Sanya and Gandharv, Hotel Fateh Garh, Udaipur

A typical 21st-century love story peppered with technology, travel and instant chemistry, Sanya and Gandharv finally made their dream come true at a charming wedding held at Hotel Fateh Garh, Udaipur. Capturing all the happy moments was WeddingSutra Favorite – Naman Verma Photography. Here bride Sanya shares some highlights of the celebrations.

How They Met
Sanya shares, “Gandharv and I had a few friends in common but little did we know that a dating app algorithm would bring us together. After an initial conversation on the app, we decided to meet for a date. Time just flew by that day as we had a drink and conversed for three hours which made us realize that we had an instant connection. That evening, we both went home thinking about when we would meet again.” Gandharv adds, “ Sanya lost her way home and walked two blocks in the wrong direction – she was smitten first!” Sanya, of course, denies this.

The Proposal
“Fate had something else in mind when I had to move to London for work. My year away from Gandharv involved several trips across the Atlantic and adventures in Europe, but we somehow managed to keep our long-distance relationship going and planned to meet every chance we got. When I moved back to New York after a year, it felt as though no time had passed.” “That summer under the pretense of a family trip, Gandharv convinced me to go to Singapore with him. We went to a bar where Gandharv informed me that his high school friends were joining us. As we waited, he started making small talk and then suddenly went down on one knee. To date, neither of us is sure what we said to each other. It’s all a blur. Little did I know that both our parents were also in on it as they arrived just in time to celebrate the big moment.”

Wedding Venue
“Gandharv and I were born and raised in Asia. Having spent over a decade in the US, we decided on a blend of our South Asian heritage and New York roots for our wedding. As soon as we decided to have a traditional Indian wedding, Udaipur was the first place to come to our minds. Our parents were also very excited about the destination. We actually toured a number of locations before deciding on Hotel Fateh Garh which was last on our list. As soon as we walked in, we were in love with the rustic and raw architecture and knew it would be the perfect backdrop for our intimate wedding. The hotel is perched on top of a hill and has a sprawling open-air courtyard, lush gardens and stunning views which our guests loved. So, without wasting any time we locked in the venue and flew back to New York to get the planning started.”

Wedding Planning
Since Sanya and Gandharv were living in New York, they couldn’t always be personally available to look after the planning which made it essential for them to have an efficient team to fall back on. They hired Dream Knots to plan their two-day wedding celebrations, and Naman Verma Photography captured the special moments in stunning frames. Team Tejas Shah made sure that the bride looked stunning for every event, while DJ Maark IV had everyone shaking a leg to his tunes.

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
The mehndi was a traditional henna ceremony which had a distinct ‘Victorian Tea Party’ theme to it, with drinks served in teacups and pastel flowers. The pastel theme was consistent in the decor as delicate lilac drapes were strung across the venue. For the occasion, Sanya stood out in a pistachio green lehenga with pink floral prints which she accessorized with pearl and diamond jewellery. Complementing his bride, Gandharv chose an intricately printed bandhgala with floral motifs.

Sangeet
The following evening, a traditional sangeet was held where the couple and their loved ones danced the night away. Inspired by Sufi nights, the decor blended India’s royal past with Mughal elements. The stage was lit with Moroccan lanterns while pampas grass and votives adorned the hallways and entrances. For this ceremony, Sanya chose a vibrant green lehenga with golden embroidery, and paired it with a statement maang tikka, while Gandharv opted for a black sherwani with embroidered sleeves that he accessorized with a matching pocket square.

Wedding
“The morning wedding ceremony was designed to look and feel like the ‘Garden of Eden.’ We worked closely with our decor designers to ensure that all flowers were local and sustainably sourced. The aisle was decked with marigolds and carnations, and soft Indian classical music played as guests made their way to the seats. We wanted the priest to be someone who knew us, so we had a family friend officiating the ceremony in English to make it feel more personal and to keep our guests engaged. We chose to have an unplugged ceremony where guests were requested to keep their devices away and experience the moment with us.” In true Maharashtrian style, the bride wore an orange saree with floral prints paired with a red blouse and green bangles. Gangdharv chose to keep it simple in a white sherwani with an emerald necklace that added a pop of color as he entered the venue seated on a vintage car.

Reception
“A blend of our two worlds, the seated reception was styled to feel like a Gatsby-esque party. Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’ played while guests enjoyed a live band who’d come all the way from Singapore. Our family and friends made heartfelt speeches that had emotions running high. The night ended with dancing and celebrations, and it was a fitting finale for the two most incredible days of our lives.” The couple made a sparkling entry to the party for which Sanya wore a lacy black gown and minimalistic diamond jewellery. Gandharv looked like a star in his sleek tuxedo as he held Sanya’s hand and made their entrance.

Advice For Couples
“Have clarity on what kind of wedding you want, and ensure that you convey your vision to your vendors for flawless execution. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make several trips to the venue since we are based in New York, but visiting the venue in-person always helps. A rundown of the proceedings a day before, and reaching the venue a few days in advance ensures you have no surprises on the big day and will help help you feel comfortable with the arrangements,” shares Sanya.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Hotel Fateh Garh, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Wedding Planner: Dream Knots
Decor: Atisuto
Groom’s Outfits: Rahul Mishra (Mehndi), Wedding Lounge by Arjun (Haldi), Shantanu & Nikhil (Sangeet), Raghvendra Rathore (Wedding), Giorgio Armani (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Anita Dongre (Mehndi and Sangeet), Nupur Kanoi (Haldi), Kapse Paithani (Wedding), Monique Lhullier (Reception)
Jewellery: Popley Jewels, Anita Dongre Jewelry, PNG Gadgil, Outhouse, Lee Hwa Singapore, Lauren B New York
Makeup and Hair: Team Tejas Shah
Entertainment: Dunes of Rajasthan (Sangeet), MXGX Singapore (Reception), Azeem Ahmed (Wedding), DJ MMARK IV
Choreography: Archi’s Dance Academy
Wedding Invitations: Vela Stories, NY
Wedding Favors: Veedaa Candle

Photography: Naman Verma Photography

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