Disha and Kunal, Pune

Disha, a neuroscientist, and Kunal, an engineer, first noticed each other in university but it wasn’t until one fateful day when Disha was fulfilling her duties as a member of the ‘Indian Student Organization,’ did they get talking. The duo struck up a friendship that blossomed into love over time. They tied the knot in Pune and hired WeddingSutra Favorite – Q Events and Weddings who transformed Kunal and Disha’s dreams and inspiration from the changing seasons into a beautiful reality.

How They Met
“Kunal and I first noticed each other in university while I was pursuing my undergraduate studies. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that we got talking while I was selling dandiya tickets as a member of the ‘Indian Student Organization.’ From the first conversation itself, I think, both of us had an inkling that there was something special brewing between us but we were otherwise largely unaware of the strength of our feelings towards each other. Soon, we started hanging out with a group of mutual friends and that led to the forging of a unique bond between us. He became my support system during my toughest times.

A few years later, I moved to grad school in Boston and we were still oblivious about our feelings. Even though we eagerly met each other after work, we hadn’t really explored the concept of ‘love’ yet. But then, destiny intervened. Coincidentally on Valentine’s Day, we were roaming around alone in Boston’s Italian area and suddenly, our feelings for each other surfaced on the Tufts Library Rooftop. At that moment, we both knew that this relationship was for the long haul and nothing could stop us from taking the leap of faith.”

The Proposal
“The proposal took place on a freezing February night against the backdrop of the Boston skyline. Showing his thoughtful side, Kunal chose a date near Valentine’s Day to pop the question to me. The location was a waterside area looking over the entire Boston Skyline and clocktower. Decorated with candles, fairy lights, and a heart-shaped photo album, the venue was witness to a very special night as Kunal had l roped in my closest friends and mom for this surprise proposal. As my friends took me to the spot with an excuse, Kunal stood there in the freezing cold for two hours and, as soon as I neared the spot, the hit Punjabi track ‘Izhaar’ by Gurnazar followed by the song ‘Tujh mein rab dikhta hai’ started playing!”

Wedding Venue
Disha shares, “From the start, Kunal and I knew that we wanted to host our wedding at a venue where our guests could get a taste of India as many were flying in from abroad to their home country. Amanora The Fern Hotels and Club was perfect in every way with its palatial architecture, majestic clock towers and sprawling lawns. It was also close enough to the major shopping areas in Pune which allowed guests to entertain themselves in between functions. However, the cherry on the top was the plethora of outdoor spots where we hosted our mehndi and haldi functions, as well as an exceptionally beautiful garden which was ideal for our couple’s photoshoot.”

Wedding Planning
With the venue narrowed down, the duo entrusted the planning to Q Events and Weddings at the helm. The couple shares, “The moment we came across Q Events and Weddings’ portfolio, we fell in love with their work. Damini Oberoi of Q Events and Weddings along with her team were up for any challenge and understood our vision right away. With them guiding us, we had an unforgettable experience! In fact, after thoroughly enjoying each of the events we hung out with Damini and her team members from Q Events and Weddings along with our siblings and closest friends over late-night dinners. We are so grateful to have had them there at every step of the way.”

Sharing their inspirations behind the themes of the wedding, the couple adds, “Since Boston is where we realized our shared love for the changing seasons, we revolved a few elements around Boston and decided that the overall theme of the wedding would be ‘Seasons’. Each event represented a season and at every function, we had a caricature version of our photo taken in that particular season. Additionally, our wedding invites also reflected the theme by subtly showcasing four seasons in its design.”

Adding to the stellar team was hair and makeup artist Amrita Bokey while the wedding favors were crafted by Dreamcatchers by Paperiva. On the choreography front, Nikhil Gosavi from Bollywood to Broadway made sure not a step was missed, while DJ Lloyd Gueizelar kept grooving with his spinning skills. For photography, the couple chose Ptaufiq Photography who captured their nuptials’ highlights in expressive frames.

Weddings Functions
Mehndi
Planned seamlessly by Q Events, the duo’s mehndi event was filled to the brim with colorful elements. Disha shares, “The mehndi followed a summer theme with ‘thelas’ (pushcarts), ‘matkas’ (earthen pots), kites and marigold garlands adorning the venue. Special mocktails were served in pineapples and coconuts. Even the mehndi design was customized to symbolize our romance. For example, coffee mugs with hearts and our initials to symbolize the countless hours Kunal spent with me in coffee shops during the tough years of my Ph.D., the fish scales related to the nickname he gave me, a basketball to represent Kunal’s favorite sport, our caricatures with the bride shown in a poofy princess dress and our custom logo, and more.”

