Monica and Yash, Taj Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur

Our series Featured Weddings brings you wonderful moments from weddings held at the finest venues across different cities. Read how bride Monica and groom Yash pulled off a highly personalized wedding at the Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

How We Met
Yash met Monica on the first day of college in September 2008. They had a lot of mutual friends in common but did not really know each other till winter break when they started chatting on Facebook. They grew closer and started spending a lot of time together. Yash asked Monica out on a date over the phone when he was on a holiday in Denmark, but made up for it by asking her out in person when they met again. Who knew that six years later, they would tie the knot!

Currently, Yash works in the Capital Markets industry as a consultant, while Monica is set to join a law firm after completing her studies.

Wedding Proposal
Yash and Monica were visiting Portland in Oregon to spend Christmas with Monica’s family. She did not know that he had a secret plan up his sleeve. On December 22, he asked her to join him for lunch and drove to the scenic Willamette Valley Vineyards. She was surprised to see just the two of them having lunch in a tasting room, till she noticed that there were pictures of people who had gotten married there!

After lunch, there was another surprise for her – a horse-drawn carriage! It took them to Vista Hills vineyard for a private wine tasting. As they approached their next stop, the carriage driver warned Monica not to mind the tourists taking pictures of the view – and pointed out one specific person as an example – who happened to be the photographer booked for the occasion.

Their next stop was the White Rose Vineyard. Yash headed for the barrel room saying he wanted to tour the place. As they walked down a winding road with a beautiful view – followed discreetly by the photographer – Yash asked Monica if she would like to come back one day and own a vineyard together. She replied, “Yes… that is my dream!” Yash said, “Well, why don’t we start now?” He got down on one knee and asked Monica to marry him. She said ‘Yes!’ and the photographer was right behind them to capture the moment. The happy couple went back to the tasting room for a congratulatory drink and purchased a vintage bottle that they will open on their 5-year anniversary.

Wedding Venue
Yash and Monica opted to get married in Jaipur which had won their hearts from their first visit. They chose the Jai Mahal Palace there as it was a real palace that had been converted into a hotel, and exuded history, serenity and grandeur. From interesting archways to the peacocks roaming around, there was something eye-catching in every corner. Yash and Monica envisioned where each event would take place and concluded that Jai Mahal Palace was the ideal venue for their nuptials as it provided authentic Rajasthani ambiance and a regal wedding experience.

Wedding Functions
The wedding festivities spanned five events spread over three days. The couple wanted to ensure that each event and location felt unique. The wedding planning was done over the course of two years as the couple wanted a true fusion of Sindhi traditions with western customs, combined with their personal touch. They wanted every aspect of the wedding to have meaning; and while it was important that all of the guests have a great time, the couple wanted to ensure that they cherished special moments for each other such as their first look at each other. They agreed not to discuss their outfits for any of their events and only coordinated colors through the groom’s mother. Each and every part of the wedding experience was customized and thoughtfully branded, down to the toilet paper in the guest rooms!

Welcome Dinner: ‘Welcome to Royal Rajasthan’ Theme
The welcome dinner was held at the Rajasthali Resort and Spa. Guests were warmly welcomed to the Pink City and taken for a drive through the historic landmarks on the way to the venue. The cocktail hour was held on the roof deck, which had breathtaking views of the mountains and palace arches. A live band entertained the guests under the main palace arch with Bollywood as well as traditional Rajasthani and Sindhi music. In the background, a Jal-Tarang instrumentalist complemented the atmosphere. Following the cocktail hour, dinner was served in the indoor banquet room in Silver Thalis as servers dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire came around with each item as guests were seated. The event was a perfect introduction to the city and its culture in a relaxed way after everyone’s long trips from around the world.

Monica’s Mehndi: Floral Chic, Colorful Poolside party
Monica’s mehndi was held poolside at Taj Jai Mahal. The theme was vibrant and fun, without being the typical ‘mehndi bazaar’. Rather than going with bold colors, the theme was more subdued with colors such as turquoise and gold. The hotel created a concept of gourmet street side food with live stations and incorporated unique ideas such as paani puri shots while also keeping traditional Sindhi dishes like Dal Pakwaan. The bride made her grand entrance in a palki to the hit song ‘Kaala Chashma’ as guests cheered on with their own customized “Y&M” sunglasses. Traditional Rajasthani dancers led the bride to the bridal ‘jhula’ and continued dancing along with everyone around. Guests got their henna applied while relaxing on daybeds under tents, as others danced to the DJ’s beats while enjoying the sun and perfect weather. Monica wore a grey, maroon and gold lehenga from Pratapsons in Jaipur.

