Rahul and Vinita, Thavorn Beach Village Resort and Spa, Phuket
The couple celebrated their love with an enchanting white wedding as well as a vibrant phera ceremony.
Airline professionals Rahul and Vinita fell in love 30,000 feet above the ground. They aptly planned a destination wedding, tying the knot in Thailand with close family and friends present. Precious moments from the wedding were captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – North Water Star. Here are a few glimpses of the celebrations.
How They Met
Rahul, a chief pilot with Indigo Airlines and Vinita, a stewardess with Emirates, found love up in the air. They met while based in Bangalore, working for Indigo in 2010. The two were friends for a long time and one rainy day they took their relationship to the next level when they went for a drive to enjoy the lovely weather with some champagne. Rahul says, “We both have a love for dramatic, filmy moments and that night, as we clinked our glasses and danced around in the rain, it all fell into place. We knew we had something special, and thus began our journey.”
The Proposal
“Vinita and I have a close-knit group of friends, consisting of six couples. I was prompted and helped by the wives of the group to plan the perfect proposal for her. We organized a getaway to Wayanad with the whole group around my birthday. There, as midnight approached, she was led to a beautiful bonfire, with hearts and balloons decorating the area. The moment she wished me, I went down on one knee and held out the ring to her, giving her the biggest surprise of her life. It was an instant ‘yes’,” Rahul recalls, adding, “The moment was caught on film and it later became the image for our ‘Save The Date’ cards.”
Wedding Venue
Rahul says, “We wanted an intimate wedding with just our close friends and family present. We were searching for a quaint resort and found our perfect venue at Thavorn Beach Village Resort and Spa, a boutique beach hotel in Phuket, Thailand. We spent last New Year’s at the hotel finalizing everything. They did an incredible job – from the decor and food to the makeup artist. Our wedding was the first Indian wedding organized there and the success of the event prompted them to make a dedicated event listing in their services for ‘Indian Weddings’.”
Wedding Planning
“We kept our wedding really small and planned it ourselves along with the resort. Neither of us wanted a very traditional ceremony so we opted to have a civil wedding and a pheras ceremony followed by a ton of music, fun and dance. The celebrations were captured beautifully by the North Water Star team.”
Wedding Functions
White Wedding
The three-day affair began with a civil ceremony held on the beach. The bride looked enchanting in a white lace gown with a romantic off-shoulder neckline, walking up to an elegant white ‘altar’ festooned with pink and purple flowers. After the vows, the groom brought everyone to tears with a toast to all the guests who came to be a part of their special day. This was followed by an incredible firework show over the ocean. To conclude the ceremony, the entire group posed with balloons which they released into the night sky. The moment was captured in a photo that was framed and gifted to each guest as a token of gratitude.”
Pheras
In co-ordinated red, gold and beige outfits, the couple, in keeping with their filmy tastes, made a quirky entry on a beautifully-decorated buggy. The bride paired her richly-embroidered lehenga with exquisite polki jewellery. The groom’s ensemble boasted intricate embroidery and accessories. The aisle leading to the gorgeous floral mandap was strewn with pink and peach petals, and looked magical. With the glow of the setting sun and the expanse of water in the background, the couple was the picture of love as they exchanged holy garlands.
Cocktail Party
The pheras were followed by a cocktail party and sangeet ceremony. The evening began with an elegant sit-down dinner, followed by an evening of music, dance and some incredible pyrotechnics. For the function, the groom looked suave in a black sherwani from Manyavar, while the bride wore a lehenga saree in peach and blue.
Boat And Beach Party
On the last day of the festivities, guests enjoyed a relaxing ride to the surrounding islands on a private Catamaran. The couple spent the day dancing, eating and unwinding with their loved ones. The groom kept it cool in a blue shirt and shorts, while the bride looked breezy in vibrant beachwear.
Advice For Couples
“Be best friends before you get married. Everything falls into place and you’ll never be bored for even a single day of your lives.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Thavorn Beach Village Resort and Spa, Phuket, Thailand
Groom’s Outfit: Manyavar (Cocktail)
Photography and Videography: North Water Star
