Diksha and Rohan were the first couple we featured on our popular series Love Actually. The very beautiful Dentist wed Rohan Batra, a Captain with Jet Airways and their grand three day celebrations were held at the Renaissance Powai, Mumbai. Here, in the first of her two-part series Diksha blogs about her wedding planning experiences and her wedding ‘dream’ makers.

“A year of planning went into a three day and night affair but if I was to be asked what I remember of the year I would say meeting some very interesting people- the wedding vendors. My wedding makers who made our wedding vision a reality.

Momente Wedding Planners: Neha & Darshan Shroff and team The backbone of planning and orchestrating a wedding seamlessly is to have a wedding planner who can be your friend and guide, someone who works from your side negotiating for the best there is to offer. Neha’s team at Momente did just that for us! Right from being with us at every step of the way, be it at night or day they had no airs about demarcating their work and did everything with us like family.

Knot in Focus: Photographer Anand Rathi & team Pictures they say are all that’s left behind of those glorious days that breeze by. The golden moments captured then will live on forever and we entrusted that great responsibility to someone who had just the right kind of skill and personality to mingle with the guests and be at the right place at the right time to get a piece of the action. Right from our pre wedding shoot to the beautiful wedding pictures Anand’s work speaks for itself.

The Wedding Filmer: Cinematographer Vishal Punjabi & team From the time I heard of wedding cinematography I knew The Wedding Filmer was meant for us! Creating a film versus watching endlessly boring footage was like a no brainer of a choice! Vishal Punjabi & team are still the stalwarts at creating that magic for a wedding so we decided that nothing but the best in the industry would do for us! Vishal is a whole load of fun to shoot with and one of the sweetest people I met in my quest for my wedding makers!

The Wedding Bartender: Ruturaj & team The alcohol at a wedding can really create a buzz or make it a bore! Our prime agenda was making sure every one of the 3 back to back after-parties would last till breakfast. The bartenders here had a crucial role making sure everyone drank just enough to last the night. Interacting with the crowd with props, drama and action is their specialty so that even the teetotalers go back hammered! 100% recommended for a killer party!

Vivaah Wedding Décor: Rachana Lucknowala Rachana has an energy that not many people I have met can match- and I guess rightly so since transforming a place to hold a beautiful memory forever requires just that. Vivaah created magical décor for us right through the 6 different venues of Renaissance ensuring one would be better than the other and each one would be different in their own right while sticking to our budgets as well.

Vedic Vivaah hymns: Meeraji The wedding ceremony which is the whole point of any wedding sometimes turns out to be the most boring event for friends and family who are disinterested. Meeraji ensures however to create a magical, pure and sanctimonious atmosphere just what you would need at your wedding to create a mystical and memorable atmosphere.

Exchange4artist: Artist manager Eddie Exchange4artists provide a great experience when it comes to entertaining the crowd. Eddie was like a solid guy, totally reliable on the front of managing all our performers and providing us with the best options to create a unique and fun experience with a variety of performers both national and international.

Wedding Invitation Cards: Disha Mehta Wedding cards are a huge part of any wedding to set the first impression right. Disha designed all our wedding stationery, right from the funky save-the-dates to more regale and classy wedding cards and gift boxes. We enjoyed sharing our ideas with Disha and she executed them and delivered on our concepts to much praise and adulation from guests.

While planning the wedding, Rohan & I kept talking about how it is really important to share all we were doing (and what our photographers are capturing) so that our friends and family wouldn’t miss any of the fun or action! Enter Made in Heaven– the wedding app!! Rohan who has his own company for apps & games decided to put together an app that combined work and play for the wedding. More on that in my next blog post or you can check it out yourself here www.theappmadeinheaven.com

Meghana and Marc’s love story is straight out of a movie. They met in Grad School in Texas, and he was the first person she spoke to on the orientation day, “I was quite fascinated to meet someone from France. Two years later, Marc got down on his knee and asked me to marry him in front of the Eiffel Tower in a beautifully planned proposal. I obviously said ‘Yes’ and we got married in a super fun ceremony in Hyderabad,” says Meghana who now lives in Dubai. She shares with us, how she and her mother planned the wedding in her home town Hyderabad.

Wedding Planning
Marc and Meghana decided to have two different ceremonies: one in India and one in France to make it easy for everyone. “Planning the wedding in Hyderabad was quite easy, thanks to my mother. We have very similar tastes and I was too busy with work,” says Meghana. Though, the downside of being with an NRI bride, says Meghana, is being unable to keep in touch with what’s happening on the shopping and planning front in India. “A lot of good Indian stores don’t have a strong online presence and it’s almost impossible to shop for bridal wear online. My mother would take pictures on her phone and text me every single day. That’s how I selected my clothes. I think it’s very important to be able to trust at least one person whose tastes are similar to yours (in my case, my mother). I remember not sleeping much for those three months. If I wasn’t at work, I was skyping or emailing my parents regarding wedding updates.”

Wedding Functions 
Meghana and Marc planned the entire wedding such that it would not last more than 48 hours, keeping in mind that both were on a short vacation for their wedding. “The first day started with the haldi ceremony. The making of the bride ceremony followed.

The theme for this ceremony was Peacock colors. Since my saree was a double-color blue kanchivaram, we decided to create the decor and accents in similar hues,” says Meghana. “This was followed by the mehendi ceremony in the late afternoon. The mehendi was a very relaxed affair and since most of the guests were not from India, they absolutely loved the ritual,” she reveals. Indian street food and Bollywood music completed the ceremony.

The main wedding ceremony was held late in the evening on the following day. The wedding décor and mandap was inspired by the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, the famous Vedic temple in Tirupati. “I wore a red gold Kanjeevaram saree with green highlights and Marc wore a midnight blue kurta.” Little accents like the colourful pots and coconuts were painted by Meghana’s mother herself. “They stood out in the ceremony. We wanted to do some of these things ourselves to give it a personal touch” says Meghana.

As she fondly looks back on the wedding celebrations, she says “I was stressed about a lot of things because I wasn’t sure if Marc’s family would be able to understand the significance of the rituals. So, we made sure we hired a priest who could speak English and translate the proceedings. Since my husband’s family is French, we hired a translator from Alliance Francaise in Hyderabad who helped translate some of the proceedings to his family members. He was great at his work and made sure everyone had fun at the ceremony. What all guests really appreciated was how the two families who are so different, blended so well together at the beautiful affair.”

Wedding Makers
Meghana shares details of the venues and vendors who made the celebrations memorable:

Photography/Cinematography: Hermit Panesar from ‘Girl in Pink Photography’ and Thiru Reddy from Candid Pictures. They both did an amazing job and made sure all our fun memories were captured! They are the nicest and most easy-going photographers I have met so far.

Venues: The haldi and the mehendi ceremony was held in Tulip Inn One Continental Hotel, Hyderabad. The staff was especially nice and super-efficient at execution. The wedding ceremony was in Taj Deccan and most of the wedding guests stayed there. The hotel staff did a great job and made sure everything was well taken care of.

Make up and hair: Makeup and Hairstyling was one thing I was quite concerned about. Thankfully, I found Tamanna Rooz on Facebook. After seeing her work and communicating with her via FB, I felt quite comfortable, and I think she is one of the best Makeup Artists in Hyderabad!

Sarees and jewellery: All my sarees were purchased in Hyderabad and the blouses were given to Mugdha Art Studio for more embroidery and embellishments. And they did a good job.

Meghana’s top 3 tips for couples planning a long distance wedding:

1. Do not freak out! It’s overwhelming and frustrating to plan everything from abroad, but at the end of the day all that matters is who you are marrying. Everything else will fall in place.

2. I think the more you plan, the less stressed you will be on the big day. Especially, considering the fact that all vendors in India are not very time conscious.

3. Don’t compromise on your clothes. It’s very difficult to find the exact saree/lehenga that you imagined in your head and after sometime you might get tired of the search. But when you look back at your pictures, that’s one thing that grabs your attention. So wait till you find the right ensemble!

