Italian interfaith marriage combines Hindu pheras with Muslim nikkah

Many people assert—and this is a commonly used cliche—that love is blind. But stories like Pragya Pandey and Adil Hasan’s exist in the globe when the power of admiration surpasses religious and cultural boundaries.

According to Vogue, Pandey beat Hasan to the coveted proposal, which the pair, who met in New York, prepared for each other. “I walked Adil to supper and made a quick detour in the neighborhood bookshop that is very next to our house. There was a musician and the business stayed open late just for us. I gave Adil a little poem I had composed in which I proposed marriage. “It was intimate, unique, and a truly New York experience,” the bride informed the newspaper.

“We scouted for locations across Europe, from the Greek islands to the South of France, but we kept coming back to Florence,” the pair revealed when talking about where they would like to get married. There was something inexplicably magical about the place where the two “had both lived and studied briefly” during “different periods of their college years”.

The story revealed the location of the wedding: “With its expansive grounds and rustic charm, Villa Pitiana, an estate nestled among rolling hills in the Tuscan countryside, made for the ideal venue.” Its grandeur and subtle beauty, which date back to the 13th century when it was formerly a monastery, were ideal for the events they had planned.”

Of course, the main point of contention was that Hasan and Pandey practiced rather different religions. “We shared a vision for our wedding where our families felt equally included and both sets of traditions were respected, all the while celebrating the love we have for each other, and them,” the couple said, navigating the difficulties of the same. “There is a fear of the unknown when two different cultures or religions converge,” they continued. But these walls were dissolved throughout the wedding weekend, particularly during the ceremonies.

Pandey and Hasan honored their families and history by holding consecutive wedding ceremonies—a nikkah and a phera—that were highlighted by heartfelt vows that emphasized their strong bond. They embraced both Hindu and Muslim customs. Bright pre-wedding events, such as a mahnja welcome party and mehendi ceremony, kicked off the weekend. An evening of qawwali followed, setting the mood for a happy occasion full of laughing, music, and companionship.

The estate’s gardens were decorated with flowery arches, Persian carpets, and softly lit candles, creating an atmosphere that perfectly combined old-world grandeur with Indian glitz. Hasan donned a peach kurta with an embroidered bundi by Anita Dongre, while Pandey opted for a bespoke pink sharara ensemble with a net dupatta by Meeta Verma.

At the sangeet celebration, which was a blend of Indian grandeur and vintage Hollywood glamour, Pandey looked stunning in a Meeta Verma lehenga adorned with sequins, matching with vintage jewellery that had been passed down through the generations. Wearing a wine-colored bandhgala and Jodhpuri trousers by designer Rajesh Pratap Singh, Hasan embodied refinement and the ideal fusion of traditional and modern style.

On their wedding day, Pandey and Hasan exchanged vows “first with the pheras and then the nikkah” in front of loved ones who had traveled from close and far to witness their marriage against the stunning background of Villa Pitiana as the sun began to peek through the clouds.

Pandey exhibited royal appeal in a bespoke sherwani by Raghavendra Rathore, embellished with elaborate details and family heirlooms, while Hasan radiated grace in a hand-embroidered lehenga by Rahul Mishra. The celebrations came to an end with an extravagant reception, when Pandey once again shone in a peach-colored outfit designed by Hasan’s mother, displaying yet another beautiful ancestral item. In a Kashiyama tuxedo, Hasan embodied refinement.

Pandey and Hasan wedding serves as a moving reminder of the ability of love to triumph over all challenges in a world where differences frequently divide people. It unites cultures, customs, and hearts in a celebration of peace and unity. Their journey together, demonstrating that love knows no boundaries, inspires couples everywhere as they embark on this new chapter of their lives.