Aashita and Sanjay, Jodhpur
Aashita and Sanjay's Jodhpur wedding was an ode to the magic of Indian folk music and dance.
Aashita and Sanjay’s story involves friendship, romance, accepting each other’s different cultures, and celebrating it all with a beautiful eco-friendly wedding in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Here, bride Aashita shares some highlights of the festivities.
How They Met
Aashita hails from a Punjabi family from Jodhpur, and currently lives and works in Singapore, while Sanjay is South Indian and from a defense background, and works in Chennai. They met and dated briefly over 10 years ago and lost touch for years before crossing paths again a few years back. Aashita shares, “With time we matured and realized that we enjoyed each other’s company even more than before and could talk about anything under the sky. Our love was uninhibited and organically blossomed, and I loved the fact that he seamlessly gelled with each group of friends that I have.”
The Proposal
“It was a bumpy road for us as Sanjay wanted to solidify our bond in marriage while I didn’t quite believe in the concept. From respecting my viewpoint and holding his ground with his parents, he faced every challenge unflinchingly. Eventually, I agreed to marry him because I knew I had found someone rare and irreplaceable. If marriage meant being my own self with him every day of my life, I was on board!”
Wedding Venue
Aashita shares, “Hailing from Jodhpur, I wanted a venue that was truly royal and flamboyant, yet humble; one that would showcase the heritage and culture of my birthplace. The Ajit Bhawan Palace was my dad’s first choice especially since it is still looked into by the royal family and the rooms were designed by Raghavendra Rathore. Their amazing hospitality, beautiful rooms and delectable cuisine won us over. For the al fresco formal dinner, we chose Khaas Bagh, a separate property of the royal family which is resplendent with colonial architecture and a fleet of chic vintage cars.”
Wedding Planning
“I wanted my wedding to be a gift to my parents, and I independently planned the whole affair with the help of my cousins and trusted vendors. I wanted it to capture my personality which is unconventional and free-spirited. Also, I wanted a grand celebration with just my loved ones and nobody else. So we kept the wedding glorious but intimate. Lastly, we wanted to make as many elements about the function as eco-friendly as possible and worked to make that happen with seed paper invites, no flowers, a ‘no gifts’ policy, and minimal use of plastic.
Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The festivities kicked off with a colorful mehndi ceremony, which was an outdoor poolside event in the gardens of the Ajit Bhawan Palace. The guests received a warm welcome by folk kachi-ghodi performers, and Kalbeliya folk dancers as well as local Rajasthani singers. Later, everyone got on the floor and grooved to the DJ’s beats. The bride wore a quirky crop top and skirt with yellow, pink and blue shades and pretty mirror work.
Formal Dinner
The day time festivities were followed by a formal evening dinner at Khaas Bagh which was centered around contemporary charm mingled with a vintage vibe. Melodious tunes by Rajasthan’s favorite santoor player set a soft and soothing atmosphere, which was followed by a night of dancing. The bride looked angelic in a tulle gown with lacework.
Anand Karaj
For her morning Anand Karaj function, Aashita entered to the beats of the dhol, breaking out into an impromptu dance on “Hawa Hawai,” which is her favorite number. The wedding took place at Gururamdas Gurudwara, and the bride was a vision in white in an embellished lehenga with a mint green veil.
Reception
In lieu of the theme of “Lights will Guide You Through,” guests were greeted at the Zanana Gardens, at Ajit Bhawan Palace, with a beautifully lit path leading to the final reception venue. An enchanting musical experience of flute and mandolin was the perfect culmination of the two-day festivities. For her final look, Aashita wore a stunning red lehenga and cape with a chic updo hairstyle.
Advice for Couples
“Given the amount of waste materials weddings generate, try to opt for as many sustainable and eco-friendly options as possible, such as digital invites or seed paper invites, no flowers, no plastic, etc. Instead of fancy entertainment, opt for folk dancers and traditional instruments to promote our Indian art forms.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Ajit Bhawan Place and Khaas Bagh, Jodhpur
Wedding Planner: New Click Events
Groom’s Outfits: His Studio, Chennai
Bride’s Outfits: Avnni Kapur (Mehndi), Niharika Pandey (Wedding), Gown Forestry & Co. (Formal Dinner), Agunj by Gunjan Arora (Reception)
Bride’s Shoes: House of Vian (Mehndi)
Jewellery: Tanishq
Makeup artist: Renuka Singh, Jodhpur
Invites: Plantables
Photography and videography: Weddshooter
