Ankita and Sagar, ITC Grand Central, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Mumbai
A traditional rendezvous turned into a romantic adventure leading to a picture-perfect wedding for this couple.
In this digital era of dating apps and websites, Ankita Ashara and Sagar Shah found each other through a ‘matrimonial aunty’. This traditional setup led to romantic dates, fun-filled trips in Ahmedabad and amorous adventures in Europe. This couple’s beautiful pre-wedding photoshoot was captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – Infinite Memories. The bride shares details and highlights of the wedding below.
Wedding Functions
How They Met
The bride recalls, “We were initially set up by a mutual family friend. It is kind of a rare scenario since we live in a world full of dating apps and websites. We met at a coffee shop in Mumbai only for an hour. But we instantly connected so well, that we decided to meet again for dinner that very same week. After those two exciting dates, I flew to Bangalore for work and Sagar got busy with his business in Mumbai. As we continued with our lives in separate cities, we were eager to meet again. A few weeks later we met with our families. We were still keen to spend more time together. And although it was an arranged setup, our love blossomed during our trip to Ahmedabad in Navratri. And soon, we got engaged.
I planned a solo bachelorette trip to Finland and Scandinavia. Sagar decided to surprise me and made my solo trip into a romantic one. He joined me for my Scandinavian adventure in Sweden & Copenhagen. Even though I was engaged to him at the time, the trip really played a catalyst in connecting us emotionally. That trip still holds a very special place in our hearts because it made our relationship grow stronger.”
Pre – Wedding Photoshoot
Ankita and Sagar had a beautiful pre-wedding photoshoot against the backdrop of the historically enchanting Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and The Perfect Location in Faridabad, which was elegantly captured by Infinite Memories.
Wedding Venue
The bride shares, “Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Goa were the top places on our list. But since both our families have most of their relatives residing in Mumbai, we decided to get married in the city itself. We decided to go with ITC Grand Central, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Mumbai. The decor of the venue is like a royal Rajasthani palace, so it gave us a destination wedding feel within the city.”
Wedding Planning
The bride shares, “I am a Senior Brand Manager and Sagar runs a business. We’re both always busy and loaded with work. So, we would chalk out the weekends, our days off, to prepare for the wedding right from the clothes and fittings to the pre-wedding shoot trips. With all the juggling between work and shadi preparations, we finally made it. It was hectic for us, but it was definitely worth it!”
Weddings Functions
Engagement
Held at the Cricket Club of India Limited (CCI) in Mumbai, the engagement ceremony was a tight knit function and saw only close family and friends in attendance. The bride looked stunning in a royal blue embroidered lehenga with a tulle top, while the groom donned an elegant maroon sherwani.
Mehndi
The Mehndi ceremony was an indoor event held at the ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. The venue was decorated with colorful phulkari umbrellas, pinwheels, kites and flowers. A game of musical housie was played at the event to keep the guests entertained. The groom looked dapper in an ivory kurta with a bejeweled collar, while the bride dressed in a pastel blue lehenga with a gold embroidered blouse.
Sangeet
Fancy crystal danglers were hanging by the twigs with Edison bulbs on them, lighting up the venue. There was also a photobooth with LED lighting that had the initials of the bride and groom. The groom wore a regal embroidered emerald velvet sherwani and the bride donned a maroon gown. The couple made a grand entry by dancing their way from the dazzling hallways of ITC Grand Central to the main stage.
Haldi
The couple had a fun-filled haldi function with their close family and friends. The bride looked gorgeous in a vibrant yellow outfit by Kalki Fashion with floral accessories and pink tassel earrings. “The groom sportingly matched the bride’s outfit with a mustard kurta along with a printed bandhgala.”
Wedding
The beautiful bride donned a heavily embroidered lehenga choli by Kalki Fashion. Her look was completed with a smoky eye makeup and a gorgeous floral bun. The groom wore an ivory sherwani with floral embroidery along with a regal golden Safa. The wedding ceremony was an open-air event held at the ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. She made a grand entry at the wedding ceremony under a phoolon ki chaadar held by her brothers.
Reception
The Reception was an outdoor function also held at the ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. The floral decor enhanced the look of the venue. The bride wore a pastel peach gown with delicate silver embroidery, while the groom donned an elegant royal blue three-piece suit. The newlyweds held hands and posed against the backdrop of their beautiful venue.
Advice For Couples
The bride shares, “Cherish the time between your engagement and the wedding. That time in between is the most exciting. This is when you create your fondest memories. Apart from that, always remember to enjoy the little things in life.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: The Perfect Location, Faridabad; Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (Pre-wedding), CCI Club Mumbai (Engagement), ITC Grand Central, Parel, Mumbai (Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding & Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Studio Vishakha (Engagement), Kalki Fashion (Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding & Reception)
Makeup: Alpa Parekh (Engagement), Sahibba K Anand (Pre-Wedding), Makeup by Bandana (Mehndi and Sangeet), Kajal Gala (Haldi), Makeup Missile by Preeti (Wedding and Reception)
Choreography: Arsh Tanna & Samir Tanna (Mehndi and Sangeet)
Cake: Deliciae by Bunty Mahajan (Engagement)
Photography: Infinite Memories (Pre-Wedding), LIME Photography (Wedding)
