Armenia Armenia is an open air museum, where you can walk through time and experience living history. It is a land of enchantment, with untouched awe-inspiring nature, and seven climate zones, each offering a different topography. Each city is a museum in and of itself, with ancient relics, old and new architecture, churches dating back thousands of years, and heritage and culture that fuse the past with the present.
Discover Armenia with Us! e-mail: nelly@crystalightevents.com mob: +374 94 868 890
CONTENTS
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W E DDI N G PL A N N I N G
DE COR & DE S IG N
10 HAPPENING Wedniksha Plans & Executes a Beyond Gorgeous Wedding Celebration for the Brijwasi family
3 6 P H O TO F E AT U R E Anamika Khanna Designs & Eventzinspired Execute a 50th Anniversary Celebration at Taj Bengal Kolkata
12 HAPPENING Kannada Actors Aindrita Ray & Diganth Tie Knot in an Environmental-Friendly Wedding Celebration
3 8 P H O TO F E AT U R E 7X-Weddings by DevRaj Conceptualises and Plans A Fairy-tale Wedding in Udaipur
1 4 P H O TO F E AT U R E Perfexion Events Executes a Lavish Wedding Designed by Abu Jani - Sandeep Khosla
4 0 P H O TO F E AT U R E Purple Tree Event Solutions Creates A Gorgeous Balinese-Indian Ambience for this Wedding at the Ritz Carlton, Bali
1 6 P H O TO F E AT U R E Tamarind Global Plans & Executes a Turnkey Wedding Celebration in Udaipur 1 8 I N FO C U S The Renaissance Powai Gorgeously Highlighted with Greens for this Wedding Celebration by Dreamzkraft!
I N D U S T RY WAT C H 2 4 I N FO C U S The 2nd Edition of #DubaiGWE brings together 100 Global Wedding Stakeholders in Dubai 3 0 C O V E R S TO RY THE MIDDLE EAST: A Destination Wedding Planner’s Haven! Here’s Why...
42 I N S P I R AT I O N Percept ICE paint HiTex Black and Gold for Sudha Reddy's Birthday Extravaganza
DE S T I N AT ION S 46 HAPPENING Four Seasons Bahrain Bay Decked Beautifully for a Spectacular Wedding by Milestones to Memories 50 HAPPENING Exchanging Vows on the Island of the Gods A Wedding Planned by Event Tadka 5 4 P H O TO F E AT U R E North Goa’s La Cabana Becomes A Spectacular Beach Wedding Venue For A Wedding By A More Entertainment 5 8 P H O TO F E AT U R E Doha's Ritz Carlton Sharq Village Becomes a Glamorous Beach Venue for a Wedding by Tamarind Global
Disclaimer: i. ExCel magazine is published by EVENTFAQS Media. Pvt. Ltd. with RNI Registration MAHENG/2010/35733. ii. Every effort is made to ensure that the magazine’s content is correct. However, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. iii. All material published in this magazine is copyright protected. Unauthorised reproduction in part or full is forbidden. iv. The publisher takes no responsibility for content used in advertisements and advertorials. It is assumed the advertiser has rights to use the content. v. The publisher takes no responsibility for photographs and information published in features which comes from external sources such as PR agencies, direct sources, etc. It is assumed that the parties involved have the right to provide the information for publishing purposes. vi. Any dispute/error liable vis-a-vis this magazine is strictly restricted to local jurisdiction in Mumbai only.
FROM THE EDITOR
30 VENUES 60 HAPPENING Vivaah Weddings Decks Up Fairmont Ajman in UAE for This Gorgeous Indian Wedding 6 4 I N S P I R AT I O N Jumeirah, ITC Grand Maratha, and Four Seasons Beautifully Decked-up by Krayonz Entertainment for this Multi-Venue Wedding Extravaganza 6 8 I N S P I R AT I O N Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah, hosts 500 guests for this Cool and Quirky Wedding by Tamarind Global
PHO T O G R A PH Y & F I L M I N G 7 2 F E AT U R E 6 Photo Experts Take A Look at Dubai Being A Potential Location for Wedding & Pre-wedding Shoots 74 F E AT U R E Sagar Kumar & Ritin Kumar of CineLove Speak on Taking Wedding Photography to Another Level
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NDIAN WEDDINGS have most certainly contributed to the growth of luxury/high-end tourism into the Middle East. But what’s more interesting to consider is that the market-readiness of Middle East Destination Bureaux and Hospitality brands, has in turn contributed to the growth of the Destination Wedding planning industry in India. Welcoming government entities, with specialized objectives to assist wedding planners; super-equipped hotels with incomparable offers; together with obvious geographical advantages of the Middle East, have led to a surge of destination wedding planners from India having the confidence to venture beyond the borders of the country. And for the experienced destination wedding planner, these developments present the unique opportunity of pushing the bar, and truly uplifting and evolving the Indian wedding space. The last 2 years have seen how an industry flourishes when all the right forces work for it. And the benefits are mutual for all involved. This issue of ExCel looks to present some of the major developments and achievements of Indian Destination Weddings in the Middle East, from this last season... karishma@eventfaqs.com
COVER PHOTO COURTESY: WEDDINGNAMA
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR KARISHMA HUNDALANI karishma@eventfaqs.com
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR VISHAL NAGDEV vishal@eventfaqs.com
