“Only fate would bring a California boy across the country to meet a Jersey girl,” Dr. Sonam Patel smiles of how she and Dr. Kenneth Lai first found each other. They became inseparable friends during medical school at Temple University, until Kenny took a leap of faith and asked Sonam on a proper date.
After four years of mustering up the courage, Kenny proposed to Sonam in their Philadelphia home with their pup, Moose, as witness. Once engaged, the podiatrists started looking for wedding venues either on a mountain range or with a view of mountains—nodding to their love of hiking with Moose. After a virtual tour of the Four Seasons Westlake Village in California, with a view of the Santa Monica Mountains, they were sold.
“We were keen on our guests traveling from far to feel they were on a rejuvenating vacation rather than amidst the usual hustle and bustle of an Indian wedding,” Sonam explains. Over The Moon The List Planner Diwan by Design brought their multi-day vision to life, while Couplet Photography (assisted by Little Miss Boyco) and Balerina Films lensed every moment.
The celebrations kicked off with the bridal mehndi, followed by a welcome fête, inspired by Monet’s garden paintings and impressionism. Kenny actually sketched the design for Sonam’s sparkly look with detachable sleeves (and nearly all of his bride’s wardrobe), actualized by Panache by Sharmeen. “I was fixated on achieving a very specific ruffled sleeve and skirt design that avoided the silhouette of the roaring twenties,” the bride explains. Each arm was also embroidered—one with “It’s a Philly Thing,” (a nod to their home) and the other with the wedding date. Shashi earrings, Giuseppe Zanotti heels, and glam by Salt Spell Beauty completed the look.
For the sangeet the following evening, the bride wore an embellished sage lehenga, inspired by Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi, and Deepa Gurnami earrings. “I played with the fabric here and incorporated big bold flowers in velvet to add some dimension to a heavily embroidered skirt,” Sonam says of the two-piece design. There were nods to Vietnamese culture at this event, including napkins with “Một, Hai, Ba Yo” written on them, which roughly translates to “One, two, three, cheers!”
Opting for an off-white look, rather than choosing something in the traditional red, Sonam walked down the aisle, holding her veil over her head. “I also chose to not do a double dupatta, as many brides do because all three pieces were so incredible, I didn’t want to cover anything up,” she states. Her ceremony blouse featured beaded pearls, a nod to Princess Diana’s pearl and sapphire choker. “To me, she represents feminism in so many aspects of her life, and her impeccable style was just an added bonus.” The traditional Indian jewelry set by Sokora Jewelers and a pair of white Manolo Blahniks rounded out the styling.
Another special piece of jewelry was gifted to Sonam by her aunt. “I have always had my eye on the Bvlgari mangalsutra, which is impossible to get your hands on,” Sonam explains. “My sweet aunt obtained this for me in Delhi and surprised me with it. A mangalsutra is a key component of a Hindu ceremony. The groom puts it on the bride, signifying she’s a married woman. It is almost equivalent to a wedding band. Typically Indian mangalsutras appear very traditional, but I absolutely love the modern look of mine and wear it everyday.”
The final look of Sonam’s bridal wardrobe was the hardest to source. Sonam kept thinking back to a chartreuse look from Manish Malhotra’s Mijwan fashion show, worn by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone. “I was obsessed with the intricate floral and grand sleeves of this outfit but still felt that it didn’t suit me,” she admits. “Manish Malhotra’s team was incredible and customized this outfit for me. I finally landed on the perfect mauve/pink-colored fabric with a few other adjustments. This dress and its craftsmanship really felt like I was wearing a work of art that belongs in a museum.”
Sonam’s bridal party complemented her all day in custom sage designs by MOR Collections, who also custom-made the groom’s look.
At the end of the baraat on July 15, 2023, the bride surprised Kenny in a red Ao Dai, traditionally worn by Vietnamese brides. “Looking back at the photos, the juxtaposition of wearing each other’s traditional garb while dancing and belting out ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ was marvelous and a moment I’ll always cherish,” Sonam reflects. Then, she changed back into her lehenga and walked down the aisle to Childish Gambino’s “So Into You.”
The couple followed the traditions of a Hindu wedding underneath the mandap, constructed by Bloom Box, and also chose to exchange their own vows. “This moment was deeply emotional, filled with tears and allowed us to express our love in both a profoundly personal way, but also a way we never have before—even after five years together,” Sonam reveals.
“We exited as husband and wife to Diplo’s ‘Diwali’ version of ‘Cold Water,’ a song that played a role in the very early stages of our relationship,” Sonam explains. “We found it cool there was a Diwali remix, which is one of the most joyous holidays in Gujarati culture and decided to include it.” After the ceremony, tandoor chai and Bombay sandwiches were served.
For the Italian-themed reception, the newlyweds changed their outfits—Kenny switched into a tuxedo by Soto & Co. “If there was one thing that I envisioned when I got married growing up, it was being in a black tuxedo,” he admits. “There is something so regal and timeless about a tuxedo.”
Guests found surprise letters featuring hand-written poems, penned by the couple just two nights prior to the wedding week, on their tables. And after the delicious dinner, everyone hit the dance floor with their deejay. “Seeing the meshing of the two cultures on the reception dance floor felt like a culmination of the entire weekend and work everyone put in,” Sonam recalls. “It was just a bonus seeing my 89-year-old grandfather dance the night away with a huge smile on his face.”
