Aanoshka and Darshil, Udaipur
Aanoshka and Darshil's wedding included eco-friendly decor that involved minimal use of cut flowers, alongside the vibrant colors and lovely accents of a Rajasthan wedding.
School sweethearts Aanoshka and Darshil chose Rajasthan’s ‘City of Lakes’ – Udaipur – for their destination wedding as it was convenient to reach from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where the two are based. Here, bride Aanoshka shares how they planned their wedding that was rich in color, unique decor and high spirits thanks to a moving bar.
How We Met
“Darshil and I go way back to the time when were studying in the same school. We have been friends since the 9th grade. By the time we reached the 12 grade, our friendship had taken a romantic turn, and we began dating. We’ve come a long way since then only to know each other better and love each other more.”
Proposal
“Darshil proposed to me when we had gone to Goa to celebrate his birthday. We were at LPK Waterfront which is a nightclub. There he booked a gazebo which is built in the middle of the water, took me over there and went down on one knee. He is a fan of the show ‘Big Bang Theory’ and asked me to marry him by narrating the same line that Sheldon said to Amy – and of course, I said ‘Yes!’”
Wedding Venue
“We both wanted a cozy destination wedding. As we are from Ahmedabad, Udaipur was a drivable distance away and very convenient for our guests. Moreover, we were looking for a property and setting that exuded a regal vibe and The Royal Retreat Resort & Spa, Udaipur, turned out to be just the place we were looking for. Being an interior designer, I was enamored by the property’s collection of antiques, beautifully designed rooms and the breathtaking views of the mountains on one side and the beautiful pool on the other. The ambiance of the resort was just perfect.”
Wedding Planning
“We hired Aanika Designs as our event decor and style consultants since they specialize in organic weddings. Darshil and I were confident that we wanted to have environmental friendly nuptials. This also meant minimal usage of cut flowers. Aanika Designs did the most fabulous job for our wedding, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Wedding Functions
Haldi
“Our haldi was a very intimate affair with only our closest friends and family in attendance.”
Mehndi
“Since we were in Rajasthan, we wanted to introduce our guests to an authentic local vibe through our decor. We chose to have this function by the pool outside with a view of the lofty mountains. The venue was decorated using brightly colored leheriya fabrics and orange marigolds. Fairy lights and brass lamps were used as decorative lighting at night which enhanced the beauty of the venue. Both Darshil and I wore outfits by Shyamal and Bhumika for this function. I opted for a yellow and blue lehenga while Darshil wore a peach kurta which he paired with a yellow bandi jacket.”
Wedding
“It was my dream to have my mandap by the pool, and Aanika Designs put in all their energies into transforming that into a reality when I told them about it. They stuck to a pastel color palette, and peach drapes were used to decorate the mandap. The team had also arranged for a moving bar for the baraat, which helped everyone loosen up and groove to the beats of the ‘dhol’ (traditional drum). I wanted to move away from the traditional red, and so I chose a white lehenga by Jayanti Reddy. Darshil picked out another Shyamal and Bhumika creation in beige and looked every bit a dapper groom.”
Reception
“Since we had our reception on 14th February, we wanted to bring in a feel of Valentine’s Day. We had a beautiful red backdrop behind our stage with bells made using white flowers which were suspended from a tree on one side and floral arrangements were placed on stands on the other. Whites and greens were used to decorate the rest of the venue. For this function, I wore a saree by Shyamal and Bhumika, and Darshil wore an ensemble by from Creyate by Arvind.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Royal Retreat Resort & Spa, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Wedding Planner: WDNE events, Udaipur
Decor: Aanika Designs, Ahmedabad
Bride’s Outfits: Shyamal and Bhumika (Mehndi and Reception), Jayanti Reddy (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Shyamal and Bhumika (Mehndi and Wedding), Creyate by Arvind (Reception)
Wedding Invitation: Naira by Maleka, Ahmedabad
Photography: Studio Beunique, Ahmedabad