Chetna and Neel, Novotel Imagicaa, Khopoli

In just three months of their relationship, Chetna and Neel were sure that the love they shared was for life. Relentless, determined and thoroughly in love with each other, the couple fought against many odds to keep their love strong. Although they did get married virtually and legally prior to their Indian wedding, the duo was keen on celebrating their love in the quintessential Indian way. Photographing this unique Punjabi and Marwari fusion wedding was WeddingSutra Favorite – Seventy by Two – Wedding Stories.

How They Met
Chetna shares, “Neel was living and working in New York then, and used to visit Mumbai during the holidays. It was one of those fateful visits that we met at a New Year’s Eve party in 2016. When we crossed paths, we both were on different life trajectories – the different continents being the most obvious. Hence nothing came out of that small chance meeting. Fast forward to 2018, Neel decided to move back to India for good. That’s when we crossed paths again and reconnected. One thing led to another and we were on our first date very soon.”

The Proposal
Recalling Neel’s touching proposal, Chetna shares, “Within three months of dating, we both knew that this was meant to be. But the reality was that if I were to be accepted into the Columbia university Master’s program, I would have to make the big move to New York. But then Neel had just moved out of New York and had no ties there. We were in a bit of limbo during this time and hence, when Neel proposed, it was extremely emotional. He popped the question to me while we were vacationing in Shillim amidst a beautiful setup of roses, lilies and candles under the starry night sky. I said yes in a heartbeat without much thought to how we would figure life out.”

Wedding Planning
While the couple did get their wedding officiated over a Zoom call in New York, their desi hearts yearned for a grand Indian wedding. So when the Indian wedding planning commenced, Seventy by Two – Wedding Stories was their unanimous choice to photograph their wedding. Chetna shares, “They understood what we had been looking for right from the get-go. They’ve mastered the art of storytelling through what they capture, and that’s what we really respect and appreciate about them. Seventy by Two gave us genuine advice and guidance on not just photography, but honestly a lot of other aspects of the wedding too including the decor, event flow, etc.! Moreover, they have the nicest team that instantly makes you feel comfortable.”

With the bride pursuing her academic ambitions in New York, the wedding planning was largely virtual. Chetna adds, “My mom, Neel and I worked together on zoom calls. It was a roller coaster of emotions as we tried to coordinate absolutely everything while being situated in different continents. As the bride, I wanted every small detail to be perfect. All elements were carefully curated, from the logo to wedding favors, event themes, décor, entertainment and food, not to mention the custom-made welcome note booklets which had a personalized note from us to the guests that described all the functions.”

Weddings Functions
Virtual Wedding
Chetna shares, “We were supposed to get married in 2020, but as we all know – COVID-19 had other plans. But we did not want to wait to begin our journey together anymore. We made a tough decision as a family and decided that Neel and I would get married virtually in New York. We say it was tough especially because it was just the two of us – no family, no friends and no parents!”

Mehndi
Chetna shares, “This was a colorful welcome lunch that showcased both the Punjabi and Marwari cultures through food and entertainment. We had a Punjabi troop bring in some fun with live singing and Punjabi tappe. The décor was all things bright and yellow with sunflowers, quirky handmade sunglasses as props, a pretty flower adorned swing by the poolside, gazebos with drapes, comfy seating spaces and last but not the least, a photobooth! We also had mehndi favors – colorful bangles, jhumkas and potlis.”

Sangeet
Chetna shares, “We wanted to capture the beauty of a starry night at this event. A glittering tunnel with gold lights, crystals and lights lined the entrance. At the end of the tunnel, a sign saying ‘You’re my starlight’ made the theme pop out. The stage, table settings, bar and mood lighting beautifully tied into the theme as well.”

Haldi
For their Haldi, the couple opted for the classic and simple Phoolon ki Haldi! Simple, small and filled with a variety of yellow hues, the couple was showered with marigold petals and love during this joyous occasion. Plus, the breakfast table settings included the marigold petals placed in small glasses as well.

Wedding
Chetna shares, “We wanted a garden sunset wedding that exuded royal vibes with a pastel decor. Striking arches adorned with pastel flowers and chandeliers made way for the aisle. Additionally, the entrance was furnished with a family photo installation where selected memories from both our families were displayed along with the pictures of our grandparents who couldn’t be there. My bridesmaids wore fresh flower corsages on their wrists which added a pop of freshness to the pictures!”

Reception
Neel shares, “The reception followed the ‘Noorani raat’ theme where we chose candles, roses and crystals as our decor elements. Due to this, there was an almost surreal kind of magic in the air and we had a gala time celebrating our new beginning with our loved ones.”

Advice For Couples
The couple shares a few pointers,
1. Pick vendors who are as happy and excited to work with you as you are with them.
2. Yes, your wedding is a once in a lifetime event, but our suggestion would be to stick to a budget. It’s very easy to go overboard with smaller details. But the guests will remember the overall experience, not the quality of a random décor element.
3. If you have the bandwidth, then DIY small things like creatives of your welcome note, and stationery alike.
4. Vision boards and google slides kept us organized as we planned every step of the wedding virtually.
5. Keep at least a week before the wedding free from any stressful tasks!

Lastly, we can guarantee that there will be at least 10 things that will go wrong! But keep reminding yourself that it’s okay, and consciously enjoy the process. Later, those tiny mishaps won’t matter. Also, don’t forget to constantly hydrate and eat!”

The Wedding Makers

Venue: Novotel Imagicaa, Khopoli
Groom’s Outfits: Kora by Nilesh Mitesh (All Functions)
Bride’s Outfits: Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika (Mehndi), Shymal & Bhumika (Sangeet, Wedding), Amit GT (Reception)
Makeup: Shayli Nayak
Hairstyling: Sharda Jadhav
Mehndi: Jyoti Chheda
DJ: DJ Sameer Naik
Photography and Videography: Seventy by Two – Wedding Stories

Related Articles: