Big Fat Indian Wedding in Bangkok
Pune business tycoon Suniel Mutha organised the most wow wedding for his son in Macau. After the magnificent celebration there, it was time to organise his daughter Shweta’s wedding to US based Mukul Bafana. This time Mutha’s job was easier, since he was an expert on weddings thanks to the eleven months spent planning his son’s wedding. This time for Shweta’s wedding, he spent four months.

Malaysia, Bali or Bangkok
Mutha flew to several destinations to check venues for his daughter’s wedding. Besides visiting Koh Samui and Hua Hin in Thailand, he visited Istanbul, Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. He felt there would be too little for his guests to do in Malaysia, and Bali because of the time it took to get to the Indonesian island. Mutha settled on Bangkok for its cultural cluster of museums and temples—and good shopping close to the Intercontinental where the wedding took place.

Mutha flew in the same caterers (Bhagwati Caterers) who prepared the fabulous food for his son’s wedding in Macau. And so, big containers of lentils, spices and special cooking utensils were shipped from India two weeks before the big event. Every day during the wedding, a variety of fresh desserts were flown in, along with an ample supply of paneer (the chefs in Thailand were unsuccessful in creating an equally good cottage cheese)

The bride and groom’s party arrived in Bangkok in great style. In a procession of BMWs and luxury coaches surrounded by cop bikers with 100 watt sirens. Ahmedabad-based Red Events managed the whole affair—with support from over twenty agencies and over sixty performers flown in from India. On the role of Red Events and wedding planners, Mutha was quoted in a newspaper interview: “What is different with organizing weddings as compared to other events is that the event management firm plays the role of a close family member”. He was obviously most elated with their services.

The five day extravaganza included all the traditional rituals-- Mehndi, Sangeet, Kum Kum, Baraat swagath, sagai, traditional baraat procession, pheras and bidaai ceremony. A theme party was organised every evening, and during the lunches, the guests were entertained by stand-up comedians or local artists.

The entertainers and musicians flown in from India included Bollywood singers Rahul Vaidya, Akruti Kakar and Vishal-Shekhar, Sufi singer Raja Hassan and dancers Shweta Salve and Anita Hassandani. Udaya Saha choreographed the performances by all the family members.

“It was my dream to get my children married like a prince and a princess. After the fabulous arrangements of my son’s wedding in Macau last year, my guests correctly anticipated that Shweta’s wedding would be even bigger. Red Events made mine and my wife’ dream come true”, said Suniel Mutha. He was very happy with Bangkok as the choice wedding venue too: “Bangkok is a perfect crossroad between the east and the west— the perfect symbol of the unifying power of love. The East and the West, ancient and modern, land and water, masculine and feminine– Bangkok marries them all”.