Prianka and Nicolas, Phuket, Thailand
Their mandap in the middle of the water made for a spectacular wedding setup.
Prianka and Nicolas met at a coffee shop and, over time, their friendship brewed into a strong romance. Charmed by Thailand’s beautiful weather, gorgeous views, and warm hospitality, the couple decided to tie the knot in the Land of Smiles. They entrusted WeddingSutra Favorite – I Do Etc., with the responsibility of putting together a memorable celebration. The team did a spectacular job that left them impressed.
Here, the bride talks about her experience working with the team and shares the highlights of the wedding.
How They Met
“Nicolas and I met at the Pavement Coffeehouse on Gainsborough Street (Boston) in 2012, while we were both attending Northeastern University. I was sitting there by myself, reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, when he took a seat right next to me. That day I found my very own Mr. Darcy!
I believe that it’s easy to fall in love and be with someone when things go according to plan. However, the essence of this love shows itself during the times that things are a mess and partners have to stand by each other. It is in these moments that we could let go, but we continue to hold on. Nico is the person I want to have great easy times with and he is also the person I want to share the journey through rough waters with.”
The Proposal
“While I show my love through the small things in everyday life, Nico likes to make big romantic gestures. Needless to say, his proposal was rather elaborate. He asked me to marry him on our trip to Italy on a gondola, while we were cruising through the canals of Venice. It was so romantic, there is no way anyone could have turned it down!”
Wedding Venue
“We hosted our wedding at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa over the course of three days. On the first day, we had a welcome dinner. This was followed by the western wedding ceremony on the second day. In the schedule for the last day, we squeezed in three Indian wedding functions – the mehendi, the sangeet and the pheras.”
Wedding Planning
“Nicolas and I both planned the wedding with help from our parents and our planners, I Do Etc., who did most of the work. We gave them an idea of what we imagined for ourselves and the team transformed our vision into something even better. They went the extra mile and even advised us on all the vendors we used, right from hair and makeup to decorators and florists!
Parikshit Suri and his team at PK Suri Worldwide Studios were an absolute pleasure to work with. He is such an easy-going, funny and humble man. He made the shots, especially the ones with my bridesmaids super fun!
I had Anjali Bhasker for my makeup and Vishnu Witsanu for my hair. I can’t recommend a more perfect duo to help a bride get ready for her big day! We had five events in a three-day wedding and for each they gave me a look more beautiful than the last.”
Wedding Functions
Welcome Dinner
“Our wedding festivities began with a welcome dinner that had a ‘Havana Nights’ theme. It was hosted at a beautiful outdoor location that was elegantly lit with a mellow yellow tone. Bistro lights were installed overhead along with strings of fairy lights wrapped around trees, creating a sparkling curtain against the dancefloor. As Nicolas and I entered, sparklers lit up our path. The night entailed a lot of dancing and we even had a flamenco performance by professional dancers for our guests.”
White Wedding
“Our Western wedding took place on a lawn with the most mesmerizing views of the water. The decorations were minimal but elegant and white was the dominant color across the elements. Our canopy was decorated with a large cluster of flowers and foliage from which we suspended strings of flowers. For the ceremony, I dressed in a gown from Liz Martinez Bridal, while Nicolas wore a black tuxedo by Tom Ford.”
Reception
“After we said ‘I do’ we headed to our reception at the hotel’s ballroom. White reigned across the decor here, too. We made use of drapes at the entrance as well as for the backdrop of the dancefloor, while floral arrangements were used as accents and centerpieces. Nicolas and I were lead into the room by traditional Thai dancers, who also performed for our loved ones. The evening continued with speeches, a cake-cutting ceremony and our first dance.”
Mehndi
“The next morning we hosted the mehndi ceremony, which came alive with all the cheery colors common at Indian weddings. We used a combination of yellow and soft pink drapes and flowers to deck up the space. The divans, as well as the dancefloor, carried Indian patterns in bright hues which added to the liveliness of the function. I arrived at the event accompanied by dhol walas, wearing a green lehenga. Nicolas sported an Indian attire – a kurta along with a floral bandi for himself.”
Hindu Wedding
“I am half Indian and always wanted an Indian wedding so the pheras, for me, felt like the day we really got married. Our mandap was the highlight of this ceremony as it stood surrounded by water. The colors used as part of the setup were red and gold. Staying true to tradition, I wore a red lehenga by Sabyasachi. Nicolas looked handsome in a sherwani by the same designer.”
Advice For Couples
“Don’t sweat the small stuff and spend as much time as you can laughing, dancing, drinking (a little!) and making memories. What everyone says about weddings are true: in a blink of an eye it’s all over.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Thailand
Wedding Planner: I Do Etc.
Bride’s Outfits: Liz Martinez Bridal (White Wedding), Sabyasachi (Hindu Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Tom Ford (White Wedding), Sabyasachi (Hindu Wedding)
Makeup: Anjali Bhasker
Hairstyling: Vishnu Witsanu
DJ: DJ Dev
Bar: Bangkok Bar Entertainment & Mixologists
Photography: PK Suri Worldwide Studios
