Real Weddings: Angela and Raj

The couple takes a stroll on the Inn at Little Washington’s lush property. All photographs by Greg Gibson

Angela, a Kentucky native, and Raj, who grew up in Maryland, first met when both worked for a real estate developer in New York.

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“On the morning of my first day, I was in the kitchen trying to figure out the coffee machine,” says Angela. “Raj strolled in and, without embarrassing me too much, introduced himself and made my first cup. There was definitely a spark between us.”

The couple eventually moved to Dubai, where Raj proposed at the luxurious Al Maha resort. They chose to marry at the Inn at Little Washington on June 4.

“We knew we wanted to have the wedding near one of our families, either mine in Kentucky or Raj’s in Maryland,” said Angela. “Raj actually recommended the Inn at Little Washington, not only because of its impeccable reputation, but also because its small town feel and lush green landscape seemed to bring a lot of my hometown to the occasion. As a bit of a foodie, I am also a long time fan of Chef Patrick O’Connell, and the prospect of having his five-course tasting menu at our reception seemed too good to be true.”

The couple held an intimate wedding celebration that fused Indian and American traditions.

“We decided to do two ceremonies,” says Angela. “For the first I wore a traditional white gown, and Raj wore a tuxedo, my father walked me down the aisle, and a harpist played. For the second, I changed into an elaborate Indian lehenga choli and Raj into a sherwani. As per tradition, he rode in on a horse, our two families joined in a dance, we walked the seven steps, known as ‘saptapadi’ around a pit of fire.”

“We also wanted to take advantage of the natural landscape, so we planned both ceremonies outside,” Angela adds.

The wedding was kept very small and intimate, with just 42 of the couple’s closest friends and relatives.

After the two ceremonies, the guests enjoyed a five-course tasting menu in the inn’s ballroom and on the porch.

“The meal was truly one of the most delicious and most unique experiences of our lives,” says Angela, of the dinner which featured a mélange of spicy, big-eyed tuna with mango, avocado, crispy shallots, and sake-yuzu sorbet, fricassee of Maine lobster with potato gnocchi, curried walnuts, and butter sauce, and barbecued braised short ribs on saffron risotto and gremolada.

“We asked six people—Raj’s father, best man, my sister, and three dear friends—to each give a toast, one before each course,” says Angela. “The toasts really stick out; they were all really different, thoughtful, and touching.”

Wedding cake—a chocolate and raspberry confection—was also served with house-made ice cream. Angela and Raj cut the cake using an antique knife that belonged to the bride’s grandmother.

The couple performed their first dance to “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Ray Charles and guests enjoyed dancing throughout the evening. As the night came to a close, each guest received a copy of “The Velveteen Rabbit” to take home, and Angela and Raj exited amid a sea of sparklers as they headed off on their European honeymoon.