Bhakti and Lakshay, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Beer pong, Jenga and an unexpected pool party were all a part of their lively mehendi!
Be it understated, nature-inspired design, glamorous metallic decor or colorful setups, every theme of Bhakti and Lakshay’s functions added splendor to their wedding. Capturing the revelry and magnificent details was WeddingSutra Favorite – Dreamcatchers Photography. Here the bride shares the highlights of the celebrations.
How They Met
“Lakshay and I grew up in Dubai, a city with a large Indian community. We bumped into each other and a romance followed soon after!”
Wedding Venue
“Neither of us had a dream wedding in mind so we started exploring a bunch of locations in the UAE, South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent. What we were sure of was that we wanted a location with a laid-back atmosphere. We heard about the Avani Kalutara Resort and Anantara Kalutara Resort through a family friend and it instantly had our hearts when we visited it. We loved the open-plan concept of the property, the different venues we could utilize and, above all, the hospitality of the Sri Lankans.”
Wedding Planning
“We chose The Banquet Company as our wedding planners. They are based locally but were very well-versed with Indian weddings. Eventually, they became like our second family. We were impressed with their planning and execution and would have not been able to pull off our celebrations without Hemant and his team. Lakshay actually designed the wedding invites himself! We didn’t want anything to be over the top, and the cards portrayed the vibe of the wedding festivities very well.
Tejas Shah from Mumbai was my makeup artist. He was incredibly easy to work with, and his makeup certainly exceeded my expectations. Dreamcatchers Photography covered our wedding. We met them once and knew almost immediately that they would be cooperative and easy to work with, despite the fact that we are both camera shy. The candid shots were stellar and showcased the lively mood of the events very well.
Our entertainers also deserve a special shout out. DJ Tushar from Dubai and the live bands we had Arun Ghattu and Team as well as Flame Band, were spectacular.
Wedding Functions
Welcome Dinner
“We kicked off the celebration with a tropical-themed welcome dinner. The dress code was white, which perfectly contrasted with the colorful decor, consisting of fairy lights, wooden structures and tropical leaves.
Arun Ghattu and Team’s live music helped get the celebration started with a bang. Their performance set the tone for the next few days; we could not have asked for a better start.”
Mehndi
“Our mehndi was hosted outdoors by the pool and unexpectedly turned into a pool party! However, it was not entirely surprising given that it was such a hot day. The decor colors were mainly blue, lavender, white and yellow, and the vibe was very relaxed. Personalized cocktails, BBQ and games such as beer pong and Jenga were the highlights of the event.
My outfit for the occasion was a pair of lime green palazzo pants along with a crop top and a tiered cape by Arpita Mehta.”
Sangeet
“For the sangeet, we opted for a metallic theme, with the decor in tones of rose gold and copper. There were table covers with sequins, foliage elements and yellow bulbs which lent the venue a chic ambiance – everything looked marvelous. For this event, I co-incidentally wore a sparkling metallic grey gown by Dolly J!“
Wedding
“The wedding began with a baraat. Lakshay made his way to the venues on a cycle rickshaw. I, on the other hand, opted for a more traditional entrance and arrived surrounded by my cousins. Avani Kalutara Resort’s lawns were dotted with clusters of palm trees, which made for a picturesque setting. Refreshments were laid out on wooden barrels and flavored lassi was served to keep our guests cool. Our mandap was beautifully decorated with greens and white blooms.
For my outfit, I wanted to go with a color that was different from the traditional bridal red. I selected a soothing light pink lehenga by Dolly J for the pheras.”
Reception
“The reception’s theme was black and gold, with candles all around. Over the dance floor, we installed light bulbs which created a very warm atmosphere. Flames Band, who came strongly recommended from our wedding planners, made sure that the crowd was energized by the music. They took requests, encouraged our friends and family to sing and even had the over-50-year-olds on the dancefloor till 3 am. This was just the way we wanted the festivities to conclude and were thrilled with the way everything worked out.”
Advice for Couple
“The best piece of advice we can give is to have fun! It’s a once in a lifetime event, and you wouldn’t want to regret not making the most of it by stressing about stuff that guests won’t even notice is not there.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Avani Kalutara Resort and Anantara Kalutara Resort
Wedding Planner: The Banquet Company
Bride’s Outfits: Welcome Dinner – Yashodhara, Delhi, Arpita Mehta (Mehendi), Dolly J (Sangeet and Wedding), Kamaali Couture (Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Purusham, Mumbai, Kachins 44 Street, Dubai
Makeup: Tejas Shah, Mumbai
Entertainment: Arun Ghattu and Team (Welcome Dinner), Flames Band (Reception)
DJ: DJ Tushar, Dubai
Photography: Dreamcatchers Photography
