Mallika Nayar and Varun Kapoor, Gajner Palace, Rajasthan
From a mehndi mela, a royal sangeet to a vintage phere ceremony, this couple’s destination wedding in Rajasthan was spectacular.
Featuring traditional designs that were artfully merged with contemporary styles, Mallika Nayar, co-founder of The Brand Daily Project’s destination wedding with Varun Kapoor, a Chartered Accountant was a profusion of colours and heartwarming moments. Photographing their wedding was WeddingSutra Favorite – LensEyeZia Productions who with their expertise and precise timing captured moments of unfiltered happiness.
How They Met
Mallika shares, “We met each other in 2014 at a concert in NH7 through a mutual friend. We both coincidentally got lost at the concert together which was the perfect ice breaker! Instead of trying to find our friends, we made the most of the concert and went on to enjoy the music. Instantly we both realised we both love music, classic rock to be precise so that one meeting at the concert turned into long drives almost every other day with our favourite tunes. We talked about everything on our drives and became best friends. This friendship grew stronger and stronger with time and over the years we started to be there for each other.”
The Proposal
Mallika shares, “We actually had two proposals! I always wanted a big surprise party and had told Varun long ago that I wanted to celebrate my big moment with all my friends and family.
Varun remembered this and started to plan the surprise proposal. He decorated the house with lights, called all my friends and told my parents to bring me over for a family dinner. I didn’t know of this and when I reached his house I opened the door and saw lights, music and rose petals everywhere and all my family and friends gathered with Varun in the centre on his knees with a ring. It was the most memorable moment of my life. He even played our special song when I walked in.”
Not to be left behind, Mallika also orchestrated a proposal for Varun. She goes on to share, “I also wanted to propose to Varun. He is an introvert, so I organised a private dinner at a luxurious hotel without him knowing. Over there, I went down on one knee and asked him to marry me. However, during that time there was a storm raging and all the decor was in a disarray. In the middle of this, we both still stood in the heavy rain holding down the chairs and tables! We both were drenched by the end of it and ate our three-course dinner in the hotel room. But the moment of standing in the rain with winds blowing and me asking him to marry me was so beautiful and chaotic at the same time.”
Wedding Planning
A wedding bestows one with precious moments that last a lifetime. And, to ensure that each moment of their union was beautifully captured, the couple entrusted the wedding photography to LensEyeZia Productions who awed the duo with their skills. Mallika shares, “Choosing LensEyeZia Productions was the best decision we made at our wedding. They captured each moment thoroughly be it late at night or during the early hours of the morning. The pictures looked absolutely gorgeous and the videos so aptly captured the vibes of each event. All our friends and family were equally included, no one was left out! The team was energetic throughout the wedding and it almost felt like they were our friends since they made us feel so comfortable.”
Weddings Functions
Mehndi
Mallika shares, “Varun and I wanted to have a fun light breezy mehndi function. We retained the fun aspect of the function by making it a mehndi mela. We had stalls offering food and accessories like bags, bangles, dupattas etc. for the guests. The food counters included gola, banta soda and shikanji! We both love cocktails so the bar menu had to be a highlight for all functions. We had special-themed cocktail menus for each event.”
Sangeet
Mallika shares, “Our sangeet had a theme which revolved around regal colours. Rich blue, dark green and silver dominated the palette. Plus, we also exchanged rings! It was a fun-filled night with a lot of dancing and drinking.”
Haldi
The bride shares, “Instead of opting for the usual yellow hues we went for a pink and white themed haldi which rejuvenated the senses. It was such a playful function under the bright sunshine. We had the time of our lives!”
Wedding
Mallika shares, “I love everything vintage and with character so I knew for sure that I wanted to dress up as a royal traditional bride. A minimal red and gold lehenga was an obvious choice for me and the ensemble was designed from scratch by my mother and me. The theme of our wedding was royal and heritage.” She adds, “Growing up, I always dreamed of a palace wedding and Gajner Palace was the perfect fit. We both love being in quiet surroundings and this place offered us just that! We both wanted an intimate wedding, with just our close family and friends where we escape away from the city noise to celebrate our love. Gajner palace was our oasis for those two days.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Gajner Palace, Rajasthan
Wedding Planner and Décor: The Brandaily Project
Groom’s Outfits: Shantanu Nikhil (Sangeet), Brahaan By Narains (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Adi by Aditya Khandelwal (Mehndi)
Jewellery: Ritika Sachdeva (Mehndi), Apala by Sumit (Sangeet)
Makeup: Naveen Bhalla (Mehndi, Sangeet), Gyanu Artistry (Wedding)
Choreography: Kay Choreography
Wedding Invitations: The Brandaily Project
Bartenders: Deli Cocktail House (Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding)
Photography and Videography: LensEyeZia Productions
