Esha Deol’s Temple Wedding

Jun 29, 2012 Celebrity Wedding Pictures

Hema Malini’s daughter Esha tied the knot with Sindhi Jeweller Bharat Takhtani at the ISKCON Temple in Juhu. The wedding was conducted as per South Indian traditions, the decor was in orange and green, and a host of carnatic musicians performed while the couple engaged in the rituals over three hours. Father Dharmendra looked very happy while Hema Malini and her two daughters glowed in kanjeevaram sarees and yellow gold jewellery.

Govinda, the restaurant run by ISKCON Temple dished out a spread of their mouth-watering vegetarian delicacies. The menu for the breakfast included idli, mini-uttapams and pongal. There was a chaat counter and the lunch spread was North Indian. The desserts included Malai Kulfi and Ras Malai, there were also sweets from Shree Gangour, who are most popular among Bollywood superstars.

A host of luminaries from the world of bollywood, business and politics were there . Amitabh Bachchan came with son Abhishek. Nita Ambani was accompanied by her sister and mother-in-law Kokilaben Ambani. BJP leader Nitin Gadkari and Jaywantiben Mehta. Guests were given a beautifully made silk batwa containing coconut and beetle leaves (the traditional give-away at auspicious occasions in South India), sandal wood incense sticks and wedding savories & sweets like Adirsam (made of jaggery), Mysore Pak and Murku prepared by A.S. Rajashekar, a Mumbai caterer popular for South Indian catering. The guests also received a booklet titled ‘Make your Home a Temple: Living a Divine Married Life’ specially penned by His Holiness Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji to celebrate the divine union of Esha & Bharat.

Hema Malini’s cousin Actress Madhoo Shah

Dharmendra welcomes the groom

Mother-daughter duo designers Neeta and Nishka Lulla

Father of the Bride with Wedding Planner Shailesh Gandhi(Discovery Events)

Inside the Traditional, Star Studded Wedding click here to see more photographs

Photographs by DKreate Photography (for Discovery Events)

Tags: Discovery Events, Esha Deol, ISKCON Temple, wedding

Esha & Bharat’s Mehendi Party

Jun 28, 2012 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for, Celebrity Wedding Pictures

Esha Deol’s Mehendi Party was a fun-filled affair at Royalty in Bandra, the lounge owned by Shilpa Shetty. Before the party, Bollywood’s favorite Mehendi Artist Veena Nagda visited Hema Malini’s Bunglow in Juhu to decorate the bride’s hands. Salman Khan was present at the Mehendi party and so were many A-list stars. Esha wore a mango-color lehenga choli designed by Neeta Lulla. Bharat wore a yellow and brown sherwani with a waistcoat. A DJ and musical group belted hits for the guests who danced till the wee hours of morning. The food was prepared by a prominent caterer well known for his Punjabi specialities.

The decor was traditional Indian, with lots of white flowers, incense and diyas.

Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani with his brother Devesh who studies in the US. And Esha’s sister Ahana

Photographs courtesy: DKreate Photography (for Discovery Events)

Tags: Bharat Takhtani, Discovery Events, Esha Deol, Mehendi Party

Hema Malini plays gracious host at daughter’s Sangeet

Jun 26, 2012 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for, Celebrity Wedding Pictures

Esha Deol and Jeweller Bharat Thakhtani’s fun-filled Sangeet was held at The Lalit in Andheri (East) Mumbai. Everyone had a gala time watching family and friends on stage. Bharat made a grand entry to the song Jumma Chumma, and later family and friends danced to popular numbers like Tauba Tauba, Dhoom Macha De, Yamla Pagla Deewana and Dream Girl.

The over 500 guests digged into the lavish spread prepared by the chefs at the Lalit- the counters included Goan, Chaat, Thai, Indian and Jain. The dessert spread was equally lavish- Indian mithais, cakes and pastries, the Turkish Baklava was a big hit.

The theme of the decor was red-and-black, with a retro touch and flashing disco balls. Esha wore a traditional ghagra choli in orange, red and indigo designed by Rocky S. Bharat wore a blue velvet sherwani with gold zari work designed by his close friend Simone Khambatta.

Esha’s sister Ahana Deol, Abhay Deol

Genelia and Riteish

The Wedding was managed by Discovery Events.

