Sonali Mittal and Siddharth Arora, Buena Vista Luxury Garden Spa Resort, Jaipur

Sonali Mittal and Siddharth Arora tied the knot in an intimate take on the Big Fat Indian wedding planned luxuriously by WeddingSutra Favorite – Hitchkey Weddings. Captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Candid House, these incredible shots weave a delightful tale of love and celebration against the stunning backdrop of Jaipur’s Buena Vista Luxury Garden Spa Resort.

How They Met
New York-based Fintech professional Sonali first connected virtually with San Francisco-based Siddharth Arora who works for Adobe as a Product Manager. Their WhatsApp chats soon graduated to phone calls, and when they met for their first date in New York a couple of months later, their chemistry was undeniable.
Sonali shares, “Siddharth made a special effort to travel to NYC during the pandemic which was wonderful, and that led to some beautiful conversations and laughs. A month later, we crossed paths once again in Delhi, and that seemed like a sign from the universe. The second meeting on home turf revealed a different side of our personalities to each other. Post that, our phone interactions became more frequent with our chats growing longer and we soon fell deeply in love before we even realized it. That summer, we met in LA where we had a magical trip to Disneyland. We started officially dating and it was not long before we knew that this was forever!”

Wedding Venue
The couple shared, “From the beginning, we wanted a destination wedding, at a location that would be an easy drive from Delhi-Gurgaon, and with its well-oiled wedding machinery Jaipur seemed like the perfect choice. The challenge was to find a property that amalgamated heritage charm with the modern-day luxury and wasn’t too sprawling so that we could book it out exclusively for our wedding. Convenience for older guests and family members, as well as an outstanding food experience, was non-negotiable. After exploring several venues, Buena Vista Luxury Garden Spa Resort emerged as the top choice for both parties. Ideally located at the doorstep of Jaipur in the lap of the Aravalis, the Hi-end resort combines the luxury and finesse brought by its French owner with the charm and tradition of Rajasthan. The rooms are exceptionally well appointed, the gardens are sprawling, and the food was divine. The specially designed Amphitheatre was perfect for pheras and rituals. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue”.

The Proposal
The much in love couple celebrated their intention to spend their lives together in a cozy, private Roka in the lush vineyards of Napa Valley. Although the wedding preparations began soon after, Siddharth wanted to sweep Sonali off her feet with a truly magical declaration of love, and so he planned an epic Las Vegas proposal that included everything from a luxury limo to a hot air balloon.

Nature however had something else in mind when the day came, and he ended up popping the question with a heartfelt private moment in the hotel room where he revealed his original plans and bared his heart with a stunning ring. After an exuberant Sonali’s emotional acceptance, he followed up with a helicopter ride as planned and a lovely engagement dinner at Picasso, overlooking the fountains of The Bellagio.

Wedding Planning
The couple planned their wedding in January of 2022 to coincide with the auspicious festivals of Lohri and Makar Sankranti and tied the knot in an intimate affair.

After having seen their work in action at another Jaipur wedding, the couple was won over by Hitchkey Weddings‘ attention to detail, their aesthetic sense and quality. They wasted no time in bringing them on board their wedding squad. They share, “They understood our brief very well while ironing out all the challenges seamlessly. They also paid special attention to the flower décor which we had very carefully selected. The quality and variety of flowers were the freshest and most impressive. The events were organized timely, and the staff was responsive. Thanks to them, we had the most wonderful time”.

Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The festivities kicked off with a vibrant poolside Mehndi lunch. The colorful decor was elegantly accented with large arrangements of white lilies and chrysanthemums in beautifully handcrafted brass urlis that added an artistic touch. Talented Mehndi artists from Jaipur delighted guests with their beautiful designs, while a fortune teller set up with his parrot, a laakh bangle maker and other artists engaged and entertained guests with their skills. A vintage style Popcorn cart treated everyone to fresh popcorn, as they swayed to the music and had a gala time.

Cocktail
The evening continued with Lohri and Dhol celebrations followed by a glitzy Cocktail soiree. A shimmering fairy light tunnel led the guests into the festivities with peppy neon signs. The venue featured a spectacular dance stage complete with LED screens, disco balls, smoke and confetti machines, a contemporary bar and more. Gift exchanges between the two sides kicked off the revelries followed by the ring ceremony, after which the newly engaged couple made a grand entry on a mirrored ramp lined up with rows of fresh flowers and cold pyros. Scintillating dances by the families, a montage display of the pre-wedding shoot, couple dances, professional performances and more made the night truly memorable. A notable highlight was a heartfelt song by the bride’s sister.

DJ Nautiyal set the stage on fire with his rocking playlist and mixes, keeping guests on the dance floor till the morning! Trendy graphics and visuals on the huge LED screens set the vibe. The after party was an affair to remember, complete with funky props, masks, neon glasses, shotguns and much more.

Haldi
The sun kissed Haldi was held poolside under the warm winter sun which featured beautiful white canopies, strings of yellow and orange marigolds, and great music that set the tone for a fabulous celebration. The couple made a lively entrance in true ZNMD style, dancing through the marigold archways to ‘Suraj Ki Baahon Mein’ with the bridesmaids and groomsmen holding up colored smoke-bombs. The couple sat in huge brass urlis against a marigold laden flower wall where their relatives and friends took turns anointing them with turmeric and showering them with flowers. Enthusiastic performances by Raja Dholi had everyone dancing and singing along, before sojourning for a session of kite flying to mark the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Wedding
Set against the heritage backdrop of the resort, the wedding decor was a sight to behold. Fresh rajnigandha clusters with copper bells hung at the entrance, while vast canopies with chandeliers hung over the seating area with hundreds of candles that added a warm glow to the evening. Decorated with deep red roses, crystals and chandeliers, the mandap was nothing short of surreal.

The groom arrived in a vintage Rolls Royce amidst an enthusiastic baraat that danced for 4 hours straight, popping champagne and grooving to the tunes of Raja Dholi and Jia Band. Entering under a beautiful Phoolon ki chadar held by her brothers and chachas, Sonali looked every bit the quintessential Indian bride in rich crimson. The Jaimala was accompanied by fireworks, cold pyros, showers of flowers, lots of cheering and emotional speeches, followed by the pheras which ended in fireworks, cheers and joy.

Reception
Following the grand wedding celebrations, live musical performances, cake cutting, champagne toasts, dinner and a rousing after-party brought the grand festivities to a close.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Buena Vista Luxury Garden Spa Resort Jaipur
Wedding Planner: Hitchkey Weddings
Photography and Videography: The Candid House

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