Rhea Khanna and Shiv Nair, Grape County Eco Resort and Spa, Nashik

Rhea Khanna and Shiv Nair’s destination wedding at the verdant venue of Nashik’s Grape County Eco Resort and Spa was a stunning amalgamation of their Punjabi and Malayali heritage. Tranquil traditions came together in a beautiful blend of emotional moments, breathtakingly captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Photo Lab. Watch them unfold.

How they met
High school sweethearts, Rhea and Shiv shared more than a decade’s togetherness before vowing to forever! She shares “We met when I was choreographing a Sports Day dance sequence of which Shiv was a part. For Shiv, it was an instant butterflies-in-the-tummy moment, but I took my own sweet time to develop feelings. A random text message from a stranger I would normally have never responded to sparked a conversation that ultimately led to me getting married to that stranger 12 years later! It was our mutual friend who deserves the credit for getting us where we are today.”

The proposal
“Shiv popped the question in the US when I went to visit him. He whisked me away to an Airbnb with a breathtaking view of Pittsburgh downtown and snow-capped trees. He went down on one knee with a ring in one hand and a glass of my favorite wine in the other. It was an instant ‘yes’.”

Wedding Venue
Rhea shares, “Our families get the credit for choosing the wedding venue for us. It was almost a 3-month long scouting process before they finally discovered the mesmerizing Grape County Eco Resort and Spa in Nasik for our wedding. We settled on this venue due to its splendid beauty during the winter months. It also gave us the feel of a luxurious destination wedding without having to empty our pockets on a 7-star property elsewhere.”

Wedding Planning
Every detail of the wedding was planned and executed by the team of Do My Events, while the team of The Photo Lab captured every moment in breathtaking beauty. The entirety of the wedding was planned by the bride and her family. Rhea shares, “It was all a surprise for Shiv since he was back in the US and couldn’t make it for the elaborate wedding shopping while we were preparing for the wedding. He saw his outfits, venue, decorations, and all preparations when he arrived and was simply blown away by the attention to detail!”

Talking about their experience working with their photography team, she shares “The team of The Photo Lab is a dream for folks who are getting married. And luckily for us, that dream turned into a reality! They are so good at capturing the candid emotions and beauty of weddings, that words fall short when praising them. Right from our first meet at a coffee shop to fine-tune the wedding details, to actually meeting up with them amid a million rituals, to having fun with them at our wedding posing and dancing, and finally re-living our wedding through their lenses almost 2 years later, it couldn’t get any better! We got more than what we had collectively wished for and are elated at our decision to go ahead with them. They are phenomenal and the absolute best when it comes to weddings!

Wedding Functions
Welcome
A thoughtful mix of their Punjabi and Malayali backgrounds, the breezy outdoor wedding was a dream come true for Rhea. Shiv and his family were welcomed by the bride’s side in true Punjabi style with pomp and splendor, setting a lively tone for the rest of all that was to come.

Haldi
The celebrations began with a traditional Haldi ceremony, hosted against the tranquil backdrop of the lake. Dressed in hues of pink, the couple looked radiant amidst a sea of yellow as their loved ones gathered around them to bless them and perform the rituals. The occasion was filled with tender moments of love and emotions.

Sangeet
The evening continued with a traditional Sagan and fun-filled Sangeet full of enjoyment and laughter. Hosted under the starry night, the occasion saw the enchanting decor of flowers, candles, rice lantern canopies, fairy lights, and more, the entire setup of which was tucked into a lush grove. The bride matched the earthy vibe of the venue with a charming green ensemble, as did the groom, as they entered amidst the beats of dhol wale and sparklers.

Wedding
Imagined in delicate pastel hues, the wedding was a heartwarming blend of traditions and emotions encapsulated in breathtaking decor. The morning celebration first began with the Malayali wedding rituals, for which Shiv arrived on a horse in true Punjabi fashion. Rhea was a vision in traditional Malayali bridal attire as she walked down the aisle and tied the knot with her beau. The customs were then followed by the Punjabi tradition of ‘Pheras’ and ‘Kanyadaan’, for which the bride and groom changed into stunning ensembles of sherwani and lehenga. There was a mixture of cultures at every juncture of the celebration, which made for an unforgettable experience for their loved ones.

Cocktail Night
The revelries culminated in a cocktail night where everybody let their hair down and danced into the night, blessing the newlyweds abundantly for their future together. Dressed in chic evening wear of red and black, the couple was the portrait of happiness as their friends and families toasted them with champagne and emotional speeches. Shiv shares, “Seeing my beautiful lady, right from the Swagat through the Sangeet night, the Weddings, and the Cocktail night, was like actually living the dream. I would love to get married all over again to my pretty woman!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Grape County Eco Resort and Spa, Nashik
Wedding Planner: Do my Events
Decor: Do my Events
Groom’s Outfits: Mukti & Kavith Casa (Sangeet, Punjabi Wedding, Cocktail Night)
Bride’s Outfits: Frontier Raas (Wedding), EyeCandy by Pinky & Sheshank (Cocktail Night)
Makeup: Krishna Dalal
Photography and Videography: The Photo Lab

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