Upasana and Siddharth, The Leela Raviz Kovalam, Kerala
Yellow outfits, mundu, sarees, gowns, suits and even pajamas - guests changed as many looks as the couple at this fun wedding!
When two distinct cultures celebrate their union in a way that acknowledges both backgrounds, it is the sweetest reminder that love trumps all differences. Upasana and Siddharth’s love story culminated in a wedding that spanned 8 events at the breathtaking oceanfront property of The Leela Raviz Kovalam, truly a celebration of a lifetime designed and executed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Krafted Knots.
In a candid conversation, the bride shares the highlights of their big day.
How They Met
“We met via mutual friends about five years ago and then went our individual ways. Two years ago he logged on to Facebook and wished me on my birthday. The connection was made for good. I am a Marwadi and he is a Malayali and so we did face a few hurdles but eventually the strength of our bond brought our families together.”
Proposal
“The proposal happened after the wedding was finalized but it was an adorable gesture. We were getting lunch before I left on my bachelorette trip. He said he’d come pick me up and asked me to dress in a certain way – something he’d never usually do. I had a lot going on though so I didn’t pay any attention to what the subtext was. I assumed we were going to one of our usual places but we passed them one by one. Finally, we arrived at the Conrad Bangalore! He’d booked a private cabana at their poolside restaurant. He led me there and then excused himself, only to return in a few minutes. When I looked up, he was already on one knee, ring in hand, asking me to marry him.”
Wedding Venue
“I’ve lived in Southern India my entire life and since Siddharth is Malayali we were sure we wanted to get married somewhere in the region and what’s better than Kerala? We looked at a few properties but we got such positive vibes from The Leela Raviz Kovalam that we knew this place was ‘The One’.”
Wedding Planning
“We were clear about what we wanted and Krafted Knots executed every minute detail to perfection. As a little girl, I’d always imagine my wedding to be a certain way and they made that little girl’s dreams come true! Décor, menu, venue – they helped us manage it all. Thanks to them our wedding was a wonderful experience! We are truly in awe of their patience, professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail.
I Don’t Say Cheese By Gaurav Gupta was our photography team and they captured our wedding perfectly, giving us memories for a lifetime. The team went above and beyond to capture every emotion, smile, and tear. With their pictures, we are sure we will be able to relive those days each time we open the album.
Ralph Daniels was my makeup artist and he did a fabulous job with all my looks!”
Wedding Functions
Welcome Dinner
“Siddharth and I really wanted a sit-down dinner for one of the functions which was a tough task with the large gathering we’d invited. So, a night before everyone arrived, a few family members and friends from both sides got together for a sit-down dinner and toasts. It was an intimate evening and as we made our entrance our loved ones lined up on either side to light our path with sparklers. The décor was beautiful, set up with lots of fairy lights and a huge square table with seating.”
Mehndi
“With it’s Hawaiian Affair’ theme, this function by the pool was decked in floral elements, colorful drapes, and pineapple centerpieces to bring in a tropical vibe. This was a casual and fun welcome event with lots of activities like caricature drawing, foot massages and of course mehendi.”
Sangeet
“A sky full of stars, sparkling fairy lights wrapped around the trees and rustic décor brought our sangeet to life. The photo booth was made of planks of wood decorated with lights, flowers as well as a gramophone and typewriter. We had lots of fun dancing and Shane Hyrapiet made sure all our guests were on their feet, singing along to his tunes throughout.”
After-Party
“The dancing continued at the after-party with its pajama dress-code. I loved the way we entered this event! We were rolled in on a luggage trolley decorated with balloons and our first sight was our loved ones jamming in their jammies! A camping inspired photo booth was the highlight of the décor.”
Haldi
“Our Haldi was all shades of sunlight and our guests were like rays of sunshine themselves in their yellow outfits. It just added to the exuberance. The venue, by the sea, was beautiful and so we kept the décor simple. Our loved ones had a blast smearing us with haldi and showering us with flower petals.”
Sadhya
“With a groom from God’s Own Country and a wedding in Kerala, a traditional sadhya was a must-have. Our guests showed up in sarees and mundu. The décor was beautifully traditional featuring marigolds and fragrant rajnigandhas. We even had someone dressed as a Kathakali dancer at the entrance to greet our guests.”
Wedding
“Our wedding setup on the beach was absolutely breathtaking! The mandap was crafted using branches and roses in pastel hues through which you had mesmerizing views of the sea. Siddharth arrived with a baraat dancing to the ‘Sringaramelam’ while I walked in with my brothers under a phoolon ki chaadar, dressed in a red Sabyasachi lehenga. The varmala, as well as pheras, were timed to perfection, in synch with the sunset. The sky was filled with beautiful hues that shone light on all of us at the perfect moment.”
Reception
“For our reception, the men were in suits and tuxes, the women, gorgeous in gowns. The color scheme for the decor was red and black and the setup was soaked in the warm glow of the chandeliers. It was a perfect end to our wedding festivities as everyone was up and dancing into the wee hours!”
Advice For Couples
“The most important thing to keep in mind is that this is the time to make memories and enjoy every second of everything because it will all be over before you know it.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Leela Raviz Kovalam, Kerala
Wedding Planner: Krafted Knots
Bride’s Outfits: Vaachi, Kolkata (Welcome Dinner), Nidhika Shekhar (Hawaiian Party), Dipali Shah, Kolkata (Sangeet), Vijayalakshmi, Bengaluru (Sadhya), Sabyasachi (Wedding), Paresh Lamba, Bengaluru (Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Hacket (Welcome Dinner), Paresh Lamba (Mehndi), Nine, Kolkata (Sangeet), Darshika, Paresh Lamba (Sadhya), Sabyasachi (Wedding) Paresh Lamba, Bengaluru (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Ralph Daniels
Entertainment: Shayne Hyrapiet
DJ: DJ Raman
Choreography: Anirudh & Gauri
Wedding Invitations: Tell Your Tale
Photography: I Don’t Say Cheese By Gaurav Gupta
