Naznin and Munna, Calicut
From a traditional Arikuthal to an intimate Nikah, the wedding festivities of these childhood sweethearts were a celebration of Malabari customs, family bonds and their enduring love.
A love story that began in school culminated in a graceful, glorious, traditional celebration of timeless love. In the presence of all their loved ones and organized with a heartfelt commitment to custom, every moment of this simply gorgeous wedding was captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – Magic Motion Media. Here are a few glimpses from the festivities.
How they met
“What first stood out about Munna was his utter lack of interest in talking to me,” Naznin says, smiling. “As a television actor in a close-knit town like ours, I was used to everyone recognizing me and approaching me in a friendly way. Here was this guy who didn’t even look twice at me! It piqued my curiosity. After several failed efforts to contact him, we finally connected. And then, to my surprise, I found that he’d secretly admired me from afar but worried that I’d never be interested in him. A few laughs and long conversations later, we knew we’d found our soulmates in each other.”
Wedding Planning
A long engagement afforded the couple the chance to plan the perfect wedding with leisurely deliberation. Every celebration was in accordance with the traditions of their hometown, Calicut. The nuances of their deep bond and romance that stemmed a long and sweet relationship were captured in all their glory by Magic Motion Media.
The bride and her sister planned most of the intricacies of each function. The bride’s sister handled the logistics and Naznin skillfully created her own outfits and some of her groom’s as well! The bride’s glowing radiant looks at the wedding were by The Makeup Box and Makeover Studios. The décor at the functions was executed by Organza the Wedding Company.
Wedding Functions
Arikuthal
The Arikuthal is an ancient tradition of the Malabar. The bride’s family hosts this ceremony and it entails the elders of the family singing old tunes along with other customs. To this tender, intimate traditional affair, the bride wore a banarasi kurta and skirt with a contemporary silhouette, jasmine flowers entwined in her braid and an elaborate head ornament.
Sangeet
As per customs, the sangeet/mehndi ceremonies were held separately by the bride and groom’s families. Naznin says, “I always dreamed of a garden function held in the lap of luxury. But considering it was an August celebration, we recreated an enchanting garden setup indoors. The night was just about music, dance and enjoying ourselves to the fullest. My former colleagues from my acting days performed for the soiree”.
The bride looked like a forest fairy with her dewy visage, in her vivid yellow top and pastel skirt. To his ceremony, Munna wore a black shirt and trousers with an Ikat Bandi jacket.
Nikkah Ceremony
The Nikkah was an intimate affair, steeped in tradition, warm with emotion and held according to authentic Malabari customs. The couple looked ethereal in their ivory and gold attire which matched the tone and mood of the décor that was inspired by Moroccan aesthetics. A solitary red rose worn by the bride resplendent in white, poetically tied together with the white flowers against the red backdrop of the event was an image that many took away with a sense of awe.
Reception
The final event was a lovely change of pace. The bride says, “I’ve always been more comfortable in neutrals and for the reception wanted to wow everyone with a spectacular outfit.” Impressive décor and royal outfits were the order of the day.
The bride designed her exquisitely embroidered fuchsia lehenga herself. The double dupatta style with a unique combination of olive green was gorgeous and she finished her look with heavy Polki jewellery. “Munna, who typically shies away from bold styles, looked uber stylish in an embellished peach sherwani over an anarkali kurta, stunning all our guests.” The décor featured vintage chandeliers and draped flower towers with soft golden lighting that evoked a feeling of warmth and nostalgia.
Advice for Couples
“Wedding inspiration can strike anytime. Don’t put it off for till your final planning. Whenever you see something on the internet or social media or even in real life that you would love to do for your wedding, save pictures for reference. It’s going to help a lot when you plan your wedding!”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Calicut Tower (Sangeet), Paramount Tower (Nikkah), JDT Tower (Reception)
Wedding Décor: Organza The Wedding Company
Makeup artist: Makeover Studios (Sangeet), The Makeup Box (Nikkah and Reception)
Photography and Videography: Magic Motion Media