EDITORIAL TEAM MADIHA KHAN madiha@eventfaqs.com KOMAL PARMAR komal@eventfaqs.com
CFO & DIRECTOR JIMMY CHOUDHARY jimmy@eventfaqs.com
CIRCULATION RAMESH PATIL ramesh@eventfaqs.com ADMIN & ACCOUNTS NILESH PAWAR accounts@eventfaqs.com SAMEET ELKAR admin.mumbai@eventfaqs.com GRAPHIC DESIGN VINAYA PRASHANTH vinayaprashanth@gmail.com
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM JITEN JURIANI jiten@eventfaqs.com PRATHAMESH VAIDYA prathamesh@eventfaqs.com SHIVA CHOUDHARY shiva@eventfaqs.com MARKETING SERVICES TEAM ZAFAR KHAN zafar@eventfaqs.com SIDDHI SUNTHWAL siddhi@eventfaqs.com
Experiential Celebrations-ExCel is a bi-annual magazine published by EVENTFAQS Media-A multi-channel platform focussed on the events, entertainment and experiential industry. Visit www.eventfaqs.com for more details. For subscription enquiry: info@eventfaqs.com Editor: Karishma Jamnu Hundalani. This issue contains 80 pages including covers. Printed & Published by: Vishal Vashulal Nagdev on behalf of (or owned by) EVENTFAQS Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at VSSU Graphics, Unit # 36, Ideal Industrial Estate Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel-West, Mumbai 400013, Maharashtra, India, and published at EVENTFAQS Media Pvt. Ltd. 112, 1st Floor, Embassy Centre 207, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021, Maharashtra, India.
W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | HAP P ENI NG
Wedniksha Plans & Executes a Beyond Gorgeous Wedding Celebration for the Brijwasi family The wedding celebrations began on January 20th and continued till January 22nd in Rajasthan.
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HE WEDDING CELEBRATIONS began on 20th Jan with a power-packed youngster party at Suryagarh Hotel Jaisalmer. The theme of the event was The Thar dinner and Wedniksha immaculately looked after all the arrangements according to the theme. The Thar dinner is a tradition that people follow to pay homage to the culinary traditions of travellers who crossed the Thar to Jaisalmer. The decor was perfect with starry skies, tasselled canopies and mattress style seating to give the guests a comfortable feel and allow them to enjoy their dinner to the fullest. The highlight of the evening was the European Fire act which added an extra oomph factor to the evening. On the next day which was January 21st, a Royal Welcome Lunch was arranged at Jaisalmer Kitchen, Marriott Resort and Spa; it being a day event, the theme was warm and colourful. The entire restaurant was decorated with colourful overlays and kites as table mats. To give a traditional feel, antique golden Roman Pots with golden bamboo sticks and kites were used as props along with the traditional Manja to make a colourful arrangement. To give guests an authentic Rajasthani experience, local musicians played traditional music which kept the guests enthralled. A royal Rajput wedding is incomplete without the Sangeet party. In the evening at Oasis Courtyard a grand sangeet ceremony
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was organized and the theme of the event was shimmer to give a glamorous look to the venue. Wedniksha created two custom mirror chip bars and every element used had a shimmer and bling touch to it. There was a mirror chip photo booth installed at the venue to give a picture zone to the guests. The entire dance floor was covered with silver streamers and disco balls of various sizes. The stage was custom made with royal blue drapes, mirror acrylic frames and disco balls. The centrepieces were made with crystal hangings with glass pinch bowls with LED rice lights. Also, the cocktail table had tiny mirror balls with custom mirror chip base. The next morning was the Haldi ceremony that was decked up in a Yellow and Gold theme. In keeping with Rajasthani tradition, Wedniksha designed a beautiful bridal backdrop in Gota Patti work that looked vibrant. The ceremony was boosted with DJ Music while the wedding bartenders mixed some mind-blowing cocktails. The wedding was in Gold and red theme to give a royal tradition feel. The Vidhi mandap was set up in the centre of Oasis courtyard. The whole venue was decked up with Candles on large Jyotideeps covering the entire venue with candelabras, shamadans and diyas. The existing water bodies made the setup look all the more royal. During the Jaimala ceremony, a breathtaking fireworks show was executed giving a perfect end to the event.
W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | HA P P E N I N G
"Every Wedding affair demands its own detailing and personalisation. One of our finest creations were showcased at the Brijwasi Wedding. A truly beautiful destination with world-class thematic decor and hospitality made the wedding an unforgettable extravaganza. We are delighted to be chosen as their preferred wedding planners and we are glad to live up to their expectations." BHAVNESH SAWHNEY Director, Wedniksha A P R I L – J U N E 2 01 9 | E x C e l
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Kannada Actors Aindrita Ray & Diganth Tie Knot in an Environmental-Friendly Wedding Celebration The venue for the wedding was Discovery Village Nandi hills. The wedding was a retreat, set amidst the mountains, and having maximum wedding elements that are environment-friendly.
