REAL WEDDING:: Athena Tiwari + Brian Christman {From Move-in Day to the Mandap}

November 24, 2025
Ashley Revels
Featured Couples

Bride and groom stand forehead to forehead beneath a delicate lace-edged veil, smiling softly as she cups his face with hands adorned in henna. The groom holds her waist as they share an intimate, romantic moment in a softly lit room with an ornate mirror in the background.

::AS SEEN IN THE FALL 2025 DIGITAL ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE::

Photography by Catherine Guidry Photography

athena + brian’s story

Athena Tiwari and Brian Christman’s romance proves that every great love story begins with one unforgettable moment.

Some love stories begin with grand gestures, but Athena and Brian’s started with something simple, a door held open on move-in day.

Both freshmen at Rhodes College in Memphis, Athena had just arrived from Jackson, Mississippi, while Brian had made the journey from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. Struggling with a locked dorm door, Athena was rescued by Brian, who happened to be inside. As Athena walked away, his mom turned to him and said, ‘I bet you’re going to like it here,’” Athena recalls. His mother was right.

A friendship formed that first year and slowly blossomed into something more. By the summer of 2018, their connection deepened into a relationship, and five years later, Brian proposed on the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, the very place they had shared their first date.

Bride smiling brightly while wearing a traditional red and gold embroidered lehenga with a matching dupatta draped over her head, featuring intricate beadwork and floral patterns. She has soft curls, elegant bridal jewelry, and a gold maang tikka, standing in soft indoor light.

Red and gold embroidered bridal lehenga displayed on ornate hangers, including the heavily detailed skirt, matching embellished blouse, and sheer dupatta with gold trim, all hanging against an antique gold-framed mirror.

Bride seen from behind adjusting her red and gold embroidered dupatta, wearing a traditional lehenga with intricate beadwork and patterns. She stands in an elegant room with soft natural light, facing an ornate mirror and flowing curtains.

Close-up of a bride in a red and gold embroidered lehenga holding a lush bouquet of white and blush flowers with greenery. Her detailed blouse and dupatta shimmer with intricate beadwork, while she and the groom—dressed in a navy sherwani—hold hands just out of frame.

Bride dressed in a red and gold embroidered lehenga stands with her bridesmaids, who wear coordinated pastel lehengas in blush and champagne tones, each holding soft pink and white bouquets. They pose beneath a lush floral arch of roses and greenery in an elegant outdoor courtyard.

Bride in a red and gold embroidered lehenga warmly embraces a woman wearing a teal saree with colorful embroidered details. Both smile with eyes closed, sharing an emotional moment indoors before the ceremony.

Flat lay of elegant ivory wedding invitations and envelopes with gold script lettering, arranged alongside blush and peach garden roses and white blooms on a textured light background. The suite includes the main invitation, schedule card, and RSVP details.

Close-up of three wedding rings displayed on top of an elegant ivory invitation with gold script lettering. The set includes a simple gold band, a three-stone princess-cut diamond engagement ring, and a gold men’s band with dark inlay and engraved date. Soft florals blur in the background.

Their wedding was as meaningful and multifaceted as their love story, a two-day celebration that honored both of their heritages and the people who helped shape them. “My favorite part was getting to experience the blending traditions from both of our families and getting to have everyone we loved in the same room together,” shares Athena.

Before the festivities, Athena and Brian shared private vows, then began celebrating with a welcome brunch at The Chicory, where Athena wore her white bridal gown. Her bridesmaids, dressed in varying shades of blue as her “something blue,” stood out against a backdrop of traditional New Orleans fare and brunch-style cocktails. The mothers of the bride and groom coordinated in floral gowns of red and blue, while guests enjoyed one of the couple’s favorite regional traditions, a Pittsburgh Cookie Table organized by Brian’s parents. “The cookies were a hit and were completely gone by the end of the event! ,” Athena says.

A bride and groom dance joyfully in an elegant room, with the bride twirling in her strapless white gown and veil, and the groom in a black tuxedo holding her hand. Behind them, a large ornate mirror and chandelier add to the romantic, formal atmosphere.

“A smiling woman in a bright red and gold sari hugs an older woman during a celebration, holding a champagne glass in one hand. The moment is warm and joyful, with other guests chatting in the softly blurred background.”

“A bride and groom share a sweet kiss in front of a dessert table filled with cookies and pastries. The bride in a white gown holds a lemon bar while the groom in a black tuxedo leans in, standing against a rustic brick wall and large window.”

A groom in a black tuxedo feeds a cookie to his smiling bride, who wears a white gown and pearl necklace. Her henna-decorated hand holds another cookie as they share a playful moment during their wedding reception.

A bride’s henna-adorned hand, wearing her engagement ring, gently rests on a bouquet of white dahlias and greenery. Part of her off-the-shoulder white gown and the groom’s black tuxedo are softly visible in the background.

That evening, guests gathered for the Mehendi, a vibrant night filled with Indian music, fragrant cuisine from Nirvana Indian Cuisine, and intricate henna artistry by New Orleans Henna. “Any ladies who wanted to receive henna at this event were welcomed to,” shares Athena. Her own hands and feet were covered in elaborate patterns, a reflection of her Indian heritage and the beauty of the traditions she grew up with.

