Love Is In the Details: A Peek Inside Navya & Connor's Hideaway Wedding + Full Q & A!
For Navya & Connor, their wedding celebrated the union of two lives, two cultures, and a shared vision for aesthetics.
Every element, from the ceremony to the smallest detail, was carefully chosen to bring that vision to life. The couple curated a one-of-a-kind celebration that thoughtfully blended traditional Hindu elements with tropical island energy and modern reception touches; a fusion that felt deeply personal and meaningful. Together with our Hideaway team, they crafted an experience that drew every guest in and created memories that continue to linger long after the last dance.
Navya & Connor kicked off their wedding weekend with a relaxed welcome party at the Shack.
Friends and family mingled, laughed, and experienced some of the couple’s favorite traditions: henna artistry and a bangle and bindi bar. Nearly everyone joined in, turning the evening into a playful, interactive introduction to the celebration ahead.
“I wanted my bridal Mehndi to reflect Connor and me as a couple, not just decoration but the story of our love. Our two Siamese mix cats…took center stage on my palms.”
On the morning of the wedding, The Hideaway Farm became a hub of excitement and preparation.
Guests were invited on a guided farm tour — and Navya couldn’t resist joining in, even if it meant running late for hair and makeup! The tour offered a chance to see firsthand some of the ingredients that would later be featured in the reception dinner, a true full-circle farm-to-table moment.
Every detail was thoughtfully orchestrated, allowing the couple to fully immerse themselves in the celebration without worrying about logistics.
“For most of the weekend, I was running on almost no sleep from anticipation, swinging between exhilaration and frazzle. But because the Hideaway team handled every detail with care and precision, I could focus on just being and trust that the vision I’d obsessed over for months was coming together.”
✨ Pre-wedding magic at The Shack ✨ A special bangle + bindi bar was the perfect way to kick off the celebrations — colorful, fun, and full of sparkle for the big day ahead! 💫
On Saturday evening, a modern Hindu ceremony unfolded under the open sky, followed by an island-inspired cocktail hour where painkillers and mango margaritas were flowing!
Towards the end of cocktail hour, guests were given floral bud vases with each of their names to go find their seats for the reception. Meaningful details were everywhere, from placemats adorned with symbolic elephants to the fresh fruit centerpieces, each design telling its own story.
One unique and memorable detail the couple incorporated was a pair of custom fragrances they wore throughout the day — scents that will instantly transport them back to their celebration whenever they encounter them.
“What I love most is that these scents aren’t just tied to the wedding itself. They are now part of the early days of our marriage”
The reception was an intentional celebration of culture, cuisine, and connection. Hideaway chef-crafted, island-inspired dishes complemented traditional American fare, while every detail of décor and design reflected the couple’s unique cultural fusion. Guests felt included in the experience, moving effortlessly between spaces, traditions, and shared moments of joy.
This wedding was a true testament to what happens when a couple’s vision is nurtured with care…every detail came together to create a multi-day celebration that was both magical and deeply personal. At The Hideaway at Hull Bay, weddings aren’t just events; they are curated moments shaped around the couple, crafted to reflect their story, their love, and their vision to create lifelong memories.
A quick outfit change before the reception!
Guests gathered, ready to savor a farm-fresh feast under the stars.
As the perfect finale, a custom disco house after-party mix, created by Navya’s friend, set the vibe for a fun poolside swim & dance session after the official end of the night!
An Interview With the Bride—
Full Q & А!
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Full Q & А! 〰️
Q: Can you tell us a little bit more about the intricate details that were incorporated into your Mehndi and the overall experience of your henna design?
A: I wanted my bridal Mehndi to reflect Connor and me as a couple, not just decoration but the story of our love. Our two Siamese mix cats, who sadly couldn’t attend the wedding, took center stage on my palms. One arm became Connor’s story: the Denver skyline for his Colorado roots and our home, tennis rackets for the sport he loves, and a DJ for our shared love of live music. The other arm held mine: the New York City skyline as a nod to my Jersey upbringing, and a skier to represent something Connor introduced me to, now one of our favorite things to do with friends. I wanted full bridal henna, from fingertip to elbow, which meant nearly nine hours in the chair. We wrapped at 2 a.m., and I barely slept, staying motionless to avoid smudging it. It was exhausting but, in retrospect, completely worth it. The design felt singular, something no one else could have worn, and I received so many compliments.
Q: The custom scents at your wedding were such a unique touch and something that will bring back memories of your special day. What inspired the idea? Can you describe the scents and how you and Connor curated each one?
