Priyanka and Arihant, Grand Hyatt, Goa
Sunset pheras against the backdrop of the Arabian sea, a soulful Sufi singer and superb DJ were highlights of Priyanka and Arihant's action-packed two-day wedding at Grand Hyatt Goa
Our series Featured Weddingsbrings you wonderful moments from weddings held at the finest venues across different cities. Here, bride Priyanka shares how she met her husband Arihant and their wedding celebration in Goa.
How We Met
Arihant and I met while doing our MBA course at the SP Jain Institute of Management & Research in Mumbai. Our love story was quite similar to the movie ‘2 States’ based on a book by Chetan Bhagat. I hail from a Punjabi family, and Arihant from a Marwari Jain one. Both our families were against our marriage. However, he managed to convince his family after four to five months. Then both sides came around and agreed to our marriage happily.
Wedding Proposal
Arihant proposed to me twice! He asked me to marry him on my birthday and I thought that was very special. But I certainly didn’t know that while I was away, he’d made special arrangements at home and invited all my close friends and family. When I entered my house, there was a ‘dhol’ and a band waiting, and then he proposed to me in a typical ‘Bollywood style’ in front of my parents. I said ‘Yes’!
Wedding Venue
We chose Grand Hyatt Goa as our wedding venue. It is a beautiful hotel and offers great cuisine, picture-perfect views and helpful staff. We were overwhelmed by their service and the property.
Wedding Functions
Welcome Lunch
We hosted a Welcome Lunch on the first day which had a flash mob at the hotel, and banners all the way from the airport to Grand Hyatt. Everyone followed the ‘Sailor’ theme and were dressed in blue.
Sundowner
The Sundowner party was held on the same day as the Welcome Lunch, but in the evening. I made an entry to the event in a golf cart! I wore a rust colored gown and our guests were dressed in earthy tones. A Sufi band and singer Digvijay Singh Pariyar from Mumbai serenaded our guests with beautiful numbers in his soulful voice.
Sangeet
The sangeet followed the Sundowner party, and the theme was based on a masquerade night where everyone came dressed in tuxedos and gowns. Arihant’s parents were the best dancers among our friends and families who grooved that night. I wore a blue Gaurav Gupta gown and Arihant donned a black tuxedo and white shirt for this fun event.
Haldi
The second day saw the ‘Mayera” (gift giving) ceremony held from Arihant’s side, and haldi ceremony from my side. Guests from my side of the family were dressed in yellow and the decor was all about color and included interesting signboards. We even organized massage sessions for our guests who wanted to de-stress and relax. I wore a yellow dhoti saree for my haldi ceremony.
Wedding and Reception
Our pheras were held in the evening, and I made a grand entry in a jeep that was decorated with flowers, alongside a ‘dhol’ and band. My sister-in-law was at the wheel and my brother also accompanied me.
The decorations for this ceremony included pink, peach and orange flowers all across the mandap. which commanded a beautiful view of the Arabian Sea behind it. There was a white aisle leading to the mandap which had arches over it which were strung with floral danglers comprising white and pink blooms. The dress code saw the gathering turn out in beautiful pastel colors. My wedding ensemble was carefully selected to match this theme. I wore a light pink lehenga with floral motifs by Jawaharlal Om Prakash, and Arihant wore an elegant white sherwani by Tarun Tahiliani with a light pink stole, necklace and ‘safa’ (turban). Both of us had matching white and pink garlands around our necks.
After our pheras, Arihant and I were escorted to the banquet hall for our reception by my loved ones who lit the way with cold pyros fireworks that made for a stunning picture. DJ Rohin Puri made sure everyone partied till dawn at the reception, and that was the best part of our wedding!
Advice for couples
I would advise couples to start planning and booking things well in advance, otherwise they may lose money and have limited options if they leave things to the last minute.
Experience with Wedding Vendors
Coolbluez Photography did an amazing job capturing all our precious memories, right from our pre-wedding shoot to our nuptials. They provided amazing service and quality.
My makeup artist Bianca Louzado and her team were just superb! I’ve always wanted simple and natural looks for my wedding, and they went above my expectations. I have never experienced this type of service from a makeup artist before. Bianca was sweet, humble and a thorough professional with her amazing skills and experience.
Thanks to DJ Rohin Puri, our wedding was lively and happening just the way we both wanted. He was loved by all our guests and people still remember this part of our wedding.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Grand Hyatt Goa
Bridal Trousseau: Gaurav Gupta (Sangeet), Jawaharlal Om Prakash (Wedding & Reception)
Groom’s Trousseau: Tarun Tahiliani (Wedding & Reception)
Makeup: Bianca Louzado
DJ: Rohin Puri
Photos Courtesy: Coolbluez Photography
