Archive for the ‘Destination Weddings’ Category

Post-wedding shoot@ Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay

Feb 5, 2012 Destination Weddings, Wedding Photographers

Mary Margaret and Michale Shan got married in Chennai on December 29th, 2011; after their Church wedding they checked into the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay for a post-wedding shoot. Anbu Jawahar, their wedding photographer, shared with us some of the beautiful images captured@ the tranquil resort in Mamallapuram and the nearby spaces in the idyllic temple town. Says Anbu: “What a perfect setting it was- clean and clear spaces at the beach-front resort, and the historical places and ancient sites in Mamallapuram. My advice for couples who don’t get time for a pre-wedding shoot, don’t miss out on a post-wedding shoot.”

Anbu Jawahar
+91 9845122401
www.about.me/anbujawahar/bio

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The Big Fat Engagement in Hua Hin

Jan 5, 2012 Destination Weddings

Lavish settings, aerial acts, multi-cuisine platter, livewire music and high-energy performances by artists & dancers, Nisarg Ramani’s Engagement was more lavish than many Big Fat Destination Weddings.

Nisarg, 25, son of Dubai-based Jewellery tycoon Ramesh Ramani got engaged to Nupur Sakaria at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa in Hua Hin, Thailand. The three day celebrations were between 20 and 22nd December, and Dubai-based Wedding Planner Rimjhim Bhagchandani, conceptualised the wow themes, to give the 300 guests the most magnificent experience.

Father Ramesh Ramani’s brief to the Wedding Planner was simple: “This may be the Engagement, but we want the best. Don’t calculate anything so you’re not limited by a budget”. So Rimjhim flew in the best talent from India, Dubai and London, and with help from Thai hands, orchestrated the affair to remember.


The Engagement and Touch of Heaven theme evening on Day 1


Bubble Act from Dubai, Heliosphere from UK


The Hawaiin Pool Party on Day 2


(Left) Sophie Choudry at the Arabian Nights evening. (Right) Tanoura dancer from Dubai. Tanoura dance is a form of folkloric dance from Egypt, and is now popular in Dubai. Tanoura means skirt in English and is usually performed by Sufi men to the tune of Sufi music, where they spin continuously.


(Left) ‘Casino comes to Hua Hin’ party, a Las Vegas style youngsters night. (Right) Paris by Night theme evening, the chandelier dancer serving champagne upside down.


The Wedding Planners. (Left) Ramesh Ramani, father of the Groom. (Right) Rimjhim Bhagchandani and team

Photographs by www.nikhilkapur.com

Watch Nisarg & Nupur’s pre-engagement film shot in Dubai and the film with highlights of the Engagement celebrations

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Dubai glitz & glamour at Engagement celebrations in Hua Hin

Dec 26, 2011 Destination Weddings

It was dubbed as the grandest Engagement and the venue was Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, one of the most popular spaces for Indian celebrations in Thailand. Dubai-based billionaire Ramesh Ramani’s son Nisarg, got engaged to Nupur Sakaria, and the wow affair was managed by Dubai’s ace Wedding Planner Rimjhim Bhagchandani.

The 300 guests who came from Dubai, Bangalore and Mumbai were mesmerized by the grandeur of an engagement ceremony. One of the guests quipped: “I’ve attended several big fat weddings, but never have I seen such a spectacular engagement ceremony. Every function was wow, but what made the celebration spectacular was the energy with which the Ramani family celebrated, and the efforts they took to ensure each and every guest had a great time. Not to forget the highly enthusiastic groom Nisarg who was personally involved in planning everything over so many months”!

The Themes
Welcome lunch- Thai carnival
Engagement- Touch of Heaven
Post-engagement party- Las Vegas
Day 2 lunch- Hawaiian pool party
Day 2 dinner- Arabian Nights and a performance by Sophie Choudry
Day 2 post-dinner party- Paris by Night


Nupur and Nisarg at the Welcome lunch and Thai Carnival, The ‘Touch of Heaven’ theme engagement


Nupur and Nisarg entering the venue for the ‘Casino comes to Hua Hin’ party- a Las Vegas style youngsters night.


(Left) Nupur and Nisarg at the Hawaiian Pool Party at the Beach Lawns. Nupur is wearing a gown by Jyotsna Tiwari and Nisarg a creation by Delhi-based designer Deepak Chabria, (Right) Nupur in an ensemble by Parul Grover


The couple enter the Grand Ballroom for the Arabian Nights theme dinner.