To see more photos click here

Photographs courtesy : DKreate Photography , Krunal Shah

Tags: Bharat Takhtani, Discovery Events, Esha Deol, Sangeet

Brides want a ‘Fresh’ look

Jun 25, 2012 Fashion & Bridal Wear

Interior designer, star wife and Hrithik Roshan’s mother-in-law, Zarine Khan belongs to a well-known family in Bollywood and is also known for her talents in the creative sphere. Recently, Zarine Khan set up ‘Fizaa’, the multi-designer store to retail creations of young and well-known designers.

WeddingSutra spoke to Zarine Khan about ‘Fizaa’ which is located in the premises of Sanjay Plaza, the Khan’s sprawling home in Juhu, Mumbai.

Fashion- my first love
Though my first venture and business was in interior design, fashion was my first love. I always dreamt of opening a clothes store one day. Fizaa is named after my grand-daughter (daughter Farah Khan Ali’s daughter). I made the switch because I was looking forward to a change and Fizaa seemed like the perfect change. I will of course continue to dabble in home and commercial interiors.

New talent @ Fizaa
At Fizaa, I have made special efforts to stock merchandise of young designers. We have a variety of wear- casual, resort, occasion and bridals. And accessories too!

Some of the newer designers whose creations we stock and for who we have received a hugely encouraging response include Anushree Reddy from Hyderabad, Aneehka by Anika Churiwala, Shimmer by Seema and Jamila and Ramona Narang. Among the established ones, Anju Modi, Gauri and Nainika, Varun Bahl, Maanav Gangwani and Ritu Beri.

What Brides want
Today most Brides have very sophisticated tastes, and they want a ‘fresh’ look. For Trousseaus, they are more interested in experimenting with newer designers instead of sticking to established names.

Multi-designer stores
Earlier, those looking for occasion wear would visit individual designer stores. Today, they want to see different designs & styles in one space. With this new sensibility, multi-designer stores will be in a much better position to cater to the buyers needs.

Why Bollywood wives don’t venture into Wedding Planning
Many Bollywood wives have made a mark in interior design, fashion and accessories. They of course have an edge, because they get to travel to the most beautiful places and get to meet and interact with the most stylish people. One of the reasons, why they don’t venture into event & wedding planning, is because it’s difficult for them to get involved in a project that involves micro-management. Of course they all enjoy planning and executing their personal events— be it a special celebration or their loved ones wedding. Like every other mother for whom it is a matter of special joy!

Diva of Decor
I had no formal training in interior designing. I got into it because I felt I had the taste and instincts. When I started out, the field was dominated by men. I started out by redesigning my own home. Soon an offer came in from actor Manoj Kumar who wanted me to redesign one of the rooms in his home. The word just spread and I landed assignments with more stars like Hema Malini, Raj Kapoor and other film personalities. After which I was fortunate to bag assignments with some corporate houses and hospitality majors. And then there was no looking back.

Tags: Fizaa, Store, Zarina Khan

Hema Malini sends out Wedding Invites

Jun 21, 2012 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for

Hema Malini’s daughter is tying the knot and B-town is eagerly looking forward to the wedding. Esha Deol and Bharat Takhtani’s wedding card, designed by Mumbai’s famed invitation card company Multi Creation features Radha-Krishna paintings. The inserts for the different functions are placed in an exclusive re-usable gold color box, and have been delivered with delicious dry fruit ladoos. The bag in which the ladoos and invitations box are kept features the couple’s wedding logo- the Lotus with their initials.

The celebrations to be held at different venues commence next week. Hema Malini is of course most busy with the wedding preparations, which are being managed by Shailesh Gandhi of Discovery Events.

Tags: Bharat Takhtani, Daughter, Esha Deol, Hema Malini, Multi Creation, Shailesh Gandhi, wedding, Wedding Invite

Piramal Wedding at Island Nation Mauritius

Jun 21, 2012 Celeb Weddings to Watch out for

Two high profile weddings are taking place in the land of pristine beaches and picturesque landscapes. Both the weddings are managed by two of India’s biggest wedding management companies. E-Factor are managing the big, fat wedding hosted by Delhi-based business tycoons Agarwals. And Percept D’Mark are the Wedding Planners for industrialists Piramals. Nandan, the scion of the Ashok Piramal family heads the entertainment and sports business at the Ashok Piramal Group, and is the brain behind setting up the Pune Football Club. He is marrying Anjali Naik, a Finance Professional from a prominent South Mumbai family, their 3-day intimate wedding is at The InterContinental Mauritius- located on one of the most pristine stretches of beach overlooking the Bay of Balaclava.

