Sonam and Rakesh, Manesar
Glamour meets valor! The wedding celebration of this army captain and his event anchor bride was as incredible as their story!
Opposites do attract! Sonam and Rakesh celebrated their years of friendship and love with a beautiful celebration in Manesar, Rakesh’s home town. A union of not just their souls but also their vastly different worlds, their wedding was an amalgamation of beauteous décor, emotional moments and spirited revelries. Watch them unfold here.
How They Met
The bride shares, “We have known each other since college. Back then, we were just friends, and it wasn’t until the end of college that he expressed having feelings for me. Since we were headed our own ways after college, I didn’t take it forward at the time. Little did I know, he was meant to be the person I would end up being partnered with for life! It was a chance meeting couple of years later on Facebook that got us talking, and the embers of affection we had felt all those years ago stirred up. Rakesh is a Captain in the Indian Army, while I am an Emcee in the event industry. Despite being from totally different worlds, as we got to know each other more, we developed an enduring bond, and so, after 2.5 years of dating, we decided to get hitched!
Wedding Planning
The couple’s original plans of tying the knot in Kodaikanal at an ancient temple sadly got scrapped due to the onset of Covid. After months of re-planning and researching, they ultimately decided upon Heritage Village in Manesar, close to the groom’s home. The verdant open environs allowed for a beautiful celebration with social distancing, while the pet-friendly establishment allowed the couple to include their fur baby in the celebrations. The wedding was planned and conceptualized by TIH Concepts Global, while the floral décor was executed by Ferns and Petals. Sajith Kuttisherill captured their beautiful moments.
Wedding Functions
Engagement
The glamorous engagement saw gorgeous gilded décor with accents of red roses, all enveloped in the warm glow of golden lighting. The groom cut a dashing figure in a teal blue suit, while the bride shimmered in a silver lehenga with a halter blouse and an up-do. The couple and their guests spent the evening dancing with fervor!
Mehendi
The festivities kicked off with a joyous burst of colors! The vibrant Mehendi put a quirky, bohemian spin on traditional décor and looked divine against the backdrop of the surrounding greenery. With a summery color palette of yellows and pinks, the décor saw an abundance of marigolds and roses, with traditional umbrellas, puppets, tassels, and more. The groom, dressed in a white kurta set with a multicolored Bandi perfectly complemented the bride’s mustard bohemian lehenga and floral jewelry as they walked in with their handsome Labrador. The bride smiled as she got her hands painted with henna, while sitting on a charming floral swing.
Haldi
The final day dawned with an intimate Haldi function. Dressed in a yellow kurta and skirt, the bride looked fresh and radiant against the soft yellow and white décor, as her family members smeared her with holy turmeric paste.
Wedding
Quaint décor of white and cream set a tranquil tone for the wedding festivities, replete with a profusion of blooms, delicate props like rice paper lanterns, mason jars full of flowers and more. The mandap, created with thousands of pink blooms that were hung with pastel drapes was an arresting vision. The guests and families dressed in a complementary pastel palette for the occasion, as well as the groom. The showstopper however, was the bride (obviously), in a stunning white and gold lehenga, scattered with pops of embroidered red roses. The nuptials were followed up with a celebratory dinner.
Advice for couples
“The most important thing our wedding experience taught us was that not everything pans out exactly the way you intend it to. So putting in months of time, too much energy and stress into the planning is futile. Instead, utilize the time before the wedding to enjoy each other’s company, the simple moments with your family while just relishing the process.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Heritage Village, Manesar
Wedding Planner: TIH Concepts Global
Décor: Ferns & Petals
Bride’s Outfits: Eesha Datta (Mehendi), Dolly J (Cocktail), Nidhi Sardana (Wedding)
Makeup: Sonakshi Ajmani
Cake: Cake Design Company
Invites: Happily ever laughter
Photography: Fotoheads
