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Mani Jassal and fiance Hark recreated the bohemian vibe of Mexican holiday hotspot Tulum at their engagement

One would expect a fashion designer’s engagement to be high on aesthetics, and Canada-based fashion designer Mani Jassal knocked it out of the park with her impeccable planning. The beautiful setup looked stunning, and the 200 guests who followed the all-white dress code added that special vibe to the celebrations.

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

The bride tells us about everything that made this day special and her journey with her fiance Hark.

How They Met

“Hark and I attended the same high school. We have been friends for as long as I can remember, and always shared a great rapport. Love, however, entered our equation much later. We started dating around four years ago, and everything just seemed to fit perfectly.”

Engagement Venue

“Hark already had a barn on his property, and being the hands-on person that he is, he transformed it into the space that we had imagined and desired for our engagement. The theme of the event was inspired by Tulum, Mexico, where he had proposed to me. The location went very well with the boho/rustic theme we were going for, and for additional space we had a tent right beside the barn. An added advantage of hosting a wedding right at home was that we didn’t have to worry about dates!”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

Planning

“We booked Sonia from Chic Events as our planner and coordinator, which was a huge help since she was able to guide us in the right direction when it came to vendors. She even had handy tips for us to keep in mind while meeting them. Paras from Paras Events was able to show us how he would transform the barn and the tented area. We wanted the barn to have a vibe similar to the local eateries in Mexico. The tented area, on the other hand, was airier and felt like we were at a beachside lounge. Aniya Nandy had done my make up before for a portrait shoot and I loved how she made me look and feel like the best version of myself. Needless to say, she was the one who did my hair and makeup at the engagement too.”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

Engagement

“Since Tulum was the inspiration behind the theme of our engagement party, Bois et Cuir Yorkville supported this concept by sponsoring some key decor pieces that helped us create the right ambiance. The area for the ‘koormai,’ ‘chunni,’ and ‘shagan’ consisted of a love seat from Bois Et Cuir, a trunk and a bohemian umbrella from the Eastern Bazaar, and several cozy cushions. We wanted to recreate a living room-like feel at the venue, and we wanted the backdrop to look like a natural field. The setup was inspired by an image I found on Pinterest as well as the simplicity of ceremonies from our parents’ days when these events took place right in their homes.”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

There were so many little details that we incorporated into the function. Hark made swings at the bar to mimic some of the bars and restaurants we visited in Tulum. We had a hammock and macramé swings at the entrance that we sourced in Cuba. We hung organza tassels on the trees. The walkway to the barn was lit with string lights and arrows pointing guests in the right direction. Inside, we also had a projector playing our engagement shoot video, and the dessert table was far from the ordinary – it was a Wake and Bake pop up!”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

“I designed my look and wanted it to be very boho, but still be on-brand. The skirt was a combination of tulle with mirror work, and silk with badla work while the top was a bustier to which I added detachable puff sleeves. Even the dupatta that Hark’s parents gifted me was designed by me. It had the lyrics of ‘So into you’ written on the border along with ‘Hark and Mani’ and our proposal date. The dupatta was finished with a gota border that was a tribute to both our mothers’ wedding dupattas, giving it a touch of tradition.”

“The kurta Hark wore was one of the first menswear wedding pieces that I have designed. I wanted him to wear a Lucknowi ensemble, and I designed the sleeves with my signature hierarchy detailing. He wore this with a shawl draped like the traditional Punjabi khasi, which ended up completing the look nicely.”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

“I entered the venue with my sister and cousins, which to me was the most memorable aspect of the evening. Typically the brothers walk the bride to the groom, but I didn’t grow up with brothers, it was just my sisters and me. I didn’t think I would cry, but the song playing at that moment, the realization that this was really happening, and seeing my parents crying hit me all at once and it got super emotional.”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

“We had 200 guests attending the engagement, and all the ladies were asked to dress in white, while the men were requested to wear linens or florals. Every single person was in sync with the theme.”

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

Mani Jassal and fiance Hark
Mani Jassal and fiance Hark

Event Planner: Chic Events
Decor: Paras Events
Bride’s Outfit: Mani Jassal
Groom’s Outfit: Mani Jassal
Jewellery: Minerali
Makeup and Hairstyling: Aniya Nandy

Photography: Renata Kaveh

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