Priyanka and Ashok, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort

Priyanka T and Ashok S had their hearts set on taking their vows on a sandy shore. The InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort proved to be the perfect place for their dream nuptials. Their photographs are proof of the fun and joy at this special occasion. Here, we share all the interesting details of their destination wedding and their journey of love.

How we met
“In 2005, at a party in a house full of people, I clapped eyes on the most beautiful girl that night,” Ashok begins, “Her eyes and smile attracted me the most. I was a shy 17 year old and didn’t have the courage to go up to her to talk to her. But her cousin introduced us and over time, our relationship evolved to us talking all day and through the night. We had so much in common and I fell for this girl with the biggest heart, an elegant personality, always looking out for others and a smile I couldn’t stop thinking about.”

The Proposal
There’s nothing this couple loves more than to hop on a plane and travel the world. Ashok decided to propose to his lady while they were travelling Europe’s romance capitals. On the 10th anniversary of them getting together, on July 2nd 2015, on a gondola gliding through the canals of Venice, Ashok asked the gondolier to take a photo of them and he got down on one knee, took her hand and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. It was the best day of their lives.

Wedding Venue
“The InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort is a very beautiful and modern resort. The buildings are inspired by temple architecture and they have gorgeous beaches: the perfect spot for our dream wedding, on the sand, at sunrise.

We chose Radisson Blu for our guest accommodation and the other wedding festivities. The size helped because we were able to have three other wedding celebrations in three very disparate venues. The experience at each was unique. We also liked the fact that it is very close to the Mahabalipuram heritage site and had great seafood restaurants. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed their stay!

Both resorts have amazing hospitality and went above and beyond our expectations. The staff was very accommodating from Day 1, and even during our wedding functions they ensured everything was perfect.

We definitely recommend both venues for anyone wanting to have a destination wedding in Mahabalipuram or Chennai, and we would definitely love to stay there again when we visit next time!”

Wedding Planning
Priyanka says, “Going with Annada and Manoj of Sketchknots was one of the best decisions we made. We started working with Annada two years prior to the wedding. She was incredibly patient, kind, and understanding. She immediately understood what we wanted and executed it perfectly.

Trying to pull off a destination wedding from halfway around the world would have been impossible if not for Sketchknots. It took the stress off of us. We have never met a team so dedicated to the work they do. They also introduced us to amazing vendors; from the wedding favors, to the wedding cake, the musicians, the DJ, the emcee, the makeup artist, and especially the décor.

We have no words to describe how much of an amazing job our décor team (A-Cube Project) did for all four of our wedding functions. They definitely went above and beyond our expectations, took our vision and made it a million times better. Zaid was incredibly patient and kind and catered to the fact that we were not physically present in India through late night or early morning meetings. One fact that we loved about A-Cube Project is how they left extra touches and surprises for us at each of our functions, which were very personal, meaningful, and sweet.

We came across Haha Photography on social media and decided to have an engagement photo shoot with them during one of our prior visits in India. Once we received the final video and pictures, we were sure. They have one of the most talented videography and photography teams we have ever come across, and each one of them was patient, hardworking, and brilliant.

Our makeup artist Akriti is amazing. Not only does it reflect in her makeup but also in her sweet personality. Putting her own wedding planning on hold, Akriti ensured she made herself available on the most important day of my life, and brought some of the best hair stylists with her to execute the looks I envisaged for myself in perfect unison.”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
The theme for the function was Bollywood. Beautiful decor added color to the ambiance and the bride and groom complemented each other in traditional ensembles.

Wedding
White decor with fresh, bright flowers was the highlight of this beach wedding. The mandap was rustic in its vibe and set up on the sandy beach. The bride looked radiant in her pink saree paired with traditional gold jewellery followed by a second outfit, a bright red saree. The groom complemented his bride in a beige and gold creation by Shyamal and Bhumika. After a divine traditional ceremony by the beach, it was time for a glitzy reception in the evening.

Reception
The Midsummer Night’s Dream themed reception was an evening filled with good music and lots of dancing. The decor for this event was sophisticated as the couple wanted to add a touch of glam to the otherwise muted setting. They used lots of flowers, chandeliers and bright lights to create the backdrop of the stage. The whole vibe was elegant and romantic.

Advice for Couples
“Don’t stress about the little things, even if everything does not go your way, let it go and move on. Enjoy every moment of it and take it all in because it goes by within the blink of an eye. Hire a wedding planner! It’s the best thing we could have done, especially since it was a destination wedding. You don’t have to find vendors yourself for every little thing and even on the big day, you know someone will make sure everything is covered so you don’t have to worry about that.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, Radisson Blu Hotel
Wedding Planner: SketchKnots
Décor: A-Cube Project
Bride’s Outfit: Kanakavalli, Chennai (Wedding), Shyamal and Bhumika (Reception)
Groom’s Outfit: Shyamal and Bhumika (Wedding), Bespoke suit from My King & Bay, Toronto (Reception)
Wedding Invitation: Menaka (Chennai)
Makeup Artist: Mesmereyes Makeup

Photography: Haha Photography

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