Sonali and Karan, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand

Sonali and Karan’s wedding in Thailand was a meticulously planned affair with fun activities, delectable food and stunning decor. Here, bride Sonali shares her memories and photographs clicked by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Photo Diary.

How We Met
“Karan and I met six years ago through a friend and dated for a little over five years before we decided to get married.”

Proposal
“We had just returned from a friend’s wedding in Dubai when Karan proposed so I didn’t see that coming at all! My family and a few friends helped Karan plan the surprise proposal! A friend of mine had asked me to join her and her friend for dinner at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. When I reached, we ordered wine and waited for her ‘friend’ to show up. After a while, she slipped off to the bathroom. A few minutes later, the waiter delivered 100 red roses to my table in a vase covered with pictures of Karan and me that we had clicked through the years. That was when I realized what was going on! He sent me a letter asking me to meet him in the garden and that was where he proposed! After the proposal, my family and friends joined us for the rest of our dinner, and it was perfect!”

Wedding Venue
“Initially, we were planning on having our wedding in Bali, Indonesia, as we wanted an intimate wedding. However, as my grandparents are old, the long trip wasn’t an option, and so we had to choose a place in Thailand. We settled for Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa as we wanted a destination that was convenient to travel to from Bangkok. It was also important for us that the hotel we chose had experience handling Indian weddings and this property was one of those!”

Wedding Planning
“We hired Mantra Events as our wedding planners as they are well established in Thailand and have been in the business for some years. The team offered a combination of experience and youthful creativity which made the planning process very interesting. Both our families wanted the food to be one of the highlights of the wedding, so our caterers, wedding planners and family members went over the menu several times. The food at our wedding was provided by Red Catering & Delivery who did an excellent job.”

“All our wedding stationery was done by Rose Gold Design Studio, and we were very happy with their work! After a few discussions, they took over the whole process and gave us many options to choose from. Selecting just one was the tough part. We were impressed with their quality, efficiency, and creativity.”

“My make-up artist was Paveena Kh Rathour who hails from Bangkok but is based in India now. We had a makeup trial about a year before the wedding, and I immediately confirmed her. She understands the vibe of every bride which was very important for me. She let me stay true to myself and made me feel comfortable at all times!”

“I first came across The Photo Diary at an engagement event in Mumbai. I followed them on social media and liked their modern yet traditional approach. Plus, their work reflects a couple’s personalities very well! They allowed us to be ourselves through the shoots, and captured the moments so well that when Karan and I watch the video, it feels like we are reliving the functions itself!”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
“Karan and I wanted our wedding to reflect our personalities, which we felt could be showcased best through elegant and chic aesthetics. So we followed a ‘less is more’ approach when it came to the mehndi decor which blended yellow and white hues with Indian decor accents.”

Welcome Dinner
“The Welcome Dinner had an all-white theme with cabana-style decor as it was going to be held outdoors. Unfortunately, it rained that day which was a downer. However, we learned that during a wedding, things may not always go as planned. However, the crowd and vibe still made the party rock. Even though we had to execute plan B we still had a blast! For this function, I wore an ensemble from Koecsh by Kresha Bajaj which I paired with jewellery from Khurana Jewellers.”

Wedding
“My wedding decor incorporated tones of peach, pink and gold, and I wanted it to blend in some modern western elements too! It felt beautiful and surreal as I walked down the aisle, which was exactly what I had pictured in my head. The outdoor celebration dinner after the wedding had a more rustic and earthy vibe. We used fairy lights, added a circular bar in the middle, as well as a stage with photo frames as a backdrop! Black, white and gold hues, wooden decor and white flowers made the night seem earthy yet contemporary. At my pheras, I was sure I wanted to wear red, so I picked a lehenga by Anita Dongre and jewellery by Satyani Jewellers.”

‘Denim and Disco’ After-Party
“After our celebration dinner, we had organized a ‘Denim and Disco’ after party. We figured this was an easy theme for guests, and everyone adhered to the dress code. The decor for this function was all about denim with crystal accents. I wore denim trousers from Top Shop and a Jade blouse for this party. I picked up cool Outhouse jewellery for this function.”

Pool Party
“The next day we hosted a ‘Brunch and Bubbly’ pool party that was colorful with printed floral cabanas, pink hats by the bar, and all our close family and friends dressed in the same pineapple printed shirts! That added to the overall relaxed vibe and we got to chill and hangout with everyone! The decor of this party revolved around leafy elements, pineapples, flamingoes and pink and mint green color. This was right by the pool, so after a few drinks, most of us were in the pool!”

Reception
“The last event was the reception for which we decided to go with darker tones such as emerald green since we wanted the ambiance to feel like an enchanted garden. We had a lot of leaves with white feathers for this setup.”

Advice For Couples
“Find a wedding planning team that will have fun at your nuptials! Enjoy your wedding by being there and not worrying about the small stuff. I think both Karan and I let go of the planning as soon as the functions started, and I would recommend that to all couples! It’s a special day for both of you, so be there enjoy it and let the rest happen on its own!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
Wedding Planner: Mantra Events
Decor: Design by PeeraPach
Caterers: Red Catering & Delivery
Bride’s Outfits: Koecsh by Kresha Bajaj (Welcome Dinner), Anita Dongre (Wedding), Top Shop & Jade Blouse (Denim & Disco After Party)
Groom’s Outfits: Kunal Rawal
Jewellery: Khurana Jewellers (Welcome Dinner), Satyani Jewellers (Wedding), Out House (Denim & Disco After Party)
Makeup Artist: Paveena Kh Rathour
Invitations: Rose Gold Design Studio

Photography and Videography: The Photo Diary

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