Janaki Patel and Raag Engineer, The Alsisar Nahargarh, Rajasthan
This couple’s destination wedding exuded desi glamour with a silent disco Garba, a spice market-inspired mehndi and a Sheesh Mahal-inspired wedding mandap.
Uber glamorous and served with a hearty dollop of Gujarati traditions, Los Angeles-based Janaki Patel and Raag Engineer along with their Ohio-based families celebrated their destination wedding in Rajasthan near the Ranthambore National Park. Planned by WeddingSutra Favorite – Kkings Events, the union flaunted a plethora of unique themes and went ahead smoothly. And, bringing the couple’s vision to life was WeddingSutra Favorite – Design HQ who spearheaded the design front and amplified the celebrations with their creativity.
How They Met
Janaki and Raag’s story began nine years ago in college where they met through mutual friends. They immediately clicked over their shared love for pizza and Ohio State football. Throughout the years they enjoyed going to games together all over the country with their friends and family.
Wedding Planning
Monil Shah from Kkings Events shares, “Both the families hail from Ohio while the bride and groom are based in LA. The couple reached out to us in early 2021 to plan a wedding in December 2022. It was a two-year-long planning process filled with many brainstorming sessions where we keenly understood the couple’s tastes.
Overall, both families wanted a fun Gujarati wedding with a Holi, Garba, Kite flying and Indian spice market. They intended to highlight their culture and wanted everyone to experience the richness of it.”
Wedding Functions
Bridal Mehendi
First in line of the celebrations was the bridal mehndi where a desi and boho vibe was merged together seamlessly. Kinjal Adodra from Design HQ shares, “A welcome sign greeted the guests who walked in and adding a quirk factor to the decor were tiger-inspired cushion covers and ‘Wild for You’ inscribed tablecloths.”
Sundowner Mehndi
After the intimate bridal mehndi, it was time for the others to get their hands patterned with henna. Kinjal Adodra from Design HQ shares, “Staying in tandem with the couple and their families’ love for Indian heritage, we tried to recreate an Indian vintage spice market. The decor also took a cue from the Turkish Bazaar with a plethora of Persian carpets and rugs hanging from the walls. Suspended chillies were crafted out of indigenous fabric found in Rajasthan while the table centerpieces were crafted out of spices. A lac bangle stall kept the guests occupied while sweet treats, like Mango Bites in terracotta glass along with lollipops had everyone reaching for second helpings. Local dancers and a bioscope were also a part of the entertainment.”
Haldi
After the bright-hued mehndi, the haldi was a serene one under the shelter of tall trees with white and yellow blooms. Punctuated by fun games and playful moments, the haldi had everyone smiling. Monil Shah from Kkings Events shares, “An emcee kept everyone in a cheerful mood and after the turmeric was applied to the duo, they along with their guests happily splashed in the pool and cooled off.”
Sangeet and Silent Disco
It is only fair that a Gujarati wedding has a garba-themed sangeet. But at Janaki and Raag’s wedding, this concept was given a unique twist with a silent disco DJ! The celebrations first began at the amphitheater where the families gave high-energy performances onstage. After this, everyone was moved to a different venue where the garba night took place.
Monil shares, “SFX played a huge role in making this event a success and last but not least, the silent disco DJ ensured that everyone was up partying till the early hours of the morning.” Kinjal adds, “For the silent disco garba night, we ensured everything was as colourful as it could be! The theme was patola, and the venue’s backdrops reflected the beauty of this textile art originating in Gujarat. Hues of bright orange, pink and red dominated the colour palette. On the other hand, pampas grass and cane baskets gave it an earthy look.”
Wedding
No stone was left unturned for the big day as grandeur got a leg up from the planning and design team. Kicking off the festivities was a high-octane baraat where the groom entered in a safari jeep with an Ohio State flag (his favorite football theme into team). A DJ truck also accompanied the baraat along with special effects for an added glam quotient. Janaki, on the other hand, made a graceful bridal entry under a phoolon ki chaadar for the varmala. The wedding mandap was a stunning creation that merged seamlessly with the heritage architecture of the venue. Crafted with ivory hues that were accentuated by vintage chandeliers that cast a golden glow on the couple as they tied the knot- the mandap inspired by the iconic Sheesh Mahal, resembled something out of a desi fairytale.
After the wedding, the groom’s sisters-in-law executed a playful ‘joota chori’ ritual along with a performance.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Alsisar Nahargarh, Rajasthan
Wedding Planner: Kkings Events
Décor: Design HQ
Groom’s Outfits: Anita Dongre (Bridal Mehndi), Kunal Rawal (Sundowner Mehndi, Sangeet and Silent Disco), Qbik (Ganesh Puja), Mayyur R Girotra Couture (Silent Disco), Rimple and Harpreet Narula (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: The Little Black Bow (Bridal Mehndi), Frenyz Couture (Sundowner Mehndi), Swish by Dolcy and Simran (Ganesh Puja), Varun Bahl (Haldi), Seema Gujaral (Sangeet), Mayyur R Girotra Couture (Silent Disco), Rimple and Harpreet Narula (Wedding)
Bride’s Shoes: Dior (Wedding)
Jewellery: Amrapali Boutique (Bridal Mehndi), Shri Paramani Jewels (Sundowner Mehndi, Sangeet and Silent Disco, Wedding)
Makeup: Shradha Luthra (Sundowner Mehndi, Ganesh Puja, Haldi, Sangeet and Silent Disco)
Emcee: Chirag Vithalani (Sundowner Mehndi)
Photography: Ombre by Harsheen Jammu
