Kiren and Mayank, Malaysia

Kiren and Mayank’s love story started on social media, via Instagram to be precise, and entered a new phase when they got married at a beautiful ceremony hosted at a golf course in Malaysia. Capturing this couple’s tender moments, and all the action, emotions, and energy of the celebrations was WeddingSutra Favorite – Sunny Dhiman Photography. Bride Kiren takes us through the events here.

How They Met

Kiren shares, “Mayank and I met quite unconventionally. We came across each other’s profile on Instagram by sheer luck, and I found his messages to be quite witty and intellectual. He seemed genuine and we hit it off really well! I think we fell in love without meeting each other in person and were in a long-distance relationship since April 2015. He requested to meet me but I declined and informed him that I will only meet him in person if he was serious about our relationship. We eventually met in Delhi and it was just like a scene out of a Bollywood movie! Being a hopeless romantic, I instantly knew he was the one, and following that, I relocated from Kuala Lumpur to Dublin just to be with him.”

The Proposal
“Mayank kept the proposal simple and sweet. He serenaded me with a song, and then got down on one knee with our family and friends present. I was overjoyed but to pull his leg, I didn’t answer ‘Yes’ immediately. It’s not every day that you get to tease the prankster! I eventually accepted his proposal, and we danced the night away. He made sure the ring was designed according to my tastes and spared no expense in getting me the engagement ring I’ve always desired. It’s absolutely beautiful and engraved with the nickname he gave me, Dr. Perfect.”

Wedding Venue
“It was a no brainer for me to select Kuala Lumpur as our wedding destination. I’ve always imagined getting married surrounded by my family and friends in Malaysia. As a Sikh by birth, I’ve always dreamt of a serene Anand Karaj ceremony. Mayank is a Hindu and we decided to have my mother-in-law chanting the mantras while Mayank tied the mangalsutra around my neck and applied sindoor.”

Wedding Planning
Planning a wedding with multiple ceremonies is a mammoth task but with an efficient team at hand and co-operative loved ones, everything unfolded smoothly. Kiren recalls, “I remember seeing Sunny Dhiman’s work when I was in med school, and at that moment I’d decided that whenever I get married, my special moments will be captured by him. Working with his team was a pleasure. The entire team was very forthcoming and mingled with our families easily.” Adding a dash of entertainment to the nuptials were VOP Events, DJ MYK (the groom himself!) and Dhol Entertainment. Makeup artists Karmen Mahi Gill, Mallizza Solomon, S-TEA Makeup and Sunny Makeup Artist made sure that Kiren looked her best in every shot. Ekta Solanki with her stunning designs transformed Kiren into a showstopper. 7days Flowers impressed all with their decor.

Weddings Functions

Christian Wedding
“My mom practices Christianity and always wanted to see me walking down the aisle in a white gown. We kept the ceremony a close-knit one with about 100 guests, and it was held at the prestigious Tournament Players Club, Kuala Lumpur. My brother walked me down the aisle, and I got very emotional while saying my vows. Following the ceremony, everyone joined us on the dancefloor. Since all our guests had flown in from all around the world, we served them authentic Malaysian cuisine to give them a feel of the country.” For this occasion, Kiren chose a strapless white dress with a long embroidered veil. Mayank kept it simple in a navy blue tuxedo.

Maiyaan/Haldi
A poolside ceremony filled with colors and laughter, Kiren’s haldi was held at her building’s clubhouse. “I truly enjoyed my haldi ceremony. Most of us were clad in yellow and my cousins had created an intricate rangoli of me as a dulhan with a stethoscope around my neck and an iPhone in my hand with Mayank’s name on it. We had so much fun applying haldi that we ran out of turmeric paste and that was how the ceremony came to an end!”

Mayank’s haldi was a traditional Hindu ceremony and the groomsmen wore identical tee shirts with his picture and the duo’s wedding hashtag on them.