Photographs Courtesy- Hermit Panesar

For our new blog post series, ‘Long Distance Wedding’ we’re featuring couples living abroad who planned a wedding in their hometown in India. We want to hear your story, how you shortlisted venues and your experience with the wedding planner (if you hired one) and other vendors. Write to us at editor@weddingsutra.com with your wedding photo and required details (below), and we’ll get in touch if you’re selected to be featured.

Name of Bride and Groom
Where you’re based or where you were based when planning the Wedding
Where (venue + city) you got married and when (date)

By Jaspreet Soni

IPL may have set the pulses racing of the cricket enthusiasts, but it was the sultry model Mashoom Singha who bowled famous Australian cricketer Shaun Tait over, four seasons back at one of the IPL parties. They are all set to tie the knot this month. The wedding is going to be a very private and intimate affair. Mashoom and her sister Shamita Singha, both top models and exclusive event planners have little to worry about when it comes to wedding planning. They run the lifestyle blog www. onesoullife.com too. We talked to Shamita Singha about the first wedding in the family and the preparations.

Though Shamita has planned many exclusive events for her event management company, OneSoul Lifestyle Promotions, the wedding in the family is different. She says, “It is easy in a sense because you are already used to the grind, the planning. But at the same time, planning your sister’s wedding is not a usual assignment or job. There are lots of emotions involved. Everything has a sentimental value to it. You have to take care of parents’ emotions, bride and groom’s emotions and my own wishes for my darling sister. So it gets a bit emotionally taxing but its lot of fun too.”

But who is calling the shots, we ask. “It is Mashoom who is making choices in terms of what she wants and it is me who is executing them and making sure they turn out perfect for her big day”, says Shamita.

Since Mashoom and Shaun both believe in an intimate wedding with very close family and friends, the challenge of keeping the guest list to the minimum is humongous given the social network of the two sisters and Shaun himself. She says, “It is the biggest challenge as the guest list can run into thousands but we want the wedding to be very special with only the people who really matter, a close knit affair with everyone feeling the joy and happiness.”

The wedding festivities will kick off with a warm Indian style welcome dinner with bollywood music for the guests from Australia. Shamita is keeping the décor authentically Indian for the event. “I am dressing up the place with lovely mogras, rajnigandhas, marigolds, matkas, tokris, bangles, dupattas, all things Indian. There will be a sumptuous Indian food spread and loads of Bollywood spice.”

Shamita is taking Mashoom out for her bachelorette party. A day after, there will be a temple wedding ceremony and later in the evening, a white wedding followed by a cocktail cum reception. Shamita Singha tells us that the best in the industry have come forward to take care of every aspect of the wedding. “Everything has fallen into place so beautifully, so we really didn’t need to shop around for vendors. One friend is helping with décor, while another close friend is designing Mashoom’s jewellery. And then being in the event industry, I know so many creative persons like photographers and makeup artists so everything is quite a breeze. These are the times when you realize how blessed you are with some really great friends.”

Shaun is also warming up to the Indian culture as he gets involved in the friendly banter with his soon to be sister-in-law. Shamita says, “It’s the little sweet things like joota chuppai in our tradition that have him in splits. We have a good laugh over it. He is such a sweet and chilled out guy who is more than happy to embrace the Indian culture with open arms. ”

Mashoom will be wearing a creation by celebrated designer Anand Kabra for her Indian wedding and an unconventional yet elegant Gavin Miguel gown for her white wedding.

Our initiative ‘Love Actually’ is a photo series featuring engaged couples who actively seek ideas and inspiration from WeddingSutra. The series celebrates the beautiful people in love as they start their lives together. Because real love can only begin, never end. Over coffee, a makeover and a photo shoot we get to-be-weds to tell us how they met, show us their platinum love bands and talk about their day of love.

Runit and Arpit first met through a mutual friend at a dinner in New York, when Arpit was visiting from San Francisco. A few months later, he relocated to New York and took up an apartment in Runit’s building, completely by chance! Says Runit, “This coincidence was the best thing that happened, as our interactions increased and we learnt more about each other and what we have in common- a flair for sarcastic jokes, vegetarian food, and Hindi movies.” However, soon after, Arpit decided to move to France to pursue his MBA. She says, “He could tell I was sad, but we made sure to discuss our long-distance plan in detail and reinforce our commitment to the relationship. Our bond grew much stronger over that year, and during the Christmas break last year he flew into New York one night to surprise me with a simple yet beautiful proposal at one of my favorite restaurants!”

After immediately sharing the happy news with their friends and family, the flurry of discussions on wedding planning began. Runit and Arpit work in different cities in the US while their parents live in Mumbai. Says Arpit, “With Runit based in New York, me in San Francisco, and our parents in Mumbai, it was a whirlwind few weeks over phone, email, and WhatsApp across time zones! We eventually settled on two days of festivities in December 2014 in Mumbai itself since most of our friends and relatives would be able to attend.”

Wedding planning has been a fairly organized process for them. “Thanks to family, friends and WeddingSutra of course. We get lots of ideas and information from WeddingSutra and since some of our friends got married recently, they are always happy to recommend vendors they had a great experience with”, says Runit. For the search for wedding venues, Runit and Arpit relied extensively on the portal VenueVista.com which took down all their requirements and provided competitive quotes and prompt service. ‘It was a big boon”, exclaims Runit. “For the remaining preparations Arpit and I made sure we will fly down to Mumbai on the same dates, and spend a few weeks in our city to finalize our outfits (the best part!), meet with vendors in person, and discuss the finer aspects of ensuring a smooth celebration.” Adds Arpit: “For most part, we’ve shared responsibility over décor, food, and entertainment, though Runit has been more comfortable creatively envisioning each event and I have had my eyes set on ensuring we get what we like within our budget!”

Despite having the freedom to make their own decisions, Runit says, “The guidance of our parents has been an indispensable part of the entire process. Since Arpit is Gujarati and I am Maharashtrian, combining the cultural influences and customs of both has been a playfully chaotic yet entertaining experience, and we’re looking forward to celebrating with our loved ones!”

We photographed Runit and Arpit at the newly-opened Zenith Party Suite of Palladium Hotel. Perched atop Level 38, this two-floor Suite has the capacity to entertain 40 guests. Replete with opulent furnishings and intricate craft work, the Zenith Party Suite can easily be described as the ‘Rolls Royce of Suites’.

If you’re getting married in 2014 or 2015 and would like to be a part of ‘Love Actually’ write to us (weddingsutra@gmail.com) with the link to your FB profiles, wedding date and ‘how you met’ story. Selected couples will be invited for the shoots in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

Platinum Jewellery (Love Bands) by ORRA
Makeup- Recinda Martis
Photographs by- Ryan Martis (ryanmartis15@gmail.com)

While destination weddings are getting popular, a number of families still prefer the good-old home town wedding. Here, we speak to Agatha Gomes, the Wedding Specialist at Palladium Hotel, Lower Parel, Mumbai to learn more about weddings@Palladium and what Mumbai clients want this season.

Which are the most ‘auspicious’ wedding dates this year? And for which wedding functions are your venues most popular?
From April 2014 to March 2015, more than 100 dates have been highlighted as very auspicious, especially November 27^th & 29^th, December 12^th & 15^th and January 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th. Many families want to host the Sangeet or Mehendi at one of our venues, while some have chosen us as their complete wedding destination for all the celebrations- starting from the welcome dinner or cocktail to the Mehendi and Sangeet, Pheras and post wedding reception.

Do you offer wedding packages?
Our per head rates begin at INR 3200 plus applicable taxes and vary depending on the special menu for the functions. We also work on a minimum revenue concept for the different venues which can be adjusted towards the food & beverages consumed at the banquet venues.

Today, clients hosting their celebrations at a 5-star venue are looking for a service where they get personal attention and where the offering is customized to their unique needs. So we like to refer to ourselves as a Wedding Mansion with 23 bespoke event spaces. And now, weddings also mean lots of guests travel in from all around the world. At Palladium we have 320 large rooms, and 23 executive suites. Most wedding guests seek excellent rest and recreation facilities too; we have a wellness floor with a state-of-the-art health club, pool & deck and a spa with rejuvenating therapies. An added attraction is the presence of the Palladium Mall, the city’s favourite luxury shopping destination.

