Pink & Gold Themed Wedding
This Mumbai wedding story is about the girl next door. Yes, our beautiful bride Ekta & our handsome groom Gaurav have been neighbours. After countless dates, the two had a grand wedding in Mumbai. Inspired by Sonam Kapoor’s wedding looks, our bride ditched traditional red & went for a classy royal blue lehenga for her wedding. Not only her bridal look was fabulous but her dazzling Mehendi look grabbed all the attention.
Meet Ekta & Gaurav
How we met:
“As far as first-meeting stories go, ours could get no better! They say if two people are meant for each other, they will always find their way back to each other. We’ve been neighbours for the longest of time and there were some sparks back in 2009 but the immature kids in us let things slide.
We lived our own separate lives leading our own journeys without realizing that in 2015, our destination was the same. With no communication for 6 years, it was almost impossible to rekindle anything. But despite the years that passed by, it was hard not to fall for each other.”
“It all started through walking past each other in the colony, hearing about each other through neighbours and the building events where we would bump into each other, not speak and yet feel that something is there and the candle was still burning. We then went on multiple dates where most of the time it was him forcefully taking me to places he doesn’t enjoy like Movie Theaters, Carter Road, Japanese restaurants but still we couldn’t get enough of each other.
After countless dates, he finally proposed to me in 2016 and it just felt right, nothing could stop it and it was so natural. I’ve always dreamt of my perfect wedding but he was what made it perfect. It’s funny how we lived right across each other for the longest time, but never ever imagined that we would get married one day. We fight a lot and we annoy each other every day, but we are best friends and we are one family and that’s all that matters.”
“Gaurav and I faced a lot of situational challenges in the relationship from the get-go, but the love we felt for each other never let anything deter from building a life together.
He will always be my Guapa (handsome) and ill always be his Chica (young women) ❤❤”- says the bride.
“I had a colorful and very intimate mehndi function at Four Points by Sheraton. Since it was a low-key event, it was only attended by immediate family members who made the occasion even more special by showering me with blessings.
I was really excited to wear a colorful lehenga for my Mehendi function which was designed by Mohini Chabria (@mohinichabria) and it also matched the theme of the décor that my best friend Sneha Karamchandani has planned for the function. The entire décor was done by her, I just told her that I want something different and
simple & I knew I would get the best as she is someone who is very creative.”
Mehendi
“To speak about the décor, I was looking for something different, simple, and which was somewhat like a DIY. At the entrance, we kept a cycle that was wrapped with genda phool flowers and had a couple of pinwheels. At the back seat of the cycle, we had kept a tray filled with bindi where each guest could pick and choose the bindi they liked. The backdrop had multi-colored tassels along with parrots which were made from paper and a board which said “Dulhaniya”.
Each table had a recycled bottled which was painted in different colors and had two pinwheels along with a parrot. We had a couple of mini shamiyanas which were used for the guests to apply Mehendi. Each shamiyana had yellow and green drapes with some genda phool along with a kite-shaped hanging. We also called for a guy who would do live making of bangles for each guest while the function was on.”
“Mehendi: Neha Gandhi (@nehamehendiii) – Neha is one of the best Mehendi artists I have come across. I did not have to think twice before even booking her for my big day. She is a very humble and sweet young girl who is very passionate about her work. I am someone who is very picky when it comes to Mehendi, as I love proper Indian style designs which means the designs needs to be clean and intricate. She just knew what I wanted and my Mehendi turned out to be more than what I expected.
The idea behind my Mehendi design was to design the bride and groom outfits on it and that is exactly what she did. If you have a look at my outfit and my Mehendi design the kallies of my lehenga has been designed as my Mehendi as well. The same goes with the groom’s outfit. I also wanted writing which said Mr.Right and Mrs. Always Right.”
“A night full of fun and dance is what the Sangeet ceremony was with performances from friends, bride and groom, and family.”
Engagement
“For the sangeet outfit, Instead of the regular lehenga, I opted for a contemporary mango yellow and gold mirror with a touch of white pearl gown which was designed by my personal designer Mahendra based in Breach Candy. The gown was an inspiration from Papa Don’t Preach. The jewelry that I opted was a gold choker that had a floral design on it and a pearl hanging paired with the same design earrings as well.”
“My husband Gaurav Panjabi, decided to wear an indo-western outfit which was teal in color along with bronze birds on it. The theme that we decided to go with a ‘Glitz n Glam’ theme which was gold and black them. We had the entry with yellow ferry lights along with gold drapes and a cherry blossoms hangings which gave the effect of yellow/gold.”
“From the time I got to know I was going to get married, I knew that I did not want the usual red color lehenga for my pheras. Royal blue which is my favorite is color that is the color that I wanted for my pheras and that is exactly what I chose. My royal blue lehenga is an inspiration from Sonam Kapoor. I knew that I wanted different designs in each kalli along with a gold word and two dupattas. One was dust pink and the other was blue. I wore a complete bright gold set that had a long neckpiece and earrings and paired it with a maang tikka. I wanted my makeup to be simple yet delicate and tied my hair into a floral bun.
Gaurav wore a beige sherwani which had a matching gold embroidery to mine along with a gold headgear that matched my outfit as well. The theme that we decided for our wedding was pink with gold. We decided to have
cherry blossom trees with hanging chandeliers and genda phool.”- says the bride.
Wedding
” I chose a very edgy blazing red gown by Jay Kumar Makhija which had a giant off-shoulder gown, crinkled elements along with a long trail from the back. It was a fitting ensemble for the finale event of the wedding celebrations. I paired the gown with a diamond necklace, dangling earrings. Gaurav wore a checks blazer which was designed by Primaczar which paired well with my red gown.”- says the bride.
Reception
The Most Fun Part Of Our Wedding Day
“For us, every function was a fun day. It made us create the best memories with each and every member of the family from friends to cousins, to kids.”- says the bride.
One Piece Of Advice Or A Quick Tip To Other Brides-To-Be
Each marriage is unique and beautiful in its own way. I would like to tell brides-to-be to enjoy every bit of it all – the shopping, pampering sessions, going for trials, and so on. Your wedding really is a once in a lifetime experience, so make the most of it. Stress comes and goes but don’t let it get the better of you. Plan well in advance, make notes, research well, and try and do the running around with loved ones as it also lets you spend some good time with them.
Don’t forget to involve your partner in all the planning as you’re doing something special for each other. Marriage is a joy. It’s not an easy thing, but in that lies the beauty of it. Enjoy the journey, and never stop learning!”- says the bride.
Wedding Venue
Engagement: Natraj Gardens
Mehendi: Four Points by Sheraton, Vashi
Wedding & Reception: Imperial Banquets, Vashi
(Neha who is the owner of Imperial banquets was a sweetheart. )
Photographer & Videographer: ahandcraftedfilm
Engagement
Makeup: makeupbyrheanagpal
Hair: hairbyanishanagpal
Jewelry: Family Jeweller
Outfit: Papa Don’t Preach By Shubhika
Engagement Ring: Preetidiamondjewellery_
Mehendi
Outfit: mohinichabria
Earrings: kraftedwithhappiness
Mehndi: nehamehendiii
Wedding
Hair: hairbyanishanagpal
Outfit: Jayanti Reddy
Jewelry: Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri
Reception
(Jewelry: From a vendor in Bhuleshwar Market. My pro-sister-in-law is the one I am going to thank her for this. She is someone who loves perfectionist and the most creative women I have known.)- says the bride.
Groom Outfits
Engagement: Telonmen
Mehendi: korabynileshmitesh
Wedding: Korabynileshmitesh
Reception: primaczar