Akruthi Kataria and Nikhil Sureka – Hyderabad, India
Akruthi and Nikhil Sureka met in UK, while they were studying in the same University and a common friend introduced the two. Two years later, the duo got engaged, and soon after tied the knot in a big, fat wedding at the landmark Ramoji Film City.
Akruthi and Nikhil Sureka met in UK, they were studying in the same University and a common friend introduced the two. Post their studies in UK, Akruthi returned to her home town Hyderabad and Nikhil joined his family business in Mumbai. Two years later, the duo got engaged. Akruthi and Nikhil actually wanted a very simple and intimate wedding. Says Akruthi: “Both of us often spoke about how much we’d love to have a very quiet wedding, with only family members as guests; but our wedding actually turned out to be a big, fat wedding with lots of bling, mega celebrations and hundreds of guests, at the landmark Ramoji Film City”. Adds Akruthi: “And now, a month after the wedding, when I look back, I’m glad it was so, I enjoyed every bit of it, including the planning part and so did my parents who always wanted a lavish wedding for their little Princess.”
At the two day festivities in Ramoji Film City, the very beautiful Akruthi looked even more stunning at each function, while the friendly and courteous groom Nikhil made a special effort to interact with as many guests. It was also reunion time for many of Akruthi and Nikhil’s friends and batchmates from University of Leeds and all of them had a great time exchanging notes on their days there.
The celebrations commenced with a traditional South Indian welcome lunch. Since the Baraat was coming from Mumbai, the bride’s family wanted them to experience a South India theme decor and the yellai (traditional banana leaf feast) on their arrival. So it was a South Indian theme for the welcome lunch where Akruthi dressed as a traditional South Indian bride while the groom and his friends wore the white pattu veshti.
The theme for the evening Sangeet was Arabian Nights where Akruthi looked like a Mughal Princess in a stunning green lehenga, inspired by Hyderabad’s Nizami influences. Nikhil wore an ornate sherwani by Mumbai based designer Joe Mansoori. Both the bride and groom and their close friends danced to Bollywood hits with in-between notes from the comperes. Everyone was all ears, when Nikhil’s cousin spoke about how the bride and groom met, and how Nikhil proposed to Akruthi. The highlight of the evening was the presence of a Tamura dancer from Dubai who entertained the audience with a scintillating performance that left everyone mesmerized.
The next day was a traditional Rajasthani theme by the lawns next to Sitaara Hotel. The guests were welcomed with chilled almond milk by the bride’s uncles. The decor was colorful with Rajasthani elements and the food an amazing spread of the state’s spicy and rich delicacies by Bangalore-based Nimantran Caterers.
The evening wedding and reception was held at Ramoji Film City’s sprawling green lawns, the Baraat proceeded from Sitara Hotel where they were staying towards the lawns. For the first time the ever-smiling Akruthi looked a little tense as she waited for the groom to arrive; after the traditional welcome the bride and groom proceeded to the stage where hundreds of guests came to greet and congratulate them. The reception over, the bride and groom looked a little tired, but as they proceeded to the Mandap where it was time to exchange wedding vows, we noticed the tired look disappear; Akruthi glowed with joy as the Priest conducted the rituals, and Nikhil smiled as he realized he and Akruthi were now husband and wife.
Bride’s Recommendations
My Wedding Planner Pritie Jain of Bling Mushrooms did a fabulous job, she was more like family- what was comforting is that I could call her anytime when I was looking for help or ideas. Organising a wedding at the behemoth Ramoji Film City is no easy feat, in fact it can be most stressful and Pritie and her team managed it very well. “
WeddingSutra.com- my daily morning blog, I would log on to the site every morning, and spend atleast a couple of hours browsing through the different sections for ideas and information.
Manogna Reddy- Priety Jain introduced me to the talented Hyderabad-based photographer. She clicked our fabulous pre-wedding shoot at Hawa Mahal and Mughal Gardens@ Ramoji Film City. Manogna also clicked my getting-ready portraits and candid moments at the wedding. If you’re getting married in Hyderabad don’t forget to call Manogna!
Make-up- Zinghorla Kasar, (Zing) from Hyderabad did my make-up and I was very happy with her work and services.
Photographs courtesy:
Manogna Reddy (for Bling Mushrooms)
Harsha Reddy Photography