Are the parents and the to-be-bride and to-be-groom equally involved in zeroing down on the details?
The term ‘Big Fat Wedding’ is synonymous with Indian weddings and in my experience over the years, I have found the entire immediate family (to-be-weds, their parents and siblings) are involved in taking key decisions like the venue, décor and food. Generally, the parents add a touch of tradition to both the ceremonies and the menu, and they keep in mind the special requirements of the family elders; the couple and siblings pay more attention to new and trendy themes. The youngsters are keener on ensuring the dance parties i.e. the cocktails and sangeet are organised as per their interest and style.

When it comes to food and cuisines, what are the new expectations?
Keeping in mind that an average Indian is now discerning and has gained exposure to international cuisines, the expectations are mainly focused on balancing the traditional with the international. A decade ago, it was simple to draft a wedding menu, when a live pasta counter was a special feature! However, in recent times tastes have turned global and guests are requesting for Thai, Burmese, Mexican, and Japanese and live seafood counters too. Even with traditional food, guests want specialized regional cuisines like Marwari, Gujarati and Bengali. The same goes for the cocktails, with request for mixologists who can create unique blends.

Besides spending time on the food and venue details, what other recommendations do wedding clients seek from you?
They often ask us to recommend good Salon Services. Since we have a tie up with Jean Claude Biguine, we recommend the salon for the entirefamily& guests. The bar and the cocktail offering is something that gets their attention too. And then there’s the décor and the themes of course. Black tie & gown for a pre or post wedding cocktail, mela theme for mehendi, sufi night and qawali nights are some of the popular themes this season.

Palladium Hotel: T: 022- 6162 8000 | events@palladiumhotel.in

Our initiative ‘Love Actually’ is a photo series featuring engaged couples who actively seek ideas and inspiration from WeddingSutra. The series celebrates the beautiful people in love as they start their lives together. Because real love can only begin, never end. Over coffee, a makeover and a photo shoot we get to-be-weds to tell us how they met, show us their platinum love bands and talk about their day of love.

Honey Uttamchandani and Dhiraj Nagpal both live in Mumbai; She is born and brought up in Pune and now works in her family business in Mumbai, Dhiraj too works in his family business. They both met at her cousin’s birthday party at the club Escobar in Mumbai, “after which we met a couple of times with my cousin playing cupid,” says Honey.

From the moment Honey met him, she felt a spark and knew she wanted to meet him again. She explains: “Right from the beginning, we had the kind of understanding that comes with time spent in a long relationship. He never really asked me out, but we both knew this was going to be something special. I guess it was just meant to be.” They dated for ten months before they were sure they wanted to be together. Recalling the proposal, Honey says, “Dhiraj took me out for dinner to Gadda Da Vida Lounge at Novotel, the same place where we went on our first date. I had no clue that he would go down on his knee and put a ring on my finger that night! He popped the question and I obviously said yes!”

As soon as they told their parents, preparations started and their relationship was officially announced in twenty days. Says Dhiraj, “Our families got together and we had a formal roka ceremony at the JW Marriott, Pune, after which we got the blessings of our Guruji Dada Vaswani at his ashram.”

The couple is tying the knot in December, and the venue for their grand and fun-filled destination wedding is Aamby Valley City, Lonavala. Says Honey, “Both of us love partying and are quite passionate about figuring out what makes a celebration ‘wow’, so we’re really enjoying the process of discussing ideas for each of the functions, and making our to-do lists. Albeit when you are passionate about events, it gets stressful at times, but we end up spending so much more time together and that is the best part. Our Wedding Planners, Yamini Shah and Rishi Rochlani of The Wedding Designers are now more like good friends, and we’re so glad we have them on board– like us they are always brimming with new ideas, and more than anything, they are great fun to be with.” Adds Dhiraj, “Initially we thought we’d demarcate responsibilities among each of us– with Honey being responsible for the decor and themes bit, and me taking charge of the entertainment. But we end up consulting each other on everything, so you can say both of us are pitching in for everything.”

Amidst planning their wedding, the couple has been busy planning their honeymoon and redecorating their house. Says Honey, “It’s getting more hectic and I’m sure it will peak in December, but we can’t wait for the celebrations in Aamby Valley and the travels thereafter– we haven’t done our honeymoon bookings yet, but after spending weeks researching online, we are most excited about visiting South America. As far as shopping and wedding buys is concerned, we’ve visited a few designer stores in Bandra, Khar and Juhu and multi-designer stores like Aza to check their new collections. WeddingSutra of course serves as the best online reference guide. And since Yamini is quite clued-in to all things fashion, she keeps sharing useful links featuring Bridal Looks. We are hoping to start shopping after we visit the Vogue Wedding Show in Delhi where I’m looking forward to meeting Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani and Manish Malhotra.” Adds Dhiraj: “And I’m learning to enjoy a lot of new things, like being around when she is looking up stuff at different stores, and being a part of fun photo shoots like ‘Love Actually’. Initially, when Honey shared the idea, my immediate response was ‘No’ but after checking all the links I was like ‘Why Not’ and then it was ‘Of Course’. After all, this is a new phase in your life, when you are discovering new things about each other, so this photo shoot was one amazing experience- it started with me telling her ‘I’m doing this for you’ and finally it was ‘I really enjoyed experiencing this with you!”

If you’re getting married in 2014 or 2015 and would like to be a part of ‘Love Actually’ write to us (weddingsutra@gmail.com) with the link to your FB profiles, wedding date and ‘how you met’ story. Selected couples will be invited for the shoots in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

Platinum Jewellery (Love Bands, Bangle and Earring) by Popley and Sons
Honey’s outfit- Ritika Bhasin (AZA, Altamount Road, Mumbai)
Makeup & Hair- Dessange Salon & Spa, Bandra
Location- ITC Grand Central, Lower Parel, Mumbai

Photographs by- Dhruvin Shah and Vivek Kumar

Sherestha and Raj were proceeding to the US to pursue their higher studies at the same University. Before their departure, the University had organized a meetup for students from India which is when Sherestha and Raj first met. She tells us more: “We both reluctantly showed up for the meetup on a Sunday afternoon, only four students had turned up, so all of us chatted there. I didn’t expect to see him again, but we bumped into each other on campus two months later. That is when we really hit it off and got to know each other better while exploring the beautiful New York city! After spending quality time with each other, we realized we share so many common interests- reading, travel, food and the outdoors. He was my rock during my seven year long intensive PhD program, and I knew I had found my companion for life! Raj proposed at the top of the Cape May Lighthouse in New Jersey, and the rest as they say is history!”

Wedding Planning
At first, Sherestha and Raj decided that they would have a small wedding with just 10 people at Sunset Cliffs in sunny San Diego. However, “as we pondered upon this ridiculously non-traditional Indian wedding idea, the look on the faces of our very traditional Indian parents flashed before our eyes and we realized this is not a great idea. Also, the thought of our friends and family in India and the Middle East not being able attend our wedding was not fun! So, we decided to have the big fat Indian wedding, which both our parents had always visualized!” says Sherestha.

Raj’s parents are from Andhra Pradesh but they’ve lived in Delhi for a very long time, and Sherestha’s parents are from Uttar Pradesh but have lived in Oman for close to 30 years.  After discussions with both families they felt the most convenient location for the wedding is Delhi. Says Sherestha, “Our wedding was held at a small farmhouse near the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. We initially planned on choosing a hotel for the wedding ceremony but not being able to have any flexibility with choosing our own decorators, caterers, and entertainment company was a big no-no. We also loved the idea of having the wedding outdoors! Raj and his family arrived in a beautiful 1935 Chevrolet Phaeton; I arrived in a beautiful carriage adorned with flowers (my mothers idea!) along with my bridesmaids and family.”

