Shalini and Akhil, Thailand

Shalini Jain and Akhil Bothra marked their whirlwind love story with a wedding celebration full of decadent revelries, personal touches and unforgettable moments. Spread over three days at Dusit Thani, Hua Hin, Thailand, their nine spectacular wedding functions were planned immaculately by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Wedding Network.

How they met
Living on opposite ends of the world, Shalini and Akhil’s love was sparked by a matrimonial platform. Living in Kolkata, Shalini fell head over heels for the confidence and honesty of New York-based Akhil. After almost a year of long-distance calls and courtship, the couple tied the knot as per Jain traditions with a stunning destination wedding in amazing Thailand.

Wedding Planning
The couple planned to host a 3 day celebration with each function more stunning and spectacular than the previous at their perfect venue of choice, Dusit Thani Hua Hin. Nestled in the tropical beauty of Thailand, the hotel boasted a multitude of venues perfect for distinct themes and backdrops for their 9 functions.

From a themed decor and customized elements pre-decided for all the events including the dress code, Shalini envisioned it all for her big day and entrusted the team of The Wedding Network to execute the same. She shares, “We chose The Wedding Network upon the recommendation from the venue itself because of their excellent work. Our wedding was planned by both families residing in two different countries so it involved juggling of ideas and little conflicts. But Annika, the owner of the company, calmly paid attention to every detail and worked tirelessly so that we didn’t have to stress about anything! Everything went smoothly and our wedding turned out to be better than we had imagined. Even the guests couldn’t stop raving about the impeccable management”

Each precious moment was captured by the team of Weddings by Knotty Days, while a number of other talented vendors came together to create a memorable experience.

Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The festivities kicked off with a vibrant Mehndi function hosted by the serene fish pond in the hotel premises. The decor was colorful with pinwheels, bright cushions, flowers, hanging props and more. The guests were welcomed by Thai dancers and drummers, while fun activities such as nail art, henna and umbrella decorating stations awaited them inside next to a cute cart of colorful goodie bags for the ladies. Sitting amidst a stunning floral swing of pink blooms, the bride wore a vibrant lehenga with pops of red and gold for a traditional feel which the groom duly complimented with a multicolored Bandi jacket.

Engagement
Designed with an ‘Enchanted Garden’ theme, the Engagement function was filled with pretty greenery and whimsical elements such as candles, chandeliers, fairy statues and vintage mirrors that gave the evening an ethereal feel. The groom donned a classic tuxedo while the bride matched the forest like vibe with a delicate floral gown.

Cocktail
The first night came to a close with a groovy neon Cocktail party. Party hats, props, neon lights, neon themed drinks and more, got everyone in a funky mood even as they reveled to the beats of the DJ till the wee hours of the morning.

Mayra
The next day began with a traditional Mayra ceremony. In keeping with the theme of ‘Rangeelo Rajasthan’, the ceremony saw a dress code of bandhej and leheriya, as well as beautiful performances by Ghoomar dancers, who were eventually joined by the guests as they danced to the beats of rousing Bollywood and folk songs. Marigold signages of a Rajasthani man and woman marked the groom and bride’s side respectively.

Pool Party
The couple and their guests indulged in a fun ‘Hawaiian Hungama’ themed pool party. It proudly displayed a Hawaiian shack themed bar, colorful cabanas, carts of sun hats and goodies, emblazoned coconuts and delicious food set a lively mood for the occasion. Dressed in blue, the couple entered the party with smoke bombs and dancers, while the talented Abhishek Roy Chowdhury entertained the guests with live music!

Sangeet
With grandiose silver and white decor, the Sangeet night was a ‘Starry night’ themed glitzy affair of music and merriment. From the grand entrance to the majestic stage and ballroom setup, everything was drenched in the shimmer of crystals and candles. The led played AV themes according to the performances for a magical feel, and the evening saw many musical dance performances including a memorable set by the indo-fusion band ‘Swaraag Fusion’ from Jaipur.

Haldi
The Haldi was a sun kissed soiree with traditional decor of marigolds, vibrant prints and props.

Wedding
The Wedding was a grand affair with striking floral decor and hearty extravagance. The groom’s rousing arrival in a vintage car with an energetic baraat was rivalled by the magic of the bride’s boat entry on the hotel’s lake. The couple exchanged varmalas in front of a beautiful floral arch on the jetty before heading to the pretty peach and pink mandap to tie the knot.

Reception
The grandeur of their celebration peaked at the final Reception with a classy formal theme of ‘Always and Forever’ which boasted of a towering 7-layer white wedding cake, playful decor of feathers, candles and flowers, emotional toasts and dancing. The bride and groom, who were dressed in a scintillating magenta gown and a dapper tuxedo respectively, shared their first dance to the melodious tunes of a live singer.

Advice for couples
“We would highly recommend having an intimate celebration over a grand one with too many guests. We absolutely enjoyed our wedding, as we danced every day and reveled with our families like we were in a carnival. A smaller intimate destination wedding gives you this warm crowd that actually cares about you and wants to enjoy each moment with you, rather than a large gathering which is just about pictures and gifts.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Dusit Thani, Hua Hin, Thailand
Wedding Planner: The Wedding Network
Decor: Designs by Peera Pach
Groom’s Outfits: KJ by Kushal Jain (Mehndi), Suitsupply (Engagement, Cocktail), Dhruv Vaish (Mayra), Telon Men (Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Pratapsons (Mehndi), Vasansi (Engagement), House of Vie (Cocktail), Punit Balana (Mayra), Niharika Kamani (Sangeet), Dolly J Studio (Reception)
Makeup: Paveena Rathour
Henna: Mehandi by Laveena
Caterers: Edesia by Heera, Surja Maharaj
Choreographers: Moonstar
Entertainment: Abhishek Roy Choudhary (Engagement, Pool Party, Reception), Swaraag Fusion (Sangeet), DJ Harshit Shah
Photography and Videography: Weddings by Knotty Days

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