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oth Diganth & Aindrita Ray are the top actors in the Sandalwood industry and have been in love for almost 9+ years before tying the knot in Nandi Hills, in December 2018. The actors are environment friendly and love animals. Hence, Emaginations INC created an unforgettably beautiful environment friendly wedding. The venue for the wedding was Discovery Village Nandi hills. The wedding was a retreat, set amidst the mountains, and having maximum wedding elements that are environment-friendly. The couple, though intent on making the occasion the most memorable one in their lives, had also ensured that the wedding plan and arrangements reflect their concern for the environment and animals.
With a plan devoid of the opulence that marks celebrity weddings, Aindrita and Diganth had decided to go with the theme of recycle, reduce and reuse. Everything from the décor and the stage to the invite was given an eco-friendly makeover. Bengaluru-based wedding planner Tony Camillus Stephen’s Emaginations Inc was roped in for the wedding. He said, “The theme has been built around the culture of two states – Kolkata and Karnataka. The couple had made a special request to skip much pomp and noise. We have kept it eco-friendly right from the word go”.
The Invite
The wedding invite hamper was made of packing wood. The different elements that went into the hamper had an eco-friendly twist. A quirky twist of bringing in the #BONGWEDSBOMMAN. The mason glass jar, containing medi pickle (from Malnad) had a
W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | HA P P E N I N G
wooden top. It was wrapped in jute and lace and there was another jar of rasgulla that was especially shipped from Kolkata. A small pouch contained an assortment of vegetable and flowering seeds and a note that reads: Plant me and see me grow. Another jute bag contained coffee which was also been brought from Malnad. “The wedding hamper represented both cultures,” says Tony Stephen. There were coasters carrying the logo Diganth and Aindrita (D&A) printed on it. “Interestingly, it could also read DNA,” adds Tony Stephen. The logo and other initial communication were thought of as very earthy and rustic which was followed across all themes and creative for the wedding.
Haldi at the pool side
Light pink, peach, the softest hues of lilac were the colours selected for this function. These romantic colours were the absolute antidote to the greying grind of daily life to make the place look like a fairy tale destination. The venue was decked with crystals, and floral strings in gorgeous colours.
The Wedding- Amidst the Hills
The wedding was held in the midst of the mountains of Nandi with a theme being earthy. The planner had customised circular mandap designed with white floral works where the ceremony was performed in both Kannadiga and Bengali rituals. The Food was specially crafted for limited guests and ensuring all the wastes, veg peels and remains were used for compost.
Reception
The Reception was a star-studded affair from who’s who of sandalwood and entertainment industry in presence. The Décor was set as a classy evening with glitz and glamor at the Ritz Carlton, Bangalore.
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Perfexion Events Executes a Lavish Wedding Designed by Abu Jani - Sandeep Khosla The wedding extravaganza was aptly captured by Cupcake Photography.
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MAID BHAWAN PALACE, JODHPUR, was beautifully lit for a wedding extravaganza hosted for Rohit Navale and Shruti Kharbanda. Shruti is Bollywood actor Kulbhushan Kharbanda's daughter and Rohit is the VP of Sinhgad Institute. The three day celebration was hosted on December 17th 2018 in the beautiful palace that is known for its regal hospitality and extraordinary architecture. To add more glamour and style to the wedding, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla designed it to perfection and made the nuptials more memorable. Cupcake Productions captured and reeled the moments for the couple and the families leaving unforgettable memories for them to cherish.
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | P HOTO F E ATUR E
"Planning Rohit and Shruti's Wedding became like a family affair for us. We were there right from engagement till the reception held at Pune and Jodhpur respectively. There were a lot of challenges since many top business tycoons were attending the wedding hence minute detailing of each element had to be done in a perfect way. We got immense support from the working committee as well during the entire preparations and not to forget all our dear vendors and associated who strived really hard to make this a mega success. We thank the Navale and Kharbanda Family for giving us this opportunity and welcoming us like a family always." ANIL BOHRA & ASHISH BOHRA Managing Director & Director, Perfexion Events A P R I L – J U N E 2 01 9 | E x C e l
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Tamarind Global Plans & Executes a Turnkey Wedding Celebration in Udaipur The wedding was hosted from December 7th – 9th, 2018 at the Fateh Prakash Palace, Shiv Niwas Palace & Udai Kothi.
