Priyanka and Kartik, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru
From a proposal under the starry skies to a glittering wedding, Priyanka and Kartik's journey to matrimony was packed with enchanting moments.
Priyanka MC and Kartik Raja’s families have been friends for two decades but the two first met at a cousin’s wedding. Cupid aimed its dart well and the couple tied the knot at their beautiful wedding in Bengaluru. The celebrations were planned by WeddingSutra Favorite Poonam Mayank Sharma. Here, bride Priyanka shares her love story and highlights from the festivities.
How We Met
“Kartik’s parents and mine have been the best of friends for 20 years, both of us met for the first time at a cousin’s wedding where my mother introduced us to each other. It was super awkward since we knew her intentions. As the night passed, our conversation started to flow freely and the next morning I received a text from him saying, ‘A model and an architect, how impressive’. The texts led to a few dates after which we knew we were meant to be together.”
Proposal
“We were on our way to get some green tea when I decided to pull his leg by telling him that my mother thinks that I should start meeting more guys. He freaked out and asked, ‘Why?’ I gave a very vague reply. He immediately pulled over on the highway where both of us stuck our heads out of the sunroof, and under the starry night sky he asked me to marry him. Of course, he didn’t plan the proposal but that’s what was so beautiful about it.”
Wedding Venue
“The wedding took place just a day before my birthday. We chose the JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru as it has a beautiful lawn with a waterfall which made for the perfect spot for the Muhurtham. The reception was hosted indoors in the ballroom. Our cocktail party was at the Le Méridien Bangalore while the mehndi and haldi ceremonies were held at home.”
Wedding Planning
“Our wedding planner was Poonam Mayank Sharma. We approached her since we had worked with her previously during my brother’s wedding and the decor at his functions had received a lot of praise. Poonam is exceptional at planning and decor. She was always enthusiastic, met us multiple times and assured us that it would be a great show! Our event was definitely a great success and we explored some really unique ideas together.”
Wedding Functions
Sangeet
“We combined our sangeet with a cocktail party and the theme for this event was ‘A Starry Night.’ The decor made use of lots of star-shaped marquee lights and the stage featured an LED backdrop. I wore an emerald green lehenga with beadwork by Zara Umrigar and Kartik wore a deep blue velvet suit.”
Haldi
“My haldi was a very intimate affair with only our nearest and dearest in attendance. We created a charming backdrop of rings that were decorated with flowers for the bridal seating. I wore a yellow kurta for the ceremony after which I changed into a blue saree from Vijayalakshmi Silks & Sarees”
Mehndi
“Kartik and his family joined us for the mehndi and the decor here too was minimal. I wore a rust coloured outfit from Shivan & Narresh which was paired with a black blouse with prints and embellishments. I completed the look with an oxblood colour Sabyasachi belt and a custom designed jewellery set from The Mauve Unitx. Kartik wore a lavender silk kurta teamed with a floral jacket.”
Wedding
“We wanted to have a contemporary yet traditional wedding. The decor was well thought of and tastefully planned. I entered the venue in a palanquin carried by my brothers who took me to the mandap which had a criss-cross patterned roof created using pink and teal fabrics. The entire set up was accentuated with brass lotuses, bells, traditional South Indian lamps, flowers and crystals. A backdrop of shimmery paper roses along with our initials made for our photo booth backdrop.”
Reception
“For the reception, the vibe was very modern and the elements used in the decor were wooden frames, hanging glass bowls and fairy lights. I let my look for this event be the same as the one I had at my wedding. Kartik, however, changed into a sherwani which was paired with a regal drape.”
Advice For Couples
“Planning your own wedding is exciting and exhausting at the same time. You want everything to be perfect since it is a once-in-a-lifetime event which is why getting wedding planners on board is a wise decision. Another thing to keep in mind is to start planning this day well in advance so that you have enough time to choose from the best and also have peace of mind.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Le Méridien Bangalore (Sangeet), JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru (Wedding and Reception)
Wedding Planner: Poonam Mayank Sharma
Decor: Flowers By Design (Wedding and Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Zara Umrigar (Sangeet), Vijayalakshmi Silks & Sarees (Haldi), Shivan & Narresh (Mehndi), Prashant (Wedding and Reception)
Groom’s Outfits: Y&O (Cocktail Party and Haldi)
Jewellery: Prathibha Jewellery House, Bangalore (Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding and Reception), The Mauve Unitx (Mehndi), Shri Paramani Jewels, New Delhi (Wedding and Reception)
Makeup Artist: Zorains Studio (Sangeet), Makeup & Hair by Nivriti (Haldi and Mehndi), Vinyasa Hippla – Makeup & Hair (Wedding and Reception)
Photography: Manan Photography & Films (Sangeet, Haldi, Mehndi, Wedding and Reception), Roma Ganesh Photography (Cocktail Party and Wedding)
