Soumya and Ankur, Goa
Eschewing a conventional reception, this couple chose to host a sangeet as the final event of their wedding.
Soumya Raja and Ankur Ahuja first met in picturesque Paris, and after a proposal in sunny San Francisco, the duo decided to wed in gorgeous Goa. Here, groom Ankur shares some highlights of the festivities whose moments were captured in beautiful frames by WeddingSutra Favorite – Slice of Life Pictures.
How They Met
Ankur shares, “Simply put, our story is very similar to the Bollywood movie ‘Two States,’ the only difference being that our story took place overseas. We first met in Paris while pursuing our MBA and quickly became friends. However, as time went on, we grew closer as we moved from Paris to Singapore. And, after our MBA, we both shifted to London to pursue our careers and realized how much in love we were with each other.”
Proposal
Recalling the surprise proposal he’d meticulously planned for Soumya, Ankur shares, “I proposed to her in San Francisco while we were visiting her best friend. Her friends were in on my plans too and we put together a hiking trip where I popped the question to her at a beautiful spot by the water. Thankfully, she said ‘Yes!’ immediately.”
Wedding Planning
Acknowledging the stress that comes with planning all the details of a destination wedding, the duo hired experienced and reliable vendors. On the photography front, they chose Slice of Life Pictures who impressed them with their interesting frames and professionalism. Ankur shares, “The Slice of Life Pictures team were extremely accommodating and took everything in their stride as they captured every moment of our nuptials in stunning frames. We were extremely impressed by their fantastic photography skills and flexibility.” Adding to the team was the makeup and hair experts from Makeovers by Sukanya who made sure the bride looked her best at every event.
Weddings Functions
Haldi & Mehndi
“The first day of the nuptials started with a Haldi ceremony in the morning which Soumya and I had took part in together. After this, we extended a formal welcome to our guests in the evening when we all came together for the mehndi.”
Wedding
“Starting bright and early in the day, our wedding was hosted on one of the resort’s many lawns under the cheery sunshine. Being a North-South Indian fusion wedding, we tried to incorporate a little of both the cultures. After an Aryan Samaj wedding ceremony, the rituals of oonjal and chunni chadana took place in the afternoon.”
Sangeet
Ending the celebrations on a high note, the sangeet was the last function where everyone flaunted their best dance moves. Following the morning wedding, it was a bright and joyful affair with trees adorned with twinkling fairy lights that mirrored the starry skies.
Advice For Couples
“Enjoy the madness leading up to the wedding. Yes, it’s stressful, but it is also a time where we had the most fun as we planned our wedding together. Also, remember to delegate tasks and enjoy your wedding.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Kenilworth Beach Resort & Spa, Goa
Groom’s Outfits: Lalit Laungani (Haldi and Mehndi, Wedding, Sangeet)
Bride’s Outfits: Agashe (Mehndi), Kumaran Silk (Wedding), Frontier Raas (Sangeet)
Makeup: Makeovers by Sukanya
Photography: Slice of Life Pictures
