Shilpa and Ely, The Leela Palace Chennai
This unique wedding mixed French art-deco style with traditional Indian design.
In medical school, Shilpa and Ely studied the workings of the human body and, more importantly, they were introduced to important matters of the heart. As time went by, they grew closer to each other, eventually tying the knot in a Tam Brahm wedding in Chennai. The ceremony was orchestrated by WeddingSutra Favorite – The A-Cube Project. Here, the bride talks about her experience working with the team and the highlights of her big day.
How They Met
“Our story involves a little bit of luck and a whole lot of persistence. Ely and I met in our first year of medical school, We were just friends for a while. Neither of us were ready for a relationship, though we certainly enjoyed each other’s company. Somewhere between studying together for endless tests, supporting each other through stressful days and navigating our way through the hospital, we fell in love.”
The Proposal
“Ely proposed in the year we were interning during our internal medicine residency. It was November and we had been working grueling hours before finally having a weekend off. My original plan was to spend time sleeping and watching Netflix, but Ely convinced me to head to the Rose Room at the New York City Public Library. This is where we had spent many hours together studying, and was my favorite place in town, so it was fitting that he popped the question there!”
Wedding Venue
“We choose The Leela Palace Chennai as our wedding venue. It is elegant, classy and right on the beach. Ely was born and raised in Miami and grew up loving the waterfront so this place was the perfect fit.”
Wedding Planning
“Our wedding was planned & designed by The A-Cube Project and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with. They were so experienced and made everything easy for us, despite the fact that I was an international bride with an erratic schedule! They were always there to answer our concerns and alleviate our fears. Everything was executed perfectly, and they took care of all the little details. We really got to relax and enjoy our wedding.”
Wedding Functions
Wedding
“The decor for our wedding was classic and elegant, with lots of gold and metallic accents that created an Art Deco style. We had a lotus theme because it is my favorite flower and also symbolizes resilience and enlightenment. Through our shared experiences, we have grown into the partners and people we wanted to be and we found that this theme was the perfect way to reflect our relationship.” Speaking about their outfits, Shilpa says, “For the ceremony I wore a red kanjivaram saree from Pothys and a blouse from Yuti Designer Studio in Chennai. Ely dressed in a veshti and angavastram.”
Reception
“The vibe for our reception was vastly different from our wedding ceremony. At this function, we created a contemporary ambiance using pastel-hued blooms, golden drapes, fairy lights and glittering chandeliers. Keeping in line with this aesthetic, I wore a gown by Sabyasachi and Ely wore a navy Hugo Boss suit.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Leela Palace Chennai
Wedding Planner and Designer: The A-Cube Project
Bride’s Outfits: Pothys (Wedding Saree), Yuti Designer House (Wedding Blouse), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Hugo Boss (Reception)
Makeup: Kavitha Sekar
Photography: Varun Suresh
