Prachi and Shaleen, City Palace, Jaipur
Taking a cue from the famed Sheesh Mahal and flaunting intricate Rajasthani art, this couple’s wedding mandap was a regal one.
Inspired by the local flavours, Prachi and Shaleen’s palace wedding in Jaipur was a spectacular celebration of love planned seamlessly by WeddingSutra Favorite – Hitchkey Weddings. Photographing the couple at their adorable best was WeddingSutra Favorite – Dream Diaries.
How They Met
Prachi and Shaleen met through their parents and their first conversation was a telephonic one. After the lockdown was eased, Shaleen made his way to Mumbai to meet Prachi where they had their first date. However, things got cemented on their second date, where the duo developed an affinity for each other.
Wedding Planning
Prachi shares, “I’ve always wanted a palace wedding in Jaipur as my parents had one too! However, the pandemic played havoc with our plans Thankfully, we had Hitchkey Weddings on our team! Even though our guest lists and dates were impacted due to the uncertain times, we were lucky enough to fix our wedding on a date when things were a bit more relaxed. Team Hitchkey Weddings truly brought our vision to life. I felt calm and at peace with them around. The entire team is extremely patient and understanding and I would highly recommend them.”
Aayushi Modi from Hitchkey Weddings shares, “For us guest comfort and indulgence came first. A warm welcome was extended to all guests as soon as they arrived at the airport. Designated hospitality desks at the hotel ensured smooth and hassle-free check-ins. We placed well thought of and pretty Welcome Hampers loaded with goodies and basic necessities in each room for guests.”
Weddings Functions
Mehndi
Aayushi shares, “The festivities started with a fun pastel-hued Mehendi function. With pastel blooms, crisscross drapes, and pretty floral touches, the décor at this mehndi, infused the venue with elegance and a contemporary charm. A wide range of exotic pastel flowers was aesthetically placed around the stage set up and the swing made the setup a perfect shabby chic. The couple entered on a decked-up tricycle. Prachi loves Pani Puri and to showcase her love for the same, we had a corner called ‘Prachi’s Pani Puri Stall’ where guests relished pani puri shots.” Prachi adds,” Hitchkey Weddings asked for my opinion, and there ended up being a Pani Puri counter with my name on it!”
Sangeet
Aayushi shares, “The ‘glitter and glam’ themed sangeet revelries included a rich monochrome palette with equal parts of chic and elegance. We wanted to create an aura of love and wanted to showcase their love story from the day they first met to the day of their wedding, to be the theme for this function. An alluring verdant passage with a huge book installation ornamented with floral décor and their wedding hashtag opened a magical night of opulence. We designed their ‘love story books’ and split them into 8 chapters, with each chapter being the unique centrepiece, aesthetically adorning the guest tables for the evening. The plush couple seating had an enchanting, tall vertical floral installation within geometric standees. A colossal stage with lots of mirror work was created bearing the wedding hashtag. The entire venue was bathed in radiance with ambient lights and classy ghost chair seating for guests to sit back and enjoy the well-choreographed performances, fun dance-offs along with the infectious atmosphere of merriment.”
Haldi
Aayushi shares, “The haldi event flaunted a ‘color of the sun’ theme. The sunshine-themed décor complemented the aesthetics with geometric structures with rajanigandha strings, dressed up with a pop of vivid hues and gold accents. This haldi was all about the couple and their loved ones having a fun time together.”
Wedding
Aayushi shares, “Striking the perfect balance between heritage and new-age elegance, Prachi and Shaleen’s palace wedding was just breathtaking. The wedding took place at Pritam Chowk of City Palace, where the Maharani resides. Kicking off with a spirited baraat, this wedding looked straight out of a dream. The groom entered on a floral chariot and on entry, they were welcomed with a floral shower and Prachi’s father’s heartwarming speech which was played in the background.
On the other hand, the bridal entry was mystical. She entered with 11 priests holding huge diyas and chanting mantras with instrumental flute music playing in the background. For the varmala ceremony, we lit the venue with 120 cold pyros to create that breathtaking moment along with a floral shower that rained down on the couple. The phere mandap was inspired by the Amer Fort’s Sheesh Mahal with rich and regal glass inlay design called thikri work. The rectangular seating/dining area was decorated with chandeliers and rose bouquets as centrepieces.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: The Lalit Jaipur (Mehndi); City Palace, Jaipur (Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding)
Wedding Planner: Hitchkey Weddings
Groom’s Outfits: Sagar Nihalani (Mehndi), Benzer (Sangeet)
Bride’s Outfits: Vasansi Jaipur (Mehndi), ISLIE by Priya Jain (Sangeet), Panghat Sarees (Wedding)
Makeup: Kaushal MUA
Entertainment: Twin Strings (Sangeet), Jea Band (Baraat)
Choreography: The Shaadi Swaggers
Bartenders: Flaming Trio (Sangeet)
Photography: Dream Diaries
