Deeksha and Neeraj, Sri Lanka

Groom Neeraj grew up in Sri Lanka, and his deep emotional bond with the country led him and bride Deeksha to wed there, despite the lingering tragedy of the Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019. Their wedding symbolized hope and resilience, and was planned to perfection by WeddingSutra Favorite – Baraati Inc. Here, bride Deeksha shares a few highlights from the wedding celebrations.

How They Met
Deeksha and Neeraj had been living in Singapore for 10 years when they first met through a friend at a Diwali party in October 2017. Deeksha recalls, “In our first few dates itself, we bonded over our similar values which were built on being simple, caring and wanting to help others. Over time, we discovered that both of had a similar upbringing, valued our loved ones and wanted to create an ecosystem full of positivity, enthusiasm and unconditional love. In the past, Neeraj and I had both gone through struggles and learnt from life’s lessons, because of which we knew exactly what our priorities were. Our compatibility, sense of purpose and similarity in being driven despite being different in our own ways, made us fall in love with each other.”

The Proposal
Two weeks into the relationship, Neeraj knew Deeksha was the one, and didn’t want to wait any longer to spend the rest of their lives together. He whisked her away for a short holiday to Bali, Indonesia, and there, overlooking a gorgeous sunset above the ocean at Rock Bar, he popped the question. His proposal was met with a resounding “Yes!”.

Wedding Venue
“We chose Cinnamon Bey Beruwala in Sri Lanka as our wedding venue. We had travelled to Sri Lanka three months prior to the wedding and had visited this property. It has open green lawns, a breathtaking beachfront and a variety of indoor and outdoor venues to choose from. We instantly got positive vibes from it. The hospitality at Cinnamon Bey was fantastic and goes to show the innate kind and gentle nature of Sri Lankans. Also, we had a deep emotional attachment with Sri Lanka as Neeraj was born there and also had his childhood home there.”

Wedding Planning
“A wedding should capture the essence of your personal bond and relationship, and Baraati Inc helped us bring our vision to life. Around five months of hard work went into creating five memorable events over three days in Sri Lanka. Not only did they handle the logistics seamlessly, they also added personal touches and arranged for some delightful surprises that made the whole experience even more magical. “

The bride’s distinctive looks for each function were created by WeddingSutra Favorite – Pooja Khurana.

Wedding Functions

Haldi
The haldi ceremony was an intimate affair which was attended by close family and friends. It was held at a rooftop venue of the hotel which resounded with the bride’s favorite Bollywood hits. With the bride, groom and most of the wedding squad clad in yellow, the decor was kept minimal and had hints of blue and green. A bridal seating spot created with cascading seashells was perfectly in sync with the location. Deeksha wore a gorgeous sari gifted by her mother, and Neeraj picked a matching yellow sherwani, for this fun event.

Mehendi
The mehendi ritual was the first function in the line up of festivities, and it was a colorful soiree of ocean blue and pink. Inspired by Sri Lankan local markets, the paper streamers and origami boats made for a unique and quirky decor element, the entertainment segment had a fun game of antakshari hosted by the Best Man and Maid of Honor. All food and drinks were laid out on self serve tables, and included delicious items like king coconuts, sangria and lion beer. The bride donned a colorful ensemble and floral jewellery, while the groom wore a bandi vest from Manyavar which had an intricate floral design.

Sangeet
The sangeet night had a ‘Deewani Mastani theme, and the venue was done up in opulent shades like maroon, ivory and gold. Tall Shamadan candles and deep-red rose accents added a mystical aura to the evening, and the showstopper was a regal painting behind the bridal stage made by the bride’s father, which made it all the more special. Deeksha wore an elegant silver-grey lehenga with crystal and pearl work, which she paired with diamond jewelry, while the Neeraj looked regal in a gold and black sherwani with a matching stole.

Wedding
Set in the lawn by the breathtaking beachfront, the wedding was resplendent with blush and peach accents, and so were the bride and groom. The baarat made their entry at the pool side, grooving to DJ Abhishek’s live music. Sri Lankan Kandyan dancers synchronizing their steps to drum beats playing Bollywood music and performing acrobatics which made for a dramatic spectacle as the couple made their entry. Neeraj and Deeksha both got teary-eyed as they made their way to the mandap, before they exchanged their garlands made of blush-hued roses and seashells.

Reception
The reception was a night high on emotions with toasts and speeches, following which everyone walked on to the monogrammed dance floor to dance the night away. The decor of tropical plants against an ivory background was minimalistic and classic, and the couple wore a rich combination of black and red. The groom’s donned a creation from Manyavar, while the bride opted for a gorgeous embroidered sari gifted to her by her mom.

Advice for Couples
Deeksha shares, “If you are planning a destination wedding, hiring a wedding planner is the best thing you can do, as it takes a lot of the pressure away and allows you to enjoy the experience to the fullest. Remember, first find your planner, then venue, and then everything else. Also, take a few days before the wedding to zone yourself in for your once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Cinnamon Bey Beruwala, Sri Lanka
Wedding Planner: Baraati Inc
Bride’s Outfits: Dalmia Fashions by Aditya & Mohit (Sangeet, Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Manyavar
Makeup Artist: Pooja Khurana
Hairstylist: Archana Rautela
Mehendi: Farhath’s Mehendi, Colombo
DJ: Abhishek Kapoor, Chennai
Decorators: Drapiez, Colombo
Photography and Videography: Folio Haus

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