Meghna and Sanjay, Sri Lanka

In a classic case of an arranged marriage turning into love, Meghna and Sanjay felt a connection at their first meeting and destiny led them to the altar. They tied the knot in Sri Lanka, and here, bride Meghna shares some special moments that were captured in beautiful frames by WeddingSutra Favorite – Shutterdown.

How They Met
“Sanjay and I first met in an arranged marriage setup where I met his parents first, and then him for lunch. From our first meeting itself, I was smitten by him, and in the second meeting, we spoke for almost four hours and struck a chord. After that, there was no looking back and we made the decision to spend our lives together!”

Wedding Venue
Hosted at the picturesque Anantara Kalutara Resort in Sri Lanka which offers gorgeous views of the Southwest coast of the island nation, the duo’s nuptials were a visual and sensorial delight. With its state-of-the-art amenities and spacious rooms, this property ticked all the boxes for the happy couple.

Wedding Planning
Acknowledging the mammoth task of planning and executing a destination wedding, the couple hired Catapultt Weddings to ensure that every event went off smoothly. For photography and videography, the couple entrusted the responsibility to Shutterdown. Meghna shares, “Hiring Shutterdown was one of the best decisions we ever made and we would gladly do it again!” Makeup artist Shreya Asrani and hairstylist Arushi Jain gave the bride one stunning look after the other. Invitation designers Wraps and Boxes came up with creative and innovative artwork, while choreographer Uttara Kothari made sure that not a beat was missed and rehearsed tirelessly with the couple and their family members.

Weddings Functions

Ganesh Pooja
“For the auspicious day of the Ganesh Pooja, we followed the ‘Traditional with Bandhej’ theme, and the decor reflected this concept with its yellow and orange marigold garlands that were paired with cane betel leaves in hues of orange and red.”

Mehndi
“We wanted the mehndi to be a colorful event and so we chose the theme ‘Let’s paint your palms green!’ The decor looked stunning with its unique blue and yellow color palette that was echoed in the ikat print tents, tissues, umbrellas, and cushions. Every aspect of the event was minutely looked into and it produced fantastic results!”

Sangeet /Engagement
“Our sangeet was a fun event where we stuck to a ‘Western Moroccan’ theme, and the entire decor had a rustic vibe to it. Huge Arabic lanterns, fairy lights, and cold pyros lit up the venue as we danced and exchanged rings.” Dressed in a contemporary gold and silver lehenga, the bride glowed as she shook a leg with her to-be husband who looked dapper in his grey bandhgala suit.

Pool Party
“To make sure our guests made the most of the sunny Sri Lankan weather, we organized a pool party where everyone was encouraged to participate in water sports. The decor for this fun event included flamingo motifs and bright paper flowers.”

Wedding
“Our big day was nothing short of breathtaking as it took place under the open sky with melodious and auspicious chants by Pt. Chandrashekar Sharma. The varmala exchange stage itself looked over the backwaters. However, our mandap was the highlight of the event with its dome-shaped ceiling, light pink blooms and pink peach drapes that contrasted delightfully against the backdrop of the shoreline.”

A stunner in her merlot Sabyasachi Mukherjee lehenga with intricate embroidery, Meghna was all smiles as she walked under a floral canopy towards Sanjay who looked regal in an ivory sherwani.

Receptions
To end their nuptials on a high note, the duo held two uniquely themed receptions. The first one had a ‘Sparkle & Shine’ theme, and the decor elements for it included fairy lights, sequinned drapes, and colossal chandeliers. For the second Bangalore-based reception, they opted for Sabyasachi Mukherjee inspired theme and the venue was decorated with velvet drapes in shades of peaches and pinks, and large vases filled with red roses. For her second reception, Meghna opted for a multihued lehenga while Sanjay contrasted her in a white sherwani which he paired with an emerald necklace.

Advice For Couples
“Make your wedding vendors a part of your family during those crucial planning days as that will allow you to comfortably execute the wedding as per your vision. Also, remember that sometimes, things may not turn out exactly as you’d imagined them. Instead of getting disappointed just go with the flow and enjoy your special day!”

The Wedding Makers

Venue: Anantara Kalutara Resort, Srilanka
Wedding Planner & Decor: Catapultt Weddings
Caterers: Heera Caterers
Groom’s Outfits: Khanate (Sangeet, Pool Party, Reception), Diwan Saheb (Wedding), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Bangalore Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Anushree Reddy (Mehndi), Ornate (Pool Party), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding, Reception), Om By Bharti & Aashna (Bangalore Reception)
Jewellery: Shri Paramani Jewellers, Mehta Emporium, Rare Heritage, Madan Jewellers
Accessories: Raabta by Rahul (Kaleerein)
Makeup: Shreya Asrani
Hairstyling: Arushi Jain
Mehndi: Naresh Mehndi Designer
Choreography: Uttara Kothari
Wedding Invitations: Wraps & Boxes, Jyothi Bansal Concepts (E-invites)
Wedding Stationery: Etch
Wedding Favors: Wraps & Boxes

Photography and Videography: Shutterdown

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