Photos: Russell Heeter Photography
A couple blends American and Indian traditions that honor family, heritage and romance.
What started as a casual reconnection over Thanksgiving break in 2016 turned into the start of a lifelong journey for Ambarish (Rishi) and Nan (née Glinsek) Sen. Although the couple initially met years earlier through mutual friends at Hill-Murray School and Centennial Senior High School, staying in touch via social media, it wasn’t until an evening at a Twin Cities establishment that their connection deepened.
For the Haldi ceremony, Nan Sen wore a yellow Nidhi Tholia dress featuring gold accents, while Rishi Sen wore a yellow kurta from Manyavar Mohey. The bright yellow color of both outfits paid homage to the turmeric ceremony, a prewedding ritual that involves applying turmeric to the bride and groom. The couple opted to be showered with yellow rose petals instead.
“Nan actually went home that night and told her mom she thought she met her husband,” Rishi says. Despite attending colleges on opposite sides of the country, the two stayed close. Their bond strengthened, and Rishi transferred to the University of Minnesota–Duluth in 2018; they eventually graduated together from the university. In 2020, they took the next step together with a move to Chicago and built a life together. By 2024, they were ready to tie the knot with an intimate wedding in Ojai, California, and an Indian wedding in Minneapolis.
Cherished Traditions with a Personal Touch
March 22, 2024, marked Rishi and Nan’s first celebration in Ojai. “… Nan wore a stunning white dress, and we got to share our vows with each other and celebrate the special traditions of an American wedding,” Rishi says.
Nan Sen’s fairytale bridal look featured a classic off-the-shoulder dress from Annika Bridal in Edina, a simple pearl necklace and pearl drop earrings and was complete with a bouquet of white and dusty pink roses. Rishi Sen kept in tune with the elegant atmosphere of the wedding with a black tuxedo from Gen Tux.
A few months later, the couple’s wedding celebrations continued with traditional Indian events. “In Indian culture, so much of the wedding celebration is centered around thousands of years of history and tradition,” Rishi says. “… The wedding is centered around the rituals and ceremonies.”
With multiple events leading up to the ceremony, Indian events often last for days. While the couple didn’t host a full week of festivities, they chose to incorporate their favorite traditions.
The wedding weekend, taking place May 17–19, 2024, began with a lively Sangeet, a night filled with dancing and music. In a special surprise, the wedding party performed a choreographed dance, adding an extra layer of excitement to the celebration. The following day, guests gathered for a Haldi ceremony, which traditionally involves applying turmeric paste to the faces of the bride and groom. “… We chose to swap turmeric paste for yellow rose petals that our friends and family showered us with, alongside blessings, in spirit of the ceremony,” Rishi says.
For the Sangeet, Rishi and Nan Sen kept it classic. Rishi’s kurta from Manyavar Mohey included a glittering black touch, while Nan wore a white, sparkling sharara paired with colorful jewels.
A particularly meaningful addition to the wedding was their Ancestor Wall, where the couple honored the legacy of their family with photographs of their grandparents, great-grandparents and other family members who had passed away. “I thought it was amazing to be able to showcase the history of our families to our guests,” Rishi says.
For the ceremony, Nan Sen stunned in a pink and gold saree with intricate gold jewelry gifted from the groom’s family. Rishi Sen kept it classic with an off-white kurta, featuring gold accents and added a touch of playfulness by pairing his outfit with white Nike Air Force 1 shoes—a nod to his personal style and a practical choice for the dance floor.
The couple ensured their guests had an unforgettable experience, starting with heartfelt speeches from loved ones and continuing with a DJ that kept the dance floor buzzing all night. Rishi says one of the most cherished memories was the participation of their guests who embraced Indian tradition by wearing sarees, lehengas and kurtas. “We really wanted to be able to celebrate the Indian heritage while also bringing our love to the forefront,” he says.
Planning a Picture-perfect Day
Bringing a beautiful wedding to life requires the help of talented vendors. For Ambarish (Rishi) and Nan Sen that meant finding vendors for both cultural celebrations—and it all came together with the help of one expert. “We worked with Rachelle from Style-Architects [Weddings & Events] as our wedding planner,” Rishi says. “She brought us all the best vendors to help bring our vision to life.”
In the evening, Nan changed into a vibrant red lehenga designed by Anita Dongre, paired with a glamorous tikka headpiece, gold bangles and necklaces. With different hairstyles curated by Hair by Theresa for each event, including this braided look, the bride’s looks were as thoughtful as the day itself.
From photographer Russell Heeter capturing each beautiful moment to floral designer Rose Imaginative decorating the blank canvas at Machine Shop, each vendor played a vital role in creating a dream day.
Haldi Vendors
- Attire: Manyavar Mohey, manyavar.com; Nidhi Tholia, nidhitholia.com
- Catering: Darbar India Grill & Bar, darbarindiagrill.com; Hire A Host, hireahost.net
- Décor: Anez Rentals, Instagram: @anezrentals
- Event Planning and Design: Kahani Event Design, kahanievents.com
- Hair: Hair by Theresa, hair-by-theresa.com
- Photography: Russell Heeter Weddings, russellheeter.com
Wedding Day Vendors
- Attire: Angadi Silks, Instagram: @angadioninsta; Anita Dongre, us.anitadongre.com
- Catering: Chow Girls, chowgirls.net; Darbar India Grill & Bar, darbarindiagrill.com
- Décor: Après Event Dècor and Tent Rental, apresparty.com; Haven & Gather, havenandgather.com; Kahani, kahanievents.com; Linen Effects, lineneffects.com; Phos Events, phosevents.com
- Dessert: Ink Sweets, inksweets.com
- DJ: Dudley D (Dustin Meyer), Instagram: @nomusicnoparty; Sundeep Patel
- Event Planning and Design: Style-Architects Weddings & Events, style-architectsweddings.com
- Floral: Rose Imaginative, roseimaginative.com
- Food Truck: Butcher Salt, butchersalt.com
- Hair: Hair by Theresa, hair-by-theresa.com
- Makeup: Andrea Holton, andreaholton.com
- Photography: Russell Heeter Weddings, russellheeter.com
- Photo Booth: Time Into Pixels Photography, timeintopixels.com
- Stationary: Paper Rock Scissor, paperrockscissor.com
- Videography: Summit Hill Studios, summithillstudios.com
- Venue: Machine Shop, machineshopmpls.com
Sangeet Vendors
- Attire: Manyavar Mohey, manyavar.com; Seema Gujral, seemagujral.com
- Catering: Hireahost, hireahost.net; India Palace, indiapalacemn.com
- DJ: Sundeep Patel
- Event Planning and Design: Kahani Event Design, kahanievents.com
- Hair: Hair by Theresa, hair-by-theresa.com
- Photography: Russell Heeter Weddings, russellheeter.com
- Videography: Summit Hill Studios, summithillstudios.com
- Venue: Minnesota Science Museum, new.smm.org
