the altar in a massive midday dance party. V walked down the aisle to a string rendition of “Somewhere Only We Know” for their modern Hindu ceremony, which was followed by lunch.
On Friday night, the Sangeet featured a Tex-Mex spread from La Pera, while Saturday boasted a buffet-style set-up with the best of Indian cuisine. SWAD, a beloved vegetarian restaurant that holds special memories for V from her time at UT Austin, catered lunch. Himalaya Kosheli concocted dinner. A buttercream lemon cake from Simon Lee Bakery concluded the night’s feast.
Entertainment was also paramount. DJ Samir and dhol player Ravi from Crown Entertainment graced the dance floor with their musical stylings all weekend long. “Ravi with his incredible dhol playing seamlessly blended American and Indian music that resonated with everybody,” V says. When guests weren’t dancing, they were snapping pictures in the MirMir Photo Booth.
During the reception, the couple’s loved ones delivered heartfelt toasts. “One moment that stood out was when my parents expressed their acceptance of Duncan as a son soon after meeting him. We often reflect on that moment with gratitude,” V says. “Unfortunately, my father unexpectedly fell ill a month after the wedding and passed away in January. Hearing he was proud of us and that his presence will always be with us means everything.”
The bride and groom put their many dance classes to good use and shared a first dance to Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” The party continued on the hotel rooftop patio with stunning views of downtown Austin and notable anecdotes from the weekend.
