Deepika and Anuj, Suryagarh, Jaisalmer
Deepika and Anuj’s royal wedding was an ode to their love and eternal friendship
The couple made sure that they executed every nuance of their wedding and also enjoyed the fun-filled celebrations in the process.
How We Met
We’ve been best friends since school but it was years before we realized we were in love. That precious realization happened in London at a summer school course at the London School of Economics. We’d spent time together in a foreign country and I guess this brought us closer. We realized this was more than friendship and we knew we had to spend the rest of our lives together. We believed getting married young would be great as we would both get to grow together and experience each other’s lives from the start.
Wedding Venue
Anuj and I literally went around the country to find the perfect destination for our wedding. Nothing really blew our minds until we arrived at Suryagarh, Jaisalmer. Even before going through the main gates, we both smiled and looked at each other. We knew this would be the venue. An architect, Anuj has an eye for the tiny details and great love for jaali-work. The fort stands proudly in the middle of nowhere, which lends it a feeling of exclusivity. I was completely enthralled by the majestic, serene and soulful beauty of this place. We booked it instantly.
Wedding Planning
The wedding planning was a collective effort by the family, Anuj’s mom and myself. From designing the invites, the wedding decorations down to the event planning, everything had a personal touch. The best decision we made was to get Ramit Batra to capture our wedding. He is a prodigy whose work speaks for itself. He not only actively took part in last minute decoration changes and lighting arrangements but made sure we were comfortable even in the presence of 6-7 crew members and cameras!
Wedding Functions
Mehndi
We started with a welcome lunch followed by a mehndi ceremony in the Open Courtyard of the Suryagarh Fort Hotel. The haveli architecture brought a regal touch to the ceremony and the floral décor was truly beautiful. I wore a mango and pink floral lehenga that my mother-in-law and I designed together. It was an airy, lightweight outfit that made it super comfortable for twirling around in, for photographs.
Sangeet and Cocktails
We organized a relaxed sangeet and cocktail party so our guests could put their dancing shoes on and enjoy the moment with us. The décor was glitzy but couldn’t quite steal the show from the special dance performances. My gown was from the JJ House and everyone loved it. It was also very comfortable and this bride danced into the wee hours of the morning at her own wedding!
Wedding
The next morning, we got started with the pre-wedding customs- Haldi, Ghadoli, Chuda followed by the Pheras at the exquisite mandap set up on a water body. It had a mystical appeal: the entire mandap was covered in marigolds and the beautifully lit up fort stood in the background. I am quite minimalistic in my tastes and so I chose a rani pink lehenga with a contrasting emerald green silk blouse. I left my hair loose and accessorized minimal makeup and accessories.
Any wedding planning tips or advice for couples getting married
It does get chaotic with all the wedding preparations and there’s always the potential for things to get stressful (for the bride) so maintain your calm. Enjoy every moment as you plan your big day and take it easy. Know what a beautiful journey you are embarking on and cherish those days with your better half.
The Wedding Makers
Wedding Location- Suryagarh, Jaisalmer
Wedding outfit- Om Prakash Jawahar Lal, JJshouse.com
Photography and Videography- Ramit Batra
