Mahek and Jai, Madhya Pradesh

Hosted in the lap of nature under the clear December sky and cheered on by their loved ones, Mahek Agrawall, a makeup artist and Jai Vajani, a businessman’s wedding was colorful and punctuated by unfiltered joy. Capturing these precious moments was WeddingSutra Favorite – Navin Varma Photography who effortlessly photographed heartfelt emotions and candid moments.

How They Met
Mahek recollects, “I first saw Jai nine years ago during Navratri and throughout the night we kept crossing paths while dancing. After that first glance, I couldn’t get him out of my mind while Jai’s interest was also piqued as he asked our mutual friends about me. For the next nine days we kept crossing paths during garba but never spoke. After Navaratri was done we parted ways but kept digging for information about each other and found out that our families already knew one another! A few weeks later we connected on Facebook and kept chatting nonstop. The first three years of our relationship were pretty difficult and we didn’t spend a lot of time together as our parents thought we were too young to date. But once we enrolled in college, my parents eased up and everything was approved. Once college got done, I moved to Bangkok to pursue my love for makeup artistry, and while I chased my dreams in a foreign country our relationship flourished. Sadly, during this time, Jai’s father was diagnosed with cancer and despite many treatments, there wasn’t any improvement in his health. Jai and I had promised each other that we’ll be together through thick and thin. Till then, both our sets of parents hadn’t met each other officially and Jai suggested that we do so as soon as possible so that both of us could spend more time with his Dad freely. Needless to say, the meeting was a complete success and everyone was extremely happy. A couple of months later, Jai’s Dad passed away and I feel fortunate to have spent time with him. But through this heartbreaking period, Jai and I emerged stronger and realized that both of us have each other’s backs no matter what.”

The Proposal
Mahek shares, “Around the end of 2019 Jai and I were close to completing seven years together and we both knew that marriage was on the cards. I wasn’t expecting a proposal but Jai had different plans in mind. On 20th November 2019, Jai picked me up with a bouquet of flowers and took me out for our anniversary dinner. He’d organized a beautiful private dinner for us at a luxurious hotel and while we feasted on delicious treats, he popped the big question on one knee!”

Wedding Planning
Mahek shares, “After Jai’s proposal, we got officially engaged in the presence of our family and friends. Our wedding date was fixed for a year later and with the pandemic plunging our plans into chaos, I was initially skeptical about how things would turn out. Fortunately, my wedding was everything I’d dreamed of and more. I’m so grateful for all our loved ones who made it happen. At first, we were keen on a destination wedding but after scouting for nearby venues we came across a property amidst the lush green dense forests of the Pench National Park which fit the bill perfectly!”

Gushing about Navin Varma Photography, Mahek shares, “We didn’t have to think twice while selecting Navin Varma Photography. Their work speaks for itself and the entire team is so professional and hardworking. They understood our story and took every detail into account. Each moment was captured and made a hundred times more beautiful! We are beyond thankful to Navin Varma Photography for giving us a lifetime of memories from one of the most cherished days of our lives.”

Weddings Functions

Bya Hath
Usually held five to twenty-one days before the wedding, the Bya Hath is a Marwari function that involves married women who bless the bride and groom for a happy married life. For Mahek, this event was held at her own house where the decor theme was ‘kudi punjabi’.

Mehndi
For her Mehndi too, Mahek preferred to host it at her home where a ‘Sufi and Lucknowi’ theme was selected for the decor. Seated against an elegant teal backdrop with white decor elements that accentuated the deeper hues, the bride looked resplendent as she got henna patterned on her palms.

Welcome Lunch/Bhaat
In order to greet the groom’s side, a scrumptious welcome lunch was spread out the moment they arrived at the resort. Exuding carnival-like vibes the decor was colorful while engaging games were conducted to break the ice. Jugglers, Turkish ice cream stalls and tarot card readers entertained the guests while they helped themselves to various delicacies that were served with a dash of Haryanvi flavor in an ode to the bride’s maternal uncles. Additionally, the bride’s maternal aunts arrived in true Haryanvi style rising motorcycles to get the party started!

Chunri
A traditional Gujarati function, the Chunri event was hosted by the groom’s side and the decor followed a ‘pretty in pink’ theme which was given a touch of auspiciousness with idols of Srinathji. Gujarati music played in the background while a flute player mesmerized the guests. The bride arrived gracefully on a boat while the groom was flanked by Gujarati dancers twirling to the beats of Garba.

Sangeet
Mahek shares, “The Sangeet night’s decor followed a winter wonderland theme. Both of us entered to sparkling cold pyros held aloft by our families. Furthermore, a harp player played blissful tunes to welcome us. But the highlight of the evening was our families’ performances which were then followed by peppy tunes crafted by DJ AJ. Akasa sang her signature song ‘Nagin’ for our Sangeet and my mom and Jai danced to the beats of the song and everyone else stopped for a while to witness them performing.”

Haldi
“The Haldi decor was a mix of traditional yellow and bohemian elements. For the entertainment, we roped in an illusion artist who left our guests spellbound. As the event unfurled, our emcee came up with interesting games which kept all the guests engaged!”, shares Mahek.

Sajangoth
Since the bride’s paternal side hails from Rajasthan and is Marwari, the Sajangoth which is a Marwari function, was conducted by them for the groom’s family. Enjoying a meal together, both the bride and the groom’s side exchanged plenty of banter at this event. Keeping the Rajasthani theme in mind, the decor was inspired by the royal motifs of Rajasthan while traditional dancers made a colorful splash!

Wedding and Reception
Arriving in a vintage car the groom made a stylish entry with his baraat. However, the bride wasn’t far behind as she entered on a Doli that was carried by all her brothers who were dressed in black. Following an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme, the wedding mandap looked straight out of a dream while the bride walked down the aisle to soulful tunes. Looking beautiful in a red Sabyasachi lehenga, Mahek was a vision as she approached Jai who waited for her in the mandap. She shares, “Throughout my reception and phere my eyes were tearing up looking at my family. To cheer me up, they all suddenly started singing for me during the marriage ceremony to cheer me up.” Immediately after the late-night phere the reception was celebrated at the same venue.

Advice For Couples
Mahek shares, “Due to the pandemic Jai and I have come to realize that intimate weddings are so much better than with large crowds. Planning a wedding with just your loved ones in attendance truly creates memorable moments, and for us, it was a phenomenal experience!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Tathastu, Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Wedding Planner: Refuge Events and Wedding Planners
Décor: Weddings By Gurleen M Puri
Groom’s Outfits: Zara (Welcome Lunch and Bhaat), Shyamal and Bhumika (Wedding and Reception)
Groom’s Accessories: Gucci -Sunglasses (Welcome Lunch and Bhaat, Haldi)
Bride’s Outfits: Aza Fashions (Bya Hath), Jade by Monica and Karishma (Welcome Lunch and Bhaat), Shyam Narayan Prasad (Chunri), Vvani by Vani Vats (Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding and Reception)
Jewelry: Batukbhai Sons Jewelers (All Functions)
Accessories: Gucci -Sunglasses (Welcome Lunch and Bhaat, Haldi)
Hairstyling: Hair By Tabassum (All Functions)
Entertainment: Freedom Sharma (Bya Hath), Akasa and Aasa Sing (Sangeet), Madhyam Band (Reception)
DJ: DJ AJ (Sangeet)
Emcee: Aarti Khetarpal
Photography: Navin Varma Photography

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