For their Malibu nuptials, Sharan Keswani and Deepak Ramanathan create an elegant event combining Hindu and Sikh traditions
Words by CAROLINE CAGNEY
Photography by MILI GHOSH
Sharan Keswani and Deepak Ramanathan first laid eyes on each other at Manhattan Beach restaurant Little Sister after connecting via dating app The League. “I remember thinking he had the cutest smile with just one dimple on his right cheek,” recalls Sharan, director of retention marketing at clean beauty brand Skylar. “We talked about anything and everything, laughing in between, and ended up being the last two people at the restaurant while they were putting the chairs up to close.” Fast-forward two years to another special evening in May 2019, when Deepak, a director at a private equity firm, proposed to Sharan on the beach at Point Dume.
The happy couple after the ceremony at Malibu Hindu Temple.
Honoring their respective cultures and traditions, the couple decided to have two ceremonies and employed Smita Mohindra of Ethnic Essence to carry out their vision. While the couple’s original plan was to wed in Palm Springs, the pandemic forced them to postpone and ultimately choose a venue closer to home so that local family and friends could attend. With that, on a Friday morning in February, eight guests gathered at the Malibu Hindu Temple for an intimate South Indian ceremony, with Deepak’s parents Zooming in from Australia.
“We focused heavily on embroidery and subtle floral motifs,” says Sharan of her custom gown and veil.
The bride wore a traditional lehenga from Astha Narang for the anand karaj.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream inspired the lush reception design.
On Sunday, the celebration continued at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, with 50 guests, for a traditional Sikh wedding ceremony, called anand karaj. The bride surprised her car-loving groom with a convertible Ferrari for the grand baraat (the groom’s wedding procession) with loved ones dancing alongside him to his favorite ’90s and ’00s hip-hop songs mashed with Bollywood hits. The natural surroundings informed many of the enchanting design elements, including the palki sahib (the structure that houses the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism), which was surrounded by a canopy of intertwined greenery and pastel-colored roses. During the reception, guests enjoyed Indian fusion cuisine, including tikka ravioli and achari paneer tacos prepared by Mantra Indian Cuisine, alongside drinks like mango lassi. “It was truly a momentous day for us to see so many of our family and friends after a year-long quarantine,” says Sharan. “That extended separation only made this celebration sweeter.”
Makeup and Hair: Andrea Vlaovich (temple ceremony); Nida Gazi (anand karaj)
Flowers: Ethnic Essence
Music and lighting: 3D Sounds
Cake and Catering: Mantra Indian Cuisine
Feature image: Sharan Keswani and Deepak Ramanathan exchange custom rings during the anand karaj ceremony.
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of C Weddings.
Discover more WEDDINGS news and visit our RESOURCE GUIDE.
