Manisha and Gaurav, Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad
Manisha and Gaurav’s festivities were all about ‘tradition with sunglasses on’ - rituals, romance and a rollicking good time.
At the wedding of Gaurav’s sister, a certain wedding planner caught Gaurav’s eye. Little did the two know that one wedding would lead to another! With every spectrum of color and emotion caught on film by WeddingSutra Favorite Knotty Affair by Namit and Vipul, groom Gaurav takes us through the wedding festivities.
How They Met
Gaurav met Manisha at his sister’s wedding. He says, “Manisha was part of the team that planned my sister Khushboo’s wedding four years ago. The wedding was at Ramoji Film City and after the wedding, we started talking. We were so engrossed in conversation that we forgot everyone else around us. We exchanged numbers and would talk almost every day and somewhere amidst those cute messages and late-night conversations about life, we fell in love!”
The Wedding Venue
A fairy tale meeting called for a fairy tale wedding and Manisha and Gaurav wanted to go back to where it all began. Ramoji Film City it was! Gaurav says, “Ramoji Film City holds a very special place in our hearts and getting married there was just pure magic. We wanted a fun-filled affair and most importantly, we wanted our wedding ‘our way’. So that’s how we planned it.”
The Wedding Planning
The couple began planning the wedding from the day of their roka ceremony. Every detail of the two-day extravaganza, attended by over 450 guests, was put into place. Manisha managed her dual role of bride/official wedding planner with great panache and a little help from her groom. The couple finalised everything from the overarching themes to the tiniest elements of décor, adding personalized touches as they proceeded.
The Wedding Invite
The groom and bride had individual wedding invitation designs which were a showcase of modern elements and traditional motifs. Manisha’s invitation featured florals and stripes combined with on-trend colors – blue, peach, pink and rose gold – for an unmistakably ‘now’ look.
Gaurav’s invite used royal Indian imagery – opulent domes, peacocks, lanterns etc, with tints of pearl, blue and green.
Mehendi
The mehendi worked that 90s vibe to perfection – multi-colored frames and bright tensile and ceiling structures made for a vibrant environment. On the ground, the fun never set with games, props, nagadas and dhols keeping people playing and dancing right through.
Manisha wore a beautiful Abhinav Mishra wardrobe that worked in tandem with the theme.
Sangeet
The aim of the sangeet was to transport the guests from the mehendi’s vibrant ambience by day into a foot-tapping fiesta by night. Themed ‘Glitz and Glam’, the sangeet was a starry starry night in hues of black, gold and silver. Featuring energetic performances by family and friends with a DJ who kept everyone on their toes, the evening was a sublime sundowner.
Manisha looked ravishing in a silver shimmer lehenga by Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika while Gaurav looked dapper in an azure blue tuxedo.
Wedding
Every moment of the nuptials was planned to perfection by Gaurav and Manisha.
The celebrations began with a grand entry by Gaurav, his baraat led by Lalbaugh Dholwalas and a fabulous DJ. This was followed by a breathtaking varmaala ceremony set up at a vantage point overlooking the giant Mughal gardens.
The pheras were performed in a peaceful, spiritual environment enhanced by elements inspired by divinity – the 60 ft entrance passage redolent with bouquets of sweet rajnigandha, enhanced by beautiful drapes and Meenakari frames with golden etchings. The mandap’s water fountain was a focal point in the centre of the amphitheatre style seating. With red and gold as prominent colors, diyas and red roses added to the romance.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad
Wedding Planner: Events by Manisha Porwal
Event Management: Zibika Events
Caterers: Gaurav Caterers, Hyderabad
Bride’s Outfits: Abhinav Mishra (Mehndi), Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika (Sangeet), Deepika Dugar Label (Wedding), Falguni & Shane Peacock (Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Lux Label by Jatin
Makeup Artist: Kulsum Parvez
Entertainment: VJ Sanchit
DJ: DJ Harsha
Wedding Invitations: Kiana Invitations
Photography: Knotty Affair by Namit and Vipul