Wedding Vendors
Sherestha luckily got the chance to go on a month’s business trip to India six months before the wedding. She says, “During my time off, I was able to shop for clothes and meet with some vendors. Here are more details on them.

Makeup Artist- Simran Kalra was my makeup artist for all the functions. I think she is a thorough professional and an amazing bridal makeup artist! I felt her work is flawless and she knows how to apply just the right amount of makeup to enhance one’s natural beauty! And she will not leave until you’re absolutely happy with your look!

Wedding Photographer- We spent a lot of time online searching for candid wedding photographers in Delhi and finally we chose Mahima Bhatia.  She has an uncanny knack for capturing the little details that may not seem important at first, but after you see the captures you realize how beautifully they tell the story! The pre-wedding shoot experience was great fun too; me and my husband are not used to getting ‘attention’ but she put us at ease and we enjoyed ourselves while she clicked away.”

My advice for to-be-weds
Family and friends network-  Make a list of family and friends who have organised or helped organize a wedding recently. Reach out to them whenever you need practical advise or suggestions. If you are living abroad it helps a lot if your parents live in India so they can do the follow-ups. Delegate several tasks to your best friends and siblings/cousins. In most cases, brides and grooms don’t get more than 2-3 weeks off for their wedding/honeymoon, so planning in advance is key to ensure most things go on as per schedule.

- Keep an open mind. From the very beginning I swore to myself that I would not wear a red lehenga. Within the first 15 minutes of entering Frontier Raas in Delhi, I found my wedding lehenga- red and blue in color. You might spend all the time obsessing over something that looks perfect in your mind during the planning stage, but if you see something unique and different and you like- go with your gut and buy it!

- Be prepared, some things might go wrong. We wanted all the men (including Raj) from both families to wear grey suits with a light blue shirt, dark blue tie and a red boutonniere on the left lapel of the suit. The tailor did a very bad job and all the suits ended up being ill-fitting or too tight. Two days before the wedding, Raj and I frantically looked for outfits for him to wear at the wedding! We found the PERFECT outfit at Study by Janak and literally begged the store associates to alter the outfit and have it ready in a day. When it was ready, it was as if the outfit was made just for him!

 - Be organized. Input everything in excel sheets. That’s all it takes. Create a ‘day of the wedding’ timeline too so you know what needs to be struck off the list at different times. One of the biggest mistakes we made was to assume that our driver knew the route to the wedding location in a farmhouse in Southwest Delhi. He had no clue! After a million panic attacks, we finally made it through Delhi’s overcrowded streets but the baraat had already arrived. I ended up hiding in the car in the parking lot with my bridesmaids until the wedding planner gave us the green signal to enter the venue. Until then no one in my family had seen me in my bridal attire. After entering the venue and seeing the happy look on my parents faces, I breathed easy and was ready to enjoy the big day!

-  Think of it this way- You’re probably going to head back abroad after the wedding, and you might never have all your friends and loved ones sharing memories, good food, laughter, tears and joy in the same place again. So it’s important to take in as much happiness as you can during this time and not sweat the small stuff. My grandfather passed away a few weeks after the wedding and I always remember the huge smile on his face during the different ceremonies, the blue jacket I bought for him for the wedding reception which he absolutely loved and the happiness he felt in being around his whole family. It makes me so happy to know that he was there to bless us on our big day.

For our new blog post series, ‘Long Distance Wedding’ we’re featuring couples living abroad who planned a wedding in their hometown in India. We want to hear your story, how you shortlisted venues and your experience with the wedding planner (if you hired one) and other vendors. Write to us at editor@weddingsutra.com with your wedding photo and required details (below), and we’ll get in touch if you’re selected to be featured.

Name of Bride and Groom
Where you’re based or where you were based when planning the Wedding
Where (venue + city) you got married and when (date)

Photos Courtesy- Mahima Bhatia

When it comes to dressing up, a lady is truly spoilt for choice. Cocktail dresses, elegant gowns, colorful sarees, embroidered lehengas and dressy anarkalis, the options are many! But among all these there is something that is truly special- the Kanjeevaram pattu (pure silk) which is considered one of India’s finest fabrics. The sheen, the texture, the grandeur, the motifs and the vibrant colors– we love almost everything about it.

South Indian women in particular have a special connect with Kanjeevaram or Kanchipuram sarees, that are woven by the weavers of Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu. Most ladies from South India, would have at least one Kanjeevaram saree in their wardrobe. It is the garment that is worn for all auspicious occasions and functions, and most brides from Tamil Nadu wear a heavily woven silk on their wedding day. If you are new to the world of Kanjeevarams, and are keen to possess them all you have to do is seek the expert advice of managers and store assistants at Pothys– the ultimate destination to shop for traditional silk sarees in Tamil Nadu.

Pothys was established over 90 years back by K.V. Pothy Moopanar, under the name Pothy Moopanar to sell cotton sarees, dhotis and towels woven in his own loom, and their first showroom was at Srivilliputtur. Cut to the present date and they have multiple showrooms which boast of the largest silk sarees’ collection all over Tamil Nadu. Pothys reputation stems from its unflinching dedication in providing exclusive, high quality, diverse clothing options and unmatched customer service. Once their executives tell you more about the elaborate process and other facts behind the making of each saree you will feel proud to own a Kanjeevaram saree, and wear it with pride and joy for the special celebrations in your life.

Pothys Samudrika
Not one to rest on its laurels of having an undisputed reputation in the traditional silk sarees segment, Pothys went one step ahead and launched its own unique brand of silk sarees namely Samudrika, Parampara and Vastrakala. What makes these silk brands unique is its richness in silk, exclusivity in design and luxury, genuine zari work and weaving artistry for that special look and feel. Their branded silks make for stunning heirloom pieces in their own right and are designed to last for generations. The sarees in the Samudrika segment have been designed to appeal to the tastes of all women- young and old. Sarees in a special range of colors, floral and geometric patterns make up for a good part of the dazzling collection, so be prepared to be floored!

Shopping simplified: Pothys is now Online!
Rich Indian sarees are in huge demand, not just in India but all over the world! The fact that Pothys noticed an increasing volume in International and NRI clientele motivated them to launch their online store, Pothys.com, to cater to this extremely important audience. The online store has an unbeatable range of products to offer– including a wide variety of wedding sarees, daily wear sarees, dressy salwars, office wear kurtis, kutti sarees for girls, dhotis for the boys and silk shirts and dhotis for men.

Online innovation: Shop through Skype
Attempting to take conventional online shopping a notch higher, Pothys has also launched a unique and innovative experience called Skype Shoppe, for its online shoppers. All one has to do is make an appointment, login to Skype and they can avail the help of a virtual shopping assistant to browse and view designs of their choice before making their decision to buy it online.

Payment and deliveries
Keeping in mind its customers concerns, Pothys.com has a safe purchase policy for its online shoppers as they have teamed up with CC Avenue, India’s leading e-banking network and PAYPAL, a highly reputed and trusted overseas payment gateway. Together they provide a secure and flexible Internet payment platform for seamless, error free online payment solutions.

Pothys.com also takes pride in having an efficient and quick delivery process for its esteemed clientele. They have tied up with some of the best domestic and international courier companies to ensure a speedy delivery. Once you make your final choice, Pothys will process and ship the same in 2-5 days.

It only keeps getting better, doesn’t it!

E:  marketing.pothys@gmail.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/pothyssilks

Advertorial– in association with POTHYS

Our initiative ‘Love Actually’ is a photo series featuring engaged couples who actively seek ideas and inspiration from WeddingSutra. The series celebrates the beautiful people in love as they start their lives together. Because real love can only begin, never end. Over coffee, a makeover and a photo shoot we get to-be-weds to tell us how they met, show us their platinum love bands and talk about their day of love.

