Avika and Dhruv, Delhi

A classic case of childhood friendship turning into love, Avika and Dhruv had known each other for the longest time. But as fate would have it, the couple had to combat eight long years of distance while keeping their love aflame. So when they finally decided to tie the knot, they left no stone unturned to ensure it was a fun-filled occasion with all their loved ones present and chose to host it at the plush ITC Maurya, a property famed for its impeccable hospitality.

Photographed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Sam & Ekta who used their expertise to capture the joy the duo experienced, this wedding was a stunning fusion of traditional and contemporary elements.

How They Met
The couple shares, “We’ve known each other since we were 13 years old. However at first, we were just friends, but as we went into the 12th grade, we slowly grew closer and after a date, there was no looking back! Although we did have to tackle eight years of long-distance, everything fell into place perfectly thanks to constant communication, patience and utter resilience on our part.”

Proposal
While Avika had already guessed that a proposal from Dhruv was soon in line, she hadn’t expected it to be 3 days after Dhruv landed in Singapore! It was a Saturday afternoon, and Avika was out for lunch with her friends when Dhruv made up a story about being sick and asked her to bring him some medicines. A concerned Avika made her way to his place where she was greeted by him looking dapper in a suit with a ring in his hand. As they made their way to the terrace of his building, it was decorated with flowers, balloons, and candles along with photographs from each year of their relationship paired with a cute message.

Wedding Venue
When it came to choosing a property for their big day, the duo decided to go for ITC Maurya, a property known for its luxurious amenities, vast spaces, and warm hospitality. Hosted in the Nandiya Gardens and the Kamal Mahal located within the property, their big day went smoothly as everyone cheerfully celebrated their union.

For the other pre-wedding festivities they decided to go with a varied choice of venues in Delhi, like The Mansion for the Sangeet, The Westin Gurgaon for the cocktail, and Olive Bar & Kitchen for the Mehendi.

Wedding Planning
To ensure that nothing was left to chance, the duo roped in expert vendors with whom they could make their dream wedding come true. On the photography front they chose Sam & Ekta and were immensely impressed with their work. The happy couple shares, “We reached out to over 25 different photographers but in the end, narrowed it down to Sam & Ekta since their style was extremely natural. The results honestly, speak for themselves! From the moment we received our pictures and wedding film, we’ve kept re-watching it over and over, that’s how good it is. Looking at these memories is almost like taking a step back in time. Team Sam & Ekta have done a fabulous job by capturing each emotion precisely. We would happily collaborate with them again!”

Adding to the team were decorators Devika Sakhuja and Aurum by Varun Bahl, invitation designers Ravish Kapoor Invitations and Design by Harpriya Singh, DJ Bhavuk Verma, makeup artist Bianca Louzado, and planner Ruchi Sharma.

Wedding Functions
Haldi
Hosted separately for both, the Haldi was a cozy yet playful celebration where the couple was slathered with turmeric to get their wedding glow on. For Avika, it was a colorful event whereas Dhruv’s Haldi, on the other hand, took place in the evening where he was surrounded by his loved ones.

Mehendi
Vibrant and distinctly feminine, the Mehendi featured dreamy decor replete with flowers and comfy seating areas where the guests could lounge while getting henna on their hands. Filled with hues like pink, lavender and white, the venue witnessed plenty of friendly banter and joyful moments as Avika basked in the love of her girl squad.

Cocktail
The couple shares, “The concept of the youngsters/cocktail was that of an intimate sit-down ‘drinking games’ night amidst emotional speeches turning into a crazy party that included dancing on table-tops, similar to the concept of bagatelle in New York! However, getting the event together was absolutely crazy as we had to change the venue two days before the actual event owing to the Delhi elections and then again, two days before the youngsters’ event. But the actual function made everything worth it. Our closest friends and family gave speeches, which ended with Dhruv and my first dance as man and wife, which finally led to our friends and our parents standing on tabletops dancing to ‘Bella ciao’.”

Wedding and Reception
A fusion of contemporary and traditional elements, the wedding was a feast for the eyes with its artful use of textures and colors. Swathed in red and gold, it was a luxurious event where the duo surrounded by their loved ones tied the knot for life. Looking stunning in a fuchsia pink lehenga, Avika was the showstopper and was complemented perfectly by Dhruv who donned an off-white sherwani for the occasion.

Advice for Couples
The couple advises, “No matter how much you prepare beforehand, there’ll always be a few elements in the wedding that you’ll be tempted to tweak. Hence, it’s important to let go of these worries and concentrate on having a blast once you step into the venue. Both of us had an amazing time during the five days of our nuptials. Looking back, we have forgotten any stress that was involved and can only pleasantly recall all the fun we had while planning everything!”

The Wedding Makers

Venues: The Mansion, Delhi (Sangeet), The Westin Gurgaon, Gurgaon (Cocktail), Olive Bar & Kitchen, New Delhi (Mehndi), ITC Maurya, New Delhi (Wedding and Reception)
Wedding Planner: Ruchi Sharma
Décor: Devika Sakhuja (Sangeet), Aurum By Varun Bahl (Mehendi, Cocktail, Wedding)
Hospitality and Logistics: HEMH Hospitality and Logistics
Groom’s Outfits: Shantanu and Nikhil (Sangeet), Cue H2O (Cocktail, Mehendi), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Dabiri (Mehendi) Gauri and Nainika (Cocktail), Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (Wedding)
Makeup: Bianca Louzado
Entertainment: Collective (Mehendi), Sonam Kalra (Phere), The Unplugged Project (Reception)
DJ: Bhavuk Verma
Wedding Invitations: Ravish Kapoor Invitations, Design By Harpriya Singh
Photography: Sam & Ekta (Cocktail, Mehendi, Wedding), Fotowalle – The Story Folks (Sangeet)
Videography: Sam & Ekta

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