Sanika and Rohit, Thailand

Common friends played Cupid in Rohit and Sanika’s charming love story. The couple chose Thailand for their destination wedding and hosted their beautiful celebrations at The Palayana Hua Hin, Thailand, and bride Sanika shares some fun memories here.

How They Met

Sanika shares, “Rohit and I met each other through common friends. We’d known each other for a while, but started talking to each other only years later after one of my best friends’ birthday party. Our common friends had tried setting us up for months, but we never took them seriously and rebuffed all attempts! However, after the party, something magical happened and we just clicked and started a conversation. After a few months, when we started dating, it felt just right and that’s when we realized that we’re meant to be together. We also told our parents who were very happy with our decision. And, before we knew it, they’d planned our engagement. Rohit and I are poles apart – he’s a Punjabi and I’m a Maharashtrian. The only common thing we share is that we’re both from Pune but were raised in Dubai. Yet, somehow we’re always in sync!”

Wedding Venue

Sanika goes on to share, “We came across The Palayana Hua Hin’s profile on Instagram, and I fell in love with the venue at first sight! My immediate thought was of hosting a beachside wedding which would look absolutely gorgeous against the pristine shoreline. Also, Thailand has always been known for its warm welcoming atmosphere which paired with its convenient location, making it the perfect pick for us. Adding to that is their understanding of our culture which means that we wouldn’t have to worry too much about explaining things to them. During the nuptials, the hotel staff always had a positive attitude about last-minute needs. In terms of food, I think they got the Punjabi cuisine just right!”

Wedding Planning

Orchestrating this destination wedding were The Divine Events who used their expertise to make sure every function went ahead smoothly. Makeup artist Nui Samui worked her magic on Sanika and gave her one stunning makeup look after the other. Teaming up with her was hairstylist Jacky Phurapee who made sure not a strand was out of place. Photographers LightBucket Productions used their skill behind the lens to capture all the memorable and expressive shots of the wedding. 

Weddings Functions

Welcome Party

“Rohit and I were very particular about the fact that we wanted our welcome party to be an intimate affair with only friends and family present. It had to be personalized in every manner, and our aim was to impress our guests from the moment they set foot in the venue. So we wore our matching personalized tee shirts and welcomed every guest personally as the dholwalas belted out their best beats. In terms of the decor, we used elements to match our invite, and the color palette included pastels hues like lavender and mint green.”

Mehndi

“For our mehndi, we went as colorful as possible and created separate cabanas for each activity. The theme was ‘Pastels & Tropics,’ and there was also an exclusive coconut water stall that was a big hit with the guests. Each cabana had a different purpose; one was for traditional foot massages and others were for guests who wanted to get henna patterns applied on their hands. We had always planned on coordinating our outfits for this event, so I picked a yellow lehenga and Rohit opted for a matching bandhgala outfit. I did a surprise dance for Rohit too along with my bridesmaids.”

Sangeet

“The sangeet was a dazzling affair, so it was important that my outfit was just as sparkly. Thankfully, I had everything planned beforehand, and I’d already decided to have fuss-free decor for this function. Everything was on a smaller scale and decorated with twinkling fairy lights and lanterns. The stage was the centerpiece with its lavender blooms and arches.” For this event, the bride wore a shimmery lilac lehenga, while Rohit looked dapper in his dark violet bandhgala set.

Wedding

“I wanted a beachside wedding from the very first glance I had of The Palayana Hua Hin, and I’m glad to say that things went ahead exactly the way I’d envisioned. We had a beautiful floral mandap with Lord Ganesha behind us giving us his blessings. A Maharashtrian-style garlanding ceremony was followed by Punjabi style pheras as the salty breeze blew around us.” For her big day, Sanika donned a bright pink lehenga and paired it with statement kundan jewelry. Rohit chose a mint green sherwani that contrasted with his bride’s attire. 

Advice For Couples

“There may be situations when it all seems too much to take in, but just don’t stress. Everything will be alright in the end, and honestly, there’s only so much you can do. Make sure none of these issues come in between you and your partner on your big day.”

The Wedding Makers

Venue: The Palayana Hua Hin, Thailand
Wedding Planner: The Divine Events
Bride’s Outfits: Dulhan Diaries (Welcome Party), Liz Paul (Mehndi), Roopkala Heritage (Sangeet), Om Parkash Jawahar Lal (Wedding)
Floral Jewellery: Flosaira
Makeup Artist: Nui Samui
Hairstylist: Jacky Phurapee

Photography: LightBucket Productions

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