Harleen and Gautam, The Riverview Retreat, Jim Corbett National Park
This wedding venue by the river was an enchanting setting to mark a new beginning.
This was true for Harleen and Gautam.All the efforts that went into their long-distance relationship were finally rewarded with a remarkable wedding that meticulously planned and Designed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Aroosi. The excited bride tells how the celebrations unfolded, sharing pictures of her big day.
How They Met
“Gautam and I met through mutual friends. We just happened to connect really well. With that began our long-distance relationship. I moved to London and, by the time I returned, the sparks between us had turned into a full-blown fire! Marriage seemed like the next obvious step and so we went with it.”
Wedding Venue
“The initial plan was to host a regal-themed wedding and our focus was on properties in Jaipur or Agra. However, we could not close the deal on a hotel we were keen on. At the same time, someone we’ve known suggested taking a look at places in Jim Corbett and the idea of hosting our wedding surrounded by nature, in the middle of a forest, instantly captured my interest. With that began the hunt for the perfect venue which went on until we found The Riverview Retreat, which checked all our boxes. It was a beautiful venue with oodles of greenery, a lawn, a pool, and a stunning ballroom. We also booked the Taj Corbett Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand, in order to accommodate a few more guests.”
Wedding Planning
“Aroosi made the process of planning our wedding a breeze. Thanks to their creativity, our nuptials looked fabulous! They put in a lot of hard work into every detail and the results made it all worth it. The way they managed each event was super. Our guests all spoke of how welcomed they felt at the celebrations!
Our planners truly lived up to their name and helped both the families with every little requirement during the functions. Additionally, the fact that each member of the team was so pumped up and positive really added to our own excitement. I truly cherish every moment spent with them and recommend them to anyone getting married. They looked after us just like family, right from the beginning. We are extremely thankful to have worked with them.”
Wedding Functions
Engagement
The couple’s wedding celebrations began with an engagement that used abundant flowers, and beautiful lighting. “Inspired by the location of our venue, which was surrounded by nature, we decided to go with a palette of green and purple. With lots of lanterns, flowers, candles and fairy lights, the decor was designed to create a whimsical ambiance. Soft music playing in the background set the mood for the evening,” says Harleen.
Mehendi
Their mehndi was bursting with colors and the palette that was chosen was elemental in creating a lively atmosphere at the event. The highlight here was the canopy that was created for the bride with a circular backdrop created using branches that were adorned with yellow lilies and marigolds.“This was a crazy party with lots of colors, an abundance of flowers and dainty elements that hung from the lush trees. The event had such an energetic vibe and all of us had a blast dancing. The constant beat of the dhol, along with Punjabi tappe, added to the joy of the occasion and made it absolutely unforgettable.”
Cocktail Party
For Harleen, who loves all things sparkly, Aroosi went all out at this function trying to create the blingiest setup. Harleen shares, “I’m am a sucker for a good mix of gold, silver, and sequins! Aroosi understood this really well and gave me a glittering night – in the most literal sense! The decor included a disco ball backdrop, with shimmer and sequins everywhere, including small details such as on the table and cushion covers. I fell in love the minute I laid my eyes on the setup. Along with this, we had some fabulous music. Family and friends wouldn’t get off the dance floor! All of this together gave us the most memorable party!
Wedding
The setting for their wedding looked like it was borrowed from the pages of a fairytale. The ceremony took place in an outdoor setting that offered lush views of that forest and the gurgling river nearby created a calming atmosphere. Sharing details about her big day Harleen says, “I had always dreamt of an Anand Karaj featuring a romantic color palette and we followed this idea. Fresh flowers, floral linens, pretty cabanas and tassels, all in soft-pink tones, were accented with shades of teal and burgundy! The serenity of the location added a surreal quality to the ceremony. Words can hardly describe the beauty of it all.”
Advice for Couples
1. “Begin planning your big day well in advance – a year, in my opinion, would be the ideal time span. Make sure you book your planner, venue, photographer and makeup artist in time to ensure you’re working with a team you are most comfortable with.
2. “Don’t let the stress stop you from enjoying your own wedding! Drink, dance and go crazy! Do all the hard work beforehand and don’t be afraid to let loose during the functions.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Riverview Retreat, Jim Corbett National Park
Wedding Planner: Aroosi Events
Bride’s Outfits: Tassels by Prakash and Sheetal (Engagement), Lasha (Cocktail Party), Frontier Bazar (Wedding)
Makeup: Gaurav Viva
DJ: Dj Varun
Photography: Wed Cam Official by Bharat Arora
