Adithya and Neha, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
Adithya proposed to Neha by asking her to be his 'girlfriend for life' - and their destination wedding in Thailand was a dazzling blend of North-South Indian traditions.
Just like the two states of Punjab and Tamil Nadu, Neha Sethi and Adithya Prasad could not be more different, but they are a testament to the old saying that ‘Opposites attract.’ Here, we share highlights from their beautiful wedding celebration at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa in Thailand.
Proposal
Adithya asked Neha to be his girlfriend for life at a rooftop bar during a surprise staycation at a place that offered a beautiful view of the sea. The couple has always believed that ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ were heavy titles for each other, so they decided to be ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ for life. After a bunch of photos, calls to family and a few much-needed drinks, he took her to another restaurant for dinner. At the restaurant, her family and best friends were waiting with balloons and champagne to celebrate the newly engaged couple!
Wedding Venue
South Indian and North Indian wedding traditions are very different, and everyone was stumped as to how this could be pulled off. Besides family in New Delhi and Chennai, some folks from Singapore, USA, London, Australia and the Middle East were slated to attend their wedding. After hours of brainstorming, numerous conference calls and multiple visits to properties in India and Singapore, the couple decided to wed at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa in Thailand. Located on a pristine beach along the southern border of Thailand, Hua Hin is a hidden gem. Offering outstanding Thai hospitality, some diverse venues within the property and great weather for outdoor photo shoots, the resort had everything they wanted.
Wedding Functions
Welcome Dinner
The festivities kicked off with a Welcome Dinner, where guests wore a blend of North and South Indian ensembles. They danced to music from across India, and the decor symbolized a celebration of traditional colors inspired by a beachside theme. Even the bar menu had two cocktails specially crafted by Neha – ‘The Tamil Toddy’ and the ‘Punjabi Pataka,’ inspired by flavors from these regions.
Mehndi Pool Party
After a good night’s sleep, guests woke up to a mehndi pool party, where everyone came dressed in chic beachwear, sported fancy hats and released colorful balloons against the clear skies of Hua Hin.
Sangeet
Held in the beautiful The Chandelier Grand Ballroom, the sangeet kicked off by a surprise dance to ‘Kala Chashma’ by both families. Neha had designed the entire event to reflect the grandeur of Indian royalty in a modern context. She also choreographed the entire sangeet featuring ten dances followed by a royal feast and an after party that had the entire crowd dancing away till 5 am!
Wedding
The pink floral mandap constructed by the seaside was a scenic highlight of this event. As the sun set, Neha walked down a flower-strewn path surrounded by her closest family and friends into the next chapter of her life. The ceremony itself was a beautiful blend of both Punjabi and Tamil wedding customs, with both the pheras and the thali playing an equally important role.
Reception
Decorated with silver accents and elements, with a roomful of guests dressed in the classiest outfits, the reception was a beautiful close to a fantastic weekend. North Indian or South Indian elements, friends or family, Indian or Western, everything blended into one glorious celebration filled with love and for all.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
Decor: PeeraPach (Thailand)
Bride’s Outfits: Astha Narang (Welcome Dinner), Forever New (Pool Party), Anushree Reddy (Sangeet), Frontier Bazar (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Zara (Pool Party), Manyavar (Welcome Dinner, Sangeet, Wedding)
Make-up Artist: Simran Takkar (Thailand)
Entertainment: DJ Dhanesh (Singapore)
Photography and Videography: Fotowalle