Mugdha from Kota and Prateek from Mumbai met through what she describes as a typical ‘Marwadi’ arranged marriage setup. The venue for their meeting was the Sea Lounge of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai. Says Mugdha: “We spent around thirty minutes talking to each other, yes, just thirty minutes! So what do you think was our answer when we returned home? An emphatic ‘No’! In the first meeting both of us felt we are poles apart. I like to spend time with family at home, while he loves partying. I am a workaholic while he knows how to balance work and life.” Prateek on the other hand says, “Since Mugdha is from Kota, I wasn’t sure how she would adjust to life in Mumbai. We didn’t express all these apprehensions while we communicated a bit while sipping coffee at the Sea Lounge, but I guess both of us could feel the disconnect.” But, explains Prateek. “We all know how parents think when it comes to children and ‘settling them’. My parents and her parents encouraged us to meet one more time; me and Mugdha were not keen, but we agreed only to respect their wishes. And then we met again, and again, and gradually we started looking forward to spending time with each other. Before we realised, it was time to get officially engaged.”

Mugdha and Prateek got engaged on 28th February 2014 and soon the newly-engaged couple and their families started thinking about where to host the wedding. “Both of us and our parents were keen on a destination wedding. The first destination which came to our mind was Udaipur, so we travelled there to see the different venues. We visited The Leela Palace and my heart was set on their outdoor courtyard for the wedding ceremony. When the hotel authorities informed me that they already have a tentative booking for that date, I was very disappointed; so I told myself, if The Leela doesn’t work out, I will not get married in Udaipur, but in some other destination like Aamby Valley or Goa. But then, in the evening I got a call from Prateek and he asked me to check my email- and it was a confirmation mail from The Leela Palace. Interestingly, I didn’t express my disappointment in the morning—he sensed it. That’s when it hit me that he will do the impossible to make me smile. That evening, I knew I had found my prince charming, and that day is what I call our ‘day of love’.”

Engagement photo shoot at Amadeus, Mumbai

Adds Prateek: “There was no formal proposal, no long phone calls, and our meetings before the engagement were just that—meetings, not ‘dates’. I guess we didn’t need all of that to fall in love. What we realised early on is that both of us will work hard to keep each other happy.”

Love Actually- Mugdha and Prateek at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Mugdha and Prateek are tying the knot in the first week of December in Udaipur. So how is the duo going about planning their wedding? “With so many family members pitching in, it is not too hectic or stressful. From the beginning I was clear about one thing- I wanted the best photographers to capture the coolest and most emotional moments. I spend a lot of time on WeddingSutra for photo inspirations, and I keep sharing references with Photographer Raonak Hathiramani- he shot our engagement and for the wedding he is the photographer exclusively dedicated to the bride and her close ones. Another top photographer from Mumbai and his team will photograph and film the different functions. Besides Photography, I love checking Lehenga colors and designs, so the Lehenga LookBook on www.facebook.com/weddingsutra is my other favorite. I haven’t shopped too much till now, I am looking forward to The Vogue Wedding Show in New Delhi this weekend, and after meeting the designers there, I will prepare a shortlist and decide what to wear for which function.” As for Prateek, he says he is happy to be involved with almost every aspect of wedding planning. “But there’s still a lot of time so as of now I am just reading about the coolest honeymoon destinations.” WeddingSutra wishes the young couple a happy and eventful journey!

If you’re getting married in 2014 or 2015 and would like to be a part of ‘Love Actually’ write to us (weddingsutra@gmail.com) with the link to your FB profiles, wedding date and ‘how you met’ story. Selected couples will be invited for the shoots in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

Platinum Jewellery (Love Bands) by ORRA

Photographs by- Raonak Hathiramani

Every relationship is unique. Every marriage is special. And so are the promises that two people in love made to each other. In this series, WeddingSutra meets seven beautiful couples and discovers the promises they made to each other for the lifetime.

“Neither of us particularly believe in fate. But we find it hard to deny that this relationship was ‘meant to be’,” says Varsha who married Lee at a grand wedding in her home town Bangalore. Here, the couple share their ‘how we met’ and wedding story .

How we met
Varsha and Lee both joined their courses at Leeds University later than the admission date. Varsha almost didn’t have her visa approved, and when her letter finally came through, she had already missed two weeks of lectures. The University informed her that she had one day to get to the UK or her seat on the course would be moved to the next year. So she got onto a flight and with literally hours to spare, she made it to Leeds for an early Monday morning lecture. Lee on the other hand, had originally joined Brunel University and after a week, decided the course wasn’t for him. Luckily his second choice, Leeds, still had a spot reserved for him, And very much like Varsha, he only made it to his course at the last moment, just before his offer to join was going to be withdrawn.

Says Varsha, “After we both joined, we soon became friends, and gradually one thing led to another. Neither of us can really pinpoint a moment when we decided to spend the rest of our lives together. It just happened.” Lee adds, “We kept our relationship under wraps for a few years before we decided to inform Varsha’s parents.” Varsha spoke to her father and told him that instead of her meeting a person he had chosen for her, she would like for him to meet the person she had chosen. The silence that followed on the phone was probably the longest ever. Varsha recalls: “After thinking about it for a couple of days, my dad agreed to meet Lee. He along with his parents flew to Bangalore to meet my family and officially ask for my hand in marriage. On the evening they were visiting home, I had prepared myself for the worst possible outcome. But how wrong was I! The dignity, kindness and love that Lee and his family showed to mine, and the open-minded acceptance and hospitality that my traditional family showed to his left me pleasantly surprised and overjoyed!”

Fast forward to 17th February 2014, Lee invited his near and dear ones to Bangalore, all of whom were looking forward to the unique experience of an Indian Wedding. Says Varsha “We celebrated our wedding with around 2000 guests at the Princes Green Gardens, Palace Grounds. It was a lovely day so we were glad we had an outdoor wedding, and the actual wedding hall was converted to a dining room. Lee looked every bit the groom I always dreamed of, with his white attire and Mysore peta.” The very next day, they had their ‘Western’ reception in the same venue, where Varsha got to be the bride Lee always dreamed of, dressed in white!

What we love and appreciate about each other
Says Varsha, “Lee is extremely patient. I definitely lack those traits so he balances us as a couple. I have always known he loves me, but the patience and kindness he has toward me even when we disagree has made the transition from a single girl to a married women an enjoyable one. I also love that fact that he has not tried to change me in anyway. He loves me with all the madness that comes with me. To add to all this, he is also my biggest critic and my loudest cheerleader.”

Lee says, “Varsha is ambitious and passionate. She makes every day fun and her energy is never ending. It may sound cheesy and corny but I am proud to say she makes me a better me. In situations where normally I might be reserved or apprehensive she brings me out of my shell. When I’m with her, she makes me look good.”

Love, Life and Marriage
“Falling in love was new to us both. Getting married was an unforgettable experience. And now we want to see new places, meet new people and experience new things together.”

What we look forward to
“We are looking forward to growing together. Not just growing old with age, but also with experiences, life lessons, ups and downs”.

Photos courtesy- Saneesh Sukumaran 

Just Married? Would you like to be one of the couples to be featured on ‘Seven Couples Seven Vows’. Email us at weddingsutra@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Seven Couples Seven Vows’, your names, when (date) and where (city) you got married, how you met and two photos (a pre-wedding or engagement photo, and your wedding photo)

Its the destination where the country’s most stylish brides are heading to this weekend- the 2014 Vogue Wedding Show that showcases the latest and most personalized services from the bridal and wedding world.

Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra and more of India’s top bridal couturiers all under one roof. Brides-to-be and their mothers deciding on elaborate jewellery sets, sister of the bride frantically clicking dressing room pictures for review later. A packed masterclass on bridal trends by Vogue’s fashion director Anaita Shroff Adajania and wedding trends by Wedding Designer Vandana Mohan. An open bar by Diageo and an elegant high tea by the Taj Palace, New Delhi. Here are some images of Day 1 and Day 2 from the most exclusive, luxurious and stylishly curated Indian wedding exhibition. Captured by Vinayak Das of Photo Tantra for WeddingSutra.com.

