Naimi and Akshay, Khao Lak, Thailand
The bride hosted one ceremony in a library of a luxury resort as she loves books. Check out other highlights of Naimi and Akshay's wedding celebrations that were inspired by the Renaissance era, luxury and high fashion.
It was their debates on global affairs that brought Naimi and Akshay close to each other. Whether they found common ground in their discussions, we’re not quite sure. However, they sure found love! They decided to wed in the beautiful country of Thailand which was close to the bride’s heart, and got WeddingSutra Favourite – Krish Events on board to make this affair truly special. The bride shares with us the highlights of the nuptials and pictures clicked by WeddingSutra Favorite – Anoop.Photography.
How We Met
“Akshay and I met by chance in London through a mutual friend. After the initial meeting, it took a few more months before we realized that our hour-long debates on world affairs and love for different cuisines made us perfectly compatible.”
The Proposal
“Akshay proposed to me in Thailand on the beautiful island of Koh Yao Yai – at a sunset dinner on a quiet part of the beach. It was completely unexpected, and Akshay wasn’t even sure he would do it, but once we got to the location, he knew the setting and island was perfect for the proposal.”
Wedding Venue
“Thailand stole my heart more than 15 years ago – I kept coming back every other year for a short holiday and each time I grew more attached to the country because of its warm people, breathtaking scenery and the overall cultural experience. I felt like I was truly at ‘my second home’ in the ‘Land of Smiles’ and I knew that this was where I would someday get married. Nothing compares to the delicious food and how accommodating everyone here is. Our celebrations were hosted at JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, and the beauty of this places speaks for itself. Moreover, we have grown up by the beach in Africa, and so we knew we wanted a beachfront location for the wedding.”
Wedding Planning
“We had Krish Events taking care of our wedding planning, and in the short amount of time we spent together, Krishna and her entire team became our family. It was so bittersweet when the wedding came to an end because it meant I could no longer call Krishna and speak with her! She executed all our quirky demands and managed our expectations with the greatest of ease. There were points during the wedding I was ready to give up, but it was Krishna who held my hand, hugged me and told me that it would all be fine. Sejal from Makeovers by Sejal had me looking fabulous at every event!”
Wedding Functions
Welcome Dinner
“The first event in the line-up of our functions was the welcome dinner that had a ‘Summer Solstice’ theme. Since we were in Thailand, we wanted to embrace the culture, food and natural beauty of the country at this event. Our guests were welcomed in Thai style, and we had performers entertain everyone with traditional Thai dances. We even had a fire show which got everyone tuned into the cheery spirit of the occasion.”
Mandvo Ceremony
“The theme of this ceremony was ‘Bandhani and Benarasi Basics.’ I wanted this event to be completely traditional with a dress code that mixed ethnic with a modern twist. I chose to hold the ceremony in a beautiful library surrounded by books since books form a large part of my life as I am a lawyer and I wanted this event to reflect that. The smells, the songs and the ceremony itself gave one a sense of serenity and peace – exactly what I was trying to achieve!”
Wedding
“’Regal Renaissance’ was the theme of our wedding. We chose a mandap that opened up to create a connection with the sky rather than going for the more common closed top ones. The pillars were covered in a swirling arrangement of flowers and foliage to create the look of manicured topiary plants. We wanted to utilize our breathtaking backdrop and create a setup that would play up its beauty. The dinner setting was regal where we used long tables and had singers and a violinist to set the vibe.”
Pool Party
“Our pool party theme was called ‘L’apres midi en blanc’ and it was a contemporary luxury beach club theme where we asked everyone to dress in white. We wanted this one to be chic and trendy. At the event, we had a Zorb ball, floaties, card tables (for the older crowd), masseurs and a great bar team who put everyone in a great mood!”
Reception
“This function showcased a fusion theme – ‘Vogue X Khao Lak’ where the dress code was high fashion combined with black tie.” The decor was elegant and lavish, and we added entertainment to match the mood. We had a silk acrobat artist and a violinist to entertain us. Our seating chart was unique and followed the ‘Take a shot to take your seat’ concept. Guests got shot glasses with their names on it. Once they drank the shots, the bottom of the glasses revealed their table numbers.”
Advice For Couples
“Take every moment you can during the functions to spend time with your guests who have traveled from all over the world to celebrate with you. Don’t worry about the small details at the time or wander around trying to arrange things – just immerse yourself in the festivities, the vibe and the true essence of getting married.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, Thailand
Wedding Planner: Krish Events
Decor: I Am Flower (Thailand)
Bride’s Outfits: Natasha Dalal and Chamee & Palak
Groom’s Outfits: JDS (Mumbai)
Makeup Artist: Makeovers by Sejal
Photography and Videography: Anoop.Photography
