Ashna and Aashay, Mumbai
A tranquil temple wedding that imbued the flavors of this couple’s distinct cultures.
What simply started as an office romance, culminated in a beautiful multicultural city wedding when Ashna and Aashay commemorated their love for eternity. The bride shared with us a glimpse of the celebrations.
How They Met
Ashna and Aashay’s journey is a classic inter-departmental office love story. When Ashna, who was working as a celebrity stylist crossed paths with Aashay, a marketing professional at the same company, the two were instantly drawn to each other. Opposites in many respects, they were deeply attracted to each other and soon their friendship transformed into love.
The Proposal
Aashay reminisces, “Ashna once told me that she loved balloons and that she always lights up a lantern every New Year’s Eve to make a wish. That year, she had missed out on doing this. By then I had fallen in love with her, and realized what better way to propose to her than with a hot air balloon? We planned a 2 day trip with our friends close to Mumbai, for what Ashna thought was going to be a Safari. To her pleasant surprise, on her arrival, she was looking at a hot air balloon, music and a banner that said ‘Will you marry me’, and on cue, I went down on one knee and popped the question. After she said yes, we rose up to 4000 feet, I knew life would never be the same again.”
Wedding Planning
The couple chose to plan the wedding themselves, coordinating different themes, décor and outfits for each of their 6 functions themselves. Their wedding was beautifully captured by Zero Gravity Photography. The bride’s wardrobe was custom-designed by a range of designers, and she accessorized her outfits with a mix of heritage and custom designed jewelry. She was given gorgeous looks for her wedding and reception by Makeup Artist Shamita Gogia, while Makeup Artist Ankita Manwani created her looks for the other functions.
Wedding Functions
Family brunch
Called ‘Raise a toast’, a fun filled family brunch of just close relatives at Kino Cottage, Andheri, kicked off the festivities. The lush open space was decked with cheerful yet simple décor, lanterns and long tables. The couple as well as their guests dressed in fresh, spring pastels in tandem with the light, vibrant ambience.
Mehndi
The mehndi festivities were held separately for the groom and the bride. The groom’s soiree was an evening of dandiya and garba and all things Gujarati while the bride’s shindig was an evening of dance, music and a whole lot of fun.
Wedding
Hosted in the serene environs of Iskcon Temple, Juhu, the wedding ceremony saw tranquil moments of joy amidst an ethereal white décor. The bride and groom made for a stunning vision in soft shades of gold and cream, and exchanged varmalas of exquisite peach blooms. The ceremony was a charming mix of their unique traditions.
Reception
The wedding was followed by a formal reception hosted under the stars, on a terrace space in Jade Garden, Worli. The bride wowed all in a stunning crimson gown by Sonaakshi Raaj accessorized with diamond jewelry while the groom complemented her in a black tuxedo and matching bow. The evening saw a formal meet and greet followed by mingling over cocktails and food.
After Party
A glitzy, glamorous after-party at Illuminati, BKC, capped off the festivities in style. The groom stunned in a black and gold shimmering tuxedo while the bride shimmied in a sequined blue dress.
Advice for couples
“When it comes to planning your wedding, it is important for both partners to be on the same page about everything in order to create the wedding of your dreams”.
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Kino Cottage (Family Brunch), Iskcon Temple Juhu (Wedding), Jade Garden Worli (Reception), Illuminati BKC (After Party)
Bride’s Outfits: Mehak Murpana Label (Family Brunch), Bespoke Shaahid Amir (Bride’s Mehndi), Sonaakshi Raaj (Reception), Bella Figura Couture by Mamta (After Party)
Jewelry: Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri (Wedding), Niral Desai (Reception)
Makeup: Shamita Gogia (Wedding, Reception), Ankita Manwani
Photography and Videography: Zero Gravity Photography, Darshan Savla Photography (Proposal)
