Siddhi and Karan, Jaipur
Majestic backdrops and magical fireworks were the perfect highlights of this palace wedding.
Karan and Siddhi met as students and graduated from school as best friends. Over time, they fell in love and decided to wed in India. They planned every aspect of their dream wedding remotely from New York and ensured it all turned into reality when they tied the knot at the regal Samode Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Here, bride Siddhi shares some highlights of the lavish celebrations.
How They Met
Siddhi recalled, “We met at a social gathering during our new school orientation, and we both had contrasting first impressions of each other. Being a true romantic at heart, Karan says that he fell in love with me at first sight. At the end of the event, he offered to drop a few of us home, and me being a little skeptical of riding with a random stranger, sent my tracking location to my friends. Fortunately, after occasional get-togethers, we became the best of friends. Who knew we were in the process of building a strong bond that we share till date. His persistence and absolute faith in the two of us being soulmates is what got us here. I was reluctant to let go of the friendship in case things weren’t meant to be. It turned out to be the best decision of our lives.”
The Proposal
“I shared my idea of a dream wedding proposal, and Karan being a good listener secretly took notes of everything. He picked Aspen, in Colorado, for a mini-vacation during the Labour Day weekend and booked a hot air balloon ride early in the morning. Up in the air, at about 7,000ft above ground level, I was busy taking pictures of the surreal views. When I got ready to take a photo of both of us, I saw Karan looking a little awkward. I laughed at him, and suddenly he grabbed the ring out of his pocket. The guide turned off the fire background noise, and in that silent moment, I felt my heart skipping a beat. He spoke to me about all the beautiful times we spent together, and in my head, I was waiting to scream ‘Yes’ even before he finished his little speech.”
Wedding Planning
Siddhi shared, “We wanted to put in all our efforts for the wedding planning and had complete faith in our parent’s support as well. We did extensive research and analysis, not just for the venue, but for the outfits, photographers, and makeup artists among others. We had a strict timeline to wrap up all the outfits and accessories shopping as both of us got only a 10-day break from work, including travel days from New York. We decided on doing all the major shopping in New Delhi, and our ensembles were consciously color-coordinated across events.”
Wedding Venue
“Karan and I had our hearts set for a venue with a fortress-like setting. It was an arduous task to pick one out of the many options that we had shortlisted from across India. Samode Palace seemed to be the most befitting venue for our wedding. Our only concern was that majority of the groom’s family would have to travel from Assam, but things fell in place eventually. Samode Palace is a 16th-century structure nestled in the ancient Aravalli hills, with spectacular interiors, brilliant sequencing of the courtyards coupled with the most mesmerizing natural backdrops.”
Mehndi
This traditional ‘Rajasthani Village Fair’ themed mehndi function was the highlight of all the ceremonies that stood out with the colorful use of drapes in decor. There were camels at the venue, and folk musicians playing melodious tunes to entertain guests. A buffet meal was served at the Samode Bagh. The beautiful bride picked an off-white Abhinav Mishra lehenga with intricate mirror work for this event, while the groom opted for a beige kurta and printed jacket.
Sangeet
One of the many gorgeous bride-groom entries during the three-day celebrations was during the sangeet function where cold pyros lit up the red carpet as Karan and Siddhi walked down the main entrance of the palace. The evening was followed by breathtaking performances by friends and family members.
Haldi
Marigold decorations were perfect for the sunny vibe of the haldi function. Friends and family wasted no time in generously applying turmeric paste on the couple and splashing them with ice-cold water. The couple wore matching bright yellow outfits for this fun function.
Wedding
The groom chose to ride through the procession on an elephant following the tradition of the maharajas, wearing a beige sherwani. At the same time, his bride relished every second sitting by the jharokha in a bright red lehenga waiting for the baraat. The mandap was arranged in the beautiful courtyard by the pool, on top of the picturesque terrace, and the pheras were held at night. The Sheesh Mahal and the dome terraces served as beautiful spots for bridal portraits and the couple photoshoot for the day. The couple opted to get away after the ‘vidaai’ (bridal farewell) ceremony in a vintage car made available by the palace.
Advice For Couples
“Do not hesitate to take charge of your wedding planning. It does take a lot of patience and sleepless nights in case you are planning something in India while living abroad, but in the end, it’s all worth it. Make sure you leave no stone unturned since it is your day and things should be about what you guys have dreamt for the big day. Also, do not underestimate the efforts your parents will put in to make your day special.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Samode Palace, Jaipur
Groom’s Outfits: Megaan (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Abhinav Mishra (Mehndi)
Makeup: Muskaan K. Khumbat (Sangeet, Mehndi), Silvi Jain (Wedding)
Photography: Nitin Arora Photography
