Shrutika and Lakshya, Bahrain

Shrutika and Lakshya had many mutual friends but had never crossed paths in person. However, with a little intervention from destiny, the two finally met at their best friends’ destination wedding and sparks instantly flew. The rest as they say, is history.

Hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel at the scenic Bahrain Bay, this duo’s wedding was full of joy, love, and splendor. Capturing the beauty of their union were WeddingSutra Favorite – Sam & Ekta who made sure every emotion was clicked in beautiful frames for the couple to cherish for the years to come. A close-knit and luxurious three-day affair, their nuptials had multiple themes from a traditional Indian beachside wedding to an eccentric after-party decorated by WeddingSutra Favorite – Vivaah Wedding Decor Stylist who meticulously curated unique elements for each function.

How They Met
Shrutika recalls, “Lakshya and I have known each other because of our similar social circles but our paths never really crossed. It wasn’t until our best friends were getting married that we met each other, and life came to a full circle. We got acquainted at their wedding in Langkawi and would see each other during the dance rehearsals. We really hit it off on the sangeet night and remained inseparable for the next three days. However, I didn’t think we’d be in touch after leaving Langkawi.

But Lakshya had different plans and I was pleasantly surprised when he asked me out on a date once we landed in Bombay. After that, there was no stopping us. We met almost every day during that first week of dating even though we were both busy. It took us about a month to realize that this relationship had true potential and would lead to something more meaningful. Soon after, our parents met, and a date was set.”

Wedding Venue
“As soon as we got engaged, we started recceing for the perfect wedding venue. In lieu of which, we made three trips and came back disappointed as we were extremely finicky about the venues. Our goal was to have a larger than life sized wedding celebration that was also intimate. Our first choice was Umaid Bhawan Palace. Unfortunately, there were a few logistical issues that we couldn’t overcome. Dejected, we returned from our trip to Jodhpur and resumed our search. One night as we were brainstorming on suitable venues in the Middle East, it dawned upon me that the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay would be perfect for our wedding. Lakshya and I checked out their pictures and instantly decided that this was our venue for the big day. Two weeks later we paid a visit to Bahrain and the moment we set foot in the hotel lobby we were swept away! The hospitality, the food, the staff, the exclusivity and all the help we got from Bahrain Tourism and Government was beyond welcoming and so helpful.”, shares Shrutika.

Wedding Planning
For a wedding as grand as this one, it’s essential that one has a reliable team to fall back on. Fortunately for Shrutika and Lakshya, they had a stellar team to guide them through the mammoth task of planning a destination wedding. With Vivaah Wedding Decor Stylist on the decor, every detail was meticulously planned, and the couple’s vision was brought to life. Ensuring that the nuptials went ahead without a hiccup was Tamarind Global whose seamless planning skills stitched everything together effortlessly.

Capturing the tender moments in between the loved-up couple were photographers Sam & Ekta. Gushing about her experience with the photographers, Shrutika shares, “From the very beginning Sam & Ekta have covered our journey as a couple. From our roka ceremony, pre-wedding shoot to our wedding, I think the level of effort and personal attention that they pay to their clients and their family is unreal. Most importantly, they care about your story and capture raw emotions with each click. The comfort level with them was extremely high and we felt that we were being photographed by our own friends.”

To keep the spirits soaring high throughout the wedding was DJ AJ who enthralled the audience with his beats. Ameya Dabli with his blissful tunes, added a touch of divinity to the duo’s wedding ceremony. Striking an emotional chord with his mesmerizing Vedic chants, the musician enthralled the guests with his stunning performance. Choreographer Aksheeta also made sure that everyone showed off their best moves by orchestrating a series of elaborate sangeet performances. The bride shares, “Aksheeta and her team worked tirelessly on the song selections, mixes, rehearsals, and visuals. Each performance had a thought-provoking concept behind it and was full of emotion.”

Weddings Functions

Engagement

Mehndi
The bridal mehndi was a breezy and sunlit ceremony, full of music and dance. Decorated with vibrant blooms and multicolored dreamcatchers, the venue contrasted beautifully with the golden sands of Bahrain. Shrutika shares, “It was an exciting function and family members from both sides were applying henna and dancing to the beats of the dhol. The boys, however, chose to zoom around the Bahrain International Circuit. You just can’t come to Bahrain and not experience the F1 track. Lakshya and his friends later joined in for the celebrations once they’d had their fun.”

For the occasion, the happy bride donned a soft pink embroidered lehenga which she accessorized with statement earrings and a maang tikka.

Welcome Dinner
With the aim of helping guests break the ice and mingle freely, the Welcome Dinner was hosted at The Cut by Wolfgang Puck. The bride shares, “We had a four-course meal together, which was a chance for everyone to warm up for the next two days which were loaded with celebrations. Our friends and family made amazing heartfelt speeches and toasts. Eventually, a crazy after-party ensued, and we had such a blast!”