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AMARIND GLOBAL planned and executed a multicultural wedding in the City of Lakes, Udaipur for 300 guests at the Fateh Prakash Palace, Shiv Niwas Palace, City Palace, and Udai Kothi from December 7th to 9th, 2018. The celebration included a haldi, Mehendi, two wedding ceremonies - a Hindu wedding and Anand Karaj and a Musical Evening at the City Palace. The guests were welcomed with hampers that included customized Papabubble sweets, custom wedding programme booklets, tote bags, scarves, pocket squares, and shawls. The first day started by welcoming guests to a royal and regal mehendi ceremony followed by a King and Queen style lunch at the Satkar Banquet Hall in the City Palace. The Hindu style wedding was performed on the first day where the baraat was taken from Bansi Ghat to Jagmandir Island Palace. An action packed baraat, dramatic varmala with cold pyros and a
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beautiful wedding ceremony took place at the Jag Mandir. This was followed by a dance performance by the bride side and a grand dinner. Sonam Kalra and the Sufi Gospel Project kicked off with a special rendition of Din Shagna da followed by DJ Ganesh's music. The last day started with an early morning wedding in a Sikh style called Anand Karaj at Gurdwara Sachkhand Darbar followed by lunch at Front Lawns, Shiv Niwas with some small activities like astrology, clay pot making and LIVE lac bangle-making. There was a glamorous musical evening at the Zenana Mahal, where the Dubai based About Last Night Band gave a rocking performance followed by family dances, speeches and toasts, a grand cutting of a massive City Palace theme cake and DJ Ganesh yet again made everyone groove to his beats. The photography was by Dipak Studio.
W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | P HOTO F E ATUR E
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | IN F OC U S
The Renaissance Powai Gorgeously Highlighted with Greens for this Wedding Celebration by Dreamzkraft! The wedding functions went on for three days, the first day being a Sundowner party, the second day had both Sindhi and Punjabi rituals followed by the Mehendi & Sangeet, Wedding on third day.
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RISHANT SIDHWANI, Director, DreamzKraft and Prerita Suri, a self-motivated start-up enthusiast tied the knot in a three-day celebration from December 27th to 29th, 2018 in Mumbai.
The Renaissance, Powai was chosen as the wedding destination because it made things simpler as a lot of their guests were Mumbai based. The Renaissance is a very beautiful property at the lake’s edge and it is a unique space in Mumbai that was just right for this wedding. The wedding functions went on for three days, the first day being a Sundowner party, the second day had both Sindhi and Punjabi rituals in the morning followed by the Mehendi function and Sangeet later in the evening. The wedding was held on the third day followed by an After-Party. Being the Director’s wedding, DreamzKraft planned every function right down to the tiniest detail and executed this extravagant wedding with perfection. The décor, the themes, the floral work and innovative trends
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conceptualized at this wedding paves the road for wedding trends of 2019. The planning and décor for every function at this wedding has been conceptualized and executed by DreamzKraft. Here is the flow of each wedding function:
Sundowner – The theme was Vintage Chic with an Oktoberfest
influence. To begin with, it was planned at the lake-side lawns and the seating arrangements were with a casual vibe. Cane furniture with customized cushion covers, picnic tables with greens and white exotic floral runners and a main cabana with low seating arrangements and lots of throw pillows added charm to the venue. Vintage props like antique sewing machines, rotary dial telephones, vintage leather covered books, vintage suitcases and typewriters were set up to add an old-charm look. Assorted cane baskets weaved together on a pole with different floral arrangements at the lawns added a world of charm and creativity
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to the décor. A vintage door as the backdrop was embellished with greens and exotic white flowers and sleeper-wood boxes of Baby Breath flowers lined the pathway. The centre of attraction was a pair of pink flamingoes, the wedding logo, that were decked in greens. Studio Kitchen added to the theme with a specially curated North American and Eastern European cuisine, to signify the time the couple had spent in the US while at University. With wood fired Pizzas, Corn on the Cob, Chilean Tacos, Mexican Burrito bowls, Grills, Hot Dogs, Baileys infused Mushrooms, Jagermeister Fish, Mac and Cheese Lamb Burgers with shot glasses of beer, to name a few on the menu, the guests had an exuberant time and the DJ & Percussionist kept them going with their snazzy beats.
Mehendi – The theme was a confluence of Blue pottery and
Greek art with lovely Indian Marigold yellow to give a traditional feel to the Mehendi function. There were fun elements all across the venue; floral niches with cozy seating arrangements and beautifully carved vibrant lounges with curtains of Marigold and smaller floral arrangements. A pair of Marigold yellow floral elephants stood at the entrance to welcome the guests and a pair of pink flamingoes were dressed in greens and Marigold yellow to match the theme. A dance floor, balloon shooting, ring toss games and even a crystal ball reader completed the entertainment section along with a central bar set up at the gazebo. Guests could walk in at the bar and pick their choice of fruit, vegetable and infused water and the bartender would mix it up for them.
"Planning my own wedding was a wonderful experience, while it was exhausting at the same time as well! The most memorable aspect would definitely be the fact that I could incorporate all the big and little intricate details I wanted since I was both, the client as well as the planner! We experienced a lot of unforgettable moments, but the loveliest ones were made right there, at the wedding, seeing everything come to life and so fabulously! The decor was a delightful fusion of sensibilities as the wedding events that were planned down to the last detail went smoothly without any hitch and we just immersed ourselves in our special moment and left the rest to our fantastic team." TRISHANT SIDHWANI Partner, Dreamzkraft
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | I N FOCUS Studio Kitchen added a mouth-watering menu with traditional Sindhi and Punjabi food with chefs specially brought in from local districts to deliver authentic tastes. Chole - Kulche, Dal Pakwan and Sindhi Curry were some of the outstanding flavours of the day along with the upbeat music by the DJ that kept everyone dancing including the bride and groom.
