Aashna and Aniruddh, Mussoorie

Aashna and Aniruddh decided to host their big day in Mussoorie which is considered the ‘Queen of the Hills,’ and all the beautiful moments of this magical wedding in the mountains were captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – Sam & Ekta. Here, bride Aashna shares some interesting highlights of the three-day celebrations.

How They Met
“Anirudh and I met in high school through my cousin who happens to be his best friend, and began dating when we were only 16! Soon after, it was time to go to university for which both of us left the country. We were in a long-distance relationship after that. It has been a rollercoaster ride ever since we met and that’s been part of the fun. Now, to look back and see how far we’ve come feels amazing!

The Proposal
“Aniruddh decided to surprise me by creating a timeline of our journey leading up to the proposal in our future house. We walked past each milestone in our relationship, and when we reached the point that marked the proposal he popped the question. Needless to say, I said “Yes’ in a heartbeat!”

Wedding Venue
“We wanted a place that was intimate, warm and cozy. After looking at a fair number of hotels, we chanced upon JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa, and decided to take a trip to check this property out. This hotel was exactly what we were looking for with a bonus of being situated at the foothills of the Himalayas and we were sold the minute we saw it! The property is extremely wedding friendly for a relatively intimate affair, the service is great, and the food is amazing!”

Wedding Planning
“Our wedding was photographed by Sam & Ekta, and getting this team of professionals on board was the best decision we made! It now feels strange to put them into the category of our wedding ‘vendors’ considering that they have become our friends. We were made to feel comfortable every minute we were in front of the camera. Sometimes we wouldn’t even realize there were photographers around us – that’s how easy they make it for the couples! Our wedding was planned by The Factory Events & Entertainment, while the decor and invitation were designed by Anoli Shah of Peonies by Anoli. She understood just what we were looking for and made the functions look more beautiful than we had imagined.”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
“A day before the main functions began, our close family and friends arrived in Mussoorie to kick start the wedding festivities with a warm and intimate mehndi function. There were wood-fired pizzas, music, and laughter, and the evening truly made for the perfect start for our celebrations. At the function, I wore a lehenga by Anita Dongre while Aniruddh opted for an ensemble by Divyam Mehta and Rohit Bal.”

Haldi
“The following morning we had our haldi. This was the first function with all our friends and family in one place and was easily the most fun and relaxed event at our wedding. Everyone had a blast smearing turmeric paste on us, and the beats of the dhols lifted our spirits further.”

Sangeet
“Our sangeet took place on the terrace with uninterrupted views of the mountains. The decor was minimalistic yet festive with over a hundred bulbs forming a roof over the area. Understated florals made for the backdrop of the stage and the setting complemented the panoramas perfectly. The function began just before sunset with fusion Bollywood music by Bryden and Parth on the guitar and flute, followed by dance performances from friends and family. Then we moved the party indoors with DJ Taher. I chose to wear a black lehenga with a cape from purchased from Jade by Monica & Karishma, and Aniruddh was handsome in an achkan by Rohit Bal.”

Wedding
“We had an afternoon wedding and we think it was a great decision. Not only did the pictures look stunning due to the abundant natural light, but everyone could also enjoy the views of the mountains in the background. The subtle red and white decor went perfectly with the surroundings. What made the ceremony so meaningful was that everyone present was invested in the wedding because we had a limited number of guests. The warmth and coziness of this intimate wedding in the mountains was unreal! Aniruddh and I both wore outfits by Sabyasachi Mukherjee on our big day.”

Cocktail party
“The cocktail celebrations held at sunset, started with Rohan Mazumdar and Saundarya singing, and Rhys Sebastian on the saxophone along with their band playing 80s and 90s retro favorites. This was a party where everyone was glued to the dance floors until the wee hours of the morning!”

Advice For Couples
“Make plans based on what you will truly enjoy and be comfortable with – you want to remember your wedding days with a smile!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand
Wedding Planner: The Factory Events & Entertainment
Decor: Peonies by Anoli
Bride’s Outfits: Anita Dongre (Mehndi), Jade by Monica & Karishma (Sangeet), Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Divyam Mehta (Mehndi), Rohit Bal (Mehndi and Sangeet), Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Makeup Artist: Ulupi Parikh
Entertainment: Bryden & Parth (Sangeet), Rohan Mazumdar & Band, Saundarya and Rhys Sebastian (Cocktail Party)
DJ: DJ Taher (Sangeet), DJ Amul
Choreography: Dheeraj Sud
Wedding Invitations: Peonies by Anoli

Photography and Videography: Sam & Ekta

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