Rashmi and Sumeet, Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa

Rashmi and Sumeet loved the idea of getting married in the heart of a natural forest. Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort and Spa, surrounded by deep greenery was the perfect venue.

WeddingSutra Favorite Shades Photographycaptured every moment of fun and joy at this special occasion that was meticulously planned by Enjay Events.

Here, we share all the interesting details of this destination wedding.

How we met
The couple were introduced by their parents but over the phone and the bride says all they did in response was to make a few jokes. “We didn’t keep in touch,” she says, until Sumeet sent her a text a few months later. “That’s when we started to talk and became friends,” she remembers. Rashmi was planning a trip to the US that July and Sumeet told her his travel plans coincided. “He asked if we could fly together,” Rashmi says but she was unsure. They’d never really met.

Their first in-person meeting was at the US Embassy where they’d received the same dates to apply for the US visa. “It turned out that our dates were aligned and we’d be travelling together.” Rashmi was travelling with her sister and aunt but something clicked with Sumeet on the journey halfway across the world, “We both felt something special by the time we landed.”

By the end of their trip to the US, they knew they were in love.

Proposal
Sumeet didn’t waste any time. As they walked through Vegas, he held Rashmi’s hand and asked, “Will you be my travel partner for my whole life?’ That’s how it all started.” They decided to get married in December 2017.

Wedding Planning
“Firstly we both brainstormed over ideas with respect to the décor, invites, music, and eventually met the people who exactly understood our ideas and helped us further in making this celebration magical. Fortunately, we met vendors who appreciated our vision for the wedding and helped execute it. We wanted a professional wedding planner with an organized team who understood our out-of-the-box approach towards the wedding. Before our first meeting, Nidhi of Enjay Events had already done her homework on our likes/dislikes, preferences etc. which impressed us! She was prepared with customized presentation for our wedding planning.

As far as our stylist was concerned, I came across Brideloom through Instagram; we spoke and instantly connected. I was really impressed with how much effort and enthusiasm she put into styling us in our wedding. Manisha hands down has the most beautiful selection of outfits. She styled us both marvelously! Every look was very well thought of and executed by her.

She totally understood our vision and our expectations and we can truly say that our wedding was flawless because of Enjay Events. The best is that they were as excited for our wedding as we were and we loved that vibe totally!

When it came to hiring a makeup artist, what could be better than having your very own sister help you doll up on the best day of my life. I truly believe that no one else could have understood my style better than my sister. It’s the best memory she has given me and she made our day 1000x greater than I could ever have imagined. She created a natural look that perfectly enhanced my features. She always blows my mind with her make-up skills.

When it came to photography, the talented Shades Photography team were so dedicated. Ashwin is an amazing person to work with. Your wedding photographer will be with you the entire time on the most intimate and important day of your lives so being completely comfortable was important and an amazing experience.”

For our wedding invites, we wanted a wedding card that reflected our style and personality. We feel a wedding card is the best way to introduce the guests to the vibe of the wedding and the couple. So we took lot of time to create this rustic wooden invites. I got this idea after a lot of thought and designed it myself. I finally approached Atistuto to make it the way I wanted. They did exactly that and the invites were one of the best we have ever seen this date!”

Wedding Venue
“We always wanted a December wedding and had discussed getting married in a forest,” Rashmi says. Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort and Spa was a unique wedding venue that amazed the couple, “The property is located in a densely forested area surrounded by rare trees. Too perfect, right? We loved it so much, we instantly decided to host our wedding there! The resort stands secluded from the outside world and brings guests in touch with nature and tranquility.”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
The pool side mehndi had a forest theme. “It was elegant, with a pastel palette; cascading ribbons with floral drops, shamianas and wooden crates with blossoms were some of the beautiful décor elements. The highlight was the enchanted giant wooden arbor entwined in roots, vines and florals designed for us! We had a fantastic DJ playing tropical music to get into the vibe!”

Bonfire Night
The sangeet wasn’t the usual boisterous event. Instead, the couple decided to opt for a sit-down dinner so everyone could take in the natural beauty of the place, “Guests enjoyed a breath-taking view of hills. The décor was designed by Atisuto Events and they did a fabulous job. There were prism lanterns, lush foliage runners, burlap covers, twinkling open-bulbs and green leaf chair tie-backs. The décor was designed around prism lanterns, lush foliage runners, burlap covers, twinkling open-bulbs and green leaf chair tie-backs. It was a night filled with natural elegance. We had a stand-up comedy skit for 45 minutes and a few close friends made a special speech for us. The music played was by ‘The Family’ – an alternative-progressive-rock band from Mumbai with a twist! They use that element to cater to a wider audience by mashing up the best of Bollywood music with the best of international music.”

Haldi
In the lap of nature, you’re going to have to celebrate outdoors and Rashmi says, “This was an al-fresco haldi. The vibe was enhanced with ombre flowers and vibrant hues with sheer drapes. The gorgeous environs of the property made for a beautiful backdrop for this function.”

Wedding
“A wedding on lush green lawns surrounded by a dense forest, jasmine and blush lotuses infusing the air with perfume and an impressive entrance with petals and candles down the aisle created an enchanting vibe. We had a chandelier and lots of lights and a mandap decorated in all white! Our wedding was a beautiful story!”

Reception
“For the reception, we had a glamorous theme and decor. The reception was the last night of partying before concluding this beautiful celebration.”

Advice for Couples
“We really recommend you start planning your wedding at least 6 months in advance and discuss what you’re looking for. This helps in short-listing venues based on your requirements and also gives your designers enough time to make the perfect dress for you.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort and Spa
Wedding Planner: Enjay Events
Wedding Décor: Ātisuto Events
Brides Outfit: Sonam Lutria (Mehndi), Cherie D (Bonfire Night), Payal Singhal (Wedding), Gaurav Gupta (Reception)
Grooms Outfit: Herringbone & Sui (Mehndi), SS Homme (Bonfire Night, Wedding, Reception)
Stylist: Manisha Kundnani
Jewellery: Gehna Jewelers, Mumbai
Makeup Artist: Apurva Chaudhari

Photography: Shades Photography and Anoop Padalkar Photography

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