Lov and Disha, Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
Disha and Lov's grand destination wedding at a luxury resort in Sri Lanka was a medley of glamour, creativity and diverse customs
Disha looked every inch a glamorous ‘Mastani’ on her sangeet, and he looked like a prince at their beach wedding. Here, groom Lov shares all the highlights of their grand destination #LovDish wedding that took place in the sprawling Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka, and had guests arriving by a chartered FlyDubai flight.
“We grew up in the same city but had never bumped into each other. The proposal came through a common family friend and that’s how we were first introduced – through our parents. Disha and I didn’t speak to each other the first time we met at a mutual friend’s house, but we knew that we had fallen for each other in our hearts. We started talking on the phone, and I guess, it all began from there. When we finally met again, we realized that we shared a spcecial connection. Soon we knew that we were meant to be together and wanted to get married.”
Wedding Venue
“We wanted a very different wedding venue, especially one that exuded luxury and natural charm. We felt that the newly opened Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka fit our requirements completely as it strategically located and has great facilities and fantastic staff. We’ve always wanted a beach wedding, and thought this was the perfect venue to host our grand destination wedding. Since we had about 750 guests coming in from different parts of the world, we even chartered a flight from FlyDubai for our overseas guests.”
Wedding Planner
“Our wedding planner was Horizon WIE from Mumbai, and The Banquet Company from Sri Lanka. Both did a fabulous job in making the coordination much simpler and were a treat to work with.”
Wedding Functions
Engagement
“We wanted to incorporate all faith and customs into our wedding celebrations. For our engagement ceremony, we hosted a ‘Christian Wedding’ theme party where I wore a tuxedo, while Disha looked like an absolute dream in her pink gown and a princess crown. Our decor for this event was kept dreamy and was illuminated with fairy lights throughout.”
Mehndi
“We had a colorful mehndi function on the beautiful lawns of the resort. The entire decor comprised largely colorful drapes, and our guests enjoyed the short skits and games. Apart from the mehndi application and quirky food stalls, Disha’s bright ensemble and floral jewellery were the other stunning highlights of this function.”
Sangeet
“Following our love for magnificence and grandeur, we hosted a ‘Bajirao Mastani’ themed sangeet for our guests. Apart from the Mughal inspired decor, our costumes stole the show! While I looked great in a regal sherwani, Disha looked every bit a ‘Mastani’ in her golden anarkali designed by Mayyur Girotra. We had some great performances by family and friends, and celebrities such as Mehak and Ashmit Patel, Vikas Sawant, and Sunil Grover attended the event and made the evening more special.”
Pheras
“We wanted a very traditional setting for our pheras ceremony. We hosted it on the resort’s lawns overlooking the beach to get that dreamlike ambiance. The highlight of the event was the ‘baraat’ (groom’s procession) ceremony which had me dancing with my groomsmen and family members to hit Bollywood tracks. The mandap was beautifully decorated with flowers and had a white and gold theme throughout. While I wore an off-white sherwani, Disha looked resplendent in a deep maroon Sabyasachi Mukherjee lehenga which she accessorized with traditional gold jewellery.”
Reception
“We hosted our reception at the hotel’s beautiful ballroom. It was a ‘meet and greet’ event of sorts that combined fun songs and dances, as well as entertaining performances by stage dancers and acrobats. Armaan Malik’s melodious voice entertained the guests for hours together and made the evening a memorable one.”
Tips for to-be-wed couples
“We think a wedding is a beautiful dream. Every bride and groom should fulfill all their wishes as it’s a big day and happens only once in a lifetime!”
The Wedding Makers
Wedding Venue: Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa, Srilanka
Wedding Planners: Pawan Mirchandani (Horizon WIE, Mumbai)
Chartered Flight: FlyDubai
Bridal Outfits: Mayyur Girotra (Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding), Gaurav Gupta (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Karishma Bajaj
Bajirao Mastani Party: Mayyur Girotra, Dream Saheb.
Photography: Pooja Studio, Dubai