Sangeet – With Persian influences, this star-studded night was
glorious in every aspect and the décor was very tasteful and grand. Right from the grand entrance and pre-function area to the food area, every inch of space was decorated and lit up beautifully. The Sangeet night saw more than a thousand guests in attendance and the venue was designed such that there were spaces created for the guests to move around and relax as well. Lounges were created and the pre-function area was peppered with floral screens and screens made with beautiful handworked zari-fabrics that were embellished in champagne gold; which were an integral part of the décor throughout the venue. To complement the décor, floral walls of hydrangeas and other exotic white flowers were placed throughout the lobby and pre-function area. Long tables full of Tuberose arrangements with greens at the ballroom entrance and pre-function area added their mild fragrance to the stylish décor. The ballroom was given an infinity drape look, which was extremely modern and effective. The focal point of this décor was a 40-foot gold cut-out chandelier that was installed over the bar. The spotlight was undeniably on the couple of the hour, whose entry was very unique. They entered with a band playing tunes dressed in old-style uniforms and their cousins and friends as
Baaraatis. The band took over the ballroom as the couple made their way to the stage. The DJs belted out foot-tapping tracks one after the other and the Percussionist infused energy into the guests with his amazing beats keeping the guests on their feet. Additional details like the wedding logo etched onto the ice bar and venue scenting added to the glitz and glamour of the whole night.
Wedding – The wedding was more of a Modern Vintage drawing
room crossed with a South Indian floral garden with quirky Indian prints. The Mandap was set up at the lakeside lawns and was perfumed with over a hundred and fifty scented candles that added to the beautiful fragrance of the flowers. Strings of Tuberose enveloped the Mandap, head table and lounges and made the venue look surreal along with cascading flowers that adorned the stairs to the Mandap. Big floral arrangements of tuberoses also accentuated the dining area tables. Smaller lounges created at the sides of the Mandap were adorned with antique furniture, metal vases and tall brass lamps decorated with minimal flowers. An abundance of Tuberoses, Tagar jaalis, Kenya Roses, Palm Trees, and Herbariums (Kamini Patta) floral arrangements were placed throughout the venue. We created an overlay with the Tagar Jaalis that highlighted the central table which had personalized packaged silver coated cardamom seeds that the guests could pick up. Lounges were created with modern Indian prints in English colours and propped with console tables, candle stands, vintage props and tall brass glasses. The head table had floral runners in whites and green herbariums with Swan hangings and Tuberoses
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | IN F O CUS
overhead, which were also placed at the entrance and main family lounge. Beautiful classical music played on the Sitar during the Pheras added to the magic of the décor enchanting everyone. The Baaraat was planned down to the last detail, like all the other functions. The music, the ‘mithais’ and welcome drinks served to the ‘Baraatis’ were all in keeping with the theme in mind. The Band members were dressed in chevron turbans with ‘Achkans’ and ‘Sherwanis’ in pastel colours to match the colours of the theme. Detailing was down to point with umbrellas printed with flamingoes (the wedding logo) at the Baraat and flamingo cut out ‘Kalgis’ adorning the ‘Safas’ of the men. At the entrance, guests were welcomed with an array of sweets and handmade and scented, artificial Mogra bracelets for the women and open artificial Mogra scented garlands for the men. Studio Kitchen had a variety of ‘Chaat’ from all over the country for the guests to indulge in. Ranging from Mathurawali Chaat and Authentic Gujarati Chaat, to regional Maharashtrian Street Food, once again chefs from various regions were brought in for the authentic culinary experience.
After Party – The after party was held at the same ballroom where the Sangeet took place and the space was completely transformed with the Psychedelic Cirque Theme. Black and white geometric prints with a pop of royal purple stood out along with a variety of artists like contortionists, aerial silk artists, mirror men, illuminated stilt walkers, illuminated ballerinas, LED drummers, clowns with pirate dwarf sidekicks who were all moving about the ballroom and putting on acts for the guests. The hand-painted
quirky animal statues, sculptures and paintings placed at various spots along with the use of stylish furniture, cascading floral arrangements and props lent an air of mystique and beauty to the décor. Hydrangeas were used as cascading floral arrangements and quirky contrasting hydrangeas in big floral arrangements with mannequins blended in with the backdrop. Laser lights enhanced the party vibe and overall it was a unique out-of-the-world, never-done-before look; tastefully styled; and the result was stunning and the DJs kept the guests dancing till long after the sun was up! The menu was a blend of the Eastern and the Orient as the couple wanted to end their wedding celebration on a high note. Asian, Indonesian, Mongolian, Malaysian and Korean cuisines added to the celebrations with food like authentic Japanese Sushi, Dimsum Bars, Authentic Thai Dishes such as Keeng Phad Phak Ruam, Khiew Warn Phuk and many more. A lot of emphasis was placed on creating an amazing experience for the guests. Be it with the room hampers, lounges or giveaways. The welcome hamper present in every room had every tin and bag customized with the couple’s hashtag and be it cookies or trail mix, every item packaged had a story to tell. Guests were pampered with a spa and salon to shine at every party and feel rejuvenated. Photography for this wedding was done by The Wedding Story.
