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This magical monsoon wedding at an organic farm was high on sustainability
Wedding Charity and Registry, Wedding Planning - May 19, 2020
What happens when a sustainable wedding planner ties the knot with a journalist who has an affinity for rural life and nature? Sejal and Kunal chose to wed in a tribal village, and a female priest conducted the ceremony as the couple’s loved ones blessed them in the midst of a monsoon downpour. Check out details of how the couple weaved in sustainability, style and simplicity on their special day.
Wedding Planning
When Sejal, who runs Shaadi Ityaadi, a wedding planning company focused on creating sustainable weddings, and Kunal, a journalist, started planning their nuptials, they knew they wanted an organic, intimate affair that would reflect their values.
After months of searching, they discovered their ideal venue online – a small eco-friendly property called Hide Out Farms, situated in the tribal village of Zadpoli that optimized sustainability to the maximum.
A family-run property, Hide Out – Organic Farms is integrated firmly into the rural ecosystem. Surrounded by fruit plantations, lush green trees and nature, the farm has an idyllic setting with homes featuring mud floors, thatched roofs and walls made of exposed bricks. The ecosystem that the farm ran on ticked off all the markers on Sejal’s list.
The sustainable setup and Sejal’s wedding planning experience was a perfect match. With palm leaves, jute containers and glass tumblers, the wedding eliminated the use of plastic completely. Even the limited invites they printed out were on plant seed papers with embedded marigold seeds. A mix of flowers from the farm and the local markets, along with string lights and candles were the only decor elements. The simplicity of the yellow, white and orange marigolds interspersed with red hibiscus and white frangipani blooms infused the venue with a sweet, natural fragrance. All the food was locally prepared, and the entire wedding crew came from the village as well. The team of Dsilva Films travelled to the farm to capture the lovely moments of this unique wedding.
Wedding Functions
Haldi
The haldi festivities took place amidst a downpour! The bride and groom were smeared with holy turmeric paste, after which the couple and their guests danced away all morning in the rain.
Cocktail
The campsite cocktail party had a relaxed ambiance with live music, fairy lights, and candles exuding a warm, cheerful glow over the festivities. With no formal dinner or choreographed dances, the couple and their guests sang and danced till the wee hours of the morning.
Wedding
With every dawn comes a flurry of change, and the wedding day dawned bright and beautiful in more ways than one. Performed by a ‘panditain, (female priest), the ceremony incorporated a modern, heartwarming spin on old customs. The couple chose to walk around the pyre together, holding hands, as equals instead of leading one another. The groom also gave a moving speech on the need for bringing down patriarchy and sensitized guests to the struggles of female priests even today. With minimalistic decor comprising marigolds and vintage furniture, the festivities were organic and uplifting.
Reception
Since they kept their wedding festivities very intimate, Sejal and Kunal decided to host a wedding reception dinner, but in their own inimitable style. Held at the Amadeus Lounge in South Bombay, they swapped out a formal stage backdrop for an informal gathering. The couple walked around, meeting and talking to guests at their respective tables, as a live band played jazz and pop music to complement the delicious Indian and Asian fare.
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Hide Out – Organic Farms, Amadeus Lounge (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Shaadi Ityaadi
Photography and Videography: Dsilva Films
