Darshika Kandoi
This bride gave dark hues a break as she donned a soft peach mirror work lehenga for her sangeet.
Giving her artistic instincts a free rein, an independent stationery designer and art blogger Darshika Kandoi’s wedding wardrobe was a stunning mix of vibrant colors and traditional styles. Be it a traditional rich bridal red lehenga, a comfy sharara, or the breezy soft peach lehenga that she wore for her sangeet, this happy bride’s trousseau expressed her vivacious personality with utmost elegance.
How They Met
Both being based in Kolkata, Darshika first crossed paths with Mayank Kandoi, who runs a steel manufacturing business through a mutual friend at college. Darshika shares, “Mayank and I shared a common best friend and we all hung out together once our classes were done. Although many of us lost touch over the years, Mayank and I maintained a steady friendship. However, it was only recently that we realized we were deeply in love. From then on, there was no looking back and we embarked on this magical chapter of our lives together!”
Wedding Planning
Determined to celebrate their big day despite all the challenges they faced, Darshika and Mayank made their dream wedding come true with rigorous efforts. Recollecting those moments, the bride shares, “Originally, our wedding was supposed to take place in Jaipur sometime in June 2020. But due to the pandemic, all our plans got derailed and the wedding was postponed to November. Amidst numerous challenges, we finally zeroed in on a venue and executed a traditional wedding that consisted of a short guest list of 60 to 70 people.
Our wedding was a two-day affair that included a bohemian-themed mehndi and a mirror-sparkle-themed tilak/sangeet ceremony on the first day. The next day, we conducted a haldi ceremony and a minimalistic wedding followed by a reception.
On the makeup front, I chose Zainab Ashraf and her team for all my functions. I was absolutely blown away by their sincerity and dedication, not to mention their creative talent. As for planning and ideating the wedding events, I did tremendous research online. I must say, WeddingSutra on Instagram timely came to my rescue as it was an indispensable resource that provided me with a plethora of decor and outfit ideas. I’d like to sincerely thank WeddingSutra for building such an amazing platform that eases any bride’s task. It’s like a virtual marketplace with everything related to weddings all under the same roof!
Lastly, I would like to commend my aunt who stood by me through every step as she helped me make critical decisions and most importantly, choose outfits and make other important decisions. I’m extremely thankful to my parents too as they stood by me and gave me all their love and care.”
Weddings Functions
Mehndi
“For my Mehndi, I bought three lehengas since I was unable to make a decision! After a lot of brainstorming, I finally decided to don a light organza lehenga which went beautifully with the decor, and these resulted in stunning pictures. As for the makeup, I kept it simple with a fresh dewy look which was accentuated with dainty floral accessories in my hair”, shares Darshika.
Sangeet
“Keen on wearing something shimmery and sparkly, I chose an Abhinav Mishra lehenga for my sangeet. Studded with beautiful mirror work, the lehenga looked stunning from every angle. Since I couldn’t travel due to the lockdown, I mostly bought all my outfits in Kolkata. But the team at Abhinav Mishra left no stone unturned to make the entire experience seamless. My sister, who resides in Delhi went to the store to place the order for me and the rest was managed via calls! Their interstate delivery was smooth and prompt as everything arrived right on time!”
Haldi
Keeping it comfy in a yellow sharara set, Darshika looked radiant as she enjoyed a playful haldi ceremony with her better half. For an added pop of color on her outfit, she chose a bright pink zari bordered dupatta that contrasted with the yellow hue of the kurta perfectly. She chose a toned-down makeup look, and instead accessorized her hair with delicate baby’s breath blooms.
Wedding
“Needless to say, being an ardent lover of lehengas I went on a lehenga shopping spree for my wedding! I was adamant about getting an outfit that could be worn again and not just stay tucked in the box for years to come. Personally, I feel it’s not fair to splurge on an extremely heavy lehenga that cannot be worn again. With this in mind, I chose a semi-heavy lehenga. Luckily, I met Sabyasachi in the store and he guided me to go for an outfit that matched my vision. Furthermore, he even guided me while choosing jewelry for my big day! In fact, it was his idea to wear a big nath to complete the bridal look.
Overall, I had an awesome experience with Sabyasachi’s team and I excitedly geared up for my big day”
Gushing about her in-laws and excited about the exciting journey that she’s embarked on with Mayank, Darshika goes on to share, “ I’m so grateful for stepping into such a beautiful family where everyone is so warm, kind, and caring. It’s a blessing to have two sets of parents who shower me with love! Mayank, on the other hand, has always been my support system and stood by me through thick and thin. I cannot thank god enough for pairing us both.”
Advice For brides
“While you might encounter confusions, miscommunications, disappointments or even canceled plans, the truth is, only positive memories gush forth in retrospect! In the end, what really matters is the love of your family and your better half”, advises Darshika.
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Hyatt Regency Kolkata
Wedding Planner and Décor: Rings ‘N’ Roses
Caterers: Hyatt Regency Kolkata
Groom’s Outfits: Anant (Mehndi, Sangeet), Arjun Agarwal (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Anita Dongre (Ganesh Puja), Eshaani Jayaswal (Mehndi), Abhinav Mishra (Sangeet), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding)
Makeup: Makeup by Zainab
Mehndi: Mehnaz Mehndi
Wedding Favors: Episode, Occasions by Renu Ganeriwal
Photography and Videography: ShutterDown
