Prachi Sanghvi and Amitesh Shetty, ITC Grand Goa

A colorful celebration of love, Prachi Sanghvi and Amitesh Shetty’s wedding at the beguiling ITC Grand Goa was expertly planned and executed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Weddings by Ekta Saigal Lulla to honor their Gujarati and Tullu roots. Watch it all come alive in the pictures below.

How They Met
Prachi shares, “We met while studying in Ruia College in Mumbai during our junior college years. Amitesh felt an instant connection to me on the first day of college, but it took a year for us to start dating. After graduation, Amitesh left for the US to pursue his Masters in Engineering, while I continued to stay on in Mumbai to pursue Architecture. As the years took us to different career paths and places, we stuck it out together. Hailing from different cultural backgrounds, our families weren’t too supportive initially, but then seeing us make it work through long-distance and everything else, they eventually embraced our relationship. Upon his return to Mumbai in 2019 we introduced the families to each other and started planning for our next chapter.”

Wedding Venue
She continues, “I have always dreamt about a wedding by the water. My first preference was the Kerala backwaters, but travel restrictions due to Covid made it impossible. Hence we opted for Goa instead. We were drawn to South Goa’s pristine private beaches and numerous resort options, and so we zeroed in on the stunning ITC Grand Goa. The moment we entered, we were mesmerized by its architecture, landscaping and above all, the canals, lagoons and the gorgeous beachfront! Moreover, their hospitality and service was also incomparable making it a no-brainer”!

Wedding Planning
The couple entrusted the team of Weddings by Ekta Saigal Lulla to turn their wedding vision into a reality. Looking back on the experience, they share, “We were almost about to finalize with another wedding planner when we got a call from Ekta. She was so dynamic and spontaneous with her approach and unique ideas that we were totally sold on her instead. Ekta and her entire team became like family to us and they made the process of wedding planning and related execution truly smooth and easy. There were some challenging times during the planning when we had to change the entire venue after finalizing with the hotel, and then there was a moment when we almost considered postponing the wedding celebration altogether. In spite of all the confusion and uncertainty, they were undeterred and always supportive in any situation. We would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat”.

Giving a glimpse of their wedding style, their stunning invites were designed by Pink Whistle Man while Reels and Frames were brought on board to capture their special, candid memories.

Wedding Functions
Phoolon ki holi
The wedding kicked off with a lively ice-breaker, the Phoolon ki holi to welcome the guests. Hosted under the stars with games, music and dance, the fun occasion gave friends and family on both sides the perfect opportunity to let loose and get to know each other before the festivities of the following days. The stunning decor of bright blue and yellow with intricate patterns and textures, flowers and more, created a beautiful contrast against the lush greenery of the venue. Wearing coordinated ensembles of earthy pastels by Anita Dongre, the couple walked in under a generous shower of yellow petals.

Haldi
The next day began with a spontaneous fun-filled Haldi function that wasn’t originally part of the itinerary. A departure from the usual bright yellow, the decor of vibrant orange marigolds with pops of orange delicately elevated the earthy wooden structure and design of the courtyard space lending it a rustic warmth. The couple sat for the ceremony in matching side-by-side marigold-laden set-ups as their loved ones gathered and frolicked around them.

Muhurtham
The Haldi ceremony continued with the Tullu ritual of Muhurtham, where the bride and groom are gifted their wedding attire. The occasion had a serene atmosphere as the couple dressed in traditional ensembles sat for the ceremony amidst their loved ones. The bride looked radiant in a bright red silk saree with temple jewellery.

Mehndi
A colorful day out at the beach, the Mehndi function saw stunning vibrant decor of paper flowers and streamers, pampas grass, textured pillows, Mexican-inspired multicolored papel picado, tropical fruits, flowers and more. A DIY perfume bar, rodeo bull, henna artists and many other games and activities made the occasion memorable. The couple donned bright breezy attires as they joyfully cavorted inside while dancing amidst smoke bombs.

Garba Raas
The many colorful flavors of Gujarat enveloped the night with a high-octane Garba Raas. Local crafts, Bandhani and Leheriya drapes, paper hangings, tassels and more, in a gorgeous palette of fuchsia and orange decked the venue along with traditional lanterns and flowers. A life-sized painted chess set, dupatta carts, quirky props and others, added to the novelty of the occasion. Talented professional garba artists got everyone in the mood to dance and enjoy the night away.

Wedding
Held with a mix of Gujrati and Tullu rituals, the romantic garden wedding borrowed from both the cultures for a truly unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience. Set in a dainty palette of white, gold and pink, the decor saw an abundance of flowers, greens, tinsel and more. The couple donned matching ivory ensembles covered with intricate embroidery in green and red. Traditional musicians, classical dancers and a floral palki entry added to the surreal experience.

Sangeet
The grand festivities came to a boisterous end with a grand Celebration Dinner full of riveting performances, striking decor and endless revelry. The couple entered in great style through the tunnel of fairy lights accompanied by dancers. The evening carried on with dances by professional artists. The energy of the function later carried on to the after-party where everyone changed into their pajamas for a night of non-stop dancing.

Advice for couples
“I feel everyone should be actively involved in their wedding planning. Apart from the wedding events, there’s an innate sense of excitement in the planning process too! Amitesh and I had a blast planning our wedding, and watching it all unfold so perfectly was so truly rewarding.”

The Wedding Makers

Venue: ITC Grand Goa
Wedding Planner: Weddings by Ekta Saigal Lulla
Groom’s Outfits: Anita Dongre (Phoolon ki holi), Shantanu and Nikhil (Garba Raas), Daama by MJ (Wedding), Kunal Rawal (Celebration Dinner)
Bride’s Outfits: Anita Dongre (Phoolon ki holi), Bindani (Garba Raas), Daama by MJ (Wedding, Celebration Dinner)
Makeup: Nilofer
Invites: Pink Whistle Man
Entertainment: DJ Ganesh, Saurab Kaushal, Naitik Nagda, Bryden and Parth
Photography and Videography: Reels and Frames

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