Fun-in-the-sun Weddings, in Goa
Jun 11, 2010 Destination Weddings, Marriage & Wedding Trends
Everyone enjoys holidaying in Goa, and many love to host their life’s most special celebrations there. Says Neha Seth Arora, who heads Var Vadhu, a wedding management firm: “In Goa, there are enough options for those with different wedding budgets—you can host a small and simple function for less than a lakh, arrange an intimate celebration at a posh resort for a few lakhs or organise a big fat wedding at a grand resort. Since many traditional families especially from the Marwari, Sindhi and Gujarati communities are hosting grand destination weddings there, our unique challenge lies in offering special desi food, entertainment and decor, in a very Goan locale”
The choices in the land of fun, sun and sands are many—a church wedding or pheras by the beach, and parties by the pool side or at an old Portugese bunglow. Some of the highly placed Grooms who are marrying in Goa in July this year include the head-honcho of a top gems and jewellery firm, the Editor of a leading business channel and the CEO of a luxury accessories house.
Ace event manager turned restauranteur AD Singh popularised Goa as a wedding destination among the swish set when his team organised his fabulous celebrations there. Actress Ravee Gupta, Models Mark Robinson, Reshma Bombaywalla, Nisha Harale got married in Goa, but many celebrities have preferred a traditional wedding ceremony in Mumbai or Delhi, and a second celebration or post-wedding party in Goa. Jewellery designer Poonam Soni’s daughter Esha Soni married New York based Ketan Setha at a traditional wedding ceremony in Mumbai followed by a family and friends fun celebration in Goa. Raja and Rita Dhody did the same for their daughter Aneesa’s wedding. Few years, ago model turned choreographer Anu Ahuja married in Delhi and the next celebrations were held in Goa– a church wedding and beach side party at the Calamari Party Shack. Bandana Tewari of Vogue and Ravi Krishnan of IMG had a traditional South Indian wedding on the lawns of the Oberoi poolside after which their post-wedding party was held in Deepti Dutt and Ranjeev Mulchandani’s restaurant—Axirvaad located at a 120 year old Portugese mansion.
Neha of Var Vadhu has received many enquiries for managing a destination wedding at a luxury resort next year and she has just returned from Goa after a quick visit to select properties. She says: “Intercontinental, Park Hyatt, Taj Village Aguada, Zuri and the Alila Diwa would be the best resorts for a large destination wedding. Intercontinental is fairly flexible and cost-effective, Park Hyatt is most classy and their magical forest and sunset beach give it a special touch; for those who’d like a hotel with a boutique-like feel, the newly opened Alila Diwa is a great choice.”
Tags: AD Singh, Alila Diwa, Anu Ahuja, Bandana Tewari, Calamari Party Shack, Deepti Dutt, Destination wedding, Esha Soni, Goa, Gujarati, Ketan Setha, Mark Robinson, Marwari, Neha Seth Arora, Nisha Harale, Park Hyatt, Portugese Bunglow, Raja Dhody, Ranjeev Mulchandani, Ravee Gupta, Ravi Krishnan, Reshma Bombaywalla, Rita Dhody, Sindhi, Taj Village Aguada, Var Vadhu, Weddings, Zuri
Weddings to watch out for!
Nov 16, 2009 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for, Celebrity Wedding Pictures
Roshni Nadar the CEO of HCL Corp and industrialist Shiva Nadar’s daughter is marrying Shikhar Malhotra, a distributor for Honda at the end of the month. And further to our earlier post on Weddings at Homes and Farmhouses, we’re happy to hear another high profile couple has chosen to get hitched at a home. Roshni and Shikhar will marry at the ministerial bunglow of Kamal Nath, the minister of Road Transport. With India’s powerful business baron’s daughter marrying at a top politician’s home, we’re sure this wedding will be attended by India’s who’s who. We’ve always seen Roshni in smart and well cut business suits and we’re wondering what the Tamilian bride will wear since her fiancé is Punjabi. A traditional or an understated contemporary saree or a rich heavily embroidered designer lehenga? Watch this space for more!
Aneesa Dhody, the beautiful daughter of Rita and Raja Dhody will soon marry Harsh Mehta, nephew of celebrated architect Pinakin Patel. Luxury and Style are Aneesa’s family forte. Her dapper business magnate father dabbles in luxury interiors. Mother Rita Dhody, one of Mumbai’s best dressed women takes on styling work for high profile shoots and select films. Aneesa is pursuing a career in Brand Management of luxury brands. We are sure this wedding will generate loads of interest and set new standards in wedding décor and bridal style.
Tags: Aneesa Dhody, Rajeev Sheth, Rita Dhody, Roshni Nadar, Shiv Nadar
Who is the Style Diva?
Nov 2, 2009 Fashion & Bridal Wear, People & Parties
Style Divas- the glamorous, chic women captured at the most fashionable, exclusive dos. Diligent followers keep track of the Divas who represent ultra modern, cosmopolitan and super-rich Indians. All the Divas are or look super-rich, and magazines/ newspapers love to feature them. But most Divas despite their strong identity don’t make lot of money in their independent avatar. Or even in the businesses they independently pursue. They are rich by birth or marriage and obsessed with glamour, luxury and style. Perhaps, that is
what makes her a Style Diva– a woman who does not work hard to make money or more of it; she is the woman who only works hard to look glamorous, always.
Our five favorite Style Divas.
1. Rita Dhody: the very glamorous, enigmatic woman also well known as Raja Dhody’s first wife. Many have a soft corner for the naturopath and can’t help wonder the irony in the glamorous world of page 3, picture perfect couples— and how Raja Dhody left Rita and her two children to pursue a romance and marry Queenie Dhody.
2. Queenie Dhody: Mumbai’s style icon. Feature Queenie’s picture on a glossy or newspaper page and the page will definitely look good. Many page 3 women, aspiring divas and divas work hard to emulate or
dethrone Queenie. But Queenie continues to reign supreme.
3. Anu Dewan: Once considered to be just another industrialist wife with a fondness for designer clothes and parties, heads turn when the impeccably dressed diva reaches a venue—with or without her powerful husband (HDIL’s Sunny Dewan) or bollywood friends.
4. Simone Singh: The svelte, petite model turned actress always wears a fresh and vibrant, happy and energetic look. Refreshingly different from all other models and television actresses, the articulate Simone stands out as a woman of style and substance.
5. Kalyani Chawla: the Kolkata bred Bengali beauty quickly made a mark in Delhi, the city where the swish set does not easily embrace outsiders. A few years ago when she won a coveted job with Dior, it was considered a big professional achievement; despite the job, she continues to lead her hectic social life making regular appearances at Delhi’s high profile do’s.
Tags: Anu Dewan, Kalyani Chawla, Queenie Dhody, Rita Dhody, Simone Singh, Style Diva
