Neha and Shubham, Hua Hin, Thailand
With themes inspired by Broadway, Indian Royalty and 'Hawa Hawai', Neha and Shubham's wedding in Thailand gave their guests myriad unique experiences.
For Neha and Shubham, who met due to their common passion for table tennis, love truly has been fun and games. The only Indian woman to feature in 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Neha Aggarwal recently tied the knot. While WeddingSutra Favorite Pink Palki helped the couple plan their beautiful wedding, WeddingSutra Favorite KnotsbyAMP clicked stunning photographs of them and their celebration. Here are the highlights of their wedding.
How We Met
Neha and Shubham have been associated with table tennis, and that’s how they met each other in 2003. Back then, they were only friends, but they kept in touch through the years even when Neha moved to the US in 2015. When she returned to India, she spoke to her parents about Shubham and everyone was pretty happy with her decision.
Proposal
For Neha, the marriage took place after their ‘roka’ ceremony. Just before she left for a work trip to Europe, Shubham surprised her by taking her to The Westin Gurgaon where he asked her to marry him.
Wedding Venue
Keen on having a destination wedding; the duo began to look at venue options in Goa and Thailand. They found the latter to be a better option since planning a wedding there would cost them about the same as hosting one in Goa. Plus their guests would get to enjoy a new destination. They booked the beautiful Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa for their nuptials as it offered great views from each room and multiple function spaces.
Wedding Planning
Shubham’s sister who is a professional wedding invitation designer and runs her company called Le Reve Studio, created his wedding invitations. She also recommended that the couple hire Pink Palki to plan their wedding and make it an affair to remember. It took them two trips to Thailand to finalize all the details of the celebrations along with the Pink Palki team. When it was showtime, the planners executed everything wonderfully and made sure that there was no pressure on the couple or their families by taking complete charge. The KnotsbyAMP team deftly captured every emotion that was seen on the faces of the couple and their families with their top-notch wedding photography.
Wedding Functions
Arrival Brunch and Mehndi
The arrival brunch was the first in the line up of the events that went on for three days. Since this marked the arrival of Neha and Shubham’s guests to the wedding as well as to the Land of Smiles, the couple wanted to give them a taste of Thailand which they did through the decor. The theme for the function was ‘Tuk-Tuk Diaries’ which included a Thai-style welcome which gave everyone a glimpse into Thai culture.
Blue and white ruled their Santorini-themed mehndi. Cabanas draped in the color of the sky dotted the venue and floral arrangements added to the overall charm. Keeping in line with the color palette, Neha wore a blue Tamanna Punjabi Kapoor lehenga, and Shubham matched her look in his blue outfit designed by Gagan Oberoi which he bought from Anahita in Hyderabad. The bride and the groom made a dramatic entry to the event in an All-Terrain Vehicle which impressed their guests.
After Party
After the mehndi, the wedding party shifted to an indoor venue so that the party could go on until wee hours without disturbing anyone else. The decor for this event was inspired by Hong Kong, and the color scheme was black and red. Neha wore a glamorous black maxi dress.
Haldi and Pool Party
The second day began with a colorful haldi and pool party which had a ‘Hawa Hawai’ theme. Bright colors made the atmosphere cheerful, and Neha embraced the vibe by wearing a bright yellow saree with a pink blouse. She finished her look with pretty gota jewellery. After the haldi, she changed into a white and pink dress by Masaba for the pool party.
Sangeet
The Broadway-themed sangeet added classic glamour to Neha and Shubham’s wedding celebrations. A dramatic canopy inscribed with ‘Broadway’ and two golden chairs made for a cool photo booth. Shimmering drapes, feathers, and lights came together to add a touch of flamboyance and bring the theme alive. Neha wore a blingy lehenga by Nadine Dhody, and Shubham wore a cream dhoti kurta with a bandi jacket and pink dupatta by Karan Tanna that was bought from Anahita in Hyderabad. There was flip-flop footwear arranged for the ladies if they wanted to change out of their high heels and dance the night away.
Wedding
Neha made an entry with her parents by her side and her friends and relatives lighting the way with Phuljaadis. The bride wore a traditional red ensemble, while Shubham opted for a Sabyasachi sherwani.
Her Bidaai was on a golden throne which was decorated with flowers.
Advice For Couples
“Coordination between the two families is very important for smooth planning since the big day is a result of a team effort. Couples should not stress about little things that don’t matter. Brides should finalize their outfits and jewellery as soon as possible. Choosing the right people to plan your wedding is very crucial. If possible, we recommend a destination wedding if the budget permits because it is more fun and the bride and groom also get to enjoy it. Lastly, use online wedding platforms to do your research but don’t get too carried away and forget what you want.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
Wedding Planner: Pink Palki
Bride’s Outfits: Tamanna Punjabi Kapoor (Mehndi), Masaba (Pool Party), Nadine Dhody (Sangeet)
Groom’s Outfits: Gagan Oberoi (Mehndi), Kunal Tanna (Sangeet), Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Bride’s Invitation: Moor Designs
Groom’s Invitation: Shivaangi of Le Reve Studio
DJ: DJ Ajay Hyderabad (After Party)
Photography: KnotsbyAMP