Ensembles by Sabyasachi

Begani Jewels

Manish Malhotra with visitors

The Vogue Team- Oona Dhabar, Priya Tanna and Priyanka Khanna

Watch this space for more photos from the Vogue Wedding Show 2014@Taj Palace, New Delhi.

Photos Courtesy- Photo Tantra

Retina Charmer Photography set-up in 2008 is run by Delhi-based Navin Kumar & Harshvardhan. Says Navin: “We started travelling after completing our academics and since then both of us have been making photographs which have made their way to magazines, publications, art galleries and most importantly to the hearts of people.”

In 2011 Retina Charmer Photography launched their new venture Retina Charmer Wedding Atelier which comprises of a team of Wedding Photographers, Videographers & Cinematographers who specialize in Traditional as well as Candid & Photo-journalistic Wedding Photography. Here, Navin and Harshvardhan talk about the Photobooks they design for clients and the new offerings which every to-be-wed must be aware about.

“There were times when clients had limited options but nowadays some of the best and the biggest wedding album brands offering premium photographic papers, are easily available in India. Some wedding albums may be expensive but as a wedding photographer I believe a couple should never consider it as an addition to their overall wedding budget, but a special investment to relive and share the memories of their beautiful day.

Trending options
Wedding Guest Books
Earlier, a wedding guest book helped a newly married couple remember the names of their wedding guests and helped them write thank-you notes and start their home address book. Today, we encourage all our clients to refrain from getting a ready-made guest book and get us to design custom-made books featuring photographs from their pre-wedding shoot, and the thoughts and messages which mean a lot to them.

You asked us for recommendations of some good Makeup Artists in Ahmedabad. We went looking and found these talented Makeup Artists.

A big thank you to Ahmedabad based Candid Photographers Priyanka and Amit Barot who connected us to some of the brides who recommended their Makeup Artists.

                                                                                        Makeup by Farin Jafri

                                                                                     Makeup by Wafa Elyas

                                                                                   Makeup by La Femme India

                                                                                        Makeup by Niyati Shah

                                                                                 Makeup by Tanvi Godiawala Shah

                                                                                        Makeup by Farin Jafri

                                                                                   Makeup by Twinkle Panchal

To find more Makeup Artists in other cities see the album ‘Bridal Makeup Gallery’ on our FB page- Link  here

Photos Courtesy- Amit Barot Photography

Sareena and Gaurav who now live and work in Boston met in an interesting fashion indeed, when they were little children in Gurgaon. Says Sareena, “My first memory of Gaurav goes back to when I was 5 years old! Upper KG to be precise! There was a celebration in school and I was participating in a dance sequence. I remember looking at Gaurav when I went to his classroom to practice with other kids. He moved to Delhi Public School (DPS) in 5th grade and as luck would have it, I moved there as well, in the 6th standard. We became friends on my first day in DPS. I was missing my friends from the previous school and Gaurav came to cheer me up.” Since then the couple has always shared a ‘best friends’ kind of a relationship and the duo believe this is what makes their relationship truly special.

An architect by qualification, Sareena headed to the US for her graduate studies (in Sustainable Design) and Gaurav followed to pursue a course in Mathematical Finance the very next year at Boston University. “Fortunately I got a job in the same city and our story took off! We asked Sri Sri Ravishankar to keep us together in life and he showered his blessings on us! I guess our parents read our minds and the match was set,” says Sareena.

The Wedding Celebrations
Both Sareena and Gaurav’s families are based in Gurgaon, and since they are born and brought in Delhi, they have a large circle of friends, so they always knew they’ll have a big, fat Punjabi wedding with lots and lots of guests.

The couple’s wedding moments started with a pre-wedding shoot with Photographer Arjun Mahajan. “We decided on Neemrana Fort on the Delhi-Jaipur highway for the pre-wedding shoot. Right after we booked Arjun he insisted we take time out for a pre-wedding shoot so he gets to know us better- and I’m so glad we did. And fortunately for us, on the day of the shoot the weather was rainy and we were hopelessly romantic. And Arjun captured our love on the camera very well,” says a nostalgic Sareena.

The pre-wedding events started with the girls’ side having an Art of Living satsang followed by a family dinner, sangeet and mehendi. The boy’s side at the same time had a pathh followed by dinner and sangeet. The venues for the same were their respective homes.

“My parents asked me what I wanted for my wedding. I asked them to plan the wedding the way they’d like it to be- after all, it was their daughter’s wedding. The only thing I requested for was a spectacular engagement ceremony,” says a starry eyed Sareena. The evening engagement ceremony was held at Park Plaza, Sushant Lok Phase I, Gurgaon. “The celebration venue, on the hotel terrace with a poolside overlooking the whole city, was just beautiful. The highlight was the dance sequence where both parents along with our cousins performed for us,” recalls Sareena. The theme was ‘story-based’. Gaurav’s parents danced to ‘tum seeti bajana chhor do’ and Sareena’s parents to ‘aj kal tere mere pyarke charche’, while our cousins rocked the stage to Bollywood retro songs! The exchange of rings and Gaurav’s tilak ceremony followed. “I was presented with a red chunni, a saree, make-up and jewellery by my to-be in-laws. My younger sister surprised us with a two-tier cake as we raised a toast to the happy occasion. The whole event was put together by my two close orator friends who were the Emcee’s and they kept everyone entertained and laughing”, says Sareena.

The event ended around midnight but the chit chat and joyous giggles continued the next morning itself as the guests gathered for the chooda and haldi ceremony at Sareena’s residence and the haldi and ghadighadola at Gaurav’s.

The wedding took place at Utsav Gardens in Sector-5, Gurgaon where the coupleand their parents invited close to a 1000 guests. “The food was delicious and the arrangements great! The ceremony lasted till the wee hours of the morning,” recall Sareena and Gaurav.

Wedding Planning
Being in the US and planning a big wedding in India was a tedious task, admits Sareena. The first thing they finalised was the photographer. “After going through profiles of tons of photographers on WeddingSutra and Facebook and after writing many emails we chose Arjun Mahajan of Arjun’s Tryst with the Camera. He eventually became the key to me finding my make-up artist for both the wedding celebrations as well,” says Sareena.

Sareena’s family spent time with the venue and vendors beforehand. But since she came to India just around three weeks before the wedding celebrations commenced, it was a little stressful for her even though the families had spent a lot of time on wedding planning. Recalls Sareena: “Each day, I ran a marathon. In the last minute, one realised one needed some additional services. Unfortunately, here email briefs don’t work—one has to rely on phone calls or personal meetings to finalise the details and the budget. In the end, we felt it would have been helpful if we had hired the services of a wedding planner.”

Wedding Trousseau
“We were actually quite tense about our dresses and trousseau and we would keep checking with our newly-wed friends”, says Sareena. They decided to complement each other’s wear for the functions. “I wore an off-white lehenga with an overcoat style lace choli for the engagement whereas Gaurav wore an Indo-Western black outfit. I would like to call myself an unconventional bride, so for the wedding I was not looking for the regular colors, I chose a lehenga in hot pink and orange hues with a complementary shade of green. Gaurav wore an off-white sherwani.”

Sareena bought most of her ensembles from Pratapsons, Jaipur, on the recommendation of a close friend. “Even my mum and sister’s wear was purchased from Pratapsons. They have a great choice and their prices are not exorbitant”, say Sareena. Most of her suits and anarkalis were designed by one Sakshi Kathuria and sarees were from a store named Panna Sarees in Gurgaon. Sareena recommends Gopalsons for Grooms wear. “Gaurav’s wear was all from there. Their custom tailoring services are very good.”

Advice for to-be-weds
“A lot of research went into finding the key people to execute things for us. It was the only thing we could do here sitting miles away”, explains Sareena who followed the elimination theory throughout the process.

Sareena advocates using social media extensively to help find the right stores, artists and vendors. “Today, all of them have an updated FB page, so it is very easy to read about their services/ collections. And WeddingSutra’s website, blog and FB page are of course a gold-mine of information.”

