Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fun and Colorful at Ojai Valley Inn

The traditional Indian Mandap created by The Hidden Garden was simple and lovely.Indian Kathak dancing was followed by a fun Bollywood dance that involved all of the wedding guests


Dining under the stars on Saturday evening - before heading into the lounge for dancing.




We had the pleasure of planning a delightful wedding at The Ojai Valley Inn this past weekend. The bride is Indian and the groom grew up in England. We had so much fun combining the two cultures.


Friday began with a golf tournament for the men at the resort. The women were treated to Mehendi (colorful Indian Henna) and manicures at the private home we rented for the weekend. The estate is the personal home of the owners of the hotel and it's quite beautiful.


The first ceremony was held on Friday evening- "The Zoroastrian Blessing Ceremony". The sunset over the mountains was quite dramatic as guests witnessed this gorgeous ritual. A poolside feast of Indian and English cuisine was followed by mystical Kathak dancing.


Saturday began with a lovely ceremony at the hotel in the Herb Garden followed by cocktails and hors d' oeuvres under the wisteria covered pergola. Guests hopped on shuttles and were whisked to a "secret" location. They were delighted to arrive at the Ranch owned by the resort. After dining outdoors on Amalfi tables overflowing with wild flowers - a new area was revealed. We transformed the existing barn into an eclectic lounge combining colorful Indian accents and old world European decor. The fantastic space featured custom furniture, dramatic lighting and floor to ceiling draping. Guests danced the night away.


The weekend concluded with brunch at The Herb Garden Pool. Mostly everyone stayed at the hotel over night and as they departed on Sunday they were given lavender filled sachets by the valet staff with the sentiment "when the scent is no more it is time to return to The Ojai Valley Inn". I am sure the guests can't wait to return.

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