A Bollywood-Inspired Wedding at the FedEx Event Center

This stunning wedding at Memphis’s FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms was filled with color, laughter, and love. Beginning with a traditional Indian wedding procession, extending through two color-infused ceremonies, and ending with a sparkling reception, every moment was one to savor and swoon over. Meet the couple who clearly enjoyed every moment of their special day, Samhita Swamy and Gibson Collins.

A smiling couple in traditional Indian wedding attire sits together at the Swamy-Collins Wedding, surrounded by yellow and orange floral garlands and ceremonial items. — Sam and Gibson said “I do!” on May 26, 2026, at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

Samhita and Gibson began dating in 2017 while living in Los Angeles. Sam was attending college at the University of Southern California and joined a climbing gym with her friends. Gibson was working there, and a connection soon blossomed.

The couple got engaged at Mammoth Lakes in 2022. Though he works full-time in commercial filmmaking, Gibson is a musician at heart. He was playing a solo show at a local brewery, invited Sam to sing a few songs with him … and proposed! “I was so surprised,” she tells us. “He designed my engagement ring himself, using two diamonds from his grandmother.”

Poster on an easel showing two people in red clothing against a mountain backdrop, with text: "Samhita & Gibson, Swamy-Collins Wedding, May 26, 2024. — The couple’s fun, adventurous spirit is captured in the signage. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

An outdoor Swamy-Collins Wedding ceremony setup with rows of wooden chairs facing a floral arch adorned with colorful flowers and garlands, set on lush grass near a serene lake and tall trees. — The couple chose the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms because they needed a big space and loved the natural setting and large windows. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

A person with a long braid adorned with white flowers sits while another styles their hair in a dressing room, preparing for the Swamy-Collins Wedding. — The day began with preparing the bride. Lots of gold jewelry is traditional, as are garlands woven intricately into a long braid. Sam chose jasmine for its lovely smell and opted for a sculptural and modern design. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

When planning began, Sam knew she wanted a vibrant color scheme and found inspiration in marigolds, which are often used in Indian celebrations. She was also intrigued by vintage Bollywood movies and channeled that energy with a warm, vibrant orange. The couple worked with Emma Cockerham of Infinity Events to bring their vision to life. “She was a massive help throughout the process,” Sam says. “We could not have pulled it off without her.”

A beautiful outdoor Swamy-Collins Wedding with a bride and groom facing the officiant, groomsmen in brown suits, and vibrant orange flowers in the foreground. — The bride chose a stunning, warm color scheme with vibrant orange. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

“For the Indian ceremony, I wanted to go hyper-traditional South Indian, as if you could take a black-and-white photo and not tell what year it was taken,” Sam says. “The style of sari is called a Kanjivaram silk sari. My family is Tamil and Telugu, and many of the details, including the way the sari is tied, pay honor to regional and family traditions.”

The one departure from tradition was the color of the sari; usually, they are a bright color with a gold border. Sam opted for all gold for a modern, unique twist.

A woman in a gold sari with floral garlands stands outside a building, smiling and posing for a photo at the Swamy-Collins Wedding. — For the Indian ceremony, Sam went for a Kanjivaram silk sari in gold. Many of the details honor her Tamil and Telugu heritage.”The sari was tied by my mom’s friend, who has professional training in sari tying!” the bride tells us. “She ironed the pleats into the sari, which helped it fall nicely on my frame. It is a lot of fabric.” Image: For The Love Birds Photography

“It is traditional to wear lots of gold jewelry; it probably has origins in being part of a dowry,” the bride says with a smile. “The headpiece is called a nethichutti. I liked the asymmetrical mango-shaped design.”

Sam wore silver anklets and received toe rings and the marriage chain (thali), which are traditionally given to the bride during the ceremony. “The toe rings are said to be connected to acupressure points that increase blood flow to the uterus and are good for reproductive health!” she explains.

Two women in colorful traditional attire, one helping the other put on gold bangles over intricate henna designs on her hands, capture a beautiful moment at the Swamy-Collins Wedding. — “The henna (mehendi in South Indian languages) is another adornment that brides wear up to their elbows and on their feet,” Sam says. “We had a party at my parents’ house for the bride and women relatives and friends to get their mehendi done.” Image: For The Love Birds Photography

The day began with the baraat, a traditional Indian wedding procession where the groom, accompanied by family and friends, travels to the bride’s location. Vibrant and festive, a baraat is celebrated with music and dancing.

A group of people in festive attire gather around a black convertible decorated with flowers at the Swamy-Collins Wedding; a man with sunglasses is seated inside, smiling and clapping. — Let’s not forget the groom! The baraat is an integral part of an Indian wedding, signifying the groom’s arrival and the start of the marriage rituals. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

At the Swamy-Collins Wedding, three women in sarees walk down an aisle at an indoor ceremony, while seated guests watch and take photos. The central woman holds a decorative object. — In the bride’s family, it is tradition to walk down the aisle with a “sister” who is married and one who is unmarried. Sam walked with her cousin-in-law and sister-in-law. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

There are many different parts to an Indian ceremony, and guests received a program explaining the importance of each one. The two-hour ceremony was filled with fun and engaging moments, such as Vungarala Sambaram (the ring game), where the bride and groom compete to find a gold ring in a pot. Sam and Gibson also exchanged garlands (Varmala) and took seven steps around the fire to represent their journey in life together (Sapthapadi).