The real challenge, according to Sareena, remains contacting the tent vendors, flower stores and various farm houses.“Since most of them list landlines as their contact numbers, having a calling card plan for both mobiles and landlines numbers comes handy. And that would be my first tip to NRI’s who are getting married in India—get an international calling card for both mobile and landline numbers.”

For our new blog post series, ‘Long Distance Wedding’ we’re featuring couples living abroad who planned a wedding in their hometown in India. We want to hear your story, how you shortlisted venues and your experience with the wedding planner (if you hired one) and other vendors. Write to us at editor@weddingsutra.com with your wedding photo and required details (below), and we’ll get in touch if you’re selected to be featured.

Name of Bride and Groom
Where you’re based or where you were based when planning the Wedding
Where (venue + city) you got married and when (date)

Photographs courtesy- Arjun Mahajan

Ace wedding photographer Arjun Kartha is known for his fun and off-beat style of wedding photography. Here, he writes about his six favorite wedding photos, how they were made, and what prompted him to shoot them the way he did.

1. Here comes the bride (Pooja + Mohit)

Interestingly, this is one of the first weddings I shot. In 2009 when wedding photography that typically happened was the traditional posed style of imagery. Back then, I had been toying with the idea of shooting weddings just for fun and as a photographer, I was enthused to be able to bring in some story-telling into wedding journalism.

So there I was, armed with what I would now term a very basic DSLR, with no idea what I was doing and how I should be doing it– but determined to create stories from what I saw. I took this image just as Pooja stepped out from where she had been waiting for the baraatto settle down– and was gingerly taking her first steps towards the mandap.  I rushed to be in front of her, and suddenly there was a hush in the gathering and she demurely looked down knowing that every single eye was on her!

This will always be one of my favorite images– everything just came together here. Her friends and family surround her, the strong backlighting by a frantic video-man holding the dreaded halogen lamp rushing in to get his shot, the bride demurely looking at the ground as she made her way forward– this is why the bride’s entry will always remain one of my favorite parts of a wedding.

2. Beach Fun (Priyanka + Arun)

Creating a visual or conceptual imbalance in a frame gets me going – and it’s something I’m always looking for.

This shot just like all the good ones happened by chance. After the Church wedding, we had just wrapped up a post-wedding session at Mahabalipuram beach near Chennai when it started looking like it was going to pour. Just as we were walking towards shelter, we came across this unused beach volleyball court and in the spur of the moment we challenged the bride and groom to a game. I have to say I was lucky– they were totally game (pun intended!) and were so caught up in their match, they forgot I was taking pictures of them! Who won? That’s a secret!

3. The tug of war (Sonam + Vivek)

Nothing makes me more excited than creating photos that are fun! In this shot, we had just completed a series of formal shots of the couple with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. We had a couple of minutes to spare, and I knew something was missing. All of them were great friends, and were having a good timeand I knew I had to challenge them to a good old-fashionedtug’o war! I’ve always been lucky to work with some really great couples and their friends– and they loved the idea! The match soon became serious with each side giving it all they got. Who won? Well– with six burly groomsmen behind her…the groom’s side didn’t stand a chance!

4. Bridal portrait (Meha + Utsav)

There are times when things come together, and there are times when things really come together! We were shooting a wedding at the Samode Palace in Rajasthan and the evening was coming to an end. I had made a mental note earlier in the day that I wanted a full-length portrait of the bride but to my frustration, I hadn’t been able to find that perfect moment. So there we were, taking a quiet break when the bride Meha walked right past us by on her back way from the green room which happened to be a little away from where the main festivities were happening. I grabbed whatever equipment I had and requested her to stop for a minute– we had a few seconds to choose the spot and setup and get a picture of her while she was walking back. I knew we couldn’t request her to wait for long and Iwas only able to get a few pictures squeezed in of which this is one of them.

5. Love on Track (Akhil + Astha)

It’s strange how so many of the great images over the years are all ones that happened by a stroke of luck and last minute inspiration. This one is no exception!

While shooting a wedding in Kolkata, one of the functions involved a party on a barge. This sounded like lots of fun, and we arrived early so that we could setup and have a look at the place. After we were all setup, the guests started trickling in, and everyone was waiting for the bride and groom to show up. I received word that the bride and groom would be reaching soon, so I rushed off the barge and reached the jetty.And then…inspiration struck! In the back of my head I remembered that in order to reach the jetty, we all needed to cross this old railway track that adjoined the Police Jetty in Kolkata. I leapt forward and waylaid the couple before they could get too far– and reeled off a few quick shots where they stood. I knew I had the perfect composition – the railway track with the couple on it was just the kind of disruptive beauty I liked in a frame, and I knew I had a picture I would be proud of!

6. #Happy

I’ll have to admit, I had the Pharrel Williams song ‘Happy’ stuck in my head the day I shot this.  The couple was adorably in love and the chemistry they shared could literally be poured into a jar and bottled. This picture was shot in New Delhi,near the Rashtrapathi Bhawan (you can see the entry to the north and south blocks just behind the couple). We were walking around the area taking pictures without too much pre-planning, when it struck me that I’d like to create something iconic (hard to think that way what with that magnificent building in the background). I explained the setup to the couple, and walked out to where I wanted the shot taken. With traffic, pedestrians and the ever present security commandos around, I knew we had to be quick and that timing would be everything. I didn’t have much time to compose the shot, and had my assistant signal the couple to jump for joy– and managed to get a few frames in. I could see the unstoppable Delhi traffic surging towards us and we had to shoot and get out of the way…fast!

After we dusted ourselves off, I finally got a chance to look at what we had captured– and I loved it! The sheer joy in Nikita’s face coupled with the perfectly symmetrical North and South blocks in the background was just what I was aiming for!

I hope you enjoyed this collection of images and my notes on them. Here’s another article I wrote on WeddingSutra on how you can look great in your wedding pictures! Also, remember– wedding photos languishing away in a computer is a real crime; nothing beats going through your precious memories as a hardcopy in print. Encourage your photographer to include a coffee table book like the ones available from Canvera!

Anu Bose and Ashish Anil hail from Kerala and in 2005, both of them headed to Singapore with a teenage dream of globalized education and career. They were a part of the same group of friends who would hang out together and they studied at one of the finest universities in Asia. Being together for all these years, a wonderful chemistry developed and with similar interests and thoughts, they decided they were meant to be. When it was time to decide on the wedding, they were sure they wanted the most memorable celebration- their wedding in Singapore was a fusion of traditional Indian and East Asian culture and an amazing combination of Catholic and Hindu customs (Anu is Catholic and Ashish is Hindu).

Anu and Ashish state: “We handled everything on our own- from venue bookings, to interaction with all the suppliers. There were three things we spent a lot of time on- one was designing our wedding invitation card, the second was the short animation clip of our love story played at the reception and finally the wedding photography and film.” Ashish was introduced to Bangalore-based candid photographer Saneesh Sukumaran by his cousin. And on Saneesh’s recommendation the videography assignment was given toAnand of Creative Chisel. Both Saneesh and Anand flew in to Singapore to cover the wedding and the post wedding shoot. Anu and Ashish were keen on a pre-wedding shoot too, and the beautiful backwaters of Alappuzha and the natural waterfalls of Athirappilly were the venues for it. Says Saneesh: “It was nice to work with a to-be-bride and groom who were equally excited about their couple shoots. And we decided on two very different backdrops, with diversity being a key inspiration. Kerala and Singapore, where they have spent their lives; for Kerala the look was very traditional. At Alappuzha we took a boat in the early hours and drove around so we could be away from the regular tourist places. At the Athirappilly waterfall we climbed down to the bottom of the falls, it was very windy but we managed to get some good shots. In Singapore the look was modern to suit the ambience of the city.  We shot at all the iconic places there- near the beach, China town and the Gardens by the Bay.”

Anu and Ashish’s wedding at the Park Royal Hotel was a multi-cultural affair with a multi-national and multi-racial audience. As a tribute to their own traditions and beliefs, the solemnization- formal registration of wedding was carried out in the presence of a Church priest followed by a traditional Hindu wedding. The post wedding celebration was an active, cheery affair with champagne toasting, cake cutting, songs and dance. The big day was followed by the post wedding photo shoot after which the couple flew in to Bali for a short holiday.