Couple smiling together at an Indian pre-wedding celebration; woman wearing a pink and gold lehenga with henna on her hands and traditional jewelry, standing beside her partner in a dark coat inside a warmly lit venue with polished wood floors.

Group of women dressed in vibrant Indian attire at a pre-wedding celebration, wearing colorful lehengas and saris in yellow, pink, mint green, and red. They stand smiling together, showcasing traditional jewelry, henna designs, and elegant embroidery in a warm indoor venue.

Close-up of a mehndi artist applying henna in a floral design on the back of a woman’s hand, with intricate lines forming petals and leaves over a sparkling sequin tablecloth at an Indian pre-wedding event.

Here’s a clear, descriptive, and culturally accurate alt text for this image:

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“Two women extend their hands to show fresh mehndi designs on their palms, accented by colorful bangles. One wears a light blue lehenga and the other a yellow outfit, highlighting the intricate henna patterns.”

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“Close-up of a woman wearing a pink and gold embellished lehenga with mirrorwork details, henna on her hand, and stacked pink and gold bangles as she stands at an Indian pre-wedding celebration.”

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“Close-up of a woman wearing a yellow embellished lehenga with floral embroidery, green tassel details, and matching green and gold bangles, paired with a gold necklace and soft waves in her hair.”

The following morning, the courtyard of The Ritz-Carlton was transformed into a scene of color and symbolism. The gazebo became a mandap, the traditional Indian wedding canopy, framed in florals for the ceremony. Athena walked down the aisle in a red bridal lehenga by Nazranaa, carrying a bouquet that merged Indian and American influences, while Brian matched in dark blue Indian attire from the same designer. Bridesmaids in soft pink lehengas and groomsmen in navy suits with pale pink ties completed the picture.

Athena’s father walked her down the aisle and performed the ceremony himself, translating traditional Sanskrit rites into English so every guest could understand the meaning behind each moment.

The ceremony closed with a ring exchange and a kiss. Afterwards, guests enjoyed a luncheon hosted by The Ritz-Carlton before returning later that evening for a dazzling reception in the grand ballroom.

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**Alt Text:**
“An Indian bride in a red and gold embroidered lehenga walks down the aisle with her father during an outdoor wedding ceremony. She carries a pastel bouquet and smiles as guests watch and take photos from both sides of the aisle.”

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“Groom smiles brightly as he stands under a floral mandap decorated with roses and greenery. He wears a navy blue embroidered sherwani with gold accents and a red pocket square, awaiting the bride during the wedding ceremony.”

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“An Indian bride wearing a red and gold embroidered lehenga and matching dupatta smiles during the wedding ceremony under a floral mandap filled with roses and greenery. She stands facing the groom with guests watching behind her.”

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“Bride and groom share an intimate kiss beneath a floral mandap adorned with roses and greenery. The bride wears a red and gold embroidered lehenga with a matching veil, while the groom wears a navy blue sherwani. They stand embraced under the ornate dome structure in the courtyard.”

For the reception, Athena changed into a lilac lehenga from Miss India, NJ, while Brian donned a classic tuxedo. Their wedding party made unforgettable entrances, the groomsmen bursting in to “It’s Raining Men” and the bridesmaids strutting to “Ayy Ladies,” before the couple shared their first dance to “Give Me Your Worst” by Matt Howard. Dinner featured Indian cuisine from Namaste Indian Cuisine, and DJ Aaron Lane kept the dance floor full with an energetic mix of American and Indian hits.

As the night unfolded, Athena changed into a playful short white dress with platform sneakers, the perfect outfit for nonstop dancing. But the evening’s most touching moment came when Athena presented her bouquet to her mother, Sharmila, as a thank-you for her love and guidance throughout the wedding planning process.

It was a celebration that spanned cultures, colors, and generations, a reminder that love, in all its forms, is universal.

Here is a clear, elegant, and detailed alt text for this reception image:

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“Grand wedding reception ballroom featuring a long tablescape with gold chiavari chairs, tall floral centerpieces of pink and white roses with greenery, and rows of floating candles. A large crystal chandelier hangs above, and a white bar with lush floral arrangements stands at the back of the room.”

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“Close-up motion shot of a bride twirling in a sparkling lavender lehenga, her outstretched arm showing henna and matching bangles as the skirt swirls across the dance floor.”

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“Bride and groom share their first dance at the reception. The bride wears a sparkling lavender lehenga with matching bangles and a jeweled hairpiece, smiling at her groom in a black tuxedo as guests watch in the background.”

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“Bride twirls on the dance floor in a sparkling lavender lehenga as her groom spins her during their reception. She smiles brightly, her bangles and dupatta flowing with the movement while guests watch in the softly lit ballroom.”

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“Close-up of the bride and groom holding personalized champagne flutes labeled ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ during their wedding reception. The bride’s henna-covered hand, purple bangles, and engagement ring are in focus beside her sparkling lavender lehenga.”