Viyomi and Sahil, Mumbai

Elegant and joyous, Viyomi Shah, Head of Strategic Partnerships at XP-Pen India, and Sahil Shah, Director at Ramson India’s wedding by the Arabian Sea was momentous as they celebrated their union surrounded by their loved ones. Hosted at the luxurious Taj Lands End, Mumbai the wedding included picture-perfect moments with the gentle sea waves frothing in the background. WeddingSutra Favorite – ANB Weddings with their remarkable planning skills, ensured that the couple’s dream came true and efficiently crafted a wedding fit for the storybooks!

How They Met
Viyomi shares, “We met each other in 2011 at college. Pretty soon we struck up a friendship and became best friends as we studied math together. Gradually our friendship transformed into love and we started dating!”

The Proposal
Viyomi recollects, “Sahil proposed to me at the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad and it was a complete surprise for me! He had been planning it for months with my sister and best friend. He came to my home at 7 in the morning with a bouquet of flowers accompanied by his sister. My sister came along too and after insisting that she tell me what was happening, she told me that since its Independence Day, the ferry from Gateway of India to Alibaug was shut and that we had to go towards Goregaon to catch it. Next we reached the airport where both our sisters bid us farewell! Sahil wanted to keep everything a big surprise so he didn’t even show me the boarding tickets. I realized we were going to Hyderabad only when we were about to board! On the plane, he asked me to guess where were going and the first thing I said was Falaknuma! However, he hoodwinked me by saying that he tried to make a booking at the hotel but was unsuccessful. We did some sightseeing for a bit, post which he booked an Uber and instructed the driver not to reveal the location.

We reached Taj Falaknuma Palace where we were treated to the grandest welcome! A horse carriage came to pick us up, we had a flower shower and then a tour of the palace. They even made us a drink at the Nizam’s own bar while we played billiards. Finally in the evening, they escorted us to a private table at the balcony which overlooked the whole city. We had a lovely high tea and he finally popped the question. It was one of the most magical moments of my life!

Wedding Venue
For the wedding, the couple was originally keen on hosting all the events at Taj Lands End, Mumbai as they were impressed by its impeccable hospitality. But with the pandemic’s first wave colliding with their plans, they swiftly decided to host only their wedding at the plush hotel. Viyomi shares, “We always wanted an outdoor wedding and had our hearts set on Taj Lands End a whole year prior to the wedding date. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, we couldn’t adhere to our plans of hosting all our wedding functions there but we were still intent on having this beautiful hotel as part of our wedding venue.”

Wedding Planning
Planning a wedding during the pandemic is undoubtedly a hectic process but with the right team in tow, it’s a no-brainer! To helm their wedding squad the duo chose ANB Weddings and Events who unhesitatingly walked the extra mile to ensure the bride’s vision came to life. Viyomi shares, “Working with ANB Wedding and Events was such a wonderful experience. They were very tuned to the way weddings were done at Taj which was perfect for us as they understood our brief clearly. Their team supported us through every aspect right from booking rooms for the family and guests to all negotiations, setting the menu and to brainstorming with us while coordinating with the decorator. We would happily work with them again!”

Weddings Functions

Bridal Shower
Hosted under the open sky, the bridal shower was a breezy affair where the bride and groom enjoyed a scrumptious meal with their family and friends. Dressed in a blue gown, Viyomi glowed while Sahil looked dapper in a suit.

Bride’s Mehndi
Swathed in myriad colors and hosted at one of Taj Land Ends’ sunlit terraces, the bride’s Mehndi exuded girly, carefree vibes. With a short guest list of close family and friends, Viyomi and her gal pals had a blast as they took in the stunning views of the golden shore while getting henna patterned on their palms.

Groom’s Mehndi and Grah Shanti
Similar to the other pre-wedding events, the groom’s Mehndi and grah shanti was also a close-knit event where Sahil celebrated with his loved ones. Swathed in shades of mint blue and yellow, it was a breezy event where Sahil and his loved ones enjoyed an evening of dance under the dark sky.

Lagan Lakhvanu
A Gujarati ritual where the first official wedding invite is written, Viyomi’s lagan lakhvanu was hosted at the bride’s home. Minimalistic and fresh, the home was decked up in bright orange and yellow marigolds that were perfectly in step with the bride’s delicate yellow lehenga!

For the groom’s lagan lakhvanu, Sahil donned a festive peach kurta with a colorfully printed vest as he celebrated the auspicious occasion with his family.

Mandap Mahurat
An auspicious ceremony where permission is sought from Mother Earth to build a mandap, the couple’s Mandap Mahurat ceremony was a simple one where their parents prayed to the deities. Cheerful as ever, the couple made the most of this occasion by reveling with their family once the rituals were done.

Wedding
Dotted with pink blooms, pampas grass and a flashy neon sign that proclaimed, ‘Better Together’, the wedding was punctuated by laughter and romance! However, the highlight of the wedding was the gorgeous open-air acrylic pillared wedding mandap with a white-hued floral roof. Describing the little bespoke elements added to the decor, the bride shares, “We wanted a lot of custom personalization. Hence, on each of the tables, we placed a frame which depicted a fact about Sahil and me.” For her bridal entry, Viyomi surprised Sahil by executing a stunning dance performance which left him and all others present bedazzled! For every bride, her wedding lehenga is the most crucial outfit. Knowing this, Viyomi carefully chose hers. She shares, “For me, the lehenga was love at first sight! I visited many stores but hit gold at the Shyamal and Bhumika store. In fact, this was just the second lehenga that I tried on there!”

For the after-party, the couple celebrated indoors where it was Sahil who turned heads with a stunning surprise performance that he performed with his sister.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Gallops Restaurant, Mumbai (Bridal Shower); The Jade Garden, Mumbai (Groom’s Mehndi and Grah Shanti); Taj Lands End, Mumbai (Bride’s Mehndi, Mandap Mahurat, Wedding)
Wedding Planner: ANB Weddings and Events
Décor: Fleuron & Co (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Govinda Mehta (Groom’s Mehndi, Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Julie (Bridal Shower), Shyamal & Bhumika (Bride’s Mehndi, Wedding), Peppermint Diva (Lagan Lakhvanu, Mandap Mahurat)
Jewelry: Jaipur Gems (Mandap mahurat)
Makeup: Falguni Shah Makeup Artist (Bride’s Mehndi, Mandap mahurat, Lagan Lakhvanu), Priya Todarwal (Wedding)
Photography: The Soul Stories

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