Shaneez and Mohak, Jaipur
Classic and youthful, this bride made a royal splash at her traditional Rajasthani wedding.
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and in this case, these words came true for Shaneez and Mohak. This duo has been through their share of ups and downs but didn’t give up on their love no matter what. As they embarked on the adventure of a lifetime together at their lavish Jaipur wedding, WeddingSutra Favorite – Ombre by Harsheen Jammu was there to capture candid and tender moments shared between the young bride and groom. Here are a few highlights.
How They Met
They met in Singapore where both of them were studying in 2012 and from then, there’s been no looking back. Shaneez shares, “I always found Mohak really cute and had no idea that he felt the same way about me till a mutual friend intervened. We both then started texting, but in my mind, I’d friend-zoned him. But as we grew closer, I was swept away by his caring, thoughtful nature and charming smile. Within a month of dating, Mohak told me that he wanted to marry me.” They had been together for seven years in which they had maintained a long-distance relationship for five years. The going hadn’t always been smooth but Shaneez says, “We’ve been through so many ups and downs over the years but we were both aware that we bring out the best in each other and there’s absolutely no one else we can imagine spending a lifetime of adventures with.”
The Proposal
Mohak popped the big question at the break of dawn signifying the new journey that he was going to embark on with his lady love. Shaneez shares, “We were in Pokhara, Nepal with a group of friends and one night we were all having drinks. Mohak, however, asked me to go easy on the drinks as he wanted me to catch the sunrise with him the next morning. He woke me up at 5 AM when it was literally freezing outside and took me to watch the sunrise. It was a magical moment with the first rays of the sun hitting the snow-capped peaks without a single soul around us. And then, Mohak went down on one knee with a ring in his hand…it just couldn’t have been more perfect!”
Wedding Venue
The wedding took place in three parts first being the Solemnization Ceremony at W Hotel. It was a modern English style wedding with the contemporary architecture of the venue providing the perfect backdrop. Next on the list was an opulent traditional Indian wedding that celebrated the rich heritage of Rajasthan and gave the couple a chance to go all out in their traditional finery within the palatial grounds of Hotel Fairmont, Jaipur. To cap it all off, a glitzy reception at ITC Maurya, New Delhi was all the couple needed to start off their ‘happily ever after’ journey as they celebrated with all their friends. The theme of the event was ‘Indian Royal’ which was reflected in the swanky decor which went perfectly with the modern palatial architecture of the venue.
Wedding Planning
Planning the perfect wedding is a mammoth task, but thankfully, Shaneez and Mohak had the perfect team to fall back on. The planning was seamlessly executed by Ishita Mangal who was with the pair every step of the way and helped them make important decisions.
Capturing candid and tender moments shared between the couple was Ombre by Harsheen Jammu who made every click count as her team captured the playful moments that Shaneez and Mohak Shared. Staying true to the theme, the couple also posed formally as a couple with the white arches of Jaipur serving as a backdrop.
Making a statement with the wedding invites was Izhaar whose designs captured the rich colors of India with their desi designs that were elegant, bold yet outstanding.
Indian weddings just aren’t complete without the entire family showing off their best dance moves. Choreographer Aastha Arora takes credit for every twirl and thumka that made the sangeet an unforgettable ceremony.
Weddings Functions
Mehndi
Mehndi was a colorful affair that balanced luxury and the whimsical perfectly. Shaneez looked cheerful and fresh in a multicolored lehenga which she accessorized with contemporary Rajasthani jewellery. Mohak’s multi-color sherwani complemented his bride’s look. The antique mauve hue of their outfit ensured that nothing on their outfit was too loud or jarring for the eye.
The decor which followed a colorful theme, gave out breezy and casual vibes with colorful tassels that were paired with bright orange marigolds.
Sangeet
The Sangeet was a glitzy occasion with royal accents in which the bride glimmered brightly in a silver lehenga with intricate embroidery while Mohak looked princely and elegant in a black velvet bandhgala and black trousers. Adding an extra dash of luxury to the night were the breathtaking emerald and diamond-encrusted set of necklace and earrings that adorned Shaneez’s neck and ears.
Haldi
With the Jaipur sun at its brightest, the Haldi was a sunlit affair in which Shaneez and Mohak chose to go simple. While Shaneez donned a simple white and yellow printed sleeveless lehenga with floral designs, Mohak chose a light, yellow kurta with dhoti-style bottoms to stay cool in the sun. The decor followed a traditional floral theme replete with yellow marigolds that peppered the entire venue and these pretty flowers were even showered on the couple as they were doused with haldi.
Wedding
For the big day, Shaneez pulled all stops and looked resplendent in a red Sabyasachi lehenga that grabbed everyone’s attention. The bride looked radiant and channeled the ‘desi dulhan’ vibes flawlessly in her floral lehenga embellished with gold zari work. Completing the royal look was a striking kundan necklace and thick bracelets encrusted with precious gemstones. A maang tikka and nath accentuated Shaneez’s beauty as she posed demurely for the camera.
Looking like a fairytale Indian prince in his white bandhgala with an elegant fringed shawl, Mohak was also a treat to the eyes. Adding a pop of color to his look was a layered pearl and ruby necklace that paired well with his bride’s red lehenga.
With its antique gold candelabras, crimson and gold tapestries paired with gold ornaments the decor ticked all the boxes of the ‘royal’ theme. Their mandap was also designed along similar lines with ornate woodwork and ethnic designs providing a stunning backdrop as the happy couple took their vows.
Reception
An Indian bride’s love affair with a kanjeevaram saree never ends and Shaneez proved that to be true as the bright lights at her reception glistened on the intricate zari work that graced her saree. Her vermillion stained maang stood out prominently amongst the elaborate gold and emerald jewellery that graced her neck, ears, and wrists. Mohak complimented his bride beautifully in a black velvet bandhgala with embroidered collar and cuffs and matching jodhpuri pants. The elaborate decor retained the royal theme that the couple had envisioned with its lotus bud lamps that lent a soft classy glow to the occasion.
Advice For Couples
Shaneez shares, “Make sure you prioritize what is important for you both and focus on that, whether it is food, DJ or the decor rather than having a say in everything. Secondly, coordinating outfits for the two families make for great pictures. Thirdly, use google docs. It saves you a lot of time and is so much more efficient than any other normal software.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: W Hotel Singapore (Solemnization Ceremony); Hotel Fairmont Jaipur (Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding); ITC Maurya, Sheraton, Delhi (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Ishita Mangal
Decor Production: The Stage Craft
Groom’s Outfits: Sabyasachi (Mehndi, Wedding), Shantanu & Nikhil (Sangeet), Fab India (Haldi), Rohit Bal (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Nakul Sen (Mehndi), Falguni and Shane Peacock (Sangeet), Anita Dongre (Haldi), Sabyasachi (Wedding), Heritage (Reception)
Choreography: Aastha Arora
Wedding Invitations: Izhaar by Core Designs
Photography: Ombre by Harsheen Jammu
