Meghana and Ashish wanted to break the stereotypes and decided on a spiritual wedding with a bohemian vibe. And the result, captured by Willow Lane Photography, was total perfection!

Meghana and Ashish hailed from India and met in their final year in university. They were selected to present at a conference, and both received an award. Needless to say, they hit it off right away. Then, they went to the same graduate school in the US, and their relationship solidified. They didn't travel much for the first few years, but when the travel bug bit a few years ago, they saw almost all the prominent places in California. "We knew we wanted to get married in California no matter what. And I didn't want to do it between four walls when there is so much beauty outside," Meghana explained. "We considered Big Sur, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe as our wedding destinations. But, Lake Tahoe offered the best food, best views, and amazing accommodation. We wanted to give our guests an experience rather than a wedding ritual. Lake Tahoe made it possible and checked all boxes." What makes their wedding even more special is that they planned everything with their best friends from graduate school and Ashish's mother. "They were intrigued to celebrate their marriage with a western wedding, though they didn't really know what this would entail, as they had never attended one. So, while planning, I shared the western wedding traditions, and they certainly added in their unique touches," officiant Meredith Richmond from Ceremonies by Meredith said.

Seeing that Ashish is a photographer, the couple naturally wanted a scenic backdrop and Roundhill Pines Beach Resort, located in a charming cove in South Lake Tahoe, fit the bill. In addition, the couple opted for a blue color palette that would blend with Tahoe as the backdrop. "I wanted everything to be as natural and environmentally friendly as possible. So we got dried flowers and pampas grass that we can use as decor later," Meghana explained.

Meghana and Ashish booked a beautiful Airbnb mansion in the middle of the woods for them and their wedding party and friends. "It's situated on top of a cliff. It's a four-story building with everything inside - from a movie theater and sauna to a bar and foosball. We didn't even have to step out for anything." The day before the wedding, the couple also celebrated with an Indian-themed party. Everybody wore Indian clothes, ordered Indian food, and drank Indian alcohol. This is also where they decided to come back after the wedding to cut the cake and play fun couple games.

"My favorite element of the ceremony was the 'hype' that the wedding party and guests rallied! From the moments they each walked down the aisle, to sharing their vows, exchanging rings, to then, of course, the kiss, their friends were hollering for every bit of it!" Meredith reminisced. Meghana agrees that everything turned out way better than expected. "All our vendors outdid themselves. We were able to give our friends the experience we wanted to give. We couldn't have done it without our friends and vendors, who we now call friendly acquaintances."

Keep on scrolling to check out the full gallery of Meghana and Ashish's most beautiful day!