Chandni Amin and Smit Virani – Muscat, Oman
Shangri-La hotel renamed their luxurious Muscat property to 'The Virani Castle' for the mega wedding of Smit Virani and Chandni Amin
Smit Virani, scion of the Virani family that runs a trans-continental diamond business, tied the knot with Chandni Amin at the Shangri-La’s Barr Al-Jissah Resort and Spa, Muscat. One of Oman’s most preferred wedding venues, the resort was transformed into a palace of dreams, graciously accommodating over a thousand guests who flew in from around the globe.
Local media were abuzz with excitement at what has been one of the grandest events. Leading dailies, society pages went ga-ga over the big Indian wedding in Oman.
Wedding Venue
The Sultanate of Oman has always been a special secret for travellers, and its tranquil surroundings, stunning landscape, rich culture and the warm hospitality of the local Omanis has recently turned the spotlight on it as an ideal location for the perfect destination wedding.
Guest, Mark Boston, Chairman of H Goldie & Co Ltd, International Diamond Brokers and Consultants, was effusive on his blog, “Once again we are reminded that no one hosts a wedding quite like the Virani family. It manages to be simultaneously spectacular and intimate, joyous, inclusive and sheer fun. Anilbhai has become a master organizer of family weddings that will live on in the memories of all those lucky enough to be the family’s guests. Muscat is a delightful place with a proud tradition but still tolerant and welcoming of tourists with beautiful beaches and hotels (and a laid back atmosphere which reminded me a little of Goa). It’s only a 20 minute flight from Dubai and I would recommend it to anyone seeking total relaxation in a lovely setting.”
Wedding Events
Chandni and Smit’s wedding was a magical, romantic escapade over four wonderful days. Here’s share on the events their friends and family were treated to, including entertainment from around the world and from some of Bollywood’s biggest names. DJ Ganesh, with his groovy tunes, ensured the dance floor was never empty.
23 January 2015
The morning brought a flurry of guest arrivals, who were welcomed by a 15 piece traditional Omani band who performed at the entrance of Shangri-La’s Al-Waha Hotel.
As evening fell, the hotel’s Ballroom ABC was slowly lit to evoke a heavenly dreamscape for the lavish Ring Ceremony. The décor was white, with crystal and mirror embellishments placed on all walls of the ballroom and lit up with pink spot lights, creating an atmosphere of love and romance. This was followed by the Gujarati Musical Event, performed by Osman Mir and other Indian singers.
24 January 2015
The Mehndi (Henna Ceremony) was held under broad daylight, at the hotel lawns which was decked in colourful, cultural Indian decorations. Osman Mir performed once again, much to the pleasure of all the guests. After the rituals had been performed, the morning took to a celebratory crescendo as guests performed the Garba dance to upbeat Gujarati music.
The Sangeet (Musical Ceremony) at Ballroom ABC in the evening saw vivid deep blues and rich golds being used in the décor to follow the theme of an artwork effect. The family, keen to continue the grandeur, performed as many as 17 choreographed dances at the event. The highlight of the evening though was a dance performance by the couple themselves for which special visual effects, including LED splits, were used. One of the most memorable moments that evening was when ‘We the Viranis’, a song specially composed for the occasion was sung by the whole family. This was followed by a scintillating performance from an Indian Idol finalist, Rahul Vaidya. Guests then headed to a post-Sangeet party at the Bait Al Bahr Bar.
25 January 2015
The daytime celebrations were held by the poolside where the sun-dappled décor theme continued from the previous morning. Guests were handed colourful t-shirts, bandanas, sarongs and floral garlands as they were enthralled by drummers from Russia, DJs and rappers. The party peaked with a jubilant rain dance.
The Bollywood Evening held at the Amphitheater later was a much looked forward to event. The décor was digitized with lasers, graphics and LED screens adding to the excitement. A galaxy of India’s well known stars like Vishal-Shekhar, Mouni Roy, Aarti Chhabria and Mansi Parekh took to the stage while there was a special performance by Dia Mirza who later hung out with the bride, groom and their families.
26 January 2015
The wedding ceremony took place at Turtle beach in the evening, with the Baraat (Wedding Procession) starting at 05.00pm from Bait Al Bahr, right up to Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa’s Turtle Beach, a secluded seaside area. The British Baraat Band was specially flown in from London to perform popular Bollywood songs.
The entire ambience and theme of the event was in traditional Indian wedding hues of red and gold. Guests were led to the mandap under canopies festooned with gorgeous elephant chandeliers, and decorated with flowers. The dais was reminiscent of temple carvings with a palatial dome over. The mandap was setup in the Dhow Area, and decorated with umbrellas, overlooking the stunning Turtle Beach. The highlight was the Jaimala (exchanging of garlands between the bride and groom), which was initiated by four white ‘angels’ descending from above.
The wedding ceremony complete, the final reception was held in the same venue, drawing an intimate closure to an unforgettable event.
