Erica Chang, OBGYN and Runsheet Patel, a Vascular Surgeon, immediately hit it off when the two met at the beginning of medical school in. The following year was spent bonding through grueling study sessions. Erica says that they began to see each others more often in the basement of the library while studying for Step One. Even though medical school was difficult, spending time together felt effortless. Erica and Runsheet began to fall in love after their second years of medical school.
Runsheet proposed to me after five year of dating. Erica exclaims, “He proposed to my at in the morning.” He gave me a quick kiss and foot rub before I went to work, as he was always there before me. This time it was more. They were so thrilled about their engagement, they started wedding planning immediately. The couple initially planned to have a November marriage, but when the global pandemic struck, they couldn’t help but change their plans. It was a difficult task for them to find a date and a venue that would work with their busy schedules and cultures, while still ensuring that the event complied with safety and health guidelines. The stress was gone once they found Hummingbird Ranch in Simi Valley (California).
They could accommodate 150 people and the property had enough space to hold two ceremonies, one Indian and another Western. This was to honor their diverse cultures. The couple comments that they loved the property’s outdoor setting with stunning views. It also offered multiple venues for their multi-ceremony wedding. Continue reading to learn how Erica’s and Runsheet’s wedding was planned by Candice from Milk Events, and photographed by the Present Perfect. The lovebirds had no specific vision for their spring nuptials. However, they wanted their day to be more about celebrating their friendships and family than the décor. The couple shared that their vision was for a day of endless food, lots of love, and plenty of drinks. That was ultimately what we valued most.
Erica and her bridesmaids dressed in matching floral pajamas, and furry slippers with their names. Erica found choosing her bridal party the most difficult part of the wedding planning process. For the Indian ceremony, the bride wore a two-piece maroon Lehenga with intricately crafted gold details. Her low-maintenance look was highlighted by her bunted hair and choice of natural make up. She says, “I wanted to be comfortable because it was going to take me a long time.” Henna designed her entire outfit.
Because the dresses were versatile enough to be worn during both ceremonies, Erica chose custom blush lehengas from India. The bride was initially unsure if the lehengas would arrive on time so she bought a backup option from Birdy Grey last minute. Erica states, “Because my bridesmaids all lived in different areas of the U.S.A., I went and got the dress tailored by the tailor. Every bridesmaid was given a bonus dress because the lehengas had it made before the wedding. Erica says, “The girls either changed into the dresses for reception” or took it home as gifts. Runsheet chose a white kurta, with beaded detailing, red accents, along with a red tunic, red trousers, and white shoes, with gold embellishments. Runsheet said that he prefers simple designs to his outfit. Runsheet’s groomsmen were also dressed in blue vests with a maroon or beige kurta.
