Janki and Falgun, Indana Palace, Jodhpur
Striking a perfect balance between traditional and unconventional, this wedding was a grand affair to cherish forever.
Janki and Falgun’s wedding functions were a series of intimate ceremonies that followed a royal theme peppered with plenty of unconventional entries. Weddingsutra Favorite – Studio Beunique was on location to capture the young couple as they pledged a lifetime of love to each other. Amping up the ‘desi royalty’ quotient substantially was Indana Palace Jodhpur with its sprawling grounds and majestic architecture that made the couple’s ‘royal wedding’ dream come true.
How They Met
The couple’s first meeting was a setup and over a course of multiple dates blossomed into true love. Surprisingly, both of them shared many mutual friends which they only realized when on a trip to Pune in July 2015. After a round of movie dates, meetings and a fun trip to Imagica, they finally realized their deep love for each other. And the rest is history!
The Proposal
A formal proposal is not required every time, especially when a couple is this deeply connected to each other. With this kind of synergy, the couple expressed that they didn’t feel the need to propose to each other as they always knew that they were meant to be.
Wedding Venue
Food and hospitality being the foremost in their minds, the couple zeroed in on Indana Palace, Jodhpur that also suited the royal and elegant theme they had in mind for their ceremonies. With its historic charm, vast grounds and warm hospitality, this venue was the perfect fit for Janki and Falgun’s nuptials which included an extensive guest list.
Wedding Planning
Janki shares, “We wanted something that was relatively intimate in the presence of people we love. It was through constant support and help from both our families that we could delve into the finest details. Not a day passed by where we didn’t brainstorm on how to make each ceremony a success. We wanted elegance and royalty to be the prominent themes, but we also wanted to add a unique theme to each ceremony. I take particular pride in the fact that I actually took the time out to handpick each vendor, a task which not many brides get involved in. Having Studio Beunique capture all the events was a total pleasure. The team was extremely hardworking, and I think they’ve captured each ceremony beautifully.”
Wedding Functions
Roka Ceremony
For the Roka ceremony, Janki looked vibrant in a yellow banarasi lehenga with a crop top that showed off her back. The look was completed with a pair of statement earrings and a side swept hairdo. Falgun’s green kurta with its long jacket complimented the bride’s look beautifully.
Mehndi
The next function in line was Mehndi and the couple wanted the guests to experience Rajasthan in a unique way. Janki shares, “We held a Rajasthani themed ‘Mehndi Mela’ and the decor included handicraft furniture with colorful patchwork and a multicolored gazebo with a cutwork canopy that made it look like a traditional mela. We made our entry in an open rickshaw to the tunes of Rajasthani folk singers which was followed by individual family performances. There were also games set up and a live stall to keep the guests entertained.”
Janki glowed bright in a floral blue lehenga with hints of pink, hand-painted minakari jewelry and a passa to accentuate her look. Falgun stayed in sync with his bride and sported a light blue kurta and embroidered jacket.
Engagement
A masquerade themed night, this ceremony saw guests put their best foot forward in tuxedos and gowns. “The night began with our couple’s waltz and was followed by an exchange of rings. Famous singer Rajesh Maini performed some of our favorite songs and the whole party felt like an exotic music festival. The palace’s extensive banquet hall with its open space was ideal for our huge party. The decor had the perfect amount of bling with a huge stage that reflected the ‘masquerade theme’ with attractive masks on each side. This complimented a very chilled out night with a carnival-like feel, and had the guests dancing to the music beats”, shares Janki. The bride looked extremely glamorous in a silver ruffled gown while the groom looked the perfect gentleman in a blue tuxedo with a matching waistcoat and bowtie.
Haldi
The next day saw an unconventional haldi ceremony that followed the concept of ‘Phoolon ki Holi’ in which guests were served kulhadwali chai to keep them warm in the chilly Rajasthani morning. “We decided to go with white outfits that had a touch of yellow in them. The guests also turned up in yellow and the celebration was full of dhamaal and it looked extremely picturesque!”, gushed Janki.
Pool Party
Following haldi was the most awaited, fun filled pool party where everyone let their hair down. With a distinctive Hawaiian feel to it with its colorful decor and turquoise waters, the party was an affair to remember. The couple shares, “We entered with our bridesmaids and groomsmen in tow and all of them wore coordinated outfits and presented a dance performance which included colorful smoke bombs going up in the air. There was also a rain-dance set up and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the party either dancing to the tunes of the DJ or by jumping into the pool. We also had games like balloon-shooting, ring-throwing and live caricature artists to keep the tempo going.”
Wedding
For the most important of all ceremonies, the couple opted for traditional hues that looked elegant and royal. “The entire decor had a gold and red theme to it, right from the main mandap to the golden chandeliers that were the centerpiece. We also placed a backdrop with our hashtag ‘#FalgunKiJan’. The atmosphere was made even more royal with a team of singers singing vedic shlokas that echoed in the courtyard.”, said Janki.
The bride dazzled with her stunning entrance where girls performed bharatnatyam with shlokas echoing in the palace. With a long-trailed veil on a customized kanjeevaram lehenga with real silver and gold weaving Janki looked like a royal bride. Falgun wore a luxurious sherwani with Swarovski pearls and diamonds on it. It was a heart-touching event where the couple expressed their love to each other by writing their own seven promises which they recited in the mandap.
Reception
The reception was a glitzy celebration that was held at Madhubhan Resort and Spa, where everyone in the couple’s family wore coordinated outfits. Janki looked gorgeous in a shimmery beige gown while Falgun donned a black velvet tuxedo.
Advice for couples
“Have a solid team you can rely on. Don’t take too much of stress and remember to relax as you approach the big day. Remember, once the madness is over, it’s just the two of you at the end of it all. This is a once in a lifetime event, make sure you make the most of it!”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Indana Palace, Jodhpur (Roka, Mehndi, Engagement, Haldi, Pool Party, Wedding), Madhubhan Resort and Spa, Anand (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Velvet Events
Décor: New Click Events
Groom’s Outfits: Telon (Mehndi, Wedding), Kora (Engagement, Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Vasansi (Mehndi), Annu’s Creation (Engagement), Amrin Khan (Reception)
Photography and Videography: Studio Beunique
