Annie Gali and Gero Francis, Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Chennai
Using yellow and orange marigold blooms innovatively, this couple’s engagement decor stood out with its vibrant beauty.
Restaurateurs Annie Gali and Gero Francis’s wedding was nothing short of a fairytale with its uniquely orchestrated events that paid ode to their cultures as well as moments significant to the couple’s love story. Hosted at multiple venues the union perfectly merged luxury and local flavours with an engagement at the scenic Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa and a stunning reception at The Leela Palace Chennai. Designed by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Wedding Experience, this wedding took the cake with its simple yet innovative decor.
Wedding Venue
For their engagement, the couple chose Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa where they kicked off their festivities in style by the shore. Located near Mahabalipuram, which is roughly an hour’s drive away from Chennai, this venue is nestled in the lap of nature, which in turn, gave the couple plenty of room to experiment!
And, to finish off their celebrations, the couple chose The Leela Palace Chennai where they revelled in the venue’s majesty and raised toasts to the beginning of a new adventure. Hosted indoors at a plush ballroom, the reception exuded an ethereal vibe which left everyone enchanted.
Wedding Planning
The Wedding Experience who led the planning team stepped up for the couple and took every challenge head-on. Annie shares, “I wanted a beautiful aisle to walk down the church. The decorator at the church was not able to source this. The Wedding Experience team was absolutely amazing as they stepped in and created this beautiful aisle for me which elevated the whole look of the church wedding. With the reception and wedding happening on the same day just hours apart in two different venues, we were nervous about how it would all turn out but the team at The Wedding Experience managed it beautifully delivering a perfect day. They accommodated many last-minute changes with utmost care and perfection for our fusion Tamil and Telugu wedding.”
Weddings Functions
Engagement
The couple shares, “We had a traditional Chettinad-style door and home as the backdrop to the stage to make it look like the exchange of plates was happening at our ancestral home to add a personal touch. This included festive yellow marigold flowers, traditional brass urlis and kuthuvilakku. The photo booth which was a swing was the highlight! All our guests enjoyed taking pictures on it.” Charannya Seetharam from The Wedding Experience shares, “For the engagement, we took cues from heritage Chettinad mansions and created a stunning door backdrop with see-through criss-cross panels on the sides to let in the flavour of lush greens. The ambience of the stage was a mix of contemporary and traditional elements by pairing up marigold abstract floral structures with brass urlis, kuthu vilakku and wooden accents.”
Cocktail
Annie shares, “The Mexican theme of the cocktail tied back to our personal story as a couple of how we first met as business partners at a Mexican restaurant. We sourced native Mexican decor from Puebla, which the planning team seamlessly integrated into the venue decor.”
Charannya shares, “The running theme ‘Día de los Muertos’. We used plenty of vibrant hues, glitzy lights and cute props.”
Wedding
The church wedding was a simple one with minimal decor. With earthy interiors being contracted by white pillars and arches, the church was the perfect place for the couple to take their vows.
Reception
For the reception, a balance was struck between the bride’s and the groom’s visions to create an event that seamlessly merged both their visions. Annie shares, “Gero wanted something very minimal without too many colours or elements and I wanted something elegant yet eye-catching. This was brought together perfectly in the backdrop and ambience decor by use of acrylic panels and walkway along with neutral white floral decor.”
Charannya adds, “We wanted to create something classy and elegant, we didn’t want to go about it the usual way. The acrylic panels got a curvy twist with florals decked up on top and bottom. The matte stripes on the sides went beautifully with the shiny acrylic center. To dismiss the monotony we introduced levels in terms of placements of panels which created depth and visual play. The aisle, however, was the highlight with long-stemmed white flowers adorning the sides of a radiant acrylic platform.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa (Engagement), Aqua (Cocktail), Santhome Cathedral Basilica (Wedding), The Leela Palace Chennai (Reception)
Décor: The Wedding Experience
Groom’s Outfits: Gabbana Life (Engagement, Wedding, Reception), PN Rao Suits (Cocktail)
Bride’s Outfits: Kanakavalli (Engagement), Kalki Fashion (Cocktail), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding), Tarun Tahiliani (Reception)
Photography: Weva Photography
