Ankita Solanki and Sahil Navalakha, Conrad Pune
From a plush, royal wedding to a surreal reception, this couple’s wedding in Pune was filled with emotions and cheery traditions.
Ankita Solanki, and Sahil Navalakha’s Wedding in Pune was a fusion of tradition and glamor. Be it the marvelous Mehndi or the glitzy Wedding, their union hosted at Conrad Pune took the cake with its unfiltered joy, vibrant hues and gorgeous decor. Planned and decorated by WeddingSutra Favorite – Q Events and Weddings who also managed the hospitality and logistics, this wedding gave the couple tons of warm memories to cherish for life.
How They Met
Ankita shares, “Both of us first met in an arranged marriage setup and sparks flew! After knowing each other, we were sure that this was for life.”
Wedding Venue
For their wedding, the duo and their parents were keen on a regal celebration with a touch of contemporary glamor. Conrad Pune fit the bill perfectly! Ankita shares, “Conrad Pune had us sold on it from the very beginning. Their food tasting was gastronomic heaven while their room services made everyone feel at home. We had an extremely good experience with them as our venue partners on all fronts. Plus, they had ample space for our Baraat and good entry options for both Sahil and me.”
Wedding Planning
When it came to planning, decorating and related execution of the wedding along with hospitality and the logistics, Ankita and Sahil placed their trust in Q Events and Weddings who guided them at every step of the way. Ankita shares, “With them on the team, it was easy to visualize the decor and bring our vision to life. They helped us out in many aspects and seeing their proactive nature, we also handed over the hospitality and logistics of the wedding to them. Throughout the wedding, they were hard at work as they carefully looked into every detail to make our celebrations memorable.” Damini Oberoi of Q events and weddings shares,”The wedding was suppose to be outdoors & everything was ready but it started raining unexpectedly and so we had to move them indoors”
Weddings Functions
Welcome and Mehendi
A sunlit and cheerful event where the bride had a gala time grooving to the beats, the Mehndi event had everyone showing off henna patterns on their palms. Regardless of age, all the ladies present happily got their palms patterned and then took to the dancefloor to hold them aloft and dance! Plus, a caricaturist and a perfume bar ensured that everyone was keenly engaged throughout the event.
Myrah
With everyone wearing vivid traditional wear, the Myrah was a colorful event where the bride was in the spotlight. A ritual where the bride’s maternal uncle offers gifts to the bride’s family, the Myrah was also punctuated by impromptu dance performances.
Sangeet
When it came to the Sangeet, glamor was at an all-time high, as the decor was crafted out of rich scarlet blooms along with a striped entryway that created an illusion of a deep tunnel. As the couple slipped on their dancing shoes to show off their moves on the colossal stage, a large cheer went up amongst their loved ones! Ankita shares, “Everyone had such a great time at this event as we danced and ate to our heart’s content. In fact, we partied till the wee hours of the morning!”
Wedding
For the couple’s big day, a stunning open mandap was crafted out of suspended white blooms and gold decor elements. Hosted indoors, the decor looked regal and was perfectly in sync with the royal vibe that the duo was aiming for. Ankita shares, “For me the Wedding was extremely emotional as it was hard to bid goodbye to everyone. Overall, everything turned out just as we’d imagined. In fact, we also had female chanters for the Mangal Ashtaka ritual during the Wedding who made the occasion even more auspicious.”
Reception
At the Reception, it was proven that fairytales do come true! After an emotional Bidaai, the newlyweds sported wide smiles as they celebrated their union. Flanked by dancers who resembled fairies with gossamer wings, Ankita and Sahil made a dramatic entrance. The Wedding mandap was transformed into the Reception stage where everyone conveyed their well-wishes to the duo and later enjoyed an enthralling performance by two flautists.
Advice For Couples
Ankita shares, “A shadow person from the planning team is a must-have. In our case, the planning team assigned us a dedicated person who accompanied us at all the events and helped relieve stress by constantly helping us.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Conrad Pune, Koregaon Park
Wedding Planner: Q Events and Weddings
Hospitality and Logistics: Q Events and Weddings
Groom’s Outfits: Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Shantanu & Nikhil (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Pernia’s Pop Up Shop (Sangeet), Marwar Couture (Wedding), Dolly J (Reception)
Jewellery: Lalit Mehta Jewellers (Myrah), Rathore Jewellers
Makeup: Sonia Ramani
Entertainment: Ashmita Patel (Myrah), Urban Turban Band (Sangeet)
Photography: Robin Saini Photography