Photos Courtesy-  https://www.facebook.com/loveflickrs and www.saneesh.com

Kanika and Behzad Gazder (aka Gaz) live in Mumbai and both of them work in advertising. They met in 2010 and the sparks few instantly, soon they became best of friends, and eventually their friendship blossomed into love. Here, Kanika writes about her wedding planning experiences and the search that happened for the dream-wedding venue.

Wedding Planning & Venue Selection
We had been dating for nearly 4 years and were in no rush to get married. After all, it is said that why fix something that is not broken. But being a Marwari, my parents started really pushing for me to get married. At some level, Gaz and I also started thinking that maybe it was really time for us to tie the knot. We had been together for so long and we wanted to share that joy with our families and closest friends. And so began the planning. We shared the thought that our wedding should be intimate with only the most important people in our lives there. We decided that we would have a Marwari style wedding and keep as few functions as possible. So we agreed on a 3 function wedding split over two days. On the first day we had the Mehendi and Bhaat function in the morning and Sangeet & Reception in the evening, followed by our Wedding ceremony on the next day on the boat.

We began scouting for venues all over the city, but couldn’t find anything that really spoke to us. Eventually, each of the venues we confirmed happened by chance. We were at a family dinner at San Qi at the Four Seasons in Mumbai when we passed by a party hall which was the venue for someone else’s reception– right there we decided that Four Seasons was the perfect location for the Bhaat & Mehendi. The Sangeet & Reception took place at IMSC Dhanush in Navy Nagar (Colaba). We had actually gone to visit Sagarmatha opposite Afghan Church in Colaba but we lost our wayand we ended up at Dhanush in Navy Nagar- we loved the space and got really nice vibes and we decided this was it.

However, we were unable to lock in on the wedding venue. We considered the traditional venue choices like hotel ballrooms and gardens and even almost booked the Grand Hyatt in Santacruz. The night before we paid the deposit for the Grand Hyatt, my mother asked me if I was happy with the choice. When I said it was purely okay and not a dream venue, she sweetly told me to forget about the traditional venue and motivated me to think out of the box. That is when we decided to sit down and make a list of places we would like to get hitched. The most common theme that surfaced was the sea and ocean because our list was populated with ideas like the beach, on an island etc. At this point we started considering Goa as a strong potential location. However, we did not want to leave the city on our wedding day. By now, my entire family was a little irritated with us, and was telling us to pick a venue quickly. Then we chanced upon this company called Blue Bay Marine run by Gautam Bhatia and Meherzad Kajanwalla. I called them to enquire and luckily for us they said they have a yacht available on our day. We asked them to tentatively book it and then decided to go and do a recce. Since the yacht was undergoing maintenance, it wasn’t sea-worthy until a month before our wedding, so we had to go see it at Ferry Wharf– not as magical a place as it sounds. We took my parents to see the yacht, and we had to climb over 2 boats just to get to ours. It was in tatters – the paint was peeling and the flooring was ripped out. Ever optimistic and wearing the rose tinted love glasses, we didn’t care. We were just enticed by the concept of getting married out in the Arabian Sea. The 100 pax limit of the yacht was just an added benefit as now we could keep it intimate and small. My parents however had their reservations, as it was too small. The buffet would have to be limited, how would guests manage to climb aboard? ‘It would not be a very classy affair and so on and so forth’. But a mom is a mom and when she saw how excited I was, she relented. And thus the wedding preparations began.

We went through the empanelled caterers and decorators on the yacht’s panel and felt that they were not what we wanted. Thus we empanelled a caterer and decorator of our choice- Flamboyante for catering and Vivaah (run by Rachana Lucknowala) for the decor.

Gautam and Meherzad of Blue Bay Marine went out of their way to ensure that everything was better and more. Their entire team were super-efficient, at their insistence we met them only one month in advance to share our vision, and then a week before the wedding to ensure it was all going well. They managed everything spectacularly and went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that our big day would be perfect! In fact, the truest way of describing Gautam & Meherzad’s efforts would be to say that they were working not on a client’s wedding, but on a family wedding!

Advice for to-be-weds
In all honesty, planning an offbeat wedding can leave you extremely unnerved at times. There are moments when you really doubt that things will pan out the way you want it to. There are moments when you seriously consider throwing in the towel and running back to a more tried and tested venue. After all, your wedding is not something you want to mess up in an effort to do something spectacular. But, and yes there is a but, if you are clear in your mind and have a vision, go ahead and give it a shot because it is truly worth it in the end.

Our blog post series ‘Wedding Venue Hot Spots’ features Real Couples and their search for the perfect venue. If you got married recently and would like to be featured here please email us a few wedding photos along with the details below. Our Editors will review the same and get in touch with you for a more detailed interview:

- Your Names and where you live
- The Wedding Functions, Date(s) and Venue & City

Esha Verma married her college sweetheart Vivek Kumar in Mumbai. Here, she writes about her wedding planning journey and how she managed to give the traditional wedding a personal twist.

 “Before I got married I thought choosing the right guy would be the toughest decision to make. Turns out it was the easiest! As the wedding preparations began, I realized that there are tougher decisions to make. Me and Vivek were fully involved in every aspect of the wedding and were referencing for over a year to get the details right. While our wedding venue which was the elegant MCA Club at Bandra Kurla Complex was fixed unanimously, picking the sangeet venue took longer as it was held on 14^th of February, the day of love. We finally booked The Club at Andheri, which is an ideal place to dance the night out.

What helps the most in putting together such an elaborate affair is having one destination where you can get all your answers. And for us that ‘one destination’ was WeddingSutra.com. We were acquainted with the website from the time of our engagement, which was almost a year before from the wedding. Be it invite references, the latest in bridal fashion and even honeymoon destinations, it was the biggest influence in all our decisions. In fact I was particularly stressed about one key aspect, the trousseau packaging and getting the giveaways packed nicely. WeddingSutra once again played savior, they had featured gift and packaging specialist Kirti Desai (from Juhu) who I contacted and she took care of all the wedding related gifts with her splendid sense of packaging.

Vivek himself being a wedding photographer was very particular about the wedding décor, he would keep saying that apart from the bride and groom, décor is what contributes to beautiful wedding photographs. We did a lot of research and kept saving as a reference, links from all across WeddingSutra. We wanted something that was minimalistic yet classy and that would look great in photographs too. And I had my heart set on marigold flowers, (no fancy orchids or carnations for us). The iconic ‘gendaphool’ brightens up a wedding like no other flower. We were extremely glad to have found a contemporary venue decorator like Rakesh Shroff who designed the venues for our wedding and sangeet giving us a stunning mélange of traditional and modern décor. We followed the marigold theme for our invites as well and had we two sets of invites– an understated and classy white printed invite and a more vibrant and colorful E-invite. And friends loved it as we did away with the traditional colors and experimented with something different.

My lehengas for the wedding and reception were from Roop Kala at Santacruz and my brief to them was clear– no traditional reds. While I chose a golden and beige lehenga for the wedding the reception ensemble was a vibrant,bright pink lehenga. The sangeet costume also from Roop Kala was an orange and blue floor-length anarkali. My make up and styling for all the functions was by Mitesh who is a fashion and Bollywood make up artist while the Mehendi was by Avani who turned my hands into a beautiful canvas with her intricate designs.

To jazz up things a little, we had a shimmery photo booth at the sangeet and went in for an impromptu slow motion video that was shot by Shrishail of Eka Films and conceptualized by Vivek. Slow motion photo booths are still a new concept and we had a ball of a time shooting it. We also did a pre-wedding shoot with Dhruvin Shah who is Vivek’s partner in crime in wedding photography. We shot at some quaint locations in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and the results are for all to see.We managed to give a traditional wedding a personal twist, putting it all together was nerve-wracking at times but in all, loads of fun.

Photos  Courtesy-  Love Dope Studios