Real Wedding Wednesdays: Julie France and Manjul Bhusal Sharma

Why do a destination wedding to the tropics when you can bring the tropics to you? Julie and Manjul Bhusal Sharma—or Manjulie, as we call the former staffer of our sister publication, Columbus CEO, and her husband—had a tropical-themed wedding at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens that did just that. And who doesn’t like botanical beauty minus the bugs?

As if the exotic foliage of the Conservatory weren’t enough, the Bhusal Sharmas left no detail to the imagination. Their cake was pleasant on the eyes and taste buds alike, thanks to its palm leave decorations and passion fruit and mango fillings. And don’t even get us started on the lychee martinis.

Fruits and flora aside, the Bhusal Sharmas’ wedding possessed an underlying theme closer to heart: honoring late family members who couldn’t attend. The ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where both the bride’s great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother were married before her. Julie also paid tribute to her grandmother by playing her favorite song, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” at the wedding, which took place on what would have been her birthday.

Manjul’s family wasn’t left out of the picture, however. His father gave a Hindu reading in both Nepali and English at the ceremony, and the couple’s rehearsal dinner incorporated Nepali traditions. (You can read more about the Manjulie wedding here, in Julie’s first-person story on interfaith ceremonies.)

The Details

Wedding date: Aug. 27, 2016

Wedding colors: Green and coral

Attendants: Four bridesmaids and four groomsmen

Bride wore: Gown and veil from Alfred Angelo, shoes from Macy’s and jewelry from Etsy

Hair and makeup: Makeup by Erica Eigensee and hair by Salon Lofts

Groom wore: Men’s Wearhouse

Rings: Jeff Johnson & Co.

Rehearsal dinner: Himalayan Grille

Ceremony: St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Reception: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Caterer: In-house

Cake: Scrumptious Crumbs

Florist: The Flowerman

Photographer: Kimberly Potterf Photography

Videographer:  Columbus Wedding Videos

Invitations: OneSuiteDay on Etsy

Reception tunes: T.E.A.M. DJ

First dance: “All of Me,” by John Legend

Guest favors: Raffia fans

Registries: Macy’s and World Market

Favorite gift: A money tree plant and a painting of the Franklin Park Conservatory done by Julie’s sister, Ellen Gerhart

Transportation: Columbus Transportation & Tours

Guests stayed at: Hilton Columbus Downtown

Sunday brunch: Hilton Columbus Downtown