Sangeet
“The sangeet followed the theme of one of our favorite seasons which is fall. Decorated with pumpkins and peach elements, it was a magical evening. The stage was also centered around the fall theme with our logo imprinted against the backdrop of fairy lights and fall leaves. For the centerpieces, we chose a log representing our love for nature and outdoor activities. Even the mocktails served were chosen to go with the fall theme and the bar itself was customized to showcase candles with fall elements placed inside a transparent structure. After a customary jaggo performance from the groom’s side, the highlight of the sangeet was executed by our German friends who stunned us with their acrobatic prowess. Kunal, too, surprised us all by performing with them on the spot. For our own performance, we started it with a shadow dance on the song Kunal proposed on and later, played a fun shoe game for our guests to see how well we know each other.”

Wedding
Equipped with a clear vision and a unique theme, the couple’s big day went ahead without a glitch all thanks to team Q Events and Weddings’ dedicated planning efforts. The happy bride shares, “For our wedding decor, we chose the spring theme which included decor in beautiful hues of pink, peach, white, and green. A circular mandap matching our vision accurately was constructed with fresh flowers and hanging bells for a traditional yet contemporary look. Also, the canopy with partially covering white drapes gave us the perfect balance of sun and shade for our spring outdoor wedding. Even the flowing water through the center of the lawn was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and candle floaters. Kunal, expressing his Punjabi roots, made his entrance on a tractor along with a moving DJ/dhol drummer and smoke bombs, while I chose to enter under a floral canopy accompanied by my mom, dad, and sister. As our exit vehicle, we chose a rickshaw to add a touch of desi flavor to the proceedings.”

Cocktail hour, Reception & After Party
“To end the celebration on a high note, we held a cocktail hour, reception, and an after-party.
For the cocktail hour, we curated a custom cocktail menu that represented flavors of all four seasons. The winter drink was a hot mulled wine made in Erlenmeyer flasks. Following a winter theme, the reception consisted of a dancefloor with snowflakes imprinted on it, a glass ice sculpture-like backdrop with our names, wintery trees, and two deers printed on the glass itself. To the left of the stage, an LED screen displayed our logo and winter animations. Keeping the icy theme in mind, the draping and table decor were also in shades of blue and white with seats that had a custom dreamcatcher on which the tree of life was woven. Even our customized wedding cake reflected the theme with three layers of mountains and winter trees in the frosting accompanied by cake toppers that were a replica of our pre-wedding photoshoot in the snow.” However, the highlight of the reception was the bride’s wine hued custom story lehenga designed by Neha Gursahani. Disha shares, “The reception lehenga was a very personal lehenga with the Boston Skyline depicted along the entire bottom portion with natural elements and shooting stars. Initially, the clock tower was missing in the final piece by accident but Neha made sure to add it in!”

“The reception and after-party took place in one of the ballrooms, and the famous DJ Lloyd Gueizelar (aka Bombay Bounce) got everyone to shake a leg. We incorporated elements of all the four seasons into this occasion and hung a giant disco ball above the dance floor. The boomerang and photobooth station installed by the planning team was an instant hit with our guests who enjoyed striking poses there with quirky props.”

Advice For Couples
“Iron out all your budget details at least 10 days before the wedding and coordinate with your planning team for getting snacks to you throughout the events whenever possible, or else, you’ll be constantly hungry. Luckily, we had Q Events and Weddings who did this for us even without us ever having to ask for it. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated. Keep enough time for separate couple shots and family photos before each event and contribute actively to each area of the wedding planning, from the dress designs to the decor. When you look back, you should be able to connect with each event which will, in turn, give you fond memories to carry for life.”

The Wedding Makers

Venues: Amanora The Fern Hotels and Club, Pune
Wedding Planner: Q Events and Weddings
Groom’s Outfits: Panash (Mehndi), Neha Gursahani (Haldi, Sangeet, Wedding), Via Roma (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Neha Gursahani (Mehndi, Haldi, Sangeet, Wedding, Reception)
Jewellery: Tatsta (Sangeet, Wedding), Curio Cottage (Sangeet), Caratlane (Wedding), Chinar Exclusif (Wedding), Isharya (Reception)
Accessories: Gurdeep Singh Pagree, Tanishq
Makeup & Hair: Amrita Bokey
Mehndi: Reshma Khan
Entertainment: DJ Lloyd Gueizelar
Choreography: Bollywood to Broadway
Wedding Invitations: Q Events and Weddings
Wedding Favors: Dreamcatchers by Paperiva
Bartenders: Flairology Bar School and Events

Photography: Ptaufiq Photography

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