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The 2nd Edition of #DubaiGWE brings together 100 Global Wedding Stakeholders in Dubai The Second Edition of The Dubai Global Wedding Excellence Forum and Retreat took place from January 11-14, 2019 engaging over 100 Global Wedding Planners and Stakeholders through unique experiences.
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he Global Wedding Excellence Forum and Retreat 2019 was the second edition of the much-celebrated wedding industry platform, initiated by Dubai Tourism. The 4-day fete fostered excellence through the participation of Global Wedding Planners, and showcased the potential of Dubai as a hub and premier destination for Weddings. Commenting on the success of the initiative, Steen Jakobsen, Assistant VP, Dubai Business Events (DTCM) said, “We’ve just completed hosting the 2nd edition of the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence Forum and Retreat. Through this platform, global wedding planners have an opportunity to connect with one another and grow their business, and that’s really the role of Dubai Tourism, in insuring that we can provide business opportunities to our stakeholders.
"Dubai as a destination has different cultures of people living and working together, and different varieties and options for weddings and events, which makes it an excellent destination." CEMRE TEPELER Director, KM Events (Istanbul)
Wedding planners and expert stakeholders of the global wedding industry, gathered in Dubai from January 11 to 14, 2019, to experience why Dubai can make for the most dynamic wedding destination. Through a Leadership Forum, and expert knowledgeexchange sessions, participants also had a chance to discuss and address evolving requirements and challenges of the Destination Wedding industry.
"Dubai continues to grow as a destination for international weddings, and such platforms benefit the wedding couple and the planners, as they have so many opportunities to tap into." STEEN JAKOBSEN Assistant VP, Dubai Business Events (DTCM)
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Participants of the #DubaiGWE were hosted by the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Kempinksi Emerald Palace and Waldorf Astoria for their 3-night’s stay in Dubai. As host hotels, these partners had the unique opportunity of extending a sample of their hospitality to the leadership and influencers in attendance. SNTTA and Equifax came on-board as the two official DMCpartners for the 4-day experience, where SNTTA took charge of all delegate transfers for Day 1 and 2, while handing over the baton to Equifax for the second-leg of days 3 and 4.
I N D U S T R Y WATC H | IN F O CUS
Dubai GWE Official Opening Address by Steen Jakobsen, Assistant VP, Dubai Business Events (DTCM)
Day 1, January 11, 2019
Day 1 started off with a welcome reception at the Music Hall of host-hotel Jumeriah Zabbel Saray, featuring the official welcome address by Steen Jakobsen of Dubai Business Events (DTCM). This was followed by a leadership session by Rahul Kumar, Director, Vivaah Weddings, which gave delegates an all-encompassing insight into the Palm Jumeirah (Palm Island) as a destination within Dubai, for weddings. The networking continued over high-tea in the lawns of the same hotel, where Rachna Chaddha of BAQAA Weddings, curated a quaint and intimate setting where participants had the chance to get to know one another better, around a camp-fire session or across a park bench, with an outdoor picnic styled event. Participants then moved on to the Waldorf Astoria, another of the host-hotels for the official ‘Welcome Party and Dinner’ curated by Focus Weddings Services by Mortiz Schubertz. The evening’s entertainment featured an illusionist, named Felipe Scherson, a belly dancer and other ambient dance performers, complimenting the tunes of DJ Khushi, the highlight act of the evening. Entertainment designers for the evening was Wild Goose Events & Entertainment.
"#DubaiGWE has been a fantastic experience. We had opportunities to see a lot of venues and experience authentic Dubai which is always good." KARISHMA MANWANI Karishma Manwani Events, London
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Day 2, January 12, 2019
Day 2 of #DubaiGWE featured ‘The Jumeirah Experience’ in the morning, where delegates were taken on an exclusive experience across flagship Jumeirah Hotels in Dubai, including the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeriah. The Jumeirah Experience ended with a lunch at Jumeirah Al Qasr. Following this, delegates were transferred to the Al Habtoor City Complex, where a special viewing of the highly-acclaimed show - La Perle by Franco Dragone was organised for the group, in a n exclusive seating area. La Perle by Dragone is the region’s first permanent show, featuring 65 world-class artists.
"#DubaiGWE has been an amazing experience, it has connected me with so many wonderful people. And being connected is a big plus point in order for everybody to know more about each other in the industry." ANUSHKA ARORA London-based Emcee and Host
The Sangeet Evening hosted at Kempinski Emerald Palace
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After some rest in the early evening, guests all headed out to the Kempinski Emerald Palace, the third of the host-hotels, where the Sangeet (evening of Music / Dance) was hosted. The event was curated by Events by Saniya; while Showtech assisted with AVL; Food Inc by Yum Yum Tree, through their recently opened operations in the UAE, showcased a wide array of delectable, crafted, Indian Food; Real Flaming Trio partnered to showcase their Bar Solutions with speciality cocktails and mocktails. Anushka Arora was the host for the evening, while the abundantlypopular band, from the UAE -- Rooh entertained guests, fulfilled song-requests and ensured everyone was on the dance floor throughout the evening.
