Priya and Gaurav, Balrampur Gardens, Lucknow
From a fairytale engagement to an elegant reception, this wedding in Lucknow was enriched with traditional rituals and enhanced with modern glitz.
Priya and Gaurav’s sweet love story started a new chapter at their grand wedding in Lucknow. The bride shares with us the highlights of their wedding and pictures clicked by WeddingSutra Favorite Amit Photography.
How we met
“As the new girl in the 8th grade, I braced myself for a lot of attention. Gaurav was probably drawn to me in that initial curiosity. Then one day, he saw me perform in a promo for our school’s annual day and developed a crush on me. But I remained blissfully unaware though I definitely knew who he was – the good-looking all-rounder guy in my class. Little did I know I would find my soul mate in him.
We were friends for ages, smiling at each other shyly in the corridors or at our classes. When I became head girl, able to change my duty to wherever I needed to, I’d make sure Gaurav was in my line of sight at all times.
But eventually Gaurav got busy with his studies and exam preparations. My dad got transferred to another city. Still, distance couldn’t keep us apart. We both knew there was something between us – the possessive behavior, the care, the unsaid love that we felt, the concern, helping and understanding! It took us a lot of time, actually months to finally come to the conclusion that we would be together for eternity!”
The Proposal
“Last year in November, Gaurav planned a trip with a friend of ours. He took me to the beach where he had arranged a whole set up with the Taj Holiday Resort guys. He went down on one knee and popped the question and he got super emotional. I was so out of words that they wouldn’t just come out the way I wanted them to and I end up saying – ‘Don’t steal my thunder Gaurav!’”
Wedding Venue
“I always wanted to get married in my very own city – Lucknow. It instills a sense of belonging so my choice was clear. We decided on Balrampur Gardens for its lawn that is huge enough to accommodate our guests and because it’s the only venue in Lucknow which is partially covered making it easy to host a wedding in the monsoons. The venue played a big role in making the celebration look extravagant.”
Wedding Functions
Engagement
“The celebrations kicked off with an engagement ceremony. We wanted a fairytale vibe to this one so our decor was planned and designed accordingly. The color theme was white with hints of blue and green everywhere. With crisp white drapes, fresh blooms and with a backdrop of hanging bulbs, our decor truly was the highlight of this evening.”
Haldi and Mehndi
“The haldi and mehndi was an intimate affair at home with close family and friends in attendance. The house was all done up in fresh, colorful flowers with a little help from a local flower vendor. Our family and friends helped set up the floral arrangements for this day and it all looked beautiful! For this ceremony, I wore a pink Minakari top and paired it with a blue skirt with mirror work and a yellow dupatta which looked vibrant and colorful.”
Sangeet
“A night filled with filmy fun and color is what the lingering memory of our sangeet evokes. We wanted this night to be all things bright and beautiful. The theme for this function was Bollywood and the decor was quirky. It included a colorful palette of blue, yellow and pink decor elements that only added more vibrancy to the venue.”
Wedding
“Peach and mint dominated our wedding setup and flowers were a big part of the decor. Customized keeping our preferences in mind, there were some great inputs from our families as well. On the big day, our dreams and plans were executed impeccably, and the decor completely reflected our taste – elegant, fresh and beautiful. We wore a customized lehenga and sherwani which made us look like absolute royalty!”
Reception
“This was the final bash of our wedding celebrations, and we all enjoyed the night. We took the glamorous route for the decor for this function and let white, peach, green and gold be the colors for the night. I picked an off-white lehenga with minimal embroidery that had hints of maroon and red for this function which fit wonderfully with the vibe of the celebration.”
Advice for Couples
“Keep yourself hydrated throughout the functions and keep reminding yourself that you want to be your own kind of perfect on your special day!”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Balrampur Gardens, Lucknow
Decor: Devine Decorations, The Two of Us
Bride’s Outfits: Anushree Reddy (Engagement), Mrunalini Rao (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Body Care & Cure, Bobby
Photography: Amit Photography
