Saumya and Manish, Goa

Reflecting their modern mindset and reaffirming gender equality, Saumya Pandey, a New York-based Technical Product Manager’s wedding to Manish Mohapatra, a Manager at Deloitte was an enchanting event. Hosted at a beachside luxury resort on the shores of Goa in the chilly month of February, their wedding was planned by WeddingSutra Favorite – Janvi Dave Weddings & Events who used their superior planning skills to create a series of unforgettable events.

How They Met
Saumya shares, “We met on the first day of undergraduate college in India. During our orientation, I went up to Manish and introduced myself. The very next day, he asked me out! After our first friendship date, he confessed that he loved me. Till today, Manish says that it was love at first sight for him! But in my case, love blossomed slowly as we got to know each other better. We dated for a decade and decided to forgo a proposal as we don’t believe in the facade of a man getting down on one knee to propose.”

Wedding Planning
Saumya shares, “It was of utmost importance to us that the celebrations be fun, warm and memorable. Keeping this in mind, the guest list was kept short with only 80 people in attendance as we felt that too many guests would shift focus from an intimate celebration and cause chaos instead. Besides, we wanted our families to relax and not worry about costs or juggle multiple tasks.” The happy bride goes on to add, “We were keen on planning every event in a way that reflected our personal story and taste. We also wanted our wedding to be gender-equal. So while we both do love our family and respect traditions, we worked with our loved ones and the priests to ensure all the gendered aspects of the wedding were modified in a way while preserving the rituals.”

Being based in New York Saumya had the colossal task of orchestrating a wedding in India. Knowing this, she roped in Janvi Dave Weddings & Events who helped her out at every step of the way, and seamlessly so! Saumya shares, “Planning a wedding all the way from New York wasn’t easy but with team Janvi Dave Weddings & Events I was relieved knowing that my trust was placed in the right hands. Their team delivered everything that I asked for and put their own unique spin on things! Due to their strong ethics, communication and professionalism, my family could enjoy the wedding without being burdened by logistical dilemmas. I would highly recommend them, especially if you’ve got a destination wedding on the cards.”

Weddings Functions
Mehndi
Saumya shares, “The brief for each event was a single-worded one and for the Mehndi, our brief was ‘colorful’. Dreamcatchers, citrus fruits and color bombs added a splash of color at every turn! Additionally, my mehndi design consisted of skyline elements from Paris and New York along with our personalized wedding logo. Upon arrival, each guest received a storybook along with a welcome hamper that conveyed our ‘How we met’ story that included our portraits.”

Sangeet
Desi at heart, Saumya and Manish hosted a ‘filmy’ Sangeet where they danced to Bollywood beats. Held on one of the spacious, palm-fringed lawns of the five-star resort, the Sangeet night glittered under the stars. Equipped with a vast dancefloor backed by LED screens and adorned with suspended disco-balls, the night was filled with one lively performance after the other as everyone took the opportunity to show off their best moves!

Haldi
Staying true to the ‘serene’ theme, the Haldi struck a perfect balance between traditional and modern with its fresh decor. Interspersed with marigolds, rustic wooden elements and dainty white furniture, the event exuded breezy vibes as it contrasted beautifully with the bright blue sky.

Pool Party
After the rigors of the previous events, the pool party followed a ‘playful’ theme and urged everyone to let their hair down! Complete with a rain shower, quirky props and a shady canopy decorated with colorful ribbons, this event witnessed everyone unwind and give in to the party spirit of Goa regardless of their age.

Wedding
Saumya shares, “The Wedding was soulful and divine with a mandap decor that consisted of bells and lotus buds. We ensured our wedding ring boxes were personalized with our initials. Moreover, our wedding invite also depicted the same elements that were included on our big day. Also, to express our belief in gender equality our wedding eschewed Kanyadaan and a Vidai. My mom was kind enough to work with the priest on reviewing our promises so any biased language was also changed.”

Reception
Later in the evening, the couple joined their loved ones at a glitzy reception where they were welcomed with cold pyros. As an ode to the fact that Manish fell head over heels in love with Saumya at first sight, the reception decor included an LED sign that spelled out ‘She had me at hello’.

Advice For Couples
Saumya shares, “The biggest advice would be to not worry too much about perfection and focus on having fun! Dance, eat and spend time with your loved ones. The moments of laughter, tears and crazy dances are ones to reminisce about. Also, make sure that you are on the same page as your partner regarding what you want from the wedding before you involve anyone else in the planning process. Design the wedding in a way that reflects you’ll as a couple. Don’t let Instagram trends or relatives’ opinions dictate your process. The day is meant for you and for your loved ones so everything you do should be personal.”

The Wedding Makers

Venue: Kenilworth Beach Resort & Spa, Goa
Wedding Planner and Décor: Janvi Dave Weddings & Events
Groom’s Outfits: Kora by Nilesh Mitesh (Sangeet), Tisa (Wedding, Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Avnni Kapur (Mehndi, Reception), Abhinav Mishra (Sangeet), Asiana Couture (Wedding),
Jewellery: Fooljhadi (Mehndi), Om Sons Bridal Store (Wedding)
Makeup: Minette Pereira
Mehndi: Hema Kanani
Wedding Invitations: Customizing Creativity
Photography: The Wedding Salad

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