Nikita and Kunal, Taj Lands End, Mumbai
An opulent celebration that spanned across two countries, the wedding was a big boisterous party in itself!
Planned from start to finish by WeddingSutra Favorite – Weddings by ESL this wedding included everything from gorgeous décor indoor and outdoor, to their guests enjoying the best of both worlds when the reception date clashed with a big cricket match! Via stunning captures by WeddingSutra Favorite – Knotting Bells, we get to glimpses from this gorgeous wedding that took place at Taj Lands End, Mumbai.
How they met
Nikita and Kunal were introduced through a formal, arranged marriage setup and exchanged numbers via their marriage agent. But that was all that was ‘arranged’ about their connection. From word ‘go’ they couldn’t stop texting each other. Nikita says, “I finally met Kunal, after texting him continuously for two weeks, at Koko in Mumbai. Our first meeting lasted for over 7 hours and we stayed out chatting with each other till 4 am! That was the moment we knew that we wanted to be together forever.”
Wedding Venue
The stunning venues at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai provided the wedding celebrations with classic backdrops. The opulent property ensured both the couple and their guests were hosted in plush comfort and were able to enjoy the festivities to the fullest.
Wedding Planning
Weddings by ESL were in charge of executing this wedding across two different continents. In Mumbai and in Bodrum, the team ensured everything went like clockwork. Every ceremony, every soirée had distinct décor and was planned to ensure maximum entertainment and memorable experiences for all. The bride said, “The team of Weddings by ESL executed every event to perfection. We did not have to look into any of the planning parts thanks to their adept team.”
Wedding Functions
Roka
The Roka was special because it was the first time the bride was introduced to Kunal’s extended family. Fresh flowers, candles and pastel hues brought a springtime romance to the venue.
Engagement
The couple’s engagement was hosted pool-side, al fresco. The event had an ‘enchanted forest’ theme. The planning team used props and décor elements in green and white to transform the space into a dreamy, fairytale forest.
Haldi & Mehendi
The haldi and mehendi functions were combined and the décor was sophisticated with a vogue edge in lime green and pink. The bride wore a beautiful yellow lehenga by Swetcha Gupta teamed with temple jewellery and completed the haldi look with floral jewellery from Floral Art by Srishti. Friends and family smeared the couple with turmeric paste in true tradition and then the bride sat down to have her arms adorned with henna designs.
Wedding
The quintessential Indian wedding – the colors red and maroon were skillfully worked into the décor for the wedding. The c-shaped stage had a larger than life ombre backdrop crafted in fresh flowers. Peacocks and other ethnic motifs brought color and elegance to the entire ambiance.
Reception
The couple’s reception coincided with the India-Pakistan World Cup match! And Weddings by ESL came up with a brilliant idea. Why not screen the match during the reception so none of the guests missed out on any of the action but also managed to celebrate the couple? That’s exactly what happened and it turned into a very fun evening.
Pool Party
After all the formal wedding festivities were over, Nikita and Kunal flew to Bodrum, Turkey with their crew for three nights of non-stop partying. They kicked off with a retro-themed pool party. From sundown into the wee hours, guests danced and danced till they could dance no more.
Yacht Party
On day 2, a smashing yacht party was organised for the guests. The hijinks on the high seas was all about the couple’s cousins and friends letting their hair down and enjoying the crazy night as their yacht sailed against the stunning backdrop of Turkey’s setting sun.
Unplugged Night
The wedding festivities concluded with a soothing, romantic, acoustic night hosted on a beach deck. Shahid, the famous singer from Headlines, Dubai performed as guests swayed to his tunes in the gorgeous cabanas erected on the deck.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Taj Lands End, Mumbai
Wedding Planner: Weddings by ESL
Groom’s Outfits: Raghavendra Rathore (Engagement, Reception), Kunal Rawal (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Gaurav Gupta (Engagement), Swetcha Gupta (Haldi), Sabyasachi (Wedding), Manish Malhotra (Reception)
Jewelry & Accessories: Dedhia Jewellers and Floral Art by Srishti (Haldi), Varuna D Jani (Reception), Shivan and Narresh (Post-wedding parties)
Makeup Artist: Mabel D’Souza (Roka, Haldi & Mehendi), Ojas Rajani (Wedding and Reception), Pooja Lalwani (Post-wedding Parties)
Hairstylist: Saroj (Roka, Haldi and Mehendi), Ojas Rajani (Wedding and Reception), Geetu (Post-wedding Parties)
Entertainment: Shahid Shabaz, Dubai
Photography: Knotting Bells
