Shirin Lamba and Anshal Gulati, The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
Featuring a heady mix of glamour and romance, this couple’s intimate destination wedding was a showstopper despite any obstacles in its path!
After dating for half a decade and waiting patiently for their ‘happily ever after’ Shirin Lamba, an entrepreneur, and Anshal Gulati, a businessman, tied the knot at Agra in the wintery month of November a few meters away from the iconic Taj Mahal. Planning and curating their festivities was WeddingSutra Favorite – Baraati Inc. who fused their creativity with the couple’s vision to orchestrate a wedding that stole everyone’s breath away!
Wedding Planning
Shweta Acharya from Baraati Inc shares, “The families were keen on celebrating the love of the couple, and hence we conceptualized all the festivities with a dash of grandeur. Royal minimalism was the focus of the wedding and we also placed a priority on guest experiences by crafting memorable events.” Giving us an overview of the brief shared by the couple, Shikha Chauhan from Baraati Inc. shares, “Subtle, sophisticated and royal are the words to perfectly describe the real essence of the wedding. The couple wanted to curate an experience that would last forever, which meant that every guest at the intimate wedding felt equally involved. We ensured that we were very careful while curating the wedding squad and orchestrating the celebrations. We chose team members who’d understand the vision from the get-go and amplify the beauty of the property rather than mask it.”
The happy couple shares, “A wedding is such an emotional rollercoaster, and one needs someone who can not only handle all the arrangements perfectly but also the feelings and emotions of all the family members. In Baraati Inc., we found all that and more as they made these few days so precious for us.” Shirin shares, “Every crisis was dealt with smoothly and they always offered solutions. During the pandemic, the Agra airport had come to a standstill, and it was a nightmare for us as we had guests who had fixed plans to attend the wedding. Anshal’s family was to travel from Jammu while my family was coming from New Delhi along with other guests who were flying in from different parts of the globe. Baraati Inc. took the challenge in their stride and set up a road trip customised for the wedding. A luxury bus for the youngsters along with a fleet of Mercedes sprinters for the elders was organized with custom gourmet snack boxes and in-car bars. As the wedding wheels rolled down to Agra, a concierge team managing 3 hotels for the guests’ stay, was ready to welcome them with a spectacle of performances by local folk dancers, Qawwali singers, lip-smacking welcome drinks and well-stocked rooms with custom hampers and wedding stationery.”
Weddings Functions
Bridal Henna Party
Shikha shares, “For the first evening with the family a ‘Beyond infinity’ themed private bridal Henna party was set up as an ode to the couple’s love. The party was a last-minute decision, and it was upon us to provide a turn-key solution within 48 hours for the same! So, we paid an ode to the couple’s love via the theme itself. We turned to local teams who with our guidance added a rustic charm to the evening.”
Cocktail
The bride Shirin shares, “The next day with the celebrations in full swing, the guests and family witnessed a black & gold ‘Be Amazing’ themed Cocktail night where a live band took to the stage and made the wedding party sway till the wee hours of the morning despite the last minute change of venue due to unexpected November rains!”
Haldi
Shweta from the planning team shares, “Dressed in tones of yellow and fuschia that were juxtaposed with Mughal prints and patterns, the Haldi was a memorable event. Emotions ran high as everyone carried their hearts on their sleeves as they playfully applied turmeric on the couple.”
Sundowner Mehndi
An ode to the couple’s meet-cute in the city of Boston, the Mehndi Sundowner was swathed with fresh blooms and bold floral prints. Bollywood singer Sona Mohapatra was at her energetic best as guests swayed till the wee hours of the morning by the pool!
Wedding
One of the first Anand Karaj ceremonies hosted at the venues, the wedding was a treat for the eyes with its peach and pink hues. Shirin and her Dad were inseparable while everyone held their breath as the couple finally found the happy ending that they had waited for so long!
Reception
After the Wedding amidst the golden glow of the candle lights, piano maestro Vishal Misra took to the stage and left everyone enchanted. While on the other hand, the couple was at their glamorous best as they stepped out wearing sleek Manish Malhotra outfits that contrasted beautifully against the classy off-white decor.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
Wedding Planner: Baraati Inc.
Décor: Aura By Gautam Vedi
Groom’s Outfits: Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding), Arjan Duggal (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Anamika Khanna (Sundowner Mehndi) Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Cocktail, Wedding, Reception)
Makeup: Makeup by SP Eastland
Entertainment: Sona Mohapatra (Mehndi Sundowner), Vishal Misra (Reception), Bartender Band, DJ AJ, DJ Gaurav Malvai & DJ Marsh
Bartenders: Cocktails & Dreams
Photography: Artfoto Studios
