Payal and Yogesh, Indonesia
Alila Solo was the stunning backdrop for this couple's destination wedding.
Payal and Yogesh wed in a small town in Indonesia that served their desire for a stunning wedding at an exotic yet unique location. Payal talks about her romantic history with Yogesh and all the details of the splendid wedding celebrations.
How They Met
“Both our families are a part of the same social circle and they knew each other well. We would often get teased about each other as kids. As adults, they wanted us to get to know each other better. We delayed getting in touch for quite a number of years. It wasn’t until our first conversation on Facebook that we realized we shared similar interests.”
The Proposal
“Yogesh’s family took me to Perth for his cousin’s wedding. We were out on Cottesloe Beach enjoying the view when he proposed. It was natural, simple and minimalist. Just us in our jackets and sneakers. We later took some photos on his phone and everything felt perfect.”
Wedding Venue
“We considered venues in Cirebon (where Yogesh was born) and Yogyakarta (where I was born) but due to the inflexibility of hotels we then zeroed in on Alila in Solo – a small town in Indonesia. We always wanted a destination wedding to make the occasions more intimate and Alila, Solo is also a place where no one we know has ever had their wedding.”
Wedding Functions
Mehendi
The mehendi function was an intimate casual brunch. The venue was brought to life with vibrant decor. The bride’s interesting mehendi designs were the highlight of this function. The designs showcased special elements from Yogesh and Payal’s love story, including intricate detailing and stunning portraits of the couple.
Bride and Groom Ghari
For the puja, the decor was simple, with light hues lending an airy vibe. The color white dominated the decor, with subtle blues and greys adding pops of vibrancy around.
The bride looked stunning in a beautiful sage-green lehenga by Anita Dongre, her hair tied in a messy braid adorned with flowers.
Welcome Dinner
The welcome dinner was a glam night with the decor taking inspiration from the traditional Javanese Borobudur.
Wedding
The bride wore a traditional red lehenga by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, with a blue blouse and chunari lending a modern twist. The groom opted for a sage-green sherwani by Shantanu and Nikhil with a beige saafa. His groomsmen wore similar blue kurtas.
The mandap was decorated with foliage, striking red flowers and green and white danglers. Payal made her entry under a phoolon ki chadar held high by her brothers. The one-of-a-kind chadar was made of exotic flowers in shades of pink and yellow, with a bunting made of white flowers.
Reception
The wedding was followed by a grand reception with an ‘enchanted forest’ theme. The stage was kept simple and subtle: a Ganpati outline made from pink blooms was at the centre of the backdrop with little white flowers around. The venue decor saw roses and leaves adorning the reception hall.
Advice For Couples
“Amidst all the planning, remember that your health is the most important thing. Take care of your diet and exercise for physical health. Also pay attention to your stress levels, well being and mental health.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Alila Solo, Indonesia
Wedding Planner: Innaz Communique
Décor: Excelsior Decoration
Bride’s Outfits: Petalz Couturee by Jaya Lakhwani (Mehendi), Anita Dongre (Bride and Groom Ghari), Riddhi Mehra (Welcome Dinner), Sabyasachi (Wedding), Gaurav Gupta (Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Shantanu and Nikhil (Wedding)
Makeup Artist: Natasha Moor
Choreography: Shiva Raichandani, Alisha Shamdasani
Wedding Invitations: Jayanti Ragumani
Photography: Colomono