Both the bride and groom kept their outfits light and dapper for the occasion. While Shrutika chose a black corset top with matching trousers, Lakshya cut a dashing figure in a navy-blue pinstriped suit.

Souq Function
Planned in collaboration with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), the couple sought to introduce their guests to the rich culture of the Middle East with this function.

“We provided all the guests with customized Souq coupons which they could exchange for any gift at numerous stalls that were set-up at the venue. These included a locally made perfume stall (Attar/Oud), a calligraphy stall, a henna stall, a traditional Bahraini wear stall, and a photo booth. There were also belly dancers to set the mood. Everything here was inspired by the Bahraini Arabic Culture, right from the food to the decor.”, says Shrutika.

Flanked by belly dancers, the couple made a smashing entrance and basked in the spotlight. Shrutika glowed in an ultramarine and gold lehenga that she paired with an ornate hair accessory. Lakshya donned a white and gold embroidered bandhgala jacket with a deep brown pocket square.

Sangeet
Reflecting Shrutika’s love for royal elements, the sangeet was a glitzy affair inspired by the ‘Bajirao Mastani’ theme with its gold and white palette which twinkled thanks to the mirror work on them. Packed with stunning performances, the bride looked radiant as she performed her solo in a blue and silver lehenga. The groom channeled his inner royal in a velvet bandhgala with embroidered sleeves.

Haldi
Staying true to tradition, the Haldi ceremony was decorated in hues of yellow and was a fun-filled occasion under the bright blue sky where the bride and groom were doused in turmeric and love. Surrounded by yellow marigolds, the couple began their Haldi by performing a customary puja.

Keeping the decor and occasion in mind, the duo chose similar hues of yellow for their attire. The bride wore a gold and yellow printed salwar kameez while the groom donned a simple yellow kurta.

Wedding
Expressing her affinity for Indian traditions, Shrutika decided to keep her big day elegant and true to tradition. She explains, “We had an elegant beach wedding which was also very traditional. The decor was subtle and minimalistic to highlight the scenic beauty of the venue. Neutral colors like white, pink and peaches added a dreamy aura to the ceremony.”

Dressed in a dreamy bright strawberry pink and gold lehenga, Shrutika embodied Indian elegance. Lakshya, on the other hand, contrasted with his bride in a pista green and gold sherwani.

After Party
For the after-party the duo and their team got their creative juices running and conceptualized a unique event that ended the nuptials on a high note. Shrutika shares, “The after-party was the most unique part about our wedding. I always knew that I wanted something elaborate and offbeat to end our three-day-long celebrations on a high note. We brainstormed with our planners and finally zeroed in on the concept of ‘The Surreal world of Salvador Dali’.

The decor was inspired by all of Salvador Dali’s art and every outfit was glam but eccentric. To take it a step further, we even made the staff and performers wear the Dali masks to create a bizarre environment. In the end, it was all about letting your hair down and partying like there was no tomorrow which we did till 9 AM in the morning!”

Keeping the theme in mind, Shrutika donned a purple, pink and red paneled dress and added an elaborate headpiece that not only kept her curls in check but also added a quirky twist to her wardrobe. Lakshya also chose a dapper magenta and blue suit for the occasion.

Advice For Couples
“Start planning your wedding at least six months to a year in advance, if you want to get married during the peak wedding season. You’ll be surprised at the amount of work that happens during the last month even if you have started 11 months ago as we did. Secondly, choose vendors consciously and make sure they’re just as invested in making the wedding a success like you are. Thirdly, add a personal touch to your wedding. No matter the scale of your wedding, a warm personalized touch is far more memorable for the guests than anything else.”, advises Shrutika.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Four Season Hotel, Bahrain Bay
Wedding Planner: Tamarind Global
Décor: Vivaah Wedding Decor Stylist
Groom’s Outfits: Mitesh Lodha (Mehndi), Sarah & Sandeep (Welcome Dinner), Shantanu & Nikhil (Souq), Shantanu & Nikhil (Sangeet), Shantanu & Nikhil (Wedding), NM Design (After Party)
Bride’s Outfits: Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika (Mehndi), Amit Aggarwal (Welcome Dinner), Shantanu & Nikhil (Souq), Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Sabyasachi (Wedding), Sonia Sawhney (After Party)
Makeup: Pakkhi, Zeenat Jaffer
Entertainment: Gurdeep Mehndi (Sangeet), Ameya Dabli (Wedding), Paris House Addict (After Party)
DJ: DJ AJ
Choreography: Aksheeta
Wedding Invitations: The Pragmatic Art

Photography and Videography: Sam & Ekta

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