Niharika and Umang, Pune
This couple’s colorful ‘kite carnival’ themed pre-wedding party was power-packed with a plethora of dazzling hues and dozens of vibrant glass-bottle lanterns.
Niharika and Umang’s love story had an unexpected start which had fate playing a winning card to bring the duo together. From countless commutes between Mumbai and Pune to teaming up and successfully executing their own colorful nuptials, this duo is the perfect example of ‘opposites attract’. Filled with boisterous parties and cozy family moments, their nuptials emanated joy, love, and splendor.
How They Met
With fate conspiring against all odds to get this happy duo together, Niharika and Umang first met under less than normal circumstances where they crossed paths all thanks to Niharika’s mom’s reiki instructor. Niharika shares, “Initially, we had a bumpy start with disastrous one-day visits to Pune and Bombay which led us to believe that we aren’t meant to be together. But somehow, we persevered and eventually, fell in love.”
Wedding Venue
The couple chose the plush Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel, a property that boasts of several contemporary comforts, state of the art amenities and a convenient location that made it easy for the invitees to commute. With its spacious banquet halls and impeccable hospitality, this property ticked every box on the duo’s list.
Wedding Planning
Making sure that everything went ahead without a glitch, Niharika unleashed the perfectionist inside her while Umang added his creative flair into the mix while planning the wedding.
However, the determined twosome did rely on expert professionals like makeup artist Amrita Bokey, planner Jim Dandy Events, and photographers The Whitebox to make their dream wedding come true.
Weddings Functions
Haldi
A homebound ceremony, the Haldi was a vibrant playful affair where Niharika was smeared by the other women in her family with a mixture of haldi and yoghurt. Surrounded by laughter and friendly banter, the bride was all smiles as she got her pre-wedding glow on.
Kite Carnival
Making sure their wedding day started on a high note, the duo hosted a ‘kite carnival’ themed pre-wedding party keeping in mind that Makar Sankranti was just two days before the wedding. Replete with multi-hued canopies and bottle-lanterns, this sunlit affair had everyone sizzling on the dancefloor as they had the time of their lives clicking playful selfies and dancing to hit Bollywood tracks.
Wedding
Keeping it classy and elegant for the evening phere ceremony, Niharika and Umang chose a soft red color palette that was accentuated by glints of silver and gold. As ornate vintage lampstands and miniature LED bulbs cast their golden glow over the venue, the bride and groom took their oaths circling the holy fire while glancing at each other adoringly.
In contrast to the rich scarlet decor, the bride opted for a soft pink lehenga which she paired with kundan and emerald encrusted jewelry. Umang, taking a cue from his bride, chose an embroidered antique gold-hued sherwani which he paired with a white shawl.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel
Wedding Planner: Jim Dandy Events
Bride’s Outfits: Rika By Niharika Rathi (Mehndi), Siddhartha Bansal (Kite Carnival), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding)
Jewelry: Shailja’s Diamond Jewelry
Makeup: Amrita Bokey (Wedding)
Photography: The Whitebox
