A Hindu-Jew cross-cultural wedding rooted in legacy, love, and quiet symbolism

Tanisha Narang and Noah London’s story began far from wedding mandaps and chuppahs. They met as 20-year-olds at Syracuse University in 2017, introduced through friends, and stayed up talking until 5 am on their very first night. What followed were years shaped by pizza nights, Game of Thrones marathons, and growing up together through college and life in New York. When London proposed by a quiet lake at his family’s upstate New York home in May 2023, it became clear that their wedding would need to honour both worlds they came from, fully and thoughtfully.

Held in Mumbai, the celebration reflected who they are as a couple: deeply rooted in family, rich in tradition, and intentional in every choice. Rather than blending cultures loosely, the couple gave each ceremony its own space and meaning.

The proposal

The proposal came as a complete surprise. London had told Narang they were travelling upstate to celebrate his grandfather’s 98th birthday and suggested she dress up. Instead, he led her to his family’s private golf course, Morefar, a place filled with childhood memories. By the lake at the 13th hole, on May 13, he dropped to one knee with no one else around, and popped the question.

And thus began the preparations for the big day. Jewellery became one of the most intimate threads of the celebration. For the Hindu ceremony, Narang wore her late grandmother’s original jewellery, reimagined with pearls to echo the details of her red lehenga. Though she never imagined herself as a bride in red, the moment felt right. For the Jewish ceremony, she reworked her other grandmother’s heirloom to complement her modern gown. Completing the look was a Galia Lahav creation, a long-time favourite. 

The Hindu ceremony

The Hindu wedding began to the sound of live flute as the couple got ready to take their pheras. The colour palette of the day was soft pink, against their coordinated off-white ensembles. Guests were handed a customised edition of The London Times, complete with the couple’s love story, crosswords, and games, making the rituals feel welcoming and engaging.

The celebrations were designed to feel warm rather than grand, allowing moments to unfold naturally. Family, music, and quiet joy took centre stage, setting an intimate tone for the nuptials.

The Jewish ceremony

The Jewish wedding began with the ketubah signing, followed by the bedeken, where London veiled his bride. The chuppah symbolised the home they are building together. Standing beneath it, surrounded by loved ones, felt timeless and magical.

Narang circled London seven times during the hafakot, a Jewish version of the pheras. Kiddushin followed, with two shared cups of wine marking marriage and nuptials. The sheva brachot filled the space with voices of blessing and community. Under a tallit, the couple received the birkat kohanim, before London broke the glass, a reminder of life’s fragility and shared commitment.

For Narang, the bedeken stood out as the most emotional moment. Experiencing these traditions together connected them not just to each other, but to generations before them. For guests unfamiliar with the rituals, it became an introduction to culture and meaning.

From the ethereal floral garden mehendi overlooking the Queen’s Necklace to the candlelit chuppah, every element reflected intention. It was a wedding shaped not by spectacle, but by traditions, love, and the life they are building together.

All images: Ethereal Studios

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