Melinder and Dave, Karnal

The beginning of Melinder and Dave’s love story was akin to a Bollywood movie where Dave on spotting Melinder, made active efforts to catch her attention. What began with a cheesy pickup line and casual exchange of numbers, finally bore fruit with an elegant wedding hosted at the majestic Noor Mahal that allowed the duo’s creativity to run free with its vast spaces. Photographed by WeddingSutra Favorite – Sunny Dhiman Photography, who used his expert skills behind the camera to capture each precious moment, this wedding made jaws drop with its sheer style.

How They Met
“We first met in Perth during an Indian event. And, according to Dave, as soon as he saw me, he knew that he had to come over and talk to me. At that time, I was standing near the bar with my sister and he quickly found his way next to me and opened the conversation with a cheesy pickup line. Surprisingly, for some reason, the line worked, and we ended up exchanging numbers!”, shares Melinder.

The Proposal
“Exactly four years from the first time we met, Dave decided to propose to me. We were staying at the Sofitel Darling Harbor for a staycation and he informed me that he had booked a lunch date to celebrate our fourth anniversary. After our lunch, we took a walk at the nearby park and to my absolute astonishment, the walkway of the park overlooking the Sydney Harbor Bridge was filled with roses and little boxes. Each of these boxes contained a fond memory note from the first time we met to our first kiss. And, when I opened the last box, it had the words ‘Will you marry me?’

The end of the aisle also had huge block letters reading ‘Marry me’ with the iconic Opera House in the background. And then, finally, Dave got down on one knee and popped the question. A quick ‘yes!’ ensued and it remains one of the happiest moments of my life to date.”

Wedding Venue
“When I first saw Noor Mahal Karnal in the picture, I knew that it was a perfect choice. It wasn’t just about the exquisite architecture but also the incredible hospitality that they offered us. We’ve always dreamed of getting married in a palace-style hotel and this was the perfect pick with its intricate Rajasthani-Mughal fusion artwork. Each of the guests, with a major chunk of them coming from various parts of the world, were absolutely blown away by the surroundings. The food was delicious, the rooms were lavish, and the spaces were vast. I don’t think we could’ve done any better.”, shares Melinder.

Wedding Planning
“For the planning, both of us relied on each other and conducted extensive research online to make sure that everything went ahead perfectly. Each aspect of the wedding was planned within six months that also included two trips to India. Knowing the importance of having good vendors on board, we first selected our photographers, the very talented team at Sunny Dhiman Photography who was our first and only choice for the nuptials. We first came across their page on Instagram and knew instantly that we wanted them on our team. The entire team is friendly, patient, proactive, and accommodating. Also, their level of professionalism is impeccable. We are thrilled with the way each picture and video has turned out. With a knack for capturing each moment at the right time, their team is incredibly skillful.”

Adding to the team were planners Vivaha Wedding Solutions, makeup artists Anchal Verma & Guneet Virdi along with decorators from Weddings by Namrata Kapoor, all making sure the bride and groom’s vision came true.

Weddings Functions

Welcome Dinner
To kick off the five-day celebrations, the duo welcomed their guests with a boisterous welcome dinner that broke the ice. Melinder shares, “It was a really fun and chilled evening where everyone mingled freely. Eventually, all the guests also shook a leg to the beats while enjoying their drinks!”

Mehndi
Vivid, feminine, and sunlit, the mehndi celebrations were an absolute blast as everyone basked under the sun next to the poolside. The happy bride shares, “It was a beautifully bright poolside event adorned with vibrant colors. Everyone had the time of their life as they danced with their henna patterned hands turned up. Additionally, we also had a variety of drinks like gidha, bellinis, and canapes to make sure the spirits were high.”

Sangeet
“Following the mehndi, the sangeet took place in the evening and was conceptualized around a Sufi theme. Each element echoed the unique theme that included elements like mirrors, rich red and green velvet drapes, candles, hanging lanterns, and hookah. The night was also punctuated with family performances that left both of us in awe!”, shares the bride.

Haldi
“For the Haldi and chura ceremony, the color palette was distinctly pink and accompanied by phulkari designs. Hosted at the Deewan-e-Aam, which is a stunning spot in Noormahal, every moment was absolutely surreal as my family playfully smeared me with turmeric.”, shares Melinder.

Wedding
“Taking the classic route, we chose to go for a very traditional setup for the wedding. With hues of red and white adorning the mandap, everything actually looked straight out of a Bollywood movie with an extremely regal vibe, while the stunning architecture of the venue also served as a perfect backdrop for our vision.”, shares the happy bride.

Reception
“Since the wedding followed a traditional theme, we chose to conceptualize the reception around a more modern yet classic setup. With a royal blue and silver color palette, each element of the decor exuded classic glam with chandeliers and sequins reflecting light. A vast dancefloor and a separate stage made sure that everyone had their own space as they mingled and delighted their senses at the molecular bar.’, shares Melinder.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Noor Mahal Karnal, Haryana
Wedding Planner: Vivaha Wedding Solutions
Décor: Weddings by Namrata Kapoor
Groom’s Outfits: Diwan Saheb (Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding), Tom Ford (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Megha & Jigar (Welcome Dinner), Abhinav Mishra (Mehndi, Sangeet), Patiala (Haldi), Poonams Kaurture (Chura), Mongas (Wedding), Shrangar (Reception)
Bride’s Shoes: Needledust (Mehndi), Christian Louboutin (Wedding)
Jewelry: Raabta by Rahul
Floral jewelry: U Phool Floral jewelry, The Hand Krities
Makeup: Tarun Kapoor (Welcome Dinner), Anchal Verma (Mehndi & Sangeet), Guneet Virdi (Wedding, Reception)
Entertainment: Ruhdaari by Gurmehar (Sangeet), Aquabeats Band (Reception)
Wedding Invitations: Design by Harpriya Singh
Wedding Favors: Pataaree
Photography and Videography: Sunny Dhiman Photography

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