Ria and Ankit, Pawana, Maharashtra

From LinkedIn to partners for a lifetime, little did Ria and Ankit know that the popular professional networking platform would see them connect on a deeper level as time went by. Their wedding was designed and executed by WeddingSutra Favorite- Aash Studio, and all the action was captured by another WeddingSutra Favorite – WhatKnot. Check out some highlights here.

How They Met
In the current era of dating apps where a right swipe is all that it takes to get love stories started, here’s a saga that commenced through LinkedIn. Before relocating to India from the UK, Ria wanted to connect with professionals from her industry and got in touch with Ankit who ended up exchanging a couple of ‘strictly work-related’ emails with her. A couple of months later, as destiny had it, the two ended up working at the same firm and connected over work chat. An incessant back and forth stream of messages that stretched over four weeks and that was all that it took for the couple to realise that there was something more to their office friendship.

The Proposal
“We had planned a scuba diving trip where Ankit wanted to surprise me with a proposal, however, my inquisitiveness led to me figuring out his plans. So he planned a new proposal for me two months prior to the original holiday. It truly caught me off guard as I was completely unaware of his plans this time! He made me skip work randomly on a working weekday, flew me down to Goa without any prior notice and then proposed to me at this romantic candlelight setup by the beach.”

Wedding Functions

Mehendi
The wedding festivities began with an intimate mehendi ceremony hosted at the mountain bar at Hilton Shillim. The decor was minimal yet vibrant with colorful drapes, flowers and pastel canopies adorning the venue.

Sundowner
A sundowner party followed the mehendi ceremony. Hosted at the mountain bar again, the sundowner party had dreamy decor that included dreamcatchers, lanterns and fairy lights. The night was full of fun games and dancing where both families broke the ice with each other and had a gala time getting acquainted with each other.

Haldi
The haldi ceremony was a very intimate affair that was attended only by the couple’s close family members. Hosted in the cool shade of a tall mango tree, the ceremony had simple decor with purple festoons. Ria was all smiles as she was smeared in turmeric paste by her family who showered her with their love and blessings.

Wedding
Ria and Ankit wanted the pristine vibe of the banks of river Ganga recreated for their pheras. The team of Aash Studio meticulously followed instructions and created an impressive setting that blended traditional red elements with contemporary ones at the rainwater amphitheatre at Hilton Shillim. The groom entered the venue in a rather exciting way – an autorickshaw, with his baraat accompanying him.

After Party
The couple decided to break away from conventional reception soirees and opted for a casual, free-spirited after party to celebrate their union. They dressed in denims and sneakers, and had a great time dancing in the wine cellar of the hotel where the party was held. Customised t-shirts were given to every guest with a short phrase written about each one.

Advice for Couples
“You may stress as much as you want before the wedding, but enjoy the celebrations with zero stress. Work hard on the planning beforehand and just relax on the D-day. No one will notice if one decor element is missing, or if a food item was not as expected. These are just small elements in the bigger setting of the best day of your lives so do not forget to enjoy every minute of it,” shares Ria.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa, Maharashtra
Decor: Aash Studio
Groom’s Outfits: SVA by Paras and Sonam Modi (Mehendi), Raymond (Sundowner and Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: U/A Mumbai (Mehendi), Shantanu & Nikhil (Sundowner and Wedding)
Makeup: Amy Chui
Choreography: Niyati Agarwal

Photography and Videography: WhatKnot

Related Articles: