Chitra and Pranay, JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata

In the City of Joy, Chitra wed Pranay, the man of her dreams. The groom tells us all about their story and the highlights of their wedding.

How we met
“We met in Chijmes in Singapore. She ordered bruschetta and I, cream of tomato soup (with chilli flakes). She wrestled me to pick up the check. I remember my first impression of her; short hair, bossy, evasive with her replies, talks a mile a minute, round face, big eyes, classic Bengali girl. Chitra was in Singapore exploring career options. She was deciding between Dubai, HK and Singapore. As her travel guide (initially), I would like to think I not only convinced her to move to Singapore but also to spend the rest of her life with me. We became friends first, and slowly we became something more. I don’t think either of us remembers when it shifted, it was an accumulation of many small moments.”

Wedding Proposal
“We had an intimate proposal the day before our formal engagement in the Botanical Gardens in Singapore; a string quartet, her favorite song, a beautiful ring inside a “Stitch” (Harry Potter reference). Our first date was at the Botanical Gardens. We got engaged at the Hyatt in Singapore and had an engagement party in Ce La Vi.”

Wedding Venue
“We decided to get married in Kolkata. Chitra is Bengali and it is customary that the baarat goes to the bride’s side. The events were split across the JW Marriott and the Hyatt Regency.”

Wedding Functions

Haldi (Bride)
Haldi, also called ‘Gaye Holud’ is one of the most festive Bengali wedding ceremonies. The theme for this function was ‘monsoon’ and the elegant haldi décor, customized to the bride’s taste featured a traditional palette of yellow and blue. While all her bridesmaids were dressed in blue sarees, the bride looked ethereal in a yellow and gold lehenga paired with statement jewellery that added a royal charm.

Poolside Sundowner/ Mehndi
The mehndi was the most ‘happening’ party. The couple hosted their guests in an al-fresco, poolside venue where great music and gorgeous drinks enlivened the evening. The vibe was very chill as the couple wanted their guests to just relax and have fun. Everyone let their hair down as the DJ played foot-tapping music.

Sangeet
The winter themed sangeet was inspired by Narnia’s winter wonderland. It was a gala affair made especially poignant with guests catching up with each other after a while and taking pictures with the beautiful décor as backdrop or at the quirky photo booth. There were also professional performers as well as energetic dance performances by the parents, friends and other family members that left everyone awestruck.

Wedding
The setting for their wedding was breathtaking. The color scheme for the decor was blush with a touch of gold and floral arrangements were a prominent part of the setup. The couple exchanged their vows in a traditional Bengali ceremony. The bride wore a beautiful red and green creation by Sabyasachi. The groom wore an embroidered sherwani that complemented his bride’s ensemble. After the sophisticated ceremony, as evening fell, the couple, surrounded by their closest family and friends, walked into the next chapter of their lives.

Advice for Couples
“Be prepared for a rollercoaster ride. Try to smile through the craziness and remember if something is going epically wrong, let the wheels turn and don’t sweat it too much. Try not to become a groomzilla/bridezilla, really not worth it!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata, Hyatt Regency Kolkata
Wedding Planner: Shloka Events
Decor: Comme Sogno Vero
Wedding Consultant: Vogue Wedding Company
Brides Outfit’s: Anushree Reddy, Manish Malhotra, Falguni Shane Peacock, Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Grooms Outfit’s: Ankur Batra, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Anjul Bhandari
Makeup Artist: Fat Mu
Saree Drapist: Dolly Jain
Wedding Invites: Champs Fleur
Choreography: Sudhir Kumar

Photography: Ramit Batra Photography

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