Rachna Kothari and Mikhail Dhaul, Shoonya Farm Retreat, Belgaum

For Rachna Kothari and Mikhail Dhaul a close-knit celebration surrounded by greenery was on the cards. Hosted at their home located close to their family-run resort, the wedding was planned by WeddingSutra Favorite – Tailormade Experiences who accurately understood the couple’s love for nature and orchestrated a picture-perfect union.

The Proposal
Rachna and Mikhail dated for a few years before Mikhail popped the question to her in Mykonos, Greece. Surrounded by the closest of their circle, the couple celebrated their engagement in a close-knit celebration.

Wedding Planning
Shashank Gupta and Zashank Bhatia from TailorMade Experiences share, “The couple was very keen on a close-knit celebration and hosted it at their family-owned resort. Hence, it gave the celebration that extra warmth. The duo being professionals in the green energy space were very cautious about respecting the natural beauty of the venue without going overboard with the decor elements. We also collaborated with FoodBiz to create a diverse menu that could satisfy a range of tastes. Given Rachna’s family’s background from Belgaum and their Jain vegetarian preferences, we navigated through specific dietary restrictions to curate meals that appealed to adults as well as children. A team of over 15 chefs flew in from Mumbai to Belgaum for this culinary endeavour.”

The couple was also keen on minimizing wastage for which a tuck shop was created instead of placing welcome hampers in the room. Customised small touches, like, unique table notes with the duo’s favorite quotes were placed for the guests on each table.

Wedding Functions
Mehndi
Shashank Gupta shares, “For the pre-wedding bridal mehndi ceremony, Rachna and Mikhail opted for minimalist décor, incorporating Indian elements such as flowers and prints to enhance the natural beauty of their home. Most of the furniture used for the event was selected from their house and accentuated with Indian prints to bring the theme alive.”

Welcome Lunch
The welcome lunch was inspired by the serenity of Mykonos, a nod to the couple’s proposal spot. Symbolizing the beginning of their beautiful journey together, the welcome lunch was adorned with azure hues that gave the guests an impression of sunlit shores and exuded beachy vibes.

Civil Wedding
Celebrating their civil wedding ceremony in style, the couple went for a ‘The Day the Stars Aligned’ themed dinner party where the couple officiated their wedding by signing the registry. Heartfelt toasts, friendly banter and unfiltered joy marked the occasion. Inspired by celestial elements, the decor left everyone awestruck.

Wedding
Zashank Bhatia shares, “The wedding venue was nestled amidst a lush and enchanting forest, enveloped by towering trees on all sides. The setup was elegantly adorned in pastel hues, a canvas reflecting the bride’s fondness for delicate pastel flowers while maintaining harmony with the natural beauty of the surroundings.”

Reception
Aptly named ‘The Happily Ever After Party’, the celebrations were brought to a glamorous end with a fairytale-like reception party. The guests danced freely on the chevron-patterned stage, the couple cut a monogrammed cake and vintage crystal chandeliers twinkled under the night sky. Emerald green and soft cream hues created an enchanting atmosphere.

The Wedding Makers
Venue, Caterers and Hospitality: Shoonya Farm Retreat, Belgaum, Karnataka
Wedding Planner and Décor: Tailormade Experiences
Décor Production: Ajinkya Kalkundrikar
Florist: Flower Tales by Shray Verma
Makeup: The Twins Magicc
Lighting: Santosh Ure
Entertainment: Sahil Dhandhia
Choreography: Anjali Damani Choreography
Photography: The Wedding Files

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