I N D U S T R Y WATC H | IN F O CUS
Dubai GWE Leadership Forum is a prominent feature of the knowledge-exchange as part of the overall experience
Day 3, January 13, 2019
Day 3 kickstarted with #DubaiGWE Leadership Forum at the FIVE Palm Jumeirah. The Objective of the Leadership Forum is to create an exclusive knowledge-exchange session to address the real requirements and challenges of the global destination weddings industry. The Leadership forum also served as the platform where the delegation could network with every supplier and partner to #DubaiGWE, while exchanging ideas about the business.
"I had an amazing time meeting planners and suppliers from all around the world. It has been such a great experience, and beyond my expectations." SAHELI MIRPURI Saheli Events, London
A panel discussion featuring local-experts of the wedding industry, including Steen Jakobsen, Assistant VP, Dubai Business Events (DTCM); Arun Bablani, Director, Vivaah Weddings; Rohit Jain, Director, Equifax (one of the host-DMCs for GWE) and Jaydeep Anand, GM, FIVE Palm Jumeirah, allowed the delegation to address specific ambitions and requirements they had from Dubai as a destination for weddings. The leadership forum moved on to a networking lunch session at the roof-top venue of the FIVE Palm Jumeirah – The Penthouse, after which delegates took the afternoon off for some rest and relaxation. The evening kickstarted with a cocktail reception at the Imperial Suite of the Palazzo Versace Dubai, a hugely popular wedding hotel featuring the uber-luxury Versace brand-styling. This was followed by the finale dinner reception which was curated by Encore the Design Studio by Chimoo Acharya at The Armani Hotel, Downtown Dubai. Guests were welcomed at the foot of the magnanimous Burj Khalifa, by the General Manager of the Hotel, following which they were lead into the ballroom of the hotel which featured entertainment including an aerial act & Illusionist, Suhail Khoury by Soul Artists, followed by an act by Armani Dubai’s exclusive in-house performer Bibi and then a final stand-up comic riot by Papa CJ. A P R I L – J U N E 2 01 9 | E x C e l
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The see-off brunch hosted by the Park Hyatt Dubai
"Weddings in Dubai are amazing to do and Dubai GWE is a great opportunity for all the wedding planners to come from different parts of the world to experience Dubai and all of its offerings." KUNAL RAI Vice President, Weddings and Events, Tamarind Global
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Day 4, January 14, 2019
After check-out, delegates gathered at the Park Hyatt Dubai, for a see-off brunch. Each delegate was assigned their own privatetransfers to the airport for their varying flight schedules, thus rounding up the exclusivity and speciality of this second edition of the #DubaiGWE. Countries participating at the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence Forum and Retreat 2019 were from India, Lebanon, Bahrain, Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Turkey, Singapore, France, Malta, Italy, and Jordan.
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THE MIDDLE EAST: A Destination Wedding Planner’s Haven! Here’s Why…
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OR LONG NOW, Dubai has been referred to as ‘the international city of India’. The reason for this is clearly because of the proximity of the destination to India (comparable to the flying time between Mumbai and Delhi) and the number of Indians working in Dubai, especially in the hospitality sector, lending to the familiarity and ease in doing business within the Destination. It didn’t take long for this feeling to get generalised to the UAE at large, with Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and even Fujairah increasingly gaining popularity for Destination Weddings, with their outstanding hotel and hospitality options.
