Shirali and Rohit, Mumbai
Shirali and Rohit realized they shared sizzling chemistry from their first glance itself, but a thousand miles in between them proved to be a challenge. However, on one of his trips to India, Rohit finally took the decision of asking Shirali out on a date, and since then, the couple’s relationship has just been getting stronger. Starting a new chapter together with two wedding ceremonies that celebrated both their cultures, Shirali and Rohit’s nuptials reflected their modern outlook and colorful personalities. Capturing the beginning of their new journey was WeddingSutra Favorite – Happyframes who got every shot right and captured each expressive moment shared by the happy couple.
How They Met
Shirali shares, “At the risk of sounding cliched, our love story is actually a rather interesting one. There were so many instances when we met. First was via a dating app, then with common friends, and there were times, we bumped into each other at a bar when out with friends. We really hit it off from our first meeting itself. But the distance between us always remained, as he would go back to Europe for his work commitments while I stayed here in Mumbai. He finally asked me out on a long-overdue date, and that is where he confessed his feelings for me. Deep down, I knew that he was the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. He later moved to Seattle which brought us even closer as my sister lives in the same place and I used to visit her frequently. Finally, our geographic locations collided and the chemistry between us turned into love.
Sometimes I feel that many of us have that special person in front of us, but the circumstances are not always favorable. Luckily, we made things work and found our way through the obstacles to finally tie the knot.”
The Proposal
Rohit popped the question at a picturesque vineyard in Portland and took his time in getting the location just right for the precious moment in between Shirali and him. The happy bride recollects, “Rohit was quite unsure about where exactly he wanted to propose. We drove around some of the best spots in Portland, and each time, he would stop for a bit, look around and then drive on, which had me confused. We finally came upon a scenic vineyard and after a couple of rounds of wine tasting, we got a little tipsy. Funnily though, he was so tipsy that he couldn’t get the ring box out of his jacket. He told me to help him with it, and as I stood there with the box in my hands, he popped the question! Eventually, he did go down on one knee and asked me again to which I immediately gave my assent. It was the perfect proposal.”
Wedding Venue
“Our wedding was spread across various venues in Mumbai and it was like a happy, never-ending affair!”, shared Shirali. Starting with a court marriage, their venues ranged from the beachside Kino Cottage for mehndi and sangeet, the bride’s home for her bridal mehndi, the luxurious Sun-n-Sand Hotel for the Maharashtrian wedding to the elegant Khar Gurudwara for the Anand Karaj.
Wedding Planning
For their close-knit celebrations, Shirali and Rohit chose a team that would not only understand their vision but also guide them through the mammoth task of planning a wedding. Luckily for them, National Decorators and Karan Decorators teamed up to give them a series of seamlessly executed and tastefully decorated functions. The photographers from Happyframes made sure that each affectionate moment was captured skillfully from behind their lens. Gushing about her experience with the photography team Shirali shares, “There are not enough words to describe how well Happyframes captured our wedding. Their attention to detail and the ease with which they mingled with everyone was just amazing. It was so easy to work with them and I developed a strong bond with each of the team members. Each photograph clicked by them takes me back in time and makes me smile.”
Adding to the team were makeup artists Jaywant Thakre and hairstylist Kamal Pandey who used their superior skills to highlight Shirali’s best features.
Mehndi
“Being a day function, we went along with a vibrant decor that would gleam under the sun. We chose a cherry blossom arch, plenty of colorful windmill centerpieces and a lot of customized colorful artworks generously created by a very close friend.”, says Shirali. For the mehndi held at her home, she chose colorful decor with vibrant floral garlands hanging from the walls as she glowed in a green and gold gharara set and got henna patterned on her hands.
For her bridesmaids’ mehndi, a separate event, Shirali donned a breezy silver and white lehenga which she paired with breezy sunglasses to block out the sun. Rohit followed his bride’s lead and donned a white printed bandhgala for the occasion.
Sangeet
“We decided to use the same venue for our sangeet cum cocktail by adding fairy lights and a beautiful photo opportunity corner for the guests to create memories. The highlight of the evening, however, was the gorgeous bar that had a few fun rules! Honestly, the venue itself was so beautiful that we didn’t have to tweak much to bring our vision to life.”, shared Shirali.
Looking glamorous and elegant in her sparkly teal blue gown, Shirali was the showstopper of the evening and even had Rohit, who looked dapper in a black bandhgala go down on his knee to slip the ring on her finger.
Haldi
An emotional yet fun ceremony, the Haldi witnessed a plethora of emotions as Shirali was happily smeared by her family and friends. In true Punjabi spirit, the bride sat against a phulkari embroidered backdrop in a simple yellow sari as she was showered with love and blessings by her elders.
Anand Karaj
A solemn ceremony, Anand Karaj was a simple occasion where the bride and groom turned up in their best attire to take their vows surrounded by their family. Looking radiant in a bright rani-pink lehenga with golden embroidery, Shirali had plenty of fun posing for pictures after the ceremony. Rohit, on the other hand, chose a pristine white sherwani with gold prints and paired it with a baby pink turban to complement his lovely bride.
Maharashtrian Wedding
A celebration of the rich Maharashtrian culture with plenty of modern elements, the couple’s second wedding ceremony took place against the backdrop of the setting sun by the beach. Making full use of the scenic venue, the mandap gave the couple prime views of the shoreline and was decorated with crystals and flowers that reflected the last rays of the sunset.
Staying true to the traditions, the bride wore a rich peacock green saree with a bright pink blouse and kept her makeup simple. Rohit opted for a simple white sherwani with a peach turban that added a pop of color.
Reception
Following a rich ‘red and gold’ theme, the reception was an elegant affair with the turf serving as a backdrop and red roses adorning the venue. The couple’s monogram shone brightly as the duo greeted their guests for the evening. Looking sumptuous in a deep red sequin lehenga, Shirali amped up the glamor stakes. Rohit, taking a break from traditional wear, opted for a well-cut blue suit.
Advice For Couples
“Just go with the flow and live in the moment. Planning things in advance will help you remain stress-free. Surround yourself with vendors who’re just as invested in the wedding as you are. We chose each of them wisely and the end results were amazing. Especially Happyframes who exceeded our expectation brilliantly.”, advises Shirali.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Kino Cottage (Mehndi, Sangeet), Khar Gurudwara (Anand Karaj), Sun-n-Sand Hotel (Maharashtrian Wedding)
Wedding Planner and Décor: National Decorators and Karan Decorators
Groom’s Outfits: Telon, Armani, Manyavar
Bride’s Outfits: Chamee & Palak, Kalki, Shloka Khialani (Reception)
Makeup: Jaywant Thakre
Hairstyling: Kamal Pandey
Photography: Happyframes
