Preet Shah and Rishabh Kothari, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah
Backed by the gentle sea waves, this couple’s destination wedding was a dazzling one with larger-than-life elements and picture-perfect moments.
When it came to extravagance, Preet Shah and Rishabh Kothari’s wedding knocked it out of the park with stunning celebrations that took one’s breath away. Planned & designed by WeddingSutra Favorite – FB Celebrations, the festivities were grand and picture-perfect! Photographing the couple as they tied the knot was WeddingSutra Favorite- SeventybyTwo Wedding Stories who captured the couple’s adorable moments as they embarked on a new adventure.
How They Met
Preet shares, “Our story began on a badminton court, where we played an intense match against the odds. Despite never having played together before and facing the tournament’s top player, we had fun and did our best. To everyone’s surprise, we won, and there was an instant chemistry between us. People talked about us as the ‘dream team’ and we continued to speak for months afterwards. As we conversed, I fell deeper in love with his values, mind, and way of life. And in 2021, he proposed to me in Tuscany, in the most romantic way ever.”
Wedding Planning
Photographing the couple as they took the plunge was SeventybyTwo Wedding Stories who impressed the couple with their skills. The couple shares, “The team was an absolute delight to work with. They understood the kind of couple we were and the kind of shots we wanted right away. From the photographs to the wedding trailer, our minds were blown away. When you watch your wedding trailer, you want a recap of all the moments you think you might forget, and they did precisely that for us. We have an incredible trailer with every single moment captured so beautifully. We are extremely grateful to have chosen SeventybyTwo Wedding Stories.”
Planning the series of inspiring festivities and ensuring that every little detail was just as the couple had imagined was FB Celebrations. Pushing the envelope of innovation with distinct themes that paved the way for unique design stories, the planning team was on their toes throughout the wedding!
Wedding Functions
Welcome Lunch
To mark the beginning of their wedding celebrations, the couple hosted a welcome lunch for all the guests and relatives. Both the bride and groom looked gorgeous in red and their attire perfectly complemented each other. The welcome lunch was a great way for the couple to kick off their wedding and for the guests to mingle and get to know each other before the main events.
Mehendi
Preet and Rishabh’s Mehendi ceremony was an exciting and vibrant event, featuring an enthralling musical performance. The couple took to the dance floor, accompanied by side dancers, and put on an incredible performance which led the guests to cheer them on. The energy and excitement of the event made it a highlight of the wedding, with memories that will last a lifetime.
Haldi
The Haldi ceremony was a beautiful and colorful affair with pink-themed Japanese decor. The event was filled with joy, laughter, and an abundance of love. The beautiful outfits, family performances and lively atmosphere created unforgettable memories for everyone in attendance.
Pool Party
At the pool party, energy was at an all-time high with an array of games, international performances and a table full of pool party props was set up, which made the pool party more enjoyable for the guests. These props included sunglasses, cute pool floats, caps, and scarves. The guests were delighted to receive these thoughtful and practical gifts, which added to the overall festive atmosphere of the pool party. The gifts not only helped the guests to have more fun but also served as souvenirs of a memorable day spent by the pool.
Cuisines from across the globe, a rain dance and a foam dance. Guests were able to let loose and have fun, enjoying the beautiful setting and each other’s company.
Sangeet
The couple’s sangeet ceremony was a magical evening, with incredible dance performances. They also performed solo performances, adding to the charm and magic of the event. A colossal stage lit up by spotlights and backed by an LED screen dominated the decor.
Wedding
The wedding took place in a picturesque and panoramic setting facing the beach, creating a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. The wedding event at the beach was spread over an area of 60,000 square feet, which was beautifully decorated to create a picturesque setting.
An astonishing amount of two tons of flowers were utilized for this wedding, adding a breathtaking floral touch to the stunning decor.
Advice for Couples
Having learnt from their own experience, here are a few tips that the couple shared for to-be-weds –
1. Go get your outfits early – designers take time and having them on hand 1 month before your wedding is ideal.
2. Don’t go on a ‘weight loss journey’ weeks before your wedding – you’ll be tired and have no energy.
3. Take in each moment – remember all your five senses and just take in everything whether it’s getting ready with your mom, or it’s a small ritual, just smile through it all. Your wedding will fly by and you won’t even know it!
4. Be sure to stay next to each other through functions so you get the maximum amount of photos.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Wedding Planner, Decor, Design & Execution: FB Celebrations Pvt Ltd
Groom’s Outfits: Just Men (Welcome Lunch, Pool Party), Arjun Kilachand (Mehndi), Versace (After Party), Rahul Mishra (Haldi), The White Aura (Wedding, Sangeet), M2M (After Party)
Bride’s Outfits: Shantanu & Nikhil (Welcome Lunch), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Mehndi), Falguni Shane Peacock (Haldi), Papa Don’t Preach (Pool Party), Dolly J (Sangeet), Manish Malhotra (Wedding)
Drapist: Dolly Jain (Wedding)
Makeup: Paveena Kh Rathour
Hairstyling: Ritika Kadam
Entertainment: Juggy Sandhu (Mehndi), Gurdeep Mehendi (Sangeet)
Choreography: Shailesh Ranjak
Photography: SeventybyTwo Wedding Stories
