Palak and Pranal, Rajasthan

Palak and Pranal’s gorgeous destination wedding hosted in Jaisalmer was a grand affair with most functions held in outdoor venues, from the desert to the hotel’s central courtyard. All the festivities were captured fabulously by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Wedding Salad. Here, bride Palak shares how everything came together for her memorable wedding.

How They Met
“Pranal and I have been family friends, but surprisingly never knew of each other. His maternal aunt used to live in the same building as me, and it so happened that when he was visiting her, she introduced the two of us and that’s how we got talking.”

Wedding Planning
“We planned a mix of traditional and unconventional ceremonies, which struck a good balance and led to crazy fun. None of our events took place in a banquet. We hosted everything outdoors and are glad that we could encapsulate the beauty of Jaisalmer in every ceremony. I dedicated my heart, body, and soul to this wedding. I wanted this once in a lifetime event to be as memorable and perfect as it could be.”

Wedding Functions

Youngsters’ Party
“The youngsters’ sundowner party took place in the middle of the desert. The decor comprised a mix of low and high seating, lots of lanterns and of course, sheesha. The vibe was relaxed and as the night progressed, almost everyone was on the dance floor, dancing like there was no tomorrow. It was a different high to see our loved ones celebrate with us in such an exciting way on our big day.”

Rann Ki Holi
“Although the idea of playing Holi at a wedding in Rajasthan in January didn’t sit too well with everyone, we nevertheless stuck to it and were thrilled to see all of our friends and family having the time of their lives being covered in colored powder from head to toe! The event was a boisterous color riot and turned out exactly as we had wanted it to be.”

Sangeet
“The stage for our sangeet was situated right in the center courtyard of the hotel and was surrounded by a water body giving the guests a 360-degree view of the entire place. We had a carousel bar set up for the guests, tents with buntings, quirky seating and a deep color palette that brought it all together. It was a glamorous carnival and I loved it!

My favorite memory from the wedding has to be from this event where Pranal surprised me with performance. I was obviously clueless as to what was happening. Before the performance, he ensured that all the lights were dimmed and a video clipping was played for me, with his voice. The message from him was beautiful and touching. We both held hands and danced after that.”

Brunch
“Our pre-wedding brunch was a laid back event in a chill setting where people were grooving to jazz tunes, sipping champagne, and the entire courtyard was covered in pastel sorbet hues. I had friends come up to me and say that they would never be able to go to any basic brunch after this because this was something they had never seen before, especially at a wedding!”

Wedding
“The most unique thing about our pheras was the mandap where they took place. Our pheras took place in a ‘Bawdi’ which is an amphitheater-style setting, almost akin to the Benarasi ghats. So while Pranal and I were exchanging vows, all eyes were fixed on us as we were surrounded by guests from all sides. We had also placed a pouch of rose petals, a ‘vows-decoded’ placard, and bells on each seat. As soon as the seventh phera was over, all the guests started ringing the bells. I cannot describe the feeling that the moment gave me.”

Reception
“The reception was a ‘meet and greet’ sort of function. The venue was completely lit with beautiful candles, and there was a band playing that made the atmosphere feel superb. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa, Suryagarh, Rajasthan
Wedding Planner: Enjay Events
Decor: Altair
Groom’s Outfits: Tarun Tahiliani (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding)
Makeup Artist: Mitali Vakil
Invitations: Sketch Design Studio

Photography: The Wedding Salad

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