The couple and their guests enjoyed traditional South Indian dishes at breakfast and lunch, featuring dosa, vada, pongal, sambar, and curries specific to the village in India that the bride’s family is from. “Cuisine is hyper-regional in India,” said Sam. “It is hard to get my family’s traditional food in a restaurant, and Amrutha Vilas really rose to the challenge!”

A couple in traditional attire sits during the Swamy-Collins Wedding ceremony, surrounded by family and priests, with garlands, rituals, and beautiful floral decorations marking this special wedding event. — We are obsessed with the floral details and gorgeous pops of color. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

For the Western ceremony, the bride wore a gown from Nicole Barre. In an almost-too-good-to-be-true twist, it was the first one she tried on! “I loved the square neckline,” she says. “I wanted to use the dress as a canvas for a fusion look with layers of traditional Indian jewelry, so I chose a very simple style.”

A woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet walks outdoors on grass, arm-in-arm with a man in a gray suit and purple tie at the Swamy-Collins Wedding. — The bride and her father walked down the aisle to a unique rendition of Al Green’s *Simply Beautiful*. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

The bride and her father walked down the aisle to a stunning arrangement of Simply Beautiful by Al Green, a three-way performance collaboration by the bride’s cousin, her yoga guru (a flutist), and the guitarist and singer from BB King’s All-Star Band. The flutist began by playing an ancient wedding and celebration raga (a pattern of notes used in Indian classical music to create melodies), which flowed seamlessly into the song.

A couple stands under a floral arch exchanging vows during the Swamy-Collins Wedding, while bridesmaids in orange dresses holding bouquets look on in the background at this elegant outdoor wedding event. — The couple exchanged personal, meaningful vows. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

The couple was married by a close friend. Readings included a short verse by Omar Khayam and the essay Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle. “It is a moving essay that is an ode to the heart,” Sam says. “It takes the listener on a ride, moving from funny to happy to sad, and Gibson and I enjoyed sharing it with everyone.” The couple then exchanged vows they had written themselves.

A couple dressed in wedding attire kisses outdoors; the bride holds a colorful bouquet and wears floral hair decorations, capturing a joyful moment from the Swamy-Collins Wedding. — Sealed with a kiss. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

The Western ceremony was followed by a cocktail hour, which featured Indian-Southern fusion snacks to reflect the joining of the two cultures. Next, the 150 guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner before dancing and fun at the reception.

At the Swamy-Collins Wedding, a bride and groom cut a white tiered wedding cake together. The bride wears a white dress with gold jewelry and floral hair decorations, while the groom wears a beige suit. — The cake was Gulab Jamun — an Indian dessert made of dough balls in a rose, cardamom, and saffron flavored syrup. “Crave Sweets experimented with those flavors and made a really moist and delicious cake,” says Sam. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

Dinner was family-style, featuring American Southern and South Indian fusion-style dishes, including catfish curry, masala mac-n-cheese, and biryani. Carrying out the bride’s theme of putting a modern twist on tradition, the lovely dinner table decor included brass vases from the bride’s family’s home village in India.

A long table set with food, drinks, and floral centerpieces; guests dressed formally are seated and conversing during the candlelit Swamy-Collins Wedding celebration. — “I loved incorporating traditional objects in little places,” said Sam. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

A bowl of biryani garnished with herbs and petals is placed on a decorated dining table at the Swamy-Collins Wedding, set with plates, cutlery, flowers, and a glass of water. — Guests enjoyed American Southern-South Indian-fusion dishes from Paradox Catering, served family-style. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

At the reception, guests offered speeches that ranged from the emotional to the hilarious. Sam and Gibson loved the special dance performance by some of the bride’s younger cousins, and everyone enjoyed grooving to the sounds of BB King’s All-Star Band.

A man and woman sit at a decorated table, dressed in formal attire at the Swamy-Collins Wedding, with the man holding his hands together and the woman smiling beside him. — The newlyweds react with huge smiles to the speeches in their honor. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

A man in a gray suit dances with a woman in a white dress at the Swamy-Collins Wedding, as a live band performs and other guests dance in the background. — The couple did simultaneous father-daughter and mother-son dances to *Love and Happiness* by Al Green. Image: For The Love Birds Photography

The evening ended in a shower of flower petals, and the married pair headed off in a getaway car for a honeymoon in Nicaragua. Two weeks after the wedding, the couple moved to Portland, Oregon, where Sam is an orthopaedic surgery resident and Gibson works in commercial film production.