The Grand Mauritian owned by Indian tycoon Kiran Uttamchandani, the InterContinental and Maritim, all located in the northern part of the island, have made a lot of efforts to woo the high-spending Indian wedding population since 2010. According to Mauritius based designer Kiran Gidwani Tolaram many high profile Indian families would love to host a spectacular wedding in Mauritius, but there are several limitations too. “Most resorts don’t have a large ballroom, and the unpredictable weather means all functions cannot be held by the beach or on the lawns. But in the recent years a few resorts have set up big ballrooms, and invested in Marketing offices in India to target the Indian wedding market.” Kiran, who is originally from Mumbai got married to Anup Tolaram, a Mauritius based businessman in Thailand, simply because it was so much easier to organise an Indian wedding there. “When it comes to Indian food quality and service standards, Thailand’s resorts are par excellence. If you have to organise an Indian wedding in Mauritius, and you’re looking for the best, the only option is to fly down chefs and the kitchen team from India; an excellent Wedding Planner is also a must-have”, she explains. In fact, she herself is toying with the idea of setting up a Wedding Planning firm to exclusively cater to Indian Weddings. “But I need to spend some more time researching the market before I take the plunge. There’s no business like Weddings business, but its far too challenging to manage wedding clients demands and expectations.”

Wedding management may be a stressful affair, but with a wedding in Mauritius the hosts and planners can breathe easy, after all, the Mauritian air is considered the second best in the world.

Tags: grand mauritian, InterContinental, Maritim, Mauritius, Weddings

Taj West End reminds guests of the old Bangalore

Jun 20, 2012 Taj Hotels Resorts Palaces

The Taj West End is a lush property in the middle of bustling Bangalore. The landmark hotel located next to the Golf Club and across the Turf Club offers the real flavor of Bangalore with gardens being intrinsic to the overall experience. Divya Chauhan and Vithika Agarwal who run Bangalore-based Divya Vithika Wedding Planners spoke to Sanjay Sood, General Manager of Taj West End to know more the property and how they create events to delight couples!

Sanjay Sood, Vithika (centre) and Divya (right)

What makes the Taj West End so special?
The history, heritage and the whole environ the landmark hotel is set in. It’s a private sanctuary, in the middle of the city, a place where you can unwind in the natural environment. It reminds people of the old Bangalore, the green Bangalore. There are enough venues within the hotel where guests can have different experiences without stepping out- like the spa or nature works. But most importantly, it has an ambience where you feel totally relaxed.

How many weddings do you host every year?
On an average we host around six weddings a month, so about sixty to seventy weddings a year. The weddings range from small gatherings to grand scale ones (maximum 500 hundred guests). The most preferred venues are the Ballroom and the Princess of Wales lawns.

Tell us more about your clientele
A lot are from Bangalore, many NRIs and some from other places all over India. Usually it is the people who have some kind of relationship with Bangalore. Those who want to renew their emotional connect with the city and explore the heritage.

Another factor that gives us the edge is our long innings. The parents who got married here want their children to start their married life here as well– carrying the good luck forward.

Food and cuisine, how is the offering from The Taj different?
Taj is associated with royalty so our menu and cuisine integrate this philosophy. We offer a wide variety depending upon the theme. The most popular are the cuisine of the royal palaces.

For weddings, there are a lot of region-specific requirements and must-haves and must-avoids. So our chefs make all the efforts to keep every single requirement of a client into consideration.

What are the other services that Taj offers apart from catering?
We have a dedicated team which arranges for interactions with other vendors like local designers, wedding planners, mehendi artists, band organizers. We also plan tours, activities outside the hotel if the guests have free time on hand. So we try to give them an experience, rather than just a comfortable stay.

What budget should clients keep in mind if they’re planning a wedding at a premier property like yours?
It depends on the season and the vendors you have tied up with. But typically a room costs between 250 -350 USD and catering ranges between 50-100 and sometimes 150 USD. But we develop customized packages. The sales team sits with the client, understands their requirements to build a package to suit their budget.