Sangeet: A Club Night
Transitioning from the festive daytime mehndi, it was time to let loose at the sangeet. The evening event was complete with choreographed performances by family and friends that included surprises for the bride and groom. The light and sound setup, combined with special effects created the nightclub atmosphere that the couple envisioned. The décor itself included trendy furniture along with light up tables, while keeping the “Royal Rajasthan” theme present with Hookahs and Moroccan-style lanterns. DJ Ravish kept everyone on their feet. Monica’s beautiful red lehenga – styled like a gown – with glittering accents was from Pratapsons in Jaipur and proved perfect for the glamorous vibe of the evening.

Wedding Pheras
While Monica loves the traditional rich burgundy, red and gold wedding colors, she wanted a softer and more subdued look for the daytime wedding pheras. The wedding pheras were themed blush with a touch of burgundy and gold, a combination that seamlessly fit with the natural beauty of the spectacular palace backdrop. The decor incorporated beautiful floral detailing to accentuate the mandap that had the palace archway silhouettes on all four sides. The couple’s custom logo was created with florals on the back of the mandap.

The ceremony was conducted in the upper palace lawns, with the palace’s waterways flowing directly in front of the mandap as the guests lounged in amphitheater style seating with decorative pillows to witness the couple exchange vows.

The groom made his ‘baraat’ entrance on an elephant, accompanied by his groomsmen on camels – a moment that the bride had a perfect view of from the window in her room. The stunning bride, wearing an elegant pastel peach and gold lehenga by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, was escorted to the mandap by her family under a floral ‘chattar’. Yash mirrored her colors in a cream sherwani by Manyavar and peach ‘safa’ (turban) and stole.

Reception: Formal Black Tie Affair
The reception was a formal black tie affair, with a black and gold color theme. The décor at the entire venue was lit up with over 1000 candles. The natural elements of the palace were seamlessly incorporated into the décor, perfectly setting the mood for a royal and romantic evening. Immediately upon the couple’s entrance in a vintage car, they performed their first dance as a shadow dance while guests watched on with curiosity, wondering who was behind the screen. As the covers came off, the couple performed a Bollywood-style dance that had been rehearsed in the late hours of the night the week before the wedding. Picture Perfect India wowed the guests with a viewing of the powerful and emotional same-day edit video of the wedding festivities, leaving everyone teary-eyed. The reception concluded with a fireworks display, but the celebrations continued on to the after-party. Monica wore a customized blue lehenga with striking silver threadwork by Rabhya in New Delhi, and Yash wore a custom-tailored tuxedo by Mosanti Tailors which is owned and run by Monica’s father. He paired it with a Louis Vuitton 24K Gold Bow Tie and a Custom Monogram shirt with the wedding date, again by Mosanti Tailors.

Advice for to-be-weds
Monica shares, “Have fun, stay original, and enjoy every aspect of the planning and preparation process. Although the planning process may seem overwhelming at first, take this time to truly bond with each other, making the wedding represent who you are. If the details are important to you, take the time to carefully plan out every aspect. The details are what make one wedding unique from another, and bring everyone together to celebrate the strong bond between the couple. We felt the love was in the details and it helped make the wedding feel exactly ‘us’. The ‘little things’ are the ones our guests loved seeing throughout the wedding festivities and made each and every day and felt very personal, memorable, and completely Yash & Monica.”

The Wedding Makers
Location: Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Bridal Trousseau: Meena Bazaar (Welcome Dinner), Pratapsons Jaipur (Mehndi & Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding), Rabhya, New Delhi (Customized dress for the Reception).
Bridesmaids Dresses: Sahil, New Delhi
Groom’s Trousseau: Nordstrom (Welcome Dinner), Mebaz (Mehndi), Manyavar (Sangeet & Wedding), Mosanti Tailors (Reception)
Wedding Planner: Shaadiwala Wedding Planners: (Arun Singh, Rhimjim Rajpoot)
Makeup: Sundra Bains
DJ: DJ Ravish & DJ Akshat Panwar (Assistant DJ)
Dance Choreographer: Deepak Negi

Photographer & Cinematographer: Picture Perfect India

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