Malvika and Abhishek, Ahmedabad
Dressed in an ivory lehenga with silver embroidery, this bride was the epitome of elegance as she tied the knot with her beau.
Nestled amidst lush greenery where they basked in the love of their family and friends, Malvika Jhaveri and Abhishek Patel’s wedding was a treat for the eyes with its joyful and emotional moments. Photographed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Sam & Ekta who with their creativity captured truly breathtaking shots, this wedding was a stunning celebration, to say the least.
How They Met
Malvika shares, “According to Abhishek, it was love at first sight, an instant connection when both of us crossed paths often at the firm where he and my older brother worked. At first, we started out as friends, but Abhishek, the thoughtful person that he is, took permission from my brother before confessing his feelings to me. There has been no looking back since, as we’ve talked to each other every single day. I think we were so sure about us, that even 3 years of long-distance seemed easy. The one thing that has remained constant in the past five years is how much we enjoy spending time together, from watching movies to going on long walks to watch the sunset, playing board games, cooking together, the list is endless!”
The Proposal
To surprise the love of his life, Abhishek orchestrated a stunning proposal in Bali. A happy Malvika recollects, “He popped the question to me about two years ago in Bali and I couldn’t have been happier! It was a dreamy moment, with a fairytale-like set up by the pool. After I uttered an emphatic ‘yes!’ we enjoyed a very special evening of wining and dining.”
Wedding Planning
Keen on a destination wedding, the couple had previously selected Goa as their destination of choice, but owing to the pandemic those plans were unfortunately canceled. Malvika shares, “One of our prime focus was the safety of our loved ones, and hence we made the tough decision of canceling our plans. To be very honest, we were a little disappointed at first because both of us always wanted to have a destination wedding. But little did we know that getting married at home, surrounded by our close friends and family would turn out to be just perfect! The wedding took place at farmhouse locations that were naturally beautiful, and the relatively small invite list gave us a chance to pay attention to the tiniest details.”
Also, knowing how important it is to have a skilled wedding photographer on board, the couple roped in Sam & Ekta who impressed them with their skills. Gushing about the photography team, the bride shares, “When it comes to wedding photography, I don’t think it gets any better than Sam and Ekta. We first met them at my brother’s wedding and they came across as very sweet and friendly individuals apart from being incredibly talented professionals. So the one thing that we were very sure of, even before we started planning our wedding was that we wanted Sam and Ekta to document our wedding. Their photography has the power to enable us to relive the small beautiful moments that would otherwise be forgotten, and that’s the best thing that you could hold onto long after your wedding. We had an amazing experience with them, right from the pre-wedding shoot at the farmhouse until the day of the wedding. They were always present at the right place and the right time, to capture all the important moments! And apart from making us feel extremely comfortable, they made the experience really exciting and fun for our family and friends too.”
Weddings Functions
Haldi
The bride says, “Abhishek’s Haldi was at home where he was smeared with haldi from head to toe by his family amidst a whole lot of fun and laughter. Meanwhile, my haldi was at the farmhouse where the decor was in sync with the rustic and traditional vibe of the farmhouse. Terracotta pots along with jute and bamboo were accentuated with baskets filled with marigold flowers that reflected the ‘phoolon ki holi’ theme. The backdrop was a beautiful marigold ombre setup that creatively cascaded from orange to light yellow marigolds.”
Mehndi
“Inspired by backyard parties, we nicknamed my Mehndi a ‘Backyard Mehndi’. The decor was minimal and sustainable with pampas grass and tea light candles that created a cozy vibe just right for close friends and family. Additionally, there was beer pong, music and dancing to keep the affair lively.”
Sangeet
“Exuding a modern rustic vibe, the Sangeet which commenced after the mehndi, consisted of cozy cabanas, tablescapes, and ambient lighting. Decorated with contemporary blooms, the event was exquisitely styled to give a chic yet rustic look. As the evening progressed, the band Indie Routes took to the stage and beckoned everyone to fall in love with their mesmerizing tunes. The night concluded on a high note with the DJ spurring everyone into a dancing revelry.”
Wedding
“My childhood friend who was in charge of the wedding decor focused on creating special eye-catching experiential areas by accentuating the natural beauty of the place. The mandap was created under a huge tree and adorned with rajnigandha garlands and lotus diyas. The theme was ‘In the Woods’ and this was executed with more than 150 trees bedecked splendidly with lights, fragrant garlands of Rajnigandha flowers, reflective mirrors, soft blush pinks, and rich red brocades that added more richness and color to the venue. The idea was to do a very sensory-oriented decor which was more holistic than the usual grand wedding.”
Advice for Couples
Reflecting on what she’s learned as she orchestrated her wedding personally to a large extent, Malvika shares, “If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it is to be accepting of change. Even though we have all visualized our weddings in a certain way, we cannot always control the situation. Be open-minded and believe that your wedding will turn out even better than what you had initially thought. It is always great to plan in advance but being adaptive will help in making the wedding planning fun and stress-free. As you get closer to the wedding, try to make time for yourself and your partner by handing over wedding-related responsibilities to your friends and family. It is important to bask in the moment and enjoy some of the happiest days of your life!
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Altan Fields, Ahmedabad (Sangeet); Ankur Orchards, Ahmedabad (Wedding)
Wedding Planner: 7fiftytwo Events
Décor: Peonies by Anoli (Haldi, Mehndi, Wedding), Grafico Events (Sangeet)
Groom’s Outfits: Divyam Mehta (Haldi, Mehndi), Rahul Mishra (Sangeet, Wedding), Rahul Mishra (Sangeet, Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Astha Narang (Haldi), Jade by Monica and Karishma (Mehndi, Sangeet), Anita Dongre (Wedding)
Jewellery: Urnish Jewellers (Haldi, Mehndi, Sangeet)
Makeup: Recinda Martis
Hairstyling: Ronella Baptista
Entertainment: Indie Routes (Sangeet), DJ Jolly (Haldi, Mehndi, Sangeet)
Wedding Invitations: Peonies by Anoli, The WanderInk
Photography: Sam & Ekta
