Aashna and Akshay, Udaipur
Resplendent with colorful carnival-themed elements, this Udaipur destination wedding was a cheerful ode to Rajasthani culture.
Aashna and Akshay’s wedding by the lake was a picturesque celebration planned meticulously by WeddingSutra Favorite – S&S – Weddings by Shilpa and Sonika.
How They Met
The bride shares, “We met on a flight. Akshay was flying back to Mumbai from Rome with his family. I was returning to Mumbai from Los Angeles. We both got on a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi. Akshay’s parents were seated beside me. His mother was keen on him finding a girlfriend so she told him to exchange his seat with her own. She was her son’s wingman! Akshay struck up a conversation with me but I was not very interested and even dozed off in the middle. However, he messaged me on Facebook three days later. I ended up replying after a year!
The Proposal
After a year of getting to know each other online, the couple finally decided to meet. It took only a month after their first date for them to make things official. Aashna says, “He planned a surprise proposal at Mojo Bistro in Kamala Mills, asking me to marry him on his birthday.”
Wedding Venue
“Our hunt for a wedding venue seemed never ending. After six long months of scouting, we almost decided on Mumbai. It was only when we explored the WeddingSutra app that we found multiple options we liked. We finally decided on Udaipur at Hotel Lakend after seeing the magnificent venue through photos posted by WeddingSutra.”
Wedding Planning
When it came to wedding planning, the couple handed over the reigns to S&S – Weddings by Shilpa and Sonika. The bride says, “The team was wonderful! They were continuously on their toes and seemed more like a family than than wedding planners. They’ve been really hard working and have delivered everything required. They actually stuck to the budget and are really friendly. I’d say they’re the best planners in town!”
Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The mehndi ceremony was hosted by the poolside, overlooking the stunning lake. The theme was ‘Rajasthani Carnival’, and the decor included colorful cabanas, a puppet show, bright bindis and traditional Rajasthani hats. There were games and a fortune-telling parrot for entertainment.
Engagement and Sangeet
The couple arrived in a stylish vintage car. The entire venue was lit up with romantic, twinkling lights. The ring ceremony was followed by a lively sangeet, which saw the couple and their guests joyfully dancing through the night.
After-Party
The nuptials were followed by a memorable after-party held indoors. The couple quickly traded in their traditional attire for contemporary outfits. Aashna donned a gorgeous shimmering outfit, while Akshay wore a sleek black suit. With spirits soaring high, the couple and their guests partied into the wee hours of the morning.
Haldi
The haldi ceremony was bright and colorful, creating the perfect atmosphere for a cheerful event. The women dressed in traditional navvari (nine yards) sarees, while the bride and groom wore yellow and white outfits in anticipation of being covered in auspicious turmeric.
Baraat
For the baraat, the groom wore a sherwani with floral embroidery and a maroon shawl, with a traditional red turban completing his look. He made his way to the mandap on a white horse, grinning widely as enthusiastic baraatis danced along. Following traditions, the ladkewale received a grand welcome by the ladkiwale at the entrance where the pheras were to be held.
Wedding
The pheras began with the bride making her way to her groom, who was waiting under a decked-up mandap. Dressed in a red and gold lehenga, with layered jewellery and a statement mathapatti, she looked like a princess. The couple then intently followed the rituals officiating the start of their married life together. It was an emotional affair with special moments being expertly captured by an attentive photographer.
Reception
After wrapping up all the wedding festivities in the city of lakes, the couple returned to the city of dreams: Mumbai. Here, they hosted a grand wedding reception at Sahara Star.
Advice For Couples
“Pre-plan everything and don’t keep anything for the last minute – whether it is the decor or the favors. Keep your wedding planner in the loop and updated on things like what you want the decor to look like. These guys are your superheroes on the big day!”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Hotel Lakend, Udaipur; Sahara Star, Mumbai (Reception)
Wedding Planner: S&S – Weddings by Shilpa and Sonika
Bride’s Outfits: Aari (Mehndi), Designer Sonia (Sangeet), Roopkala (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Telon (Mehndi, Sangeet, Wedding)
Makeup: Disha Doshi (Reception)
Jewellery: Chheda Jewellers (Wedding)
Photography: Camera crew (Mehndi, Sangeet, Engagement, Haldi, Wedding, After-Party), Himanshu Damania (Reception)
Videography: Camera Crew
