Roxanne Irani & Bradford Manning
May 5, 2022, at Bramblewood Farm
Photography by Meredith Coe
Roxanne and Brad had started planning an elaborate, multi-day Zoroastrian ceremony and reception in the Virgin Islands for January 2021. Then the pandemic hit. The couple pivoted, marrying in an intimate ceremony with their families at Bramblewood Farm in Keswick, where they were riding out COVID. In the meantime, they worked on plans for a do-over reception in 2022.
“I based the ceremony and party on a traditional Zoroastrian ceremony and reception,” Roxanne says. Women were invited to wear traditional Indian sarees and lehengas, for instance, and Roxanne added in a lot of subtle traditional details, like incorporating banana leaves (often used as plates in Zoroastrian receptions) in the décor.
Roxanne says her favorite part, though, was walking down the aisle with the couple’s 8-month-old daughter to join Brad for the union ceremony.
“Brad and I are holding hands and there is a cloth separating us,” Roxanne says. “Our family passed a string around us seven times to bind us. At the end of the seventh round, the union is complete and the sheet drops. The bride and groom are each holding rice and throw rice on each other when the sheet is dropped.”
On the menu
For their Indian/Persian-inspired menu, the couple chose to highlight BAM Chips from Roxanne’s own food company. Made with a superfood bean from India called black gram, the chips were served to guests during appetizers, and BAM rotini pasta was the first course.
Let there be light
During the ceremony, Brad and Roxanne lit a candle to signify their bond. Then, the candle was moved to a table so guests could light their own from the flame, “bonding us all together in the ceremony,” Roxanne says.
Party people
Roxanne and Brad met in New York City at a party for mutual friends who attended UVA. They dated three and a half years before their September 2020 marriage.
Color pop
The bride loves flowers, and chose bold, warm, and bright-colored ones, in addition to traditional red and white garlands for the ceremony.
THE DETAILS
Event planner: Taz Greer Officiant: Xerxes Antia Catering: Occasions Catering Flowers: Beehive Events Sweets: Occasions Catering Music: Peter Markush Bride’s attire: White Lehenga from Rahul’s Couture; after-dinner dress by Alon Livne Shoes: Emmy Groom’s attire: White tux from Alan David with Feta (traditional Zoroastrian ceremony hat) Rings: Peter Reines Jewelers Hair and makeup: Moxie Hair Lounge Videographer: Peter Roessler