A: I’ve followed Le Labo for a few years, and I love how every bottle is labeled with the place and date of creation. When we learned they would customize our labels with our wedding location and date, it intrigued us. We must have visited the Le Labo counter at our Denver Nordstrom nine or ten times to smell fragrances. I chose Jasmin 17— jasmine with orange, sandalwood, and vanilla—because jasmine flowers are woven into Indian culture and remind me of childhood. Connor chose Thé Matcha 26— fig, vetiver, and cedar— a fragrance we both love and one that fits his personality perfectly. We were careful to pick scents that really worked for us. We didn’t want special-occasion perfumes destined to gather dust; we wanted something we would wear all the time. Now, whenever we get ready to go out, putting on those scents together has become a small ritual. What I love most is that these scents aren’t just tied to the wedding itself. They are now part of the early days of our marriage, so every spritz carries not only that weekend but everything that has come after.
Q: Which cultural or wedding traditions did you incorporate into your ceremony that were especially meaningful to you, Connor, or your families?
A: We wanted tradition to be felt throughout the wedding weekend but in a way that felt authentic to us. My Mehndi artist returned for our welcome party to adorn guests. Typically only ladies get Mehndi done, but everyone took part at our wedding, which I loved. We added a bindi and bangle bar so everyone could choose ornaments for the next day.
On the wedding day, attire was important. Our outfits were slightly pared down compared to typical South Asian bridal and groom looks, which matched The Hideaway’s barefoot-luxury feel. My parents were an amazing help. We made trips to New Jersey to select jewelry and outfits, and they researched tirelessly to help us navigate it all. Guests could wear cocktail or Indian attire, and some came up with the most creative Indo-Western looks.
It was also essential to me to have a Hindu ceremony. I couldn’t imagine getting married any other way, but I wanted it to feel approachable and meaningful to every guest. Our priest, who is from Trinidad, brought joyful, grounding energy to the Hideaway Farm. He explained each ritual in a way that drew everyone in. We exchanged traditional vows promising commitment for seven lifetimes, an unforgettable moment. Even though the ceremony lasted forty-five minutes, it felt like five. When our priest encouraged the crowd to shout “Jai Ho!” and everyone joined in, the energy was electric, and I couldn’t stop grinning. Another detail I loved was that my mom and aunties handmade our jaimala (flower garlands), which we later draped over my mother’s and Connor’s mother’s reception chairs to honor them.
Q: You were such a detail-oriented bride. How did you document and organize your vision? What was it like bringing everything to life and seeing your ideas become tangible moments and memories?
A: I’m incredibly detail-oriented. I kept everything in a dedicated Google Drive folder and worked closely with my planner, Janelle from Island Bliss Weddings, who executed my vision perfectly. Our color palette — green, cream, orange, yellow, and pink — came from a bouquet Connor gave me on our first dating anniversary. I pulled exact hex codes from a photo of it using Adobe Color, and those became the foundation for our invitations, florals, and table décor.
I created a fourteen-page “Wedding Décor Guide” filled with keywords, mood notes, and hand-picked rentals from The Hideaway and Island Bliss to bring the look to life exactly as I imagined it. I practically lived inside The Hideaway’s 3-D Matterport tour, walking through it virtually and planning moments of delight, like the hanging rattan lamps I insisted on to draw the eye up to the coconut trees. I also sent a Google Form to guests to track travel plans so we could coordinate the best group accommodations after buying out the venue.
Attending a destination wedding is a big ask of guests, so every detail needed to be intentional. I tucked a Pablo Neruda poem into our welcome bags. Everyone left cocktail hour with a bespoke bud vase bloom serving as an escort card. We greeted everyone with handwritten notes at their reception seats; I have precious photos of friends and family pausing to read them. I also wanted to incorporate as many local and Caribbean flavors, colors, and vendors as possible so the celebration felt connected to St. Thomas, not just dropped onto it. Watching that vision materialize was affirming: not only did our loved ones come to watch us get married, they got to experience a living, breathing version of my dream beach-jungle-garden party. I know I’m biased, but I doubt I’ll ever attend a wedding as beautiful or as thoughtful as ours.
Q: Looking back, how did working with The Hideaway team support your vision and allow you to be fully present on your wedding weekend?
A: The Hideaway team was on top of everything from the moment we arrived, running the show seamlessly as soon as we checked in. Their commitment to sustainability, which mattered deeply to us and our guests, was another reason we chose them. They even arranged a wedding-day farm tour so everyone could connect with the land where we were celebrating, a meaningful experience you don’t get at most venues.
For most of the weekend, I was running on almost no sleep from anticipation, swinging between exhilaration and frazzle. But because the Hideaway team handled every detail with care and precision, I could focus on just being and trust that the vision I’d obsessed over for months was coming together. By the time Connor and I ended up in the pool — still in our outfits — after the reception, surrounded by our closest people, the exhaustion melted away completely. Many people have told us it was the most beautiful and well-produced wedding they’ve ever attended, and I believe them.
