Apoorva and Phalgun, Udaipur

Apoorva and Phalgun’s journey of wedding planning that started with a dream proposal in Venice culminated in a gorgeous multi-cultural wedding in the city of lakes. Brimming with show stopping outfits, unique customs and awe-inspiring décor, their revelries are sure to inspire you. Here are a few glimpses.

How They Met
Apoorva shares, “Phalgun and I met at work in 2016, developing a friendship that soon turned into something more. After more than 2 years of togetherness, he popped the question to me in the most romantic way imaginable amidst a New Year’s Eve trip to Venice. His sister and brother-in-law, who were travelling with us, captured the beautiful vision as he went down on his knee during a private Canal ride from their Gondola. It was a moment of love and laughter, followed by celebratory Bellinis.”

Wedding Venue
Visualized as the big fat Indian wedding, the revelries were hosted at the grand Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur. The stunning backdrops and luxurious amenities and service made it the perfect choice for their nuptials. The 3 day celebrations were followed by a formal reception at the Trident Hotel at Nariman Point, Mumbai.

Wedding Planning
“The wedding was largely planned by my parents” says Apoorva. “The wedding logistics and planning was handled by Showtime Events while the design and decor were conceptualized and executed by Devika Narain and Company. Ram Balmur and his team captured our moments beautifully for all functions and Errikos Andreou lent his expertise for the North Indian wedding. My hair and makeup was done by Daniel Bauer for all the days in Udaipur, whereas Sandhya Shekar did my hair and make up for the reception in Mumbai. Choreography for the Sangeet was done by Top Notch Events.”

Wedding Functions
Cocktail
The festivities kicked off with a cocktail night for the couple and their friends while their parents hosted a formal dinner for the older guests. Twinkling lights and minimalistic décor enhanced the lush outdoor venue for the evening that saw fun speeches by the couple’s closest friends who took the opportunity to make not just toasts but also hilarious roasts. The groom looked suave in a teal blue suit by Ermenegildo Zegna while the bride wore a shimmering maroon gown by Sharnita Nandwana.

Telugu Wedding
The next morning commenced with the traditional Telugu style wedding with all its distinct rituals to celebrate the groom’s heritage. Dressed in customary attire of white, gold and red, the radiant couple exchanged unique varmalas made of white flowers and leaves under the colorful mandap of yellow and orange marigolds woven with thick foliage. “On that very day, I realized to my surprise, that as per tradition I was going to be carried to the mandap in a decorated basket by my uncles. Despite being scary as a proposition, it turned out to be really fun and made for a wonderful memory” shares Apoorva.

Sangeet
The sangeet night was high on energy and exuberance with heady performances and glam décor. Apoorva and Phalgun set aside romantic numbers for a fun performance on the song Coca-Cola. The beautifully choreographed dances were followed by a performance by artist Harshdeep Kaur. The groom donned a stylish navy blue sherwani by Manish Malhotra while the bride complemented him perfectly in a stunning midnight blue lehenga by Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

Haldi
The final day started with an intimate Haldi ceremony that had vibrant yet minimal décor. The groom dressed in all white while the bride glowed in a yellow saree passed on to her by her grandmother.

North Indian wedding
Apoorva and Phalgun tied the knot once more, in a North Indian style ceremony at sunset. The lush tropical décor perfectly matched the couple’s rich ensembles. The bride eschewed the traditional entry with her family and entered instead with her best girlfriends carrying the phoolon ki chadar. They also broke norms by skipping out the traditional Kanyadaan (giving away) in both wedding ceremonies. The day ended on a poignant note with dinner held under a beautiful green canopy and starry lights highlighted with soulful performances by kathak dancers.

Reception
The festivities were followed by an elegant Reception hosted at Trident Hotel, Nariman Point. The groom looked dapper in a blue Ermenegildo Zegna bandhgala suit while the bride shimmered in an ivory sequined lehenga by Manish Malhotra.

Advice for couples
“We were lucky to have been able to get married pre-Covid. It can no doubt be frustrating having to change all your planning and your vision. However, I think instead of stressing about everything, people should focus on 2-3 things that they really care about and work on perfecting it. Also, enlist the help of your core group as much as possible as it really helps.”

The Wedding Makers

Venues: The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur; Trident Hotel, Nariman Point Mumbai (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Showtime Events
Décor: Devika Narain
Groom’s Outfits: Ermenegildo Zegna (Cocktail, Reception), Manish Malhotra (Sangeet, Telugu Wedding), Sagar Tenali (Telugu Wedding), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (North Indian Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Sharnita Nandwana (Cocktail), Kankatala (Telugu Wedding), Anita Dongre (Mehndi), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Sangeet), Jade by MK (North Indian Wedding), Manish Malhotra (Reception)
Jewelry: Sabyasachi Jewelry
Makeup: Daniel Bauer, Sandhya Shekar (Reception)
Choreographer: Top Notch Events
Entertainment: Harshdeep Kaur (Sangeet)
Photography and Videography: Ram Balmur, Errikos Andreou (North Indian Wedding)

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