Sophie Choudry entertains the audience. The Paris by Night theme party

The Wedding Makers
a) Decor & Design, Entertainment & Production, Hospitality & Travel by Rimjhim Bhagchandani and Team (rimjhimevents@gmail.com)
b) Continental Food by Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. Indian Food by Saras, Bangkok
c) Music- DJ Chetas from Mumbai & DJ Sash from Dubai. Musician-Violinist Sandeep S Thakur
d) Bartenders- www.flamingtrio.com
e) Nisarg’s wear by Deepak Chabria. Nupur’s wear by Jyotsna Tiwari and Parul Grover. Makeup by Reema Sablok

The Ramanis run Dubai-based BRR Jewellery. Nisarg schooled in Bangalore and Ooty and now works in his family business. Nupur, a Fashion Design graduate is from South Mumbai. The wedding is in Mumbai on 9th and 10th February, and the post wedding celebration is in Dubai.

Photographs by Nikhil Kapur (www.nikhilkapur.com)

Watch Nisarg & Nupur’s pre-engagement film shot in Dubai and the film with highlights of the Engagement celebrations

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Wedding@ the Speke Resort in Uganda

Dec 14, 2011 Destination Weddings

Khushboo, the daughter of Uganda-based pharmaceutical barons Meera and Rishi Vadodaria married UK-based Saeed Hernandez at the sprawling Speke Resort in Kampala, Uganda. The celebrations commenced with a Welcome Dinner at the Vadodaria’s private mansion where the guests witnessed performances by traditional Ugandan locals. The Jodha Akbar theme Sangeet was at the Golf Course Hotel where the ambience was of the royal Mughal times. The Traditional Wedding took place in the Ballroom where the bride and groom dazzled in creations by Tarun Tahiliani and jewellery by Mehrasons. The Grand Reception was held the next day, in a marquee by the lake, the theme was glitz & glamour and the entertainers both from Egypt and India.


The newly-weds with the bride’s parents and sisters

Mumbai’s popular wedding coordinator Pradeep Gidwani helped the family with wedding arrangements from Mumbai. Besides Pradeep, those who flew in from Mumbai included DJ Nawed Khan and stand-up comedian Umesh Pherwani who entertained the audiences at the reception. Ace Hair & Makeup Artists Shaida and Jaywant Thakre dressed Khushboo for all the functions.


The Sangeet


Khushboo and Saeed with his mother and sister


The Reception

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Business Maharajas only think ‘It can’t get better than this’

Dec 13, 2011 Celebrity Wedding Pictures, Destination Weddings

Some super-rich industrialists would like their child’s wedding to be extravaganza of excess—like what Pinky and Sanjay Reddy organized in Hyderabad. While some would like it be a fairy-tale wedding, with an intimate feel and the scale just perfect—like the one Sangita and Sajjan Jindal hosted in Florence. Whatever be the scale, what matters most is ‘It can’t get better than this’.


Mallika, Pinky and Sanjay Reddy’s daughter wed Sidharth Indukuri in Hyderabad.


Tanvi, Sangita and Sajjan Jindal’s daughter wed Krishna Shete in Florence

Invitations with Personalized gifts
The cards seldom go out alone. Nowadays, it’s with personalized gifts like an exquisite photo frame with the guests name and photograph. Other popular accompaniments include candle stands from Ravissant, designer watches, rare wines and Belgian chocolates.

‘Is it the Crystal Room or Ballroom tonight’?
In the wedding season it’s not uncommon to hear ”Is it the Crystal or Ballroom tonight?” the two majestic rooms at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai. The venue has, is and will always be the most elegant location for the most High Profile Engagements and Power Weddings.

Signature Wedding—at the Taj Falaknuma Palace or Four Seasons, Langkawi
Taj Falaknuma Palace offers the perfect setting for fairytale weddings. What was once the sole preserve of visiting royalty- KingGeorge V and the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II is now a dream wedding destination. Four Seasons Resort in Langkawi, is the ultimate romanticsetting for the most incredible beach wedding. The resort is located on the island’s North-East shore overlooking one of the most beautiful beaches in the region.

The Wedding Film by Mili and Sid
The Chicago-based wedding photographers & cinematographers are well-known for their Bollywood Chic-style wedding albums and films. India’s Platinum Club now fly down the couple to capture the enigmatic moments of the bride and groom and all the fun, exciting moments of the spectacular wedding! Few families can afford to hire their services, after all the duo spend nearly 400 hours in the film-making exercise to give the bride, groom and their families the experience of film-making at a full production level!

Rockstars and Rappers
Some families want Bollywood super-stars, while some prefer cultural icons like Shubha Mudgal. And some like the Nandas of Delhi, Fabianis of Mumbai and Agarwals of United Kingdom want an international star for the grand finale—like singing sensations Shakira or Akon.


