Urvi and Harsh, Mumbai
This couple filled their vibrant wedding festivities with lovely personalized touches.
From a Moroccan Mehndi and a burlesque-themed Sangeet to an enchanted garden wedding, the wedding festivities of Urvi Sethi, daughter of Bandra businessman Sanjiv Sethi and Harsh Hemdev, son of prominent South Mumbai Jeweller Kaushika and Kamlesh Hemdev, were a blend of stunning décor and personal touches.
Watch their story unfold below.
How They Met
The Mumbai based couple first crossed paths in London at the same college where they were pursuing their Post Graduate degrees. They would often study together, and their friendship eventually blossomed into an enduring love. They returned to India after their studies, wherein Harsh entered his family jewellery business Ghanasingh Fine Jewels, Kamlesh Hemdev Group, while Urvi started Wedding Lounge, her own wedding gifting venture. After four years of a relationship that flourished as they built their professional success in step with each other, they decided to take it up a notch higher and get hitched!
The Proposal
Ironically enough, Urvi, who spends her days curating exclusive gifting for events, including proposals, was swept off her feet in a surprise proposal planned by Harsh. Under the pretext of a brand promotion and a girl’s trip, Harsh got Urvi to doll up and head with her friends to Khandala, where he surprised her with a beautifully planned proposal. The special moment was captured in gorgeous shots, and they toasted to the occasion with their friends.
Wedding Planning
The couple zeroed in on the sprawling Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Residences for its abundance of beautiful spaces and convenient city location so as to celebrate with all their guests under one roof in a wedding bubble as a safety precaution for Covid. They also hosted their auspicious Mata ki Chowki at the beautiful ocean-front Blue Sea Catering and Banquets. They entrusted the planning to Kraafted Luxury Events and Experiences, while their breathtaking décor for each function was designed and executed by Vivaah Wedding Décor Stylist. Every moment of their revelries were captured and preserved in beautiful shots for all eternity by Israni Photography. DJ AJ had the guests grooving with his peppy tunes for the Sangeet, while Emcee Gunjan Utreja, exclusively managed by Talent Management Company, kept them entertained every minute of the festivities.
Urvi shares, “Harsh, me and my entire family work in areas connected to events and weddings, which made our wedding planning all the more memorable as many pitched in to add to the wonderful experience. I teamed all my wedding outfits with stunning pieces from Harsh’s family owned Jewellery store, Ghanasingh Fine Jewels, Kamlesh Hemdev Group, while my wedding set was personally designed by Harsh himself. Wedding favors and hampers for the guests came from my gifting brand Wedding Lounge, which made it all the more personal and special. My brother’s company Hops Cork designed the bar and bar menu for all the functions as well. Finally, my mother Rehnu Sethi who is a renowned Punjabi wedding expert and published author of Seven Magic Vows, lent her knowledge of customs to ensure that while our wedding was spectacular and unique, it stayed close to our roots as well.”
Wedding Functions
Mata ki Chowki
The festivities started with an auspicious Mata ki Chowki at Blue Sea Catering and Banquets. Everything from the décor to the menu was in line with the theme ‘Temples of the World’. Temple-related artifacts such as Padukas of real silver were given as wedding favors. The couple opted for Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla outfits for the occasion.
Bride’s Mehndi
The pre-wedding functions at Grand Hyatt started with the bride’s Mehndi. An intimate function with just close family, the joyous occasion saw Punjabi dholbeats, dancing and laughter. Dressed in a stunning yellow lehenga, the bride got her hands adorned with beautiful designs that referenced special moments from her life.
Mehndi
Inspired by the couple’s love for Middle Eastern culture and cuisine, the vibrant mehndi brunch was designed with Moroccan influences. Pops of blue and gold, evil eyes, rustic floral arrangements and brass ornaments added to the mood of the event. Colourful pouches with wedding favours, a perfume bar with Arabic Ittar and a coffee cup reader gave guests a sensory experience of walking through the colourful markets of Morocco. Everyone enjoyed classic brunch drinks like mimosas and gin cocktails as they danced and revelled to the tunes of DJ Madoc.
Sangeet
Bringing the magic of Burlesque to life, the Sangeet was a night of glamour and decadence. Imagined in rich jewel tones and decked with crystals and pearls, the Gatsby-ish event saw punchy performances by friends and families of the couple. With his easy grace and inimitable style, Emcee Gunjan Utreja, exclusively managed by Talent Management Company, kept the energy of the evening going. A luxurious bar serving drinks personalised to the couple’s tastes as well as the peppy tunes of DJ AJ had everyone dancing into the night. The couple dazzled in stunning ensembles by Falguni and Shane Peacock.
Haldi and Chooda
The bride shares, “Amidst the excitement and bustle of the wedding, our intimate Haldi and Chooda ceremony gave us the time to really enjoy with our friends, unwind, click pictures and have fun. To make it even more memorable, I had all my bridesmaids wear matching outfits that I gifted them, while all my male friends and family, as well as Harsh’s friends also wore coordinated outfits. The Haldi was a cheerful event with a lovely flower shower for which I wore a yellow and pink sharara by Sunita Bhandari and a Sabyasachi suit for my Chooda.”
Wedding
The wedding got off to a unique start, with an indoor baraat to comply with Covid regulations and a quirky neon bar where the groom’s entourage enjoyed unique drinks as they danced to the tunes of DJ Madoc. The nuptials were ensconced in ethereal floral décor that exuded an enchanted garden vibe. The groom opted for an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble, while the bride wore the personalised ‘love story’ lehenga by Kresha Bajaj. The couple exchanged vows against a transcendent backdrop of a waterfall and a looming Shiva statue.
Advice for couples
“Covid has taught us the importance of what truly matters in the face of uncertainty. So don’t get too caught up in wedding planning stress. Rely on your vendors and trust them to do the job effortlessly and remember to make the most of your time with your loved ones.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel and Residences, Blue Sea Catering and Banquets
Wedding Planner: Kraafted Luxury Events and Experiences
Décor: Vivaah Wedding Décor Stylist (Bride’s Mehndi, Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding), Creative Concepts (Mata ki Chowki)
Groom’s Outfits: Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (Mata ki Chowki, Wedding), Falguni & Shane Peacock (Mehndi, Sangeet)
Bride’s Outfits: Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (Mata ki Chowki), Debyani & Co. (Bride’s Mehndi), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Mehndi, Chooda), Falguni & Shane Peacock (Sangeet), Sunita Bhandari (Haldi), Kresha Bajaj (Wedding)
Jewellery: Ghanasingh Fine Jewels, Kamlesh Hemdev Group
Makeup: Nilofer Makeup (Mata ki Chowki, Bride’s Mehndi, Haldi); Shradha Luthra (Mehndi, Wedding); The Cut Collective (Sangeet)
Hairstylist: Ritika Hairstylist (Mata ki Chowki, Bride’s Mehndi); Shradha Luthra (Mehndi, Wedding); Anita Hairstylist (Sangeet)
Mehndi: Veena Nagda
Bar: Hops Cork, The Wedding Bartenders
Choreographer: Happy Dancing Feet
Entertainment: Ramesh Oberoi (Mata ki Chowki), DJ Madoc (Mehndi, Wedding), DJ AJ (Sangeet), Emcee Gunjan Utreja – exclusively managed by Talent Management Company (Sangeet), DJ Vicky (Wedding)
Photography: Israni Photography