Chura
“My chura ceremony was held at my family’s home in Selangor, Malaysia. All my uncles and brothers took turns to put my ‘chura’ (bridal bangles) on and bless me. We took this opportunity to complete our family lip dub that was premiered during my farewell dinner.” For this ceremony, Kiren picked a red and mint green lehenga with golden embroidery which she paired with a choker and matching earrings.

Mehndi
The mehndi was an intimate affair held at the same venue as the haldi. Decorated with embellished umbrellas and bright blossoms, the event had a breezy vibe.

“The night began with the ladies’ sangeet followed by dance performances by my bridesmaids while I was getting my henna done. After that, my husband who is also known as one of the best DJs in Ireland took over! Mayank also got a unique henna design on his hands”

Kiren’s printed pink lehenga paired with a statement maang tikka, passa, and earrings complemented Mayank’s crisp mint green printed bandhgala with a bright pink pocket square.

Sangeet and Cocktail Party
The couple merged the sangeet and cocktail party that included lights, music, and lots of dancing. “The Galaxy Banquet Hall had my heart from the first time I walked into it. A proper sit-down dinner for our 500 guests with an open bar set the mood perfectly. Mayank and I also took to the stage along with our family members. I think our host did a fantastic job keeping the guests entertained. My favorite decor pieces were our caricatures that were taken from the invitation cards and transformed into life-size cutouts and movie posters decorated with beaming light bulbs.” Kiren was a showstopper in an intricately embroidered golden gown which she accessorized with a statement necklace. Mayank opted for a teal sherwani.

Anand Karaj
“We got married at the Guru Nanak Darbar, Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa on 02/02/20, a date that comes once in a 100 years or so. All our groomsmen and bridesmaids wore matching attires. My brothers, uncles, and cousins also wore the same off white kurtas with pink jackets. We also got matching headscarves for all of our guests. Mayank’s turban was tied by his best friends which meant a great deal to him. The Anand Karaj was held in both Punjabi and English for all to understand the significance of the four laavans taken by the couple. The most noteworthy moment for me was when my mother performed my ‘Palla’ ceremony which is performed by a prominent male figure in the family. My mother raised me single-handedly and played a major role in shaping me to be the woman I am today. I truly believe it is her right to give me away and change traditions that were embedded hundreds of years ago by the seeds of patriarchy.” Kiren’s dreamy lehenga was simple and elegant. She accessorized her outfit with a statement necklace encrusted with baby pink gemstones. Mayank’s outfit too was on the minimalistic side with a lilac shawl and turban with gold accents. The ceremony was followed by a lunch, a photoshoot with the bridal party, and a farewell dinner at Setia Eco Ballroom, Templer’s Park Selangor.

Advice For Couples
“Please don’t let the wedding planning and differing opinions affect your relationship. Use the process as a method to understand each other better and compromise when needed. Secondly, enjoy your wedding even if things aren’t going as per plan because it will end sooner than you know it and you won’t be able to experience it again.”

The Wedding Makers

Venues: Tournament Players Club, Kuala Lumpur (Christian Wedding), Anggun Clubhouse, Rawang (Haldi, Mehndi), Galaxy Banquet Hall (Sangeet and Cocktail), KL Traders (Groom’s Haldi), Guru Nanak Darbar, Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa (Anand Karaj), Setia Eco Ballroom, Templer’s Park Selangor (Farewell dinner)
Decor: 7days Flowers
Groom’s Outfits: Ekta Solanki (Wedding, Haldi, Sangeet)
Bride’s Outfits: Ekta Solanki (Wedding, Haldi, Sangeet)
Jewellery and Accessories: Raabta by Rahul, Ekta Solanki
Makeup: Sunny Makeup Artist, Karmen Mahi Gill, Mallizza Solomon, S-TEA Makeup
Mehndi: Hennacraze by Nadine Paul
Entertainment: VOP Events, Dhol Entertainment, DJ MYK
Emcee: MC.NC
Wedding Invitations: Shailly Gajjar
Wedding Garlands and Bouquets: APS Wedding Garlands

Photography and Cinematography: Sunny Dhiman Photography

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