Akon performed at Kajal Fabiani and Gaurav Assomull’s Wedding in Monte Carlo.

Marriage of Cuisines
International chefs are flown in for the occasion, sometimes the menu is matched to the wedding theme and if it’s an overseas wedding, Masterchef Ritu Dalmia steps in as Food consultant. The menu at the wedding isn’t about the number of dishes, but the many cuisines, in all their authentic flavours.

Décor King Preston Bailley or Creative Genuis Tarun Tahiliani
Couturiers come on board not just to design the bride and the entire family’s ensembles but for décor design too. Today, creative Genuises like Abu-Sandeep, Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi and Rohit Bal reserve time to associate with one of the most high-profile weddings every year. And for those who want an International Guru to design the decor for a Delhi wedding extend an invitation to Preston Bailley.

No prizes for guessing what you’re most likely to hear immediately after the wedding—“It was the most mesmerizing event of the decade.”

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10 Wow Wedding Gifts & Giveaways

Nov 1, 2011 Destination Weddings, Marriage & Wedding Trends

The most fun and creative part of any wedding is planning the wedding gifts and giveaways. With Indian weddings getting larger than life every year, the wedding gifts and giveaways are also getting a makeover, and are now exotic, personalized and fabulous. Jaspreet Soni talks about 10 ‘wow’ wedding gifts that make the occasion even grander:

Jiva Spa Vouchers
What can be a better wedding gift than exclusive experiences from the luxurious Jiva Spa at the Taj Hotels! Jiva Signature Experiences draws on the rich and ancient wellness heritage of India; the fabled lifestyle and culture of Indian royalty; and the healing therapies that embrace Indian spirituality. One of their must-try experiences is the 30 minute nourishing scrub followed by the 60 minute Indian Aromatherapy. Available at Jiva Grande, Taj Wellington Mews and Jiva Spa at Vivanta by Taj President in Mumbai.

Silver and Sterling Silver
Silver makes the perfect gift for well traveled people who look for trusted products that add to aesthetics and are yet functional. Wedding Planner Sneha Tejwani of Occasionz Unlimited says, “Silver and Sterling Silver is among the most sought after wedding gifts and giveaways this season, brands like ‘Episode’ and ‘Gorham’ offer photo frames, vases, intricate boxes, bowls, candle stands and much more. You can even order customized items designed exclusively for you.”

Digital Frames
Photographs are the best way to relive memories. Kodak’s Easyshare P86 Digital Frame is a great gift because it has stunning image quality and can store up to 1000 images. Simply put in your USB and you are ready to walk down memory lane.


Local Flavors
If you’re having a destination wedding in exotic locales don’t forget to add local flavor in the form of personalized giveaways. Says Bangkok-based Intiporn Kordonis who specializes in organizing Destination Weddings in Thailand: “The wedding gifts often come in pairs– unbreakable, exotic and a reminder of great moments. Typical local gifts like a pair of crystal slippers, handmade luxury trays made of wood, silk from Jim Thomson and bags from Naraya are very popular.”

Designer Candles
Candles have moved on to become luxury items ranging from non-drip, scented to beautifully crafted pieces in the glass moulds. One much sought-after brand is Dimple Kapadia’s Faraway Tree. From Indian fragrances like cinnamon, rose to special series like ‘Tranquility’ for stress relief, they have it all. Diptyque is another premium brand for which fashion maestro John Galliano has created signature scents.

iPads and iPods
The latest and sleekest addition to the wedding gifts genre is electronic media. Wedding planner Neha Seth Arora states: “iPads, iPods and iPhones will be all-popular this season. Some families are also sending the wedding invitation through iPads.”

Patchi’s Collection
Patchi chocolates are pure indulgence. They are as much a temptation to eyes as to the palate. This premium global brand has a dedicated wedding line of beautifully decorated chocolates in giveaway boxes that are nothing less than genuine craftsmanship. They also offer a complete range of collectables and gift platters from renowned international brands like Ferro Murano and Limoges.

Original Artwork
Artworks make the ultimate wedding gift for they combine beauty, culture, heritage and investment. The high potential gains is what makes this gift special.The artworks of artists like H R Das, and Aniket Khupse who are emerging fast on the art scene, have doubled in price in less than two years. Artists like Viraj Naik and Sudipto Tewari have also shown great potential.

The Nuptial Nest
If you are looking for something edgy, contemporary yet functional then you must checkout the collection ‘The Nuptial Nest’ by AA living, the luxury home interiors store in Mumbai. The collection designed to add ‘wow’ to the bridal wardrobe has the finest silk quilts, lustrous satin bed sheets, Turkish towels, accent cushions and beautiful jewelry organizers.

