Alyana and Irfan, Thailand

Alyana and Irfan’s wedding reflected their tastes and wishes, and was full of magical moments thanks to WeddingSutra Favorite – Keeran the Wedding Planner. All the special moments were captured in timeless frames by another WeddingSutra Favorite – WhatKnot.

How They Met
Irfan met Alyana in 2014 at her cousin’s wedding. It was love at first sight for her while for Irfan it took a little longer. After almost a year of getting to know each other, he finally confessed his feelings to Alyana.

The Proposal
Irfan is originally from Zambia but has lived in Cape Town for most of his life while Alyana is from Kenya. Irfan studied finance at the University of Cape Town and Alyana is an alumnus of the University of Sheffield where she studied Psychology. They made their long- distance relationship work for two years before Irfan moved to Kenya to join his family business. Being close to each other made their bond stronger than ever, and a year after moving to Kenya, Irfan finally popped the all-important question.

Pre-Wedding Photoshoot
The couple reached Thailand ahead of their wedding festivities with their photography team to capture some stunning pre-wedding shots at some of the most scenic locations in Thailand.

Wedding Venue
The bride shares, “We chose Avani+ Hua Hin Resort, Thailand as the venue for our destination wedding as we fell in love with it the moment we saw it and knew that it was ‘the perfect venue for our marriage.’

Wedding Planning
The couple had a few points in mind when they set out to plan their wedding. They wanted the functions to represent their personalities and for everyone to have fun. The bride shares, “Planning was tedious as we had to make a few trips to Thailand, but in the end, the wedding made it worthwhile.” Keeran the Wedding Planner‘s vision and expertise ensured perfection in every minute detail, which impressed all. Alyana and Irfan were also impressed by WhatKnot‘s photography expertise, and share, “We couldn’t have asked for better photographers. They were outstanding, and the quality of the photos was amazing.”

Wedding Functions

Engagement and Welcome Dinner
The first day of festivities included the engagement ceremony followed by a welcome dinner for all their guests. The dual functions were hosted at the outdoor venue with hundreds of incandescent lights illuminating the surroundings. The couple made a memorable entry flanked by their loved ones holding sparklers. Performances by professional dancers made the soiree all the more exciting and memorable!

Pithi
The pithi ceremony was hosted on the second day of the celebrations, and the venue was done up in yellow floral decor which matched the couple’s outfits while their loved ones dressed in white. The photographers captured all the fun moments shared by the couple during the ceremony as they were doused with turmeric, blessings, and love.

Mehndi
The couple and guests soon changed into another set of festive clothes as they celebrated the bride’s mehndi ceremony. The decor for the mehndi ceremony saw a floral extravaganza that turned the venue into a colorful and fragrant utopia with tassels and dreamcatchers dangling from the ceiling. The bride wore a green outfit with a bandhni (Indian tie-dye) dupatta while the groom wore a white kurta with a light green bandhgala jacket.

Sangeet
The sangeet ceremony was held on the same day as the pithi and mehndi at one of the hotel’s indoor spaces. Alyana and Irfan chose ‘Ethnic Chic’ as the dress code for the evening as they danced to songs that reflected their love story. The guests cheered them on before joining the musical night and dancing to their heart’s content!

Nikaah
The next morning saw the auspicious nikaah ceremony taking place. Pastel shades and bright hues were used to decorate the venue. Pink and orange drapes lined the canopy, Chiavari chairs were covered with pastel linen and tulle roses, and the mandap was a sight in itself as hundreds of bright pink roses, and white orchids were used to decorate its pillars. A glittering crystal chandelier hung from the center of the mandap’s ceiling. Alyana walked down the aisle with her father and met Irfan under the canopy. The summer lighting, the colorful decor, the stunning beach, and most of all, the smiles on the couple’s faces truly made the whole event seem like a fairytale.

Reception
Alyana and Irfan’s entry at their grand reception was made even more striking by the cabaret-inspired outfits of the performers who flanked them. The couple couldn’t stop smiling as they saw their loved ones gather under one roof to join them in celebrating their eternal union. The bride looked stunning in a maroon lehenga with gold embroidery and a peach dupatta while the groom opted for a sleek blue tux. The couple received a sweet surprise from their close friends who expressed their love and joy for the couple through their speeches. The groom himself gave a touching speech that left his bride smiling and teary-eyed at the same time.

Advice For Other Couples

“Have fun and let the wedding be about you – it goes by too quickly, so enjoy every moment of it.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Avani + Hua Hin Resort, Thailand
Wedding Planner: Keeran the Wedding Planner, Thailand
Bride’s Outfits: House of Masaba (Engagement), Magic Mirror (Wedding and Reception)
Bride’s Shoes: Fizzy Goblet (Nikaah Shoes)
Groom’s Outfits: Kora (Sangeet and Nikaah), Boggi Milano, Dubai (Reception)
Makeup and Hair: Swaness, Thailand
Mehndi: ARani, Thailand
Entertainment: Ramona, Thailand (Professional Dancers), Rimi Nique, Thailand & Jonita Gandhi, India (Singers), Dhol Federation, Malaysia (Dhol Players)
Stationery: Moordesigns, Kenya

Photography and Videography: WhatKnot

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