Ayushi and Ravi, Hilton Bali Resort
Flaunting ivory drapes and baby pink blooms, this wedding mandap by the beach in Bali was serene and stunning.
Honoring traditions while embracing the spirit of Bali, Ayushi and Ravi’s destination wedding was a reflection of their travels and contemporary perspectives. Capturing their heartfelt moments as they took the plunge into marital bliss was WeddingSutra Favorite – Jayesh Photography.
How They Met
Ayushi shares, “We met in Singapore in 2020. Ravi had just moved to Singapore and met me within 3 months of arriving! We haven’t looked back since. And, as fate would have it, Ravi planned a surprise proposal in Langkawi, Malaysia, in April 2023 on the beach overlooking the Straits of Malacca.”
Wedding Planning
“For two people who are uncomfortable in front of a camera, Jayesh Photography was an absolute dream to work with. From the very beginning, the team took the time to understand our vision for each event and capture who we were in an unfiltered manner. They were always happy to hop on a call during our wedding planning process, providing invaluable input and helping us tailor our schedule so we had enough time for items we didn’t even know we should be planning for.
Jayesh and his team made us feel at ease at every step, directing us during our various shoots in a way that made us feel like ourselves. We’ve been in awe at Jayesh Photography’s captures since we watched the same-day edit during our reception – our wedding photos and the videos have beautifully encapsulated not just the big moments but also the subtle, candid interactions that made the day memorable. Our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without Jayesh and his team, and we’re so grateful he said yes to flying down to Bali to be a part of our wedding”, gushed the happy couple.
Wedding Functions
Haldi, Mehendi and Welcome Lunch
“We wanted our first event to be colourful, amalgamating an Indian-style Haldi with touches of Europe that both of us had loved through our travels. Given that this was the very first event, with three other events and entrances to go, we thought we wouldn’t do a separate entrance and would just be present at the venue to welcome our guests. However, on the advice of our photographer, our friends pulled together an entrance within five minutes. That did set the tone and paved the way for some amazing pictures!”, recollects Ayushi.
Sangeet Soirée
“We wanted our friends and family to enjoy the Sangeet Soirée under the Bali stars, ending the night with fireworks. Ravi’s younger sister and my younger brother were entrusted with giving their speeches this evening, which were equal measures of touching and funny. Our friends, many of whom didn’t speak Hindi and had no idea what the songs they were dancing to meant, worked hard on the Team Bride and Team Groom dances – practising relentlessly in the two months before the wedding both in person and via Zoom across countries and timezones. Ravi even started to pay for a Zoom subscription so we could host sessions for over 30 minutes without interruptions!”, shares Ayushi.
Wedding
Ayushi recollects, “Our traditional wedding ceremony took place on the morning of Day 2, starting with the baraat and a dance-off between both our siblings. I entered with my brothers, and then walked down the aisle with my mum, dad and brother.” Ravi goes on to add, “Everyone’s favourite item at the wedding ceremony was the Parle-G milkshake that is a special of our caterers, Queen’s Catering – the most common remark from our guests was that it reminded them of their childhood.”
Reception
The night was filled with heartfelt speeches from our parents and our friends, Ravi and Ayushi’s first dance, and then a jam-packed dance floor until the early morning with thanks to our DJs and our guests who kept the party going.
Advice For Couples
Learning from their own experiences, the couple shares a few pointers for couples who’re looking forward to hosting a destination wedding:
1. “Wedding planning can feel like a gargantuan task, and it is, but do it in small steps, incrementally, and keep track of everything via shared documents/spreadsheets. That way it felt marginally less overwhelming for us!”, the duo advised.
2. The couple also suggests, “You’ll spend months planning, and then the wedding itself will go by in a flash. The festivities over 3 days were the fastest 3 days of our lives. So enjoy and savour every second, and remember to try all the food and drinks you’ve so carefully curated!”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Hilton Bali Resort, Indonesia
Wedding Planner: Henna Bali Wedding
Photography and Videography: Jayesh Photography
Décor: Steve Decor
Caterers: Queen’s Catering
Groom’s Outfits: Nero by Shaifali & Satya (Haldi, Mehendi and Welcome Lunch, Sangeet), Unique Boutique Bradford (Wedding), Raja’s Fashions (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Ridhi Mehra (Haldi, Mehendi and Welcome Lunch), Sawan Gandhi (Sangeet), A&R by Rhea Kapoor (Wedding), Elizabeth Grace Couture (Reception)
Makeup: Paveena Kharbanda Rathour
Hairstyling: Panita Chanthala
DJ: DJ Milan, DJ Freazz
Wedding Stationery: Dipti Patel
Bartenders: Blind For A While
