Mudra Patel & Paul Cressman

Mauve Magic

Three months after meeting Mudra Patel (34 and a vice president of product management), Paul Cressman (35 and an attorney) knew he wanted to marry her. “She was such an amazing person, with such a kind heart, and everything just felt so easy with her,” recalls Paul. Had fates not aligned, they might have never met. In 2014, Paul was working as an attorney and living in Philadelphia. Over a long holiday weekend, he visited a friend in New York City and planned to depart on Sunday. Thankfully, the buddy convinced him to stay a little longer, and that night they met up with his girlfriend, who brought along her bestie. And, as any rom-com lover could predict, that best friend was Mudra.

“We were soon connecting over our love of food and wondering where we could get sushi and a burger at the same restaurant,” recalls the couple. After finding one such place with an eclectic-yet-inviting menu, the couple got lost in conversation over their shared interest in everything from science and technology to business and politics. “It was refreshing to have such an organic and easy conversation with another person.”

“Later, we realized we had been talking the whole night,” Mudra says. “At 5:30 in the morning, Paul asked whether I had ever seen the sunrise over New York City. We

Hand-Selected Style

walked down to a park on the Hoboken, New Jersey, waterfront and watched the sunrise. It was an amazing way to end the perfect night.”

Roughly four years later, the couple decided it was time to take the next step in theirrelationship.Theytalkedaboutgetting engaged in late 2018, but Paul surprised Mudra by proposing several months early. “The decision to spend your life with your best friend and partner is an easy one, but the actual moment Paul asked me was a special surprise,” says Mudra.

“It was a Friday night after a long work week, and we changed into sweatpants and got ready for dinner,” she recalls. “Paul made dinner and we spent the evening chattingaboutworkandhowmuchweloved each other. I said, ‘You know, it doesn’t matter how, when or if you ask me. It’s moments like these that matter the most.’ Just then,

Paul asked me to grab our sangria and go sit on the patio. I took my big blanket outside whilePaulchangedhisclothesandfollowed me. I made fun of him for putting on a nice shirt, but then he got down on one knee and began to tell me again why he loved me so much. I finally realized what was happening, started laughing and crying, and said an emphatic ‘yes’ (after saying ‘no’ about 10 times in disbelief).”

About a year before their engagement, the couple took a trip to Santa Barbara, California, and fell in love with the town, so it was a simple choice for their destination wedding. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced them to postpone their wedding and change their original venue. Still, after a three-year planning process, they finally said “I do” in Santa Barbara.

The couple “aimed for an aesthetic that felt elevated, romantic and timeless. Mudra’s style is pretty clean, neutral, classic, and mine is a bit brighter and more vibrant,” says Paul. “Our design felt like a good mix of both of us.”

The wedding weekend included multiple events, each with a distinct feel and color palette. To start, the couple celebrated the mehndi (henna) night with a coastal vibe and a white-and-yellow palette. “Because

Abbreviated “I dos”

Mudra and Paul opted for a shortened Hindu ceremony. They skipped elements that didn’t feel authentic to them and “kept the parts that were rooted in symbols of love, commitment and unity.”

Ceremony + Reception Site: Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Santa Barbara, CA

Photography: Emily Loeppke

Videography: I Heart Creative

Event Planning + Design: Array Creative Design

Floral Design: Coco Rose Design

Officiant: Sudhir Jha

Mudra’s Attire: Gaurav Gupta; Oscar de la Renta

Paul’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

Shoes:

Mudra: Jimmy Choo; Paul: Shyamal & Bhumika

Engagement + Wedding Rings: Ultimate Diamond

Hair & Makeup: TEAM Hair & Makeup

Stationery:

Invitations: Mascotte Designs; Day-of paper: Sophia Loves Letters

Rentals: BBJ La Tavola; Bella Vista Designs; Party Pleasers; Table Method; Theoni

Catering: Nimita’s Cuisine

DJ: Sodjla this event was held on a rooftop, with views of the mountains and the beach, we wanted the decor to be minimal and let the landscape shine,” says Mudra. To match the waterfront feel, they each donned deep blue outfits custom-made in India. For the main event, the aesthetic centered on soft shades of pink and neutrals, with lots of lush greenery. And to cap off the weekend, the couple hosted a brunch with a white color palette.

On the day of the ceremony and reception, Mudra and Paul had a first look that ended up being Paul’s favorite moment from the entire wedding. “Until that point, I had heard so much about Mudra’s dress and was waiting to see her all day. When the first look finally came, I had an overwhelming sense of anxiety and excitement. I remember hearing the footsteps behind me and finally being able to turn around to see her. At that moment, she took my breath away. I knew I was there with my best friend, and we were doing it together. This is the moment that sticks in my head and always makes me smile.”

To kick off the ceremony, Paul (decked out in custom attire from Mumbai, India) entered with a traditional baraat—a South Asian groom’s wedding arrival—after which Mudra’s brother escorted her to the mandap (Hindu altar). The couple chose to abbreviatetheirHinduceremonytoabout45 minutes.“Thepandit(Hindupriest)jokingly reminded us of that after he completed the ceremony. We kept the parts that were rooted in symbols of love, commitment and unity,” says Mudra. Because vows aren’t traditionally recited during a Hindu ceremony, the couple opted to exchange handwritten versions after the wedding.

Mudra’s favorite moment was during the reception. “Right before Paul and I gave speeches, I held the mic and looked at everyone I loved and then to Paul. I felt immense gratitude and fullness. It was the first time I got teary and was a beautiful reminder of why people have weddings. Besides celebrating your love, it’s the one time in your life when everyone you love will be in one room looking at you with love.”