Breathtaking garments, intricate embellishments, and floral garlands. A parade with the groom on horseback. Flavors, colors, and textures at every turn. This four-day Indian wedding celebration culminated in a Saturday night reception at The Columns Memphis, and each event included between 15 and 450 guests. But no matter how intimate or grand, every moment was a feast for the senses. Meet the couple behind it all: Ruth and Sahaj Singh.
PinRuth Bryan grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Sahaj Singh in Memphis, Tennessee. They currently live in New York City. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Sahaj was home in Memphis for the holidays in 2019, and Ruth lived there then. They met through mutual friends and began a long-distance relationship almost immediately. At that point, Sahaj had been living in New York City for several years, and Ruth finally made the move in 2022.
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PinEach bridesmaid got to choose her own traditional lehengas for Friday and Saturday. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinAnd Sahaj’s groomsmen selected their own kurta sets. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
In July 2023, Sahaj planned a beautiful proposal at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, then took Ruth on a surprise trip home to Memphis to celebrate with their families and friends. A 15-month engagement with some serious planning ensued. “We knew planning would be challenging from a distance and wanted to give ourselves plenty of time,” Ruth says.
PinSahaj had always wanted to do some portion of his wedding at The Columns in downtown Memphis, and their wedding style and reception guest count of 450 made it the perfect venue. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Ruth says tapping Emma Cockerham with Infinity Events was the best investment they could have made. “We still laugh that Emma is the only reason we stayed somewhat sane through the planning process. She’s that good!” Ruth says.
PinA lot went into planning such a packed week of celebrations with intricate cultural facets. Image: Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
“As soon as we decided on an Indian wedding, I dove into all things color, pulling from the beautiful hues of Indian weddings,” Ruth says. “We wanted reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges.” Ruth saved and collected photos of anything and everything that caught her eye, then turned over the vision to florist L & Jay Productions to bring it to life.
Pin“L & Jay’s ability to showcase what I had pictured in my head was more exquisite than we could have imagined!” Ruth adds. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
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PinThe airy decor appropriately showed off The Columns’s columns. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
The wedding week started on Wednesday with the Mehndi, a pre-wedding celebration where the bride’s palms are adorned with a red-orange mehndi “stain.” Ruth invited about 15 of her closest girlfriends and a few family members.
PinThe pre-wedding Mehndi ceremony is meant to impart health and prosperity to the bride as she begins the wedding. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
On Thursday, the intimate Haldi and Choora celebrations were filled with dancing, food, and adorning the bride, groom, and wedding party with an array of traditional accessories like arm bangles and delicate floral headpieces.
Pin“Red is an auspicious color in Indian culture — especially in weddings — symbolizing new beginnings, passion, and prosperity,” Ruth explains. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinAbout 50 to 60 guests came and went through Thursday’s Haldi and Choora ceremonies. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Friday’s Sangeet signified the union of the two families. During this raucous night, Ruth’s bridesmaids and Sahaj’sgroomsmen performed dances to honor their friends. Multiple generations and friend groups joined on the dance floor, amplifying the weekend’s excitement and guest count.
PinThey welcomed 325 guests to Friday’s Sanjeet. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinThe Sanjeet is all about honoring the couple and preparing for the next day’s ceremony. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Ruth’s lehengas for Friday and Saturday were from India, picked out by her mother-in-law and Sahaj’s aunt. “They shopped endlessly for dresses that looked like ‘me,’ and both outfits were stunning,” Ruth notes.
PinRuth says she “felt like a princess in the lehengas they picked.” Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinThe stunning bride and her dapper soon-to-be husband soak up one last night together before the big day. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Rain nearly canceled Sahaj’s Baraat on Saturday — the parade led the groom, his friends, and family to the wedding ceremony. “It’s basically a huge dance party on foot, and it’s tradition for the groom to ride in on a horse,” Ruth says. “We were all really praying the weather stayed pretty so we could see that!”
PinThe weather cooperated, and Sahaj’s dramatic entrance was one of the weekend’s best moments. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinMake way for the groom! Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
After the Baraat came the Milni and Jaimala (exchanging of garlands) outside of The Columns entrance. “Then, we went straight into the Kirtan (hymns) and processional. The Laavs were next, which are loops around the Guru Granth Sahib by Sahaj, with me in step behind him,” Ruth explains. “After the Laavs were the Ardaas (prayers), followed by a blessing and lunch for everyone in attendance.”
Pin“We had a traditional Sikh ceremony, or Anand Karaj, meaning blissful union,” Ruth explains. “There are no verbal vows exchanged in this ceremony, but it’s centered around the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book), similar to an American wedding.” Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinIt was important to Ruth and Sahaj that guests could follow along with the ceremony and understand what each portion meant, so they made a descriptive program. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinThe ceremony on Saturday morning had about 300 guests, and the reception that evening had about 450 guests in attendance. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
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Ruth wanted her reception gown to feel “bridal and show-stopping since Saturday night was our biggest guest count,” she says. “Since our wedding was non-traditional for me in many ways, it was special to have that ‘yes to the dress’ moment at Maggie Louise with my mom, sister, and aunt.”
PinThe Singhs: outfits changed and ready to party! Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinA cocktail hour kicked off the reception with two signature cocktails: a “Max Martini” (espresso martini) named after their dog, Max. And a “Lina-Rita” (mezcal margarita) inspired by Ruth’s favorite cocktail at Jack Diamond’s in NYC. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
A fusion of their favorite Indian and American flavors circulated during cocktail hour: chili potatoes, chili paneer, crispy fried tofu, gobi manchurian, and spinach and artichoke dip. Ruth went back and forth about having a seated dinner versus stations. “Ultimately, we wanted a high-energy reception, focusing on congregating, dancing, and wrapping up what we knew would be a crazy week of festivities!” So the 450 guests enjoyed culinary stations, each with a different theme: Indo-Chinese station, Indian, Mediterranean, and Italian.
PinEach cake tier had a different flavor: chocolate, vanilla, coffee, banana pudding, and pineapple. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPin“The cake was absolutely delicious, and maybe one slice was left at the end of the night!” Ruth says. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPinRuth and Sahaj’s first dance was a mashup of two songs: “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole and “Kala Chashma” by Prem & Hardeep. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Sahaj is a lifelong Memphis Grizzlies fan, so they made custom Grizz towels to commemorate the wedding weekend. After the send-off, the couple went straight to a bar around the corner to continue soaking up every minute they could with friends and family from near and far.
PinAll Heart. Ruth & Sahaj. 10.28.2023. Image: Elizabeth Hoard PhotographyPin“The custom towels were a hit, and we love that our send-off pictures show everyone waving their Grizz towels!” Ruth says. Image: Elizabeth Hoard Photography
Ruth and Sahaj leave for their honeymoon exactly a year after their wedding weekend. “We are headed to the Serengeti in Tanzania for a safari, followed by a week in the (beautiful!) Maldives,” Ruth says.
If you’re in the throes of wedding planning, “Be patient and have compassion during the planning process,” Ruth suggests. “Every emotion is heightened during the process. You’re dealing with your wishes, those of your family, your partner, and their family. That’s a lot of feelings to keep track of and a nearly impossible task to do perfectly. Remember that you’re all just doing your best.”
Thanks for reliving your wedding week with us, Ruth!
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint freelance writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant since 2012. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.
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