Nikita and Gilles, Muscat, Oman

Nikita and Gilles met at university, and aced the lessons of romance! They wed in Oman where Nikita grew up, and the vibrant celebrations were designed by WeddingSutra Favorite Mosaic Events. Bride Nikita takes us through some of the special moments here.

How They Met
“Gilles and I first met during our orientation for our Master’s program at Wageningen University in the Netherlands where we were studying plant biotechnology. In the last six months of our course, at the time when we were working on our thesis, we became the closest of friends and began spending lesser time on research and more on extended coffee breaks. Little by little, we fell for each other, and although it sounds cliché, I don’t think there is a more natural way to find your partner. Although we came from completely different cultural backgrounds, we found a kind of comfort and companionship with each other that we had not found with anyone else before. The differences also made it an exciting journey of learning, acceptance, and change.”

The Proposal
“After two years of dating and well into our Ph.D., we went to a restaurant where we had our first date. It was there that Gilles popped the question. This was quite a big step for us but especially so for Gilles. Of course, I said ‘Yes’ to what seemed like the perfect proposal!”

Wedding Venue
“Oman has a special place in my heart since I grew up there and have some of my best memories from that country. In addition to that, Oman is beautiful, and I knew that a wedding there would make for a great experience for our loved ones too.”

Wedding Planning
“Mosaic Events from Muscat were our official decorators for all the three days, and they did a splendid job with the themes and arrangements. We made the best decision by booking The ‘We Do’ Moments by Meenakshi Jain as our wedding photographer. We could not have asked for someone more professional, hardworking, and amicable to capture our memories. Sheela Acharekar from Muscat was my makeup artist. She did an amazing job for me and our close relatives and friends. Shimul Doshi from Mumbai, who designed Gilles and his dad’s clothes, also deserves a special mention for his bespoke, high-quality ethnic menswear.”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi and Sangeet
“The mehndi and sangeet are arguably two of the most lively events at an Indian wedding. So we decided to double the cheer by combining the two into one big event. The outdoor spaces at the Sheraton Oman Hotel were decked in bright colors, and the elements exuded an ethnic Indian vibe. We had Rajasthani umbrellas suspended from above, vibrant strings embellished with mirrors hanging from tree branches, bright drapes and cushions which added to the riot of colors at the event. We also handed out bangles as wedding favors.”

Wedding
“After a very colorful mehendi and sangeet, we toned down the palette for our wedding by going for softer hues. We opted for a peachy pink color for our wedding decor to create a romantic setting. Our mandap was adorned with drapes and flowers, and the backdrop was a wall of candles that bathed the setup in a warm golden glow.”

Reception
“For our reception, we decided to unite Western concepts with Middle-Eastern aesthetics. The color scheme for this function was purple and gold and these two shades could be seen across everything right from the drapes, to the flowers to the lighting. The table decor included lanterns alongside flowers, and candles dotted the rest of the venue. Gilles and I welcomed our new beginning with heartwarming speeches, toasts, a cake cutting ceremony, our first dance, performances by our loved ones, and a mother-son dance. This truly made for the most memorable night of our lives!”

Advice For Couples
“Couples should start planning early. In our case, we started planning a year in advance and it helped prevent last-minute stress. While taking everyone’s opinions into account, it might get difficult to remember what you actually want. So make sure that you have the most special days of your life the way you and your partner would like it. If you both are happy, everyone will see that and be happy as well. Also try and have a food tasting session before the wedding and eat as much as you can! You probably won’t get the time on the wedding days itself to taste all that delicious food!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Sheraton Oman Hotel
Decor: Mosaic Events, Muscat
Groom’s Outfits: Shimul Doshi
Makeup: Sheela Acharekar

Photography: The ‘We Do’ Moments by Meenakshi Jain

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