Ruchi and Amay, Jade Garden, Mumbai

This three-day wedding was brought to life with stunning decor by Aash Studio – a team that bride Ruchi and groom Amay could blindly trust to execute their vision. The stunning moments of the festivities were captured wonderfully by WeddingSutra Favorite – The Photo Diary. Here are some of the highlights from the celebrations.

How They Met
Ruchi, Psychotherapist specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy by day and sangeet choreographer by night met Amay, a techie by heart, in school. With the two never really being close back then, it was only in the 12th grade when things changed. Their ten-year bond saw eight years of a long-distance relationship. They spent their time apart studying and working in different countries. “Long-distance works – it’s not easy at all, but it works. You just have to want it that bad and love someone that much to do what it takes,” says Ruchi.

The Proposal
A plan that was hatched five months ago by Amay was set in motion on Ruchi’s 25th birthday. She was gifted six coasters that featured photos of different iconic locations from around the world. Paris, Barcelona, Northern Lights, Maldives, Taj Mahal, and Wildflower (Shimla), each one presented a promise of seeing these wonders together. Since these were destinations that were on their bucket list, Amay decided to tick one off once Ruchi moved back from the US. One day, Amay casually suggested to Ruchi that they visit the Taj Mahal. Ruchi recalls, “Amay convinced me that we’d be staying somewhere else, but we’d do a meal at Amarvilas hence I was asked to carry a nice outfit. When we reached Agra the car turned into Amarvilas, where we stayed for three nights. On the first night itself, Amay proposed to me in our balcony which had a clear view of the Taj Mahal, under the moonlight, leading with a beautiful poem he had written himself. It was perfect!”

Wedding Venue
Ruchi and Amay desired an outdoor, spacious venue with a view and the Jade Garden terrace fit right in. When visiting several places, they would sit together with no events taking place and no one around, and wait for a sense of calm and elation to set in. It was then that Jade Gardens turned out to be their perfect choice.

Wedding Planning
“Monisha and her hard-working crew at The Photo Diary captured this wedding to perfection. When I look at the pictures and videos, I can feel the joy, love, and energy through the non-stop dancing that ensued in our three-day festivities. It looks like a non-stop dance party where everyone is having the best time of their lives and displaying the best versions of themselves! The Photo Diary crew was very easy to work with and fulfilled all our requests to perfection.”

“Amay and I have known Aashna since we were infants in school, but that is not the only reason we picked her to do our decor at all the events. Aashna’s attention to detail, her ability to bring emotions to life through decor, and her creative brain which pushed every boundary; made her the best person for the job in our opinion. She along with her team at Aash Studio took up the challenge of creating a non-traditional mandap which encapsulated us during the phrase but still let us have a view of the sky, and a beautiful lantern lit walkway for the sangeet. The sangeet was the most important event for me considering my background as a dance therapist and wedding choreographer. I wanted something that was monotone but had texture and fluidity to it. I wanted it to be something that didn’t overpower the dancers but rather moved with them. And Aashna and her team were able to pull it off better than we had imagined.”

Wedding Functions

Haldi
Bride Ruchi’s haldi ceremony was a close-knit affair at the Malabar Hill Club where the haldi was applied only to her toes. This was then followed by a pre-wedding dinner. The bride donned a pretty ochre attire for this event. Groom Amay’s haldi was a more intimate function held at The Trident with that one set a little differently as compared to Ruchi’s. He was dowsed not only in haldi but also mustard, ketchup, Thai curry, chocolate sauce, and anything else his friends could find!

Mehndi
As vivid colors and beautiful live music by Shanay Shah and his band set the mood at this affair, the surprise performances by Amay, Ruchi’s best friends and her mother proved to be a highlight infused with mixed emotions. The summery decor was dominated by Ruchi’s favorite – sunflowers. The bride wore a stunning dark green Banarasi panel lehenga procured directly from Banaras which she teamed with a gold sequin blouse with a low neckline.

Wedding
The wedding ceremony was a beautiful one with hues of red and pinks adorning the venue. Another interesting decor element was the hanging bells which further added a traditional touch. Practicing equality here, Ruchi entered with a baraat too as did Amay. However, both baraats made an energetic entry via different parts of the terraces. The bride looked gorgeous in a rose pink gota lehenga with a contemporary blouse while the groom donned an off-white sherwani over a draped kurta. The addition of a rose pink shawl and pocket square to Amay’s look was a sweet gesture meant to complement Ruchi’s ensemble.

Sangeet
A classy event featuring origami and paper cut decor was brought to life with some dynamic performances. The groom Amay and his high school band set the tone of the night followed by Ruchi and Amay’s near and dear ones performed to 26 songs each one for the years Ruchi and Amay have lived, with the choreography done by the bride herself. After which DJ Kilogram kept the party going till six in the morning.

Advice For Couples
“Look for vendors who match your energy, and big names don’t always matter. Find ones you trust, so you have experiences and memories to hold on to forever. From the beginning of this process, Amay and I knew we needed an army of people who are talented, but also those we could blindly trust. That is why we took months to review and find our extended wedding family. Put your best creative foot forward to ideate your wedding, then let the professionals execute it for you.”

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Malabar Hill Club (Bride’s Haldi), Trident Hotel, Nariman Point (Groom’s Haldi, Mehendi, Sangeet), Jade Garden Worli, Mumbai (Wedding)
Wedding Planner: FTC Events
Decor: Aash Studio
Bride’s Outfits: Made By Azalea by Purvi Doshi (Haldi, Mehendi), Shantanu and Nikhil (Wedding, Sangeet)
Groom’s Outfits: Bubbers (Haldi), Raisson D’Etre by Govinda Mehta (Mehendi, Sangeet), Shantanu and Nikhil (Wedding)
Makeup Artist: Tanvi Chemburkar
Hairstylist: Deepa Hairstylist
Entertainment: Shanay Shah (Mehendi Band)
DJ: DJ Kilogram (Sangeet)
Choreography: Ruchi Shah
Wedding Invitations: Untitled Graphics

Photography: The Photo Diary

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