Anjali and Pravin, Alila Diwa, Goa

Doctors Anjali and Pravin went to medical school and specialized in the matters of the heart as they fell in love with each other. When they decided to tie the knot in India, they knew that they needed a planner who would have their back at all times. Bride Anjali tells us about her experience of planning her wedding with WeddingSutra Favorite – A Klass Apart and the highlights of her big day.

How We Met
“Pravin and I met each other in Los Angeles when we were interning after medical school. Halfway through the year, we started dating, and two weeks later we were in love. After spending a year there, I moved back to New York City to finish my training, and he too transferred programs so that he could move with me and we could be together.”

Proposal
“We got engaged about one and a half years after that, on a trip back to California. We were driving down the Pacific Coast Highway gazing at the beautiful ocean view. Since the sights were so gorgeous, we pulled over to take a few pictures. I was looking at the sunset and turned to see Pravin down on one knee! This was one of the happiest moments of our lives.”

Wedding Venue
“I wanted to get married in Goa ever since I vacationed there. An intimate destination wedding was my idea of the perfect nuptials and Goa was conveniently located for both Pravin and my families. Our functions were split between two venues, both of which were suggested to us by our wedding planner Divya of A Klass Apart. After a few Skype sessions, she gave us venue options to think about based on our personality, likes, and needs. We did a lot of research online too. Once we got to India, she showed us several venues around Goa. We immediately loved Alila Diwa Goa. Coming from America, we wanted a beautiful luxury hotel for my guests, but we didn’t want to lose out on the culture and feel of being in India. The property captured the Indian culture– we loved the beautiful statue of Ganesha, the outdoor feel, and the gorgeous infinity pool!”

“The venue for our sangeet was Zeebop by the Sea. Since Divya had planned other weddings there, we knew she would turn the space into something magical. We loved the casual vibe and wanted at least one event of the wedding to be at the beach. We were in Goa, after all! The owner was so nice, the beach was clean and offered the perfect view of the sunset.”

Wedding Planning
“We found out about Divya from A Klass Apart from a friend who too had planned a wedding in Goa while we were abroad. Divya truly was extraordinary. I am beyond grateful for all the meticulous work she put into our wedding. I needed to be able to count on my planner to be able to communicate online from across the world, and Divya was that person. She was available to me 24/7, despite the time difference! She listened to our ideas and contributed her opinions regarding what was realistic and feasible. She also coordinated our friends’ flights, and suggested to them excursions and activities that they could do in the cities they were traveling to! She was a planner/tour guide/travel agent/concierge/ therapist and family mediator.”

Wedding Functions

Sangeet
“We decided to combine the sangeet and mehndi to keep the days to a minimum. For this event, I wanted a cool, rustic, beach vibe. I chose turquoise blue and pale green as some highlight colors and let everything else be simple and white. Driftwood and candles added an earthy look, and lots of string lights with soft white fabrics were used to create the feel of a relaxed tropical paradise.”

“We had a beautiful arch made of twigs at the entrance, and Divya added a gorgeous welcome sign, with our ‘A&P’ monogram adorned with flowers. She decorated the bar area with tons of string lights and asked us to come up with specialty ‘His’ and ‘Her’ cocktails. ‘New York State of Mind’ and ‘California Love’ were the names of our drinks and they were inspired by two songs about where we were from!”

“The dance floor was my absolute favorite part. I love singing and dancing, so my friends and I put together songs and dance performances. Singing Adele’s ‘One and only’ was a very special moment for me and brought a tear to many people’s eyes. All our close friends sang some of our favorite love songs. Many of our guests have told us that that night was by far their favorite event.”

Wedding
“For the ceremony, I opted for peach and pink, and the greenery of the hotel went very well with the color scheme. I wanted a soft, romantic feel with lots of lush flowers and drapery. Divya helped us create an amazing mandap that was in line with the chosen hues and lit up with string lights. She added soft peach and pink drapes over the guest seating and even suggested that we have a sitar, tabla and flute playing in the background to set in a lovely mood – it was all very dreamy!” “After the wedding, we had a sit-down lunch which was an authentic South Indian Brahmin Fusion sadhya. The lunch was served on banana leaves, where the guests were seated opposite each other, while the couple placed themselves at the head of the table. She worked with the hotel to extend this experience to us. It was spectacular!”

Reception
“While the wedding was very traditional and designed to match our families’ taste, the reception was ours. I wanted to bring the American reception vibe – with all the little traditions like our ‘First Dance,’ ‘Father-daughter Dance,’ and toasts. At night, I wanted a more vibrant, tropical feel with lots of gold and sparkle. Divya suggested we use birds of paradise as centerpieces. Not only were they vibrant but, since they are native to Goa, they were also most cost-effective. I loved this idea – they added something special to the tables which were laid with beautiful sparkling gold tablecloths.”

“Since I love music, we had our table numbers printed on music sheets of our favorite love songs. Divya lined the hall with lots of candles to enhance the romantic atmosphere. I loved the photo-op area that was filled with props, a Polaroid camera, and a guestbook where the guests would write a cute message for us and attach their photos. She made sure everyone did it so – our guest book was filled with memories. We danced the night away, and it was a blast!”

Advice To Couples
“Don’t forget what this is all about – which is marrying the person you love! Try not to let all the stress get to you. Be there for each other when it comes to family demands and enjoy the wedding together. Pravin and I had a little pact during the wedding – If we found ourselves without the other for more than 15 minutes we would make sure to find each other so that we could spend our wedding together!”

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Zeebop by the Sea (Mehndi), Alila Diwa Goa (Wedding and Reception)
Wedding Planner: A Klass Apart
Production: Event Bazaar
Makeup Artist: Bel-Jane Fonseca
Hairstylist: Zeenat Khan
Mehndi: Karuna K
Makeup Artist, Hairstylist and Saree Draping for Guests: Karuna K
Photography and Cinematography: Photo Pundit

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