Vihang and Anahita – Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
The #AnVhappened wedding celebrations had a 'Paithani meets Gara' theme and were magnificent with a beautiful mix of traditions
Vihang Sarnaik, son of prominent Maharashtra politician Pratap Sarnaik, married Anahita Paghdiwalla, a Parsi girl from South Mumbai, at the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad.
The Mumbai couple and their families shortlisted the grandest heritage and luxury palace hotels in Udaipur, Jaipur, and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, as well as Oman and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East to explore a destination wedding there. Later, they decided to visit the Taj Falaknuma Palace or ‘Mirror of the Sky’ located 2,000 feet above Hyderabad, on a hillock. The to-be-weds were immediately mesmerized by the venue and its legendary hospitality. Immediately, their wedding planners WeddingSutra Favorites Milestones to Memories started planning the three-day wedding celebrations at Taj Falaknuma Palace.
The Proposal
Vihang and Anahita were introduced through a common friend. After a whirlwind romance, Vihang proposed to Anahita at the Brighton Pier, UK. Their wedding planners along with UK-based Patridge Events found a romantic secluded spot at the end of the pier overlooking the sea and shore. Here, Partridge Events set up a red carpet, VIP ropes and a table for two complete with a bespoke floral cake and bottle of champagne, a private waiter and a guitarist playing their favorite Beatles tunes. Anahita’s “Yes!” was met with a huge cheer and a round of applause from crowds on the pier.
Wedding Venues
All the pre-wedding celebrations were held at different locations of the Taj Falaknuma Palace – the Pool Lawns, Zenana Courtyard and theMain Lawns. The wedding ceremony was held at the South East Garden and ‘varmala’ (garlanding ceremony) at the Falaknuma Facade. The glitzy celebrations combined with traditional festivities were beautifully managed by Milestones to Memories, with design and event production by famed Baroda-based designer Heena Patel of Amaahyaaj. WeddingSutra Favorites Reels & Frames photographed and filmed the candid moments.
Around 120 guests stayed at the Taj Falaknuma Palace, and over 300 guests were hosted at other hotels in the city. High-profile guests at the celebrations included politicians Devendra Fadnavis, Praful Patel, Aditya Thackeray; businessmen Niranjan Hiranandani, Richie Nanda and Joe Rajan; Bollywood actors/ producers Suniel Shetty, Naved Jaffrey, Sooraj Pancholi, Vindu Dara Singh; cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar and designer Vikram Phadnis; TV stars Zulfi Syed, Rohit Roy and Sudhanshu Pandey among others.
Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The mehndi decor was colorful and vibrant with fresh blooms and floral installations. Anahita looked radiant in a teal blue lehenga, while Vihang sported a pastel Aztec print kurta. The guests enjoyed a live performance of Jasleen Royal singing her famous ‘Din Shagna Da’ just for the lovely bride.
Vihang and Anahita with Aditya Thackeray
Haldi
The mehndi ceremony was followed by the haldi function which took place at the Zenana Courtyard. The couple wore matching yellow outfits and were at their playful best enjoying the ceremony with their close friends and family.
Sangeet
The techno-themed sangeet had Rahul Vaidya of ‘Indian Idol’ fame regaling guests with his voice, while singer and entertainer Badshah kept everyone on their feet till the wee hours of the morning with his dance tracks. Anahita looked her ethereal best in a pink and off-white lehenga, and Vihang wore an off-white kurta with a blue embroidered jacket.
Wedding & Reception
The ‘baraat’ (groom’s procession) was seen grooving to fun Marathi numbers. The bride dazzled in a champagne color lehenga, and the groom looked dapper in an off-white sherwani.
Vihang’ brother Purvesh, parents Pratap Sarnaik and Parisha Sarnaik with the couple
Clockwise from bottom left- Guests at the Sangeet and the team of Wedding Planners ( MtoM) at Taj Falaknuma Palace
Vihang states: “Many of our friends had never been to Hyderabad and the two days at Taj Falaknuma Palace was an amazing experience for all. MtoM with their extensive experience in managing destination weddings and high profile events pulled it off very well, so our three hectic days of festivities were stress-free. For those who are toying with a destination wedding I have two inputs to share. One, try to look for a little unusual wedding venue within India itself, so its easy for all your near and dear ones to travel easily. Second, try to be friends with your wedding planner and vendors– it makes working with them more fun. After all weddings are meant to be enjoyed with all– your guests and those who work behind-the-scenes.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Taj Falaknuma Palace
Wedding Planner: Milestones to Memories (MtoM)
Decor and Event Production: Heena Patel (Amaahyaaj, Baroda)
Proposal Planners: Partridge Events (UK) with Milestones to Memories
Makeup Artist: Namrata Soni
Food & Food Consultant: Taj Falaknuma Palace and Purvesh Sarnaik (Purple Carrot)
Sangeet Choreography: Vishal Kanoi
DJs & Entertainment: DJ Hitesh, DJ Sandy, Sanam Puri, Rahul Vaidya, Badshah, Jasleen Royal
Photography: Reels & Frames
