Manopriya and Aakash, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort
This Tamil-Telugu union combined traditional customs with contemporary aesthetics, in ceremonies beautifully-enhanced by the sublime beach environment.
Manopriya and Aakash enjoyed the perfect blend of Telugu and Tamil traditions, along with a delightful sprinkling of modish elements to elevate the fun and festivities even further, at their lavish wedding by the sea.
The three-day wedding celebrations were hosted at the picturesque InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, where the golden sands and blue sea made for a spectacular backdrop. Vivid hues, traditional touches and elements that symbolized the couple’s love story were deftly woven into every aspect of the celebrations; which was meticulously executed by WeddingSutra Favorite, The A-Cube Project.
Here the groom, Aakash, recounts highlights from the wedding…
How They Met
Manopriya met Aakash in a professional setting – the couple worked together. The bride was working as Aakash’s intern when they started bonding over the fact that they were both alma mater of the same medical college. Fate brought them together and led them along the path of friendship and love.
Wedding Venue
“We always wanted a beachside setup for our wedding and so we began our research of finding a venue that fulfills that criterion. Apart from the beach location, we wanted a place that would be feasible and one where the entire resort could be rented out for our festivities. That’s when we came across InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, where all our requests were accepted.”
Wedding Planner
“Our wedding was planned by The A- Cube Project. We spent almost four months working with them on the designs for the wedding, incorporating both of our cultures, traditions, likes and dislikes. The team was extremely flexible, accommodating and were available at any point of time during the day. For every décor concept and theme ideated by Manopriya and me, The A-Cube Project worked wonderfully well to incorporate our thoughts and ideas into the plan. They also provided us with 3D designs to help us have an understanding of what each event would look like. Needless to say, the final product looked even better than the designs.”
Wedding Functions
Sangeet
“The sangeet function kickstarted our wedding celebrations. The décor was inspired by the Soy Soi restaurant in Chennai, which is where we had our first dinner date. The color red dominated the decor at the venue, along with bamboo lanterns and dragonflies which were scattered around to emulate the interiors of Soy Soi.”
The bride looked gorgeous in a Tarun Tahiliani creation with intricate work and embellishments, while the groom looked handsome in a creation by Rohit Bal. The couple made an enchanting entry, walking down a sandy path that was lit up by sparklers held high by their near and dear ones – which created a mesmerizing arch of glittering sparks to frame their entrance.
After Party
The after party that followed the sangeet ceremony was decked out in a cinematic theme that would thrill any film buff – a wonderfully-executed effort by The A-Cube Project. The venue featured an American movie theatre setup, a glamorous red carpet and a moody lounge in soft lighting with a dramatic Godfather poster – giving the term ‘movie night’ a whole new meaning.
Revealing his personal inspiration behind this décor, Aakash said, “The decor was inspired by the interior designs of Studio – The Slate, which is also located in Chennai, which is where our proposal took place.”
Mangala Snanam
The mangala snanam is the sacred bath held a day before the wedding ceremony. It is quite similar to the haldi ritual. The bride chose décor that was dominated by hues of pink, with delicate cherry blossoms and elegantly-draped fabric livening up the venue. Gold chiavari chairs were also swathed in pink linen and flowers. The groom choose a more traditional decor for his mangala snanam which featured tints of ochre, with the theme revolving around the tree of wisdom.
Mehndi
The mehndi ceremony was a lavish and fun-filled event packed with entertainment and excitement. Aakash elaborates, “The grand mehndi ceremony was a Mughal-e-Azam-themed function. It even featured a walk through the courtyard of a Mughal Palace. There was a souk where Turkish ice cream, Turkish coffee, a parrot astrologer and lac bangle maker were present to keep the guests engaged and thoroughly entertained.”
Wedding
A subtle yet stunning peacock-themed décor created an invigorating backdrop for the wedding ceremony. The colorful bird was also the inspiration behind the bride’s and groom’s attires during the first part of the festivities. The bride wore a stunning deep blue and gold silk Kanchipuram saree featuring motifs of the peacock, highlighted by a bold bronze border. This was teamed with traditional jewelry to create an elegant and opulent look. Aakash wore a sherwani in a similar shade to complement his bride.
During the second half of this ceremony, the couple sported a different attire to complete the marriage rituals. Wearing shades of cream and gold, both Aakash and Manopriya looked resplendent in their traditional outfits.
The décor for this function was wonderfully executed by The A-Cube Project, which featured elaborate floral hangings. The décor featured elaborate floral hangings teamed with huge roses suspended from the ceiling. Beautifully-crafted peacocks with feathers made from intricately-arranged blue and purple flowers were positioned as a stunning vertical backdrop on the stage. The awe-inspiring beauty of the InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort was enhanced by the stunning natural surrounding of golden sands and the bright blue sea.
Aashirwad
Keeping in mind the emotions of the guests, the interiors for this ceremony saw vibrant hues decorate the venue, reflecting the joy and goodwill as elders gathered to bless the newlyweds. Members of the family donned shades of saffron and white. The décor featured flowers and origami elements, bringing out a wonderful contrast in colors and textures, and giving the ambience a perfect blend of traditional and modern culture.
Advice For Couples
“For a destination wedding, choose an easily-accessible location by flight or road. It’s best to rent out the whole property to avoid seeing strangers at your private events and having to keep a track of every penny you spend. While dealing with the wedding planners, make sure multiple people and multiple ideas aren’t involved to avoid confusion and clashes.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort
Wedding Planner: The A-Cube Project
Caterers: KMK caterers (Vijayawada)
Bride’s Outfits: Tarun Tahiliani (Sangeet), Fatiz Bridal Emporio Chennai (After Party), Palki Boutique Kolkata (Mehndi), Prakash Silks (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Rohit Bal (Sangeet), Osman Abdul Razak (After Party, Wedding), Shantanu and Nikhil, Tarun Tahiliani (Mehndi), Tulsi Silk (Wedding)
Jewellery: VBJ Jewellers (Wedding)
Makeup Artist: Jayaraj
Entertainment: The Wedding Bartenders (TWB)
DJ: DJ Gowtham, DJ Prashanth Amir
Wedding Invitations: Lotus Wedding Store
Photography: Shades Photography