Sabyasachi Sarees
Sushil Wadhwa of Platinum Weddings says: “Swarovski embellished Pink Dom Perignon bottles with the brides and grooms initials are not adequate to elicit the ‘wows’, select guests receive a creation by a Couture King too. Recently, when a South-based baron’s daughter got married, many family friends received an exquisite Sabyasachi saree alongwith the invite. Business barons hosting a Big, Fat Wedding often get designers like Suneet Verma or JJ Valaya to design sarees, jackets or kurtas not just for the extended family but for close friends and business associates too.”

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The Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay- Mamallapuram

Sep 7, 2011 Destination Weddings

If you wish to host a destination wedding in a temple town, the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay would be the perfect venue. The Resort is owned by South India’s famous jewellers, the GRT group and run by the Carlson group under the banner ‘Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay’. The beach resort is located in the seaside town of Mamallapuram, and its special features are that it has the biggest Ballroom in the Coromandel Coast and the longest pool in India.


Anish and Anushka hosted their winter wedding at the Radisson Blu Resort

At Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay you can have an opulent and exotic or simple and elegant wedding affair. You can choose to have an indoor wedding at their expansive ballroom or a function near the beach at their beautiful lawns by the bay. You can even host a pre-wedding function near the picturesque Shore Temple- a UNESCO heritage site, located very close to the resort. The big advantage of hosting a wedding here, is its accessibility—Mamallapuram is a little more than an hour away from the city of Chennai. The resort has a helipad too!

Mamallapuram was a 7th century port city of the Pallava dynasty. Today, it offers a peek into the opulent life of the rulers of ancient India.


The entrance to the Resort lit-up for a wedding


The Resort’s ballroom is in the biggest in the Coromandel coast and it
has the longest pool in India

For more information visit: www.radissonblu.com/hotel-mamallapuram or
Email:priya@rdtemplebay.com

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Host an intimate Wedding at the most beautiful Heritage Properties

Aug 28, 2011 Destination Weddings

Your dream wedding venue is a Palace, but you wish to have an intimate affair, and not a big fat wedding. Wedding Planner Sonia Kaul writes about some beautiful palaces, which would make for the perfect wedding venue.

1. Balsamand Lake Palace (Jodhpur) – Built in red sandstone it was initially conceived as a summer retreat of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. It overlooks the still and clear Balsamand lake which was artificially created in the 13th century which compliments the lush green lawns and staggered terrace gardens. Perfect for a lavish Sangeet.

2. Khimsar Fort and Sand Dunes (Khimsar) – The Fort borders the stark and arid Thar Desert, cocooned with an 11 acre oasis of lush lawns. Open spaces, courtyards, stone carved exteriors and arches is what sets this fort apart from the rest. What makes this destination even more special is the fact that you can also soak in the heritage of Rajasthan by having an evening at the sand dunes which is just a short drive away from the fort. Perfect for a ‘mela theme’ Mehendi.

3. Fernhill Palace (Ooty) – Sprawled over 50 acres of beautiful lawns which gives you ample space to host a lavish wedding. The palace has a magnificent ballroom with a highly valued ornamental papier-mâché ceiling. Ideal for an elegant and sophisticated wedding.

4. Lallgarh Palace (Bikaner) – This luxury palace hotel has played host to a number of dignitaries from all over the world. This palace with its rich heritage and magnificent craftsmanship has been picturesquely created to celebrate your royal wedding. For a “maharaja – maharani” theme wedding!

5. Woodville Palace (Shimla)– This is a rather unique venue if you wish to host an intimate, fun wedding in the hills! Having partly planned and organized my brother’s wedding at this venue, I can state through personal experience that it truly has a special aura around it, to make your day more than special! Perfect for a “vintage Bollywood meets vintage Hollywood” theme reception!

To know more about these properties visit www.welcomheritagehotels.com!

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A Destination Wedding in Amritsar

Aug 1, 2011 Destination Weddings

Dubai-based Sawlanis (bride) and London-based Ahluwalias chose a little offbeat place for their destination wedding—Amritsar. They chose the city because of the Golden Temple, and the venue was the city’s only 5-star hotel Ista Hotel.

300 guests attended the wedding, and were treated to a magical experience. Rimjhim Bhagchandani, the Dubai-based ace Wedding Planner who managed the three-day affair tells us why the wedding was very special. “I too got an opportunity to visit the Golden Temple at 4.00 am for the Palki ceremony—and it was a heavenly experience. Also, over the planning stages I grew very fond of the bride and her sister, Rinku. It was such a fun experience working with them and I have such wonderful memories of the families and Amritsar. And I sincerely hope more couples consider Amritsar as a destination wedding location.”

