Keri and Kapil, Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah
Keri and Kapil's wedding in UAE's Ras Al Khaimah saw guests basking under the desert sun as well as chilling at a sub-zero 'Whimsical Winter' reception.
With interesting themes such as ‘Sands of Arabia’ and ‘Royal Indian’, Keri and Kapil’s three-day wedding included many innovative set ups and elements that wowed their guests. Bride Keri shares some of the highlights of their celebrations at the grand Waldorf Astoria hotel in Ras Al Khaimah.
How We Met
Keri and Kapil met in Canada, where they studied and worked. Their love blossomed as they dated for four years before Kapil popped the question on a cruise. Keri shares, “An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break. How else can a guy from Africa meet a girl in Canada? We met in Toronto and began our story with being best friends. Both of us were studying and living away from our families. We enjoyed each other’s company, began understanding each other better and eventually started dating in our last year of college. We continued to work in Canada and decided to make it official by sharing the news with our siblings first, and then the parents.’’
Proposal
“We had our first date by the waterfront of Toronto, Ontario. Years later, Kapil proposed to me by the same waterfront and popped the question on a cruise.”
Wedding Planning
“We selected our wedding planner after having considered various options, and finally chose the one who understood us on a personal level. As a wedding is one of the most important and personal events in one’s life, our planner approached it with the same passion and dedication. Right from venue scouting all the way till the wrap up of events, we had our wedding planner walk us through every aspect of the celebrations as well as bring together some of the best talent globally to shape our big Indian wedding with care and attention.”
Wedding Venue
“Right from the start, our venue preference was for an exclusive and grand property away from the city buzz. Since guests were visiting from different parts of the world, the idea was for all of them to be together and mingle rather than hop out of the resort to explore the city. The Waldorf Astoria hotel in Ras Al Khaimah proved to be the perfect venue for our needs. This charming beachfront resort is surrounded by deserts, mountains and sea, making it an iconic venue for a destination wedding.”
Wedding Functions
“Striking the right balance, our wedding planner created multiple events each themed around our personality, preferences and inspirations.”
Welcome Lunch
“The Welcome Lunch was based on a ‘Sands of Arabia’ theme which saw guests enjoying an authentic Arabian welcome before the actual celebrations began. Largely based on inspirations from the old markets of Arabia, the venue set up included traditional spice markets, Sheesha Majlis, Arabic food and beverage hawkers as well as interactive belly dance sessions to get the guests involved and comfortable with each other.”
Sangeet
“The sangeet ceremony saw influences of a ‘Royal Indian’ celebration where the ballroom was transformed into a Maharaja’s palace using the best in mapping and projection technology to give the guests an experience of having traveled back in time to the Mughal Era. Large murals, elephants, fabric colors and rare ornaments adorned the setting. Another highlight of this event was performances by Bollywood artists who had flown in for the occasion.”
Wedding
“The wedding pheras were held by the beach and were based on a ‘Palace Gardens’ theme where floral elements, large gates and water features paved the walkway to the mandap which was set up against the breathtaking background of the Arabian Sea. I wore a red lehenga with gold embellishments and paired it with heavy, gold bridal jewellery. As the pheras came to an end, a majestic display of fireworks in the open skies with reflections on the night waters made for some of the best images at our wedding.”
Reception
“The reception saw a ‘Whimsical Winter’ theme come into play, and the set up was one of the most lauded designs of our wedding! The entire venue was transformed into almost sub-zero temperatures with snow and ice elements to ensure guests got a true feel of being in the Arctic region. I wore a beige gown with bespoke diamond jewellery, and Kapil looked dapper in an all-black tuxedo. With the wedding cake descending from the ceiling, beautifully sculpted ice decor, a customized ice bar and mesmerizing performances by a local fusion band, this was a perfect sign-off event that would linger in the minds of the guests for a long time.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Wedding Planner: Vivaah Weddings, Dubai
Makeup Artist: Noreen Shehryar, Dubai
Photography & Video: Colomono
