Sonali and Kreeshan, Park Hyatt Dubai

After a memorable proposal in romantic Rome, Sonali and Kreeshan fell in love with the Park Hyatt Dubai and picked the venue for their wedding celebrations. Here, bride Sonali shares some beautiful memories of the wedding celebrations.

How They Met
“Kreeshan and I were introduced to each other by my cousin and we clicked instantly. This was followed by a couple of dates but, I think, it just wasn’t the right time for us then as work and life, in general, kept interfering in between. Hence, we decided to stay friends. However, there was just something that kept pulling me back to him and I couldn’t stop thinking that maybe we’d made a mistake. So, a year and a half later, I finally worked up the courage to approach him and ask him out again. Thankfully, he agreed, and since then, we haven’t looked back.”

Proposal
Describing her romantic surprise proposal, Sonali recollects, “Kreeshan took me to Rome for a weekend break and I had no idea that he was conspiring right underneath my nose! In the evening, he took me to one of the highest rooftop viewing points in Rome and, to my utter surprise, got down on one knee and popped the question. It was an extremely romantic and intimate moment at the perfect place!”

Wedding Venue
As they were searching for potential venues in Dubai, the couple came across Park Hyatt Dubai that not only fulfilled all their requirements but also added a touch of tranquility to their nuptials. Sonali shares, “Kreeshan had booked a golf session at the Park Hyatt Dubai and I also accompanied him. From the first glance itself, I was in love with the place. We did look at other venues, but I couldn’t get Park Hyatt Dubai out of my mind. The hotel just exudes class and has such a tranquil vibe that we ended up booking it for all three of our functions. Our mehndi and sangeet happened together in one night in one of the indoor spaces while the wedding and reception took place in two different gardens.”

Wedding Planning
Planned by Wild Goose Events Limited, each function went ahead smoothly without a hitch. Adding to the team was makeup artist Nina Ubhi who gave Sonali a series of stunning looks. Photographers from Imprint Studio captured all the emotional moments at the wedding in stunning frames that the couple will cherish for a lifetime, while Hemal Nayee Photography impressed them with his evocative pre-wedding shots. For the wedding invites, the couple roped in Gemini Cards that brought their vision to life with their elegant designs. Babooche Calligraphy also wasn’t far behind as they created a unique ‘Save the Date’ invitation for the duo.

Weddings Functions

Mehndi/Sangeet
“As a nod to Dubai, our mehndi/sangeet had an Arabic theme. We used quite a few colors such as red, orange, blue, and purple. The outdoor area consisted of shisha, beer pong, and mega jenga that kept the guests entertained while they waited to get henna patterns applied on their hands. Customized sand jars were also created for the event and each guest was gifted one at the end.”

For the mehndi/sangeet, Sonali donned a light yellow lehenga with silver embroidery which she paired with a necklace and a maang tikka. Kreeshan, on the other hand, opted for a deep blue velvet bandhgala.

Wedding
Sonali recollects, “We used light and neutral colors for the wedding like blush pink and rose gold. It was held at the Palm Garden within the hotel where the wedding planners and I collaborated to create a beautiful floral mandap. I must say, the planners did an amazing job and brought my exact vision to life. For my entrance, a violinist played beautiful tracks which lent an emotional vibe to the occasion. Also, we didn’t have a ‘bidai’ (bridal farewell) as such. Instead, I changed that part into a ‘celebratory walk’ since I felt that moving to Dubai itself was my ‘bidai.’

Expressing her contemporary yet traditional style, Sonali chose a white floral lehenga with a delicate dupatta and kept her makeup and jewelry to a minimum. Kreeshan complemented her in a light blue sherwani and burgundy velvet shawl.

Reception
“We selected an ‘Around the World’ theme for the reception since both of us are avid travelers and I used to backpack quite a bit back in the day. Each table was named after a country that we both had traveled to, and our entrance was decorated with trinkets from different countries. Our guest book also reflected the theme and was actually a huge world map canvas on which guests wrote messages for us. Set in the fountain garden of Park Hyatt Dubai, it was a magical occasion with colors like white and gold dominating the decor. Our customized monogram was also imprinted on the water bottles, dancefloor, and other trinkets.”

Glowing in a baby blue and gold embroidered gown with sheer sleeves, Sonali couldn’t stop stealing looks at her husband Kreeshan who looked dapper in a black velvet tuxedo.

Advice For Couples
Sonali advises, “Planning a wedding is an overwhelming process, but one must always place themselves first and have complete clarity of their vision. Having a wedding planner is a must as they help you bring your dream wedding to life and come to you with ideas that you probably wouldn’t even think of by yourself. So sometimes, it’s good to take the backseat and trust them completely. Also, a good venue is equally important as it brings together the entire experience.”

The Wedding Makers

Venue: Park Hyatt Dubai
Wedding Planner: Wild Goose Events Limited
Groom’s Outfits: Kora Santa Cruz (Mehndi/Sangeet), Manyavar (Wedding), Raymond Made to Measure (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Anushree Reddy (Mehndi/Sangeet), Bawree (Wedding), Aneesh Agarwaal (Reception)
Jewellery: Dubai Gold Souk
Accessories: Jewellery Watch Repairs & Restoration London
Makeup: Nina Ubhi
Choreography: Kaajal
Wedding Invitations: Gemini Cards, Babooche Calligraphy (Save the Date)

Photography and Videography: Hemal Nayee (Pre-wedding)
Photography: Imprint Studio (Mehndi, Wedding, Reception)

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