Moroccan theme – Bedazzled and Bejewelled
The theme for the first main function, the engagement was ‘Bedazzled and Bejeweled’. It was held at Forest Farm House and the catering was handled by The Four Seasons in Chandigarh. For the entertainment, fire dancers performed in synchronization with Dhol players. The bar tending team was flown in from Delhi.

Folk theme – Lets do Balle Balle
Since the wedding was in Amritsar, they wanted the guests to experience the amazing food which Amritsar is famous for and the Punjabi Dhaaba experience. The Mehendi function on Day 2 had a typical Punjabi village theme featuring food stalls from the famous dhaabas of Amritsar, and Bhangra dancers from Ludhiana.

The decor was very colorful featuring a lot of charpais and straw huts, not to forget the well and the typical Basanti kaa Tanga from Sholay. The ladies were busy getting mehendi and parandis done, while the men were busy at the Theka (traditional village style bar) and the kids at the game stalls and the giant wheel! One of the highlights was the photo corners, as guests could pose for pictures on a hay stack or a typical village truck.

The couple entered the function on a red tractor decorated with marigold flowers to the tune of Yamla Pagla Deewana. The wedding was a Sikh ceremony- Anand Karaj, held at the Gurudwara followed by Langar Prasad.

Victorian theme – A new beginning
The bride was looking for an elegant Victorian feel for the reception which was held in the tented garden of the Ista hotel. The colors for the decor were soft pink and ivory with a lot of roses and drapes for the right ambience.

The couple entered with a live saxophonist and Jannat, the fusion world music band from Delhi added the musical charm to the evening.

Event Designer: Rimjhim Events from Dubai worked very closely with the Ista Hotel management and local coordinaters Monish Mehra and Jatin Mehra.
Photographs: Madhavi from Tasveer Digital Color Lab
Sound & light: DJ Gaurav from Insanity the DJs
Hair & Make up: Jaywant Thakre

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Bollywood Weddings- how much do they cost?

Jun 30, 2011 Destination Weddings, Wedding People & Planners

The sangeet at the recently organised GVK Reddy wedding in Hyderabad was termed India’s most spectacular not because SRK and a host of b-town stars were there, but also because the Big B and his entire family was there. There was a lot of speculation on how much each star billed the family and one newspaper even reported that Salman Khan was offered Rs 20 crore for his presence (untrue). Here, we present to the best of our ability, how the business of inviting Bollywood stars as guests or performers to a wedding actually works, and what families shell out for a Bollywood theme sangeet.

A-league actors charge between Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore while SRK’s fee is Rs 2 crore. Sources say Akshay Kumar is the most business-savvy when it comes to negotiating, while among the actresses, it’s Katrina Kaif. The actresses fee range between Rs 30 and Rs 45 lakh. Says Wedding Planner Veena Bachani: “The three most sought-after names@ Weddings today are SRK, Salman and Katrina.”

Bachchans senior we are told are an exception in that they don’t regard ‘attending weddings’ a money-making exercise. They only attend weddings of families they are close friends with, like the GVK Reddy’s. And the presumption is that the Bachchans did not charge the Reddys any fee for their presence at the wedding. When families invite just one or two actors or actresses’ they or their Wedding Planners interact and firm up the deal with the Managers of the stars, but if they’re organizing a big bollywood extravaganza they hire the services of specialist firms like the Moranis owned Cineyug or Wizcraft who are considered the most powerful when it comes to getting the dates or the best rates of A-league stars.

Malaika Arora Khan is one of the most sought-after entertainers @ destination weddings in popular locales like Bali, Thailand and Goa. Source say pre Dabanng, Malaika charged Rs 5-6 lakh, and now her fee is around Rs 12 lakh. Besides flying down Malaika in business class and arranging for her stay at a suite, there are the costs of flying down her troupe—manager, choreographer, makeup artist and sometimes a dance troupe, and their fees. Sophie Chowdhary who charges around Rs 3.5 lakh is also popular and so is Yana Gupta.

While the not in the A-league actors/ actresses charge between Rs 3 and 5 lakh, other actresses like Mehak Chahal, Shveta Salve, Mona Singh, are quite popular at the grand yet not grandest destination weddings. They usually charge around Rs 1.5 lakh. But as Veena Bachani informs us the star fees is just a percentage of the spends@ the sangeet. When there is a big sangeet and performances by Bollywood stars there are several other costs like choreography, decor & stage, compere, DJ, music & sound, dancers and lighting—and the typical budget at a big, fat sangeet (not including the venues, food or an international act) hovers around Rs 50 lakh!

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