Anahat and Nikhilesh, Samode Palace, Rajasthan
Experimenting with colour and themes at every event, this couple’s fusion destination wedding paid homage to both their cultures.
Surrounded by heritage and lush greenery, Anahat and Nikhilesh’s destination wedding in Rajasthan was a colourful one. Photographed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Sunny Dhiman Photography, this fusion wedding brimmed with warm moments where two distinctly different cultures came together to celebrate love.
How They Met
Nikhilesh shares, “Anahat and I met at IIM, Ahmedabad. Our love began towards the end of college, on a trip to Jaipur, or rather on the bus ride back. Talking late into the night and playing games with our friends, we felt sparks flying, and little did we know, we were on an irreversible slide together. Through five years of fast-paced consulting jobs that consisted of long travel hours, we’ve stayed anchored to each other.”
Wedding Planning
Anahat shares, “Our wedding took place from the 22nd to the 24th of December 2022. Each of our wedding events had very different themes and we wanted to ensure that our decor remained true to each of these themes. Our key criteria were to utilise all the beautiful venues and give our guests a magical time! I also wanted to pay homage to both, my mother and mother-in-law. I wore my mother’s wedding chunni for the Mehendi and mother-in-law’s wedding lehenga for the sangeet.”
Capturing the couple as they put their best foot forward was Sunny Dhiman Photography. The couple shares, “They were the second vendor we finalised after selecting the venue. While shortlisting photographers, we wanted someone who could capture the Anand Karaj in all its peace and glory, and team Sunny Dhiman Photography did absolute justice to it. Right from the beginning, it was easy and effortless to work with them. They captured our best days in the most beautiful fashion and immortalised our memories.”
Planning a wedding remotely is not an easy task. However, the couple found it to be a cakewalk, as they go on to explain, “WeddingSutra made everything so much easier by sharing a curated list of vendors with bankable views who were segmented by cities, pricing and style. It was truly an asset in our wedding planning process and a source of inspiration!”
Weddings Functions
Bridal Mehndi and Jaggoo
Anahat shares, “My bridal mehndi was a fairly close-knit event. We combined the chooda and the mehndi event together to keep it a family affair. Later on, we celebrated the jaago on the rooftop.”
Welcome Lunch
Anahat shares, “Pretty blooms and drapes in bright hues wove a celebratory story with the lush greenery of the venue, perfect for the sun-soaked day celebrations. Themed a ‘Rajasthani Mela’ the event consisted of block printing stalls, caricature artists, magicians and even a camel ride that kept the guests entertained!”
Haldi
The couple shares, “The haldi was a shower of yellow and orange with turmeric and white flower petals being showered on us. At first, it followed a traditional route with all the rituals being followed but quickly things escalated and everyone got into a super celebratory mood!”
Sangeet
Anahat shares, “The sangeet was such a magical night full of energy! The highlight was our entry as we made our way down the palatial staircase to our favourite song and the fireworks exploded, lighting up the sky as we exchanged rings. This was then followed by graceful dance performances that our family members so enthusiastically took part in!”
Wedding
A blend of Sikh and Marwari cultures, the wedding left everyone awed with its serenity. As Anahat goes on to recollect, “Soulful tunes of keertan echoed around the venue and everyone looked so peaceful. Draped in hues of peach and pink, the ceremony was an intimate one and filled us with so much love. Our wedding was a unique blend of Sikh and Marwari cultures. So, it was extremely heartening to see both our families embrace each other’s rituals so warmly.”
Advice For Couples
The couple shares, “We put a lot of love and effort into planning this wedding. But when the day came, we just went with the flow, and we had a fantastic crew to support us through the day. We also had our closest, most loved people at the wedding. It was a dream. And we advise all couples to leave the planning at the door and enjoy their wedding to the fullest.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Samode Palace, Rajasthan
Wedding Planner: Kavya Creations, D3 Events
Groom’s Outfits: Avinash Punjabi Bespoke (Welcome Lunch), Allur’ by Divya Todi (Mehndi), Vanshik (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: The Rose Girl (Welcome Lunch), Yankita Kapoor (Lehenga – Mehndi), Rimple and Harpreet Narula (Wedding)
Makeup: Samaira Sandhu, Rekha Das
Photography: Sunny Dhiman Photography