Clients should get in touch with us, depending on when they are getting married. Usually, December weddings are booked almost a year in advance.

Do the clients have to work with your preferred vendors or they can have their own set of people?
Of course they can. We do not interfere with that process. But any new vendors have to agree to the rules and regulations especially while putting up the decorations, flowers, fabrics etc. We make sure that they work in tandem with our team so there is no miscommunication

Do you have restrictions like no-baraat on the premises?
Yes, we do because we do not want our other guests to be disturbed. We do help in organization of the baraat outside the hotel. And also provide carriages, cars or other assistance for the groom and party when they enter the premises to reach the specific lawn or venue.

You have to do a balancing act between business clients and wedding clients. How do you manage the delicate balance?
Some people have a misconception (from the look and feel of our property) that we are not a business hotel. But in reality, we have a lot of business travelers who prefer to stay in a quaint place like ours. We keep two blocks reserved for the corporate clients so that they can stay peacefully and have their privacy even when a wedding is going on in the premises.

We have talked a lot about the property, now we’d like to know a little about you.
Well, it has been a fantastic journey—I’ve been with the Taj for 26 years. I’ve been married since 16 years and I have two beautiful daughters. In my long stint with the group, I have worked all over India- Kolkata, Bombay, Chennai and now Bangalore. The best part of working with The Taj is that you develop a lifelong relationship with the organization.

Photographs courtesy- Joseph Cairns, joseph@depthoffield.co.in

Cricketer Michael Clarke weds@ Wolgan Valley

Jun 18, 2012 Celebrity Wedding Pictures

Australian cricketer Michael Clarke wed Kyly Boldy on May 15. The couple chose a very special and unique locale for their intimate wedding ceremony- the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa (an Emirates property) in the Blue Mountains, Australia. “We are extremely happy. Our day couldn’t have been more perfect.” said Kyly and Michael.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is considered one of Australia’s most environmentally responsible luxury properties- it is set amidst the stunning scenery of the rugged Greater Blue Mountains. The spa resort is built within its own private conservation and nature reserve. There are 40 free-standing luxury suites, each with its own private terrace and swimming pool.

Heritage Suite

Outdoor Dining table Setup

Wolgan Valley

Tags: Kyly Boldy, Michael Clarke, wedding, Wolgan Valley

The Hero and his real life Heroine

Jun 16, 2012 Celebrity Wedding Pictures, Wedding Photographers

Film courtesy
Joseph Radhik Films
www.josephradhik.com

Tags: Joseph Radhik, Ram Charan, Upasana Kamineni, Wedding Film

Mystical Moments- Ayesha & Nizar’s Wedding in Bangkok

Jun 13, 2012 Wedding People & Planners, Wedding Photographers

Nizar Wattad and Ayesha Hashmi’s wedding festivities in Bangkok were a 3 day fun-filled affair. Nizar is a well-known Palestinian rapper, hip hop producer and screenwriter based in the US. Ayesha is a Hindu-Muslim, who grew up in Bangkok and later moved to work in the US. The celebration with over 200 family members, relatives and friends was held at a tranquil haven in the vivacious city- Plaza Athenee in Bangkok.

Ayesha and Nizar are very charming and have loads of charisma. So naturally, the sangeet ceremony of the uber creative couple was a special affair. The talented groom added his personal touch to the sangeet celebrations, with fusion-rap performances- he and his friends renowned rappers Yassin Alsalman (popularly known as the The Narcicyst) and Omar Offendum performed three rap songs, to receive a thunderous applause from all the guests.

The wedding was planned to perfection by Viji and Khalid Hashim (Ayesha’s parents) and managed by Bangkok-based Keeran Baweja who runs ‘Weddings by Keeran’. The celebrations included a Welcome Dinner on a River Cruise, and a Grand Reception with performances by Bangkok’s must-see attractions like the Puppet Show and Thousand Hands.

Wedding Film courtesy- Doodle Studio (Malaysia)
Website: www.doodlestudio.my

Tags: Ayesha Hashmi, Bangkok, Doodle Studio, Keeran Baweja, Nizar Wattad, Plaza Athenee, wedding