Sweta and Barry, Taj Lands End, Mumbai

Sweta and Barry met in Bangalore where they were office colleagues and gradually they fell in love. He relocated to India to be with her and the two recently tied the knot in Mumbai. They picked WeddingSutra Favourite – Reflexion by Nishchay Shinde as their wedding photographer who framed their dual wedding ceremonies beautifully. Here, groom Barry shares highlights of the festivities that took place at Taj Lands End, Mumbai.

How We Met
“Back in 2014, I came to Bangalore for work. I was teamed up with Sweta and we spent every working minute together. Over the days, weeks and months we became closer and closer, and at the end of my assignment, though I returned to London, we kept in touch over calls. I would try to return to India as often as possible to spend more time together.

As time progressed it became obvious that we were in love. The distance was a major challenge, and we wanted to be together so I took the plunge to move to India so we could figure things out. The entire journey had its unique challenges but sticking together we worked through all of them.”

Wedding Venues
“We chose two different venues for our wedding functions, and we wanted to have three main events over the weekend. For the mehndi, we chose the rooftop of the Hotel Marine Plaza, Mumbai. We wanted this event to have a spectacular view of the city and the setting to be informal so that family and friends from both sides could meet, dance and get to know each other. This hotel ticked all of the boxes. For the wedding ceremonies, we wanted one location which could serve our needs of a large Hindu wedding in the morning and a smaller Catholic service in the evening. Taj Lands End, Mumbai had the perfect combination of a splendid main ballroom for the former and a smaller venue with a sea view for the latter.”

Wedding Planning
“Due to our professional backgrounds, planning and organizing came naturally to both of us, and we wanted to take control of the different elements. We planned and managed the wedding throughout, but we took huge amounts of input and help from all of the teams that we worked with. Our photographer for all events was Reflexion by Nishchay Shinde. We met many photographers before the wedding, but Nischay and his team seemed like the natural fit for us as he had a passion for his work but also listened to our specific needs. They were a core part of our wedding and we couldn’t have been happier to work with such a professional, energetic and fun loving group. The photos and videos are beautiful and encapsulate a wonderful two days for us. Our decorators were Maharani Florists (Prateek Kyal) and Daver Decorators (Darius Daver). Working with them was amazing since they were patient and full of ideas which helped in creating the perfect setup. We are not experienced in this area, but they took initial concepts from us and delivered impeccable settings for our ceremonies. The make-up artist for all events was Nikita Vala. During the trial, Nikita patiently listened to all of Sweta’s style preferences. While some changes were made after finalizing the attire and jewellery, Nikita took those into account and was happy to make the day as stress-free as possible.”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
“We had two families from different cultures meeting for the first time, so we needed the right venue to make everyone feel relaxed. Therefore, for the mehndi, we had a very informal setting that brought in the diverse cultural elements while ensuring that people could talk, mix, dance and drink so the fun aspects of both families came to fore. We had a colorful and vibrant design concept in our head which Prateek delivered to perfection. We used elements such as colorful umbrellas and gota chakris combined with flower runners as part of the decor. The gazebo at the hotel was the ideal spot to place colorful divans and cushions for the mehndi artists. It was a wonderful evening and the perfect setting for us.”

Hindu Ceremony
“This was a traditional Malayali ceremony. While Indian flowers and colors decorated the stage, they were used to exude a contemporary feel. We wanted an amphitheater-type setting instead of the traditional mandap, and Daver Decorators helped us achieve that. They put up floral tassels and borders created using roses and carnation flowers. Darius and team were a joy to work with from start to end.”

Catholic Ceremony
“We wanted this ceremony to feel more intimate for which the area outside The Garden View room at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, was ideal, and we were also able to use it to have food and music inside till late at night. Prateek did an amazing job of turning a car park into a beautiful outdoor sea-facing setting. He and his team designed everything from start to finish be it the gorgeous arc against which we took our vows, an astroturf walkway, and beautiful flower centerpieces across the venue. We could not recommend them highly enough. After the service we all moved inside for speeches and dancing until the early hours of the morning.”

Advice for Couples
“It may not be the first thing you think of when planning a wedding but being organized is very important. So make notes, write down all points and take as much input from close family and friends as possible without changing your wishes for the day. The key thing to remember is this is your day and don’t worry if little things go wrong. When things that you weren’t expecting happen, embrace it, laugh and continue to enjoy the day. A year after your wedding you will only remember the perfect things so don’t get hung up on small problems!”

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Hotel Marine Plaza, Mumbai (Mehndi), Taj Lands End, Mumbai (Hindu Ceremony, Catholic Ceremony)
Decor: Maharani Florists (Mehndi and Catholic Ceremony) and Daver Decorators (Hindu Ceremony)
Bride’s Outfits: Nalli (Hindu Ceremony), Roopkala (Post Hindu Ceremony)
Groom’s Outfit: Manyavar(Post Hindu Ceremony)
Makeup Artist: Nikita Vala

Photography:  Reflexion by Nishchay Shinde

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