“The destination itself gives a sense of a ‘royal affair’. Even the food is as per our Indian expectations with the best taste and flavours. The vendors for outsourcing various elements are easily available.” Rajeev Jain Director, Rashi Entertainment
And so the trend extended beyond the Middle East to other destinations with great flight connections to India, and similar luxurious hospitality offering. Oman, Bahrain and Qatar have all enjoyed some amount of boost in Destination Wedding Tourism from India, in different variations over the last 5 years. The greatest testimony of this positive influence of Indian Weddings, is each of the above mentioned destinations’ motivation to invest back into engaging, supporting, and facilitating Indian Wedding Planners to achieve great success in their projects. Planners that frequent the Middle East with weddings, reveal more… Excerpts below:
A wedding at Palazzo Versace by Wedniksha
A Sangeet Stage set at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
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A Ras Al Khaimah wedding by Milestones to Memories
What makes the Middle East the Ultimate Wedding Destination? Rajeev Jain, Director, Rashi Entertainment says, “whether it is Dubai or Abu Dhabi – the major destinations for Indian Weddings, the connectivity is one of the plus points. Direct flights of 3 hrs 45mins from India to Dubai/Abu Dhabi is very convenient and relaxing. The properties in UAE are lavish and more resort-like. They are spread over large areas with all the facilities which make them more family friendly. The destination itself gives a sense of a ‘royal affair’. Even the food is as per our Indian expectations with the best taste and flavours. The vendors for outsourcing various elements are easily available.” Aarti Manocha, Founder, Milestones to Memories, shares, “UAE and now destinations like Bahrain and Doha in the Middle East have emerged as top destinations for weddings and social events in the last few years. Not only from India but from world over. The beauty of UAE is that, with the ongoing progress and development for Expo 2020. The infrastructure, luxury hotels and venues are increasing at great speed. Every few months when I visit Dubai, I see new options - each better than the other, and not to forget, the facilities are absolutely world class. Undoubtedly, the basic requirements are well in place across the Middle East for weddings, such as perfect connectivity, distance, great weather, best of best hotels and resorts. With these being in place, the decision for a client is easier and these destinations are seeing number of weddings and social events on an incline.” “Having a Destination wedding is the trend of today and the UAE is one of the most popular wedding destinations to tie the knot. The Middle East has a variety of venues expanding to encompass everything from sandy beaches to majestic ballrooms, desert ceremonies to cool blue beaches, it ensures to turn every couple’s dream of saying ‘I do’ into one grand affair. One can find incredible wedding venues from beaches, to getting married amidst the dessert or the opulence of the finest hotels. The couples can choose an array of themes, activities to have on their big day which inevitably becomes a coveted location for once in a lifetime destination wedding,” says Bhavnesh Sawhney, Director, Wedniksha.
“The beauty of UAE is that, with the ongoing progress and development for Expo 2020. The infrastructure, luxury hotels and venues are increasing at great speed.” Aarti Manocha Founder, Milestones to Memories
“The Middle East has a variety of venues expanding to encompass everything from sandy beaches to majestic ballrooms, desert ceremonies to cool blue beaches, it ensures to turn every couple’s dream of saying ‘I do’ into one grand affair.” Bhavnesh Sawhney Director, Wedniksha.
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Alisha Shirodkar, Director – Marketing, Tamarind Global, shares, “the Middle East has multiple factors that work in its favour and that have made it such a trending wedding hotspot. The proximity from India, great connectivity, fabulous hotel infrastructure with some of the top brands present and multiple options to choose from, great weather in the wedding season, lovely outdoor venues, and an inherent comfort with respect to culture and food, great local support with respect to all wedding requirements, vendors, logistics and lots more.”
“The hotels are also very geared towards Indian weddings with their venues and ability to deliver the desired contractual constructs.” Alisha Shirodkar Director – Marketing, Tamarind Global
Jueta Hemdev, Director, YOLO Entertainment & Weddings, said, “the Middle East is a wedding planner’s paradise to plan dream weddings. From celebrations on cruises, outdoor venues amidst the vast expanses of the desert, beautiful hotel properties, to offering the finest quality for every service; the Middle East helps curate the most magical and memorable affairs!” Key Insights to Why Indian Couples Favour Destinations in the Middle East? “Luxury is redefined in a place like, Abu Dhabi. When we speak about Abu Dhabi, a lot of Gold, Glitter, Rolex, Rolls Royce come to our mind. The food is a mix and match of the destination and remind us of Indian flavours. These are all characteristics couples are looking for in their Weddings!” says Jain. “There are options of great hotel / resort at great prices. It works as a great value for money as compared to destinations even within India, for e.g. Doing a wedding in Udaipur at the five-star hotels worked more expensive than doing a wedding in UAE. The guest travelling for the wedding get a good opportunity to extend their stays for a short vacation or a shopping spree. No language barrier, sourcing of Indian food, or Indian theme decor is easily accessible and we don’t have to take things from India or ship them. Associate partners such as decor companies, technical partners have the best of stuff - latest and trend setting, that is not even available in India yet. And proximity to the destination is ‘the most important’ factor and one of the key points for couples and families,” shares Manocha, who has a variety of experience planning wedding across Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Bahrain amongst many other Middle Eastern destinations.
“From celebrations on cruises, outdoor venues amidst the vast expanses of the desert, beautiful hotel properties, to offering the finest quality for every service; the Middle East helps curate the most magical and memorable affairs!” Jueta Hemdev
Sawhney, elaborates further, “Besides the proximity, planning a destination wedding in the Middle East comes as the first option today due to the quality of services and many facilities in terms of venues, themes, activities it can offer. Known for its architectural wonders and super luxurious lifestyle, it has something for every couple. In the recent past, Wedniksha, an initiative by Wizcraft has conceptualized one of the biggest weddings at the Dubai Palazzo Versace Hotel. The sangeet ceremony of the wedding was celebrated at Al-Maha, the dessert resort and spa which offers scenic view of the sand dunes in the background giving a surreal experience of getting married in the middle of the dessert. Wedniksha made it an even more glamorous affairs by bringing the singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform at this event.” Shirodkar, expressed, “The destinations and hotels have a royal arrival experience and top-class service and hospitality. The hotels are also very geared towards Indian weddings with their venues and ability to deliver the desired contractual constructs. In addition, for large Indian weddings it is one of the few places that has the inventory to accommodate large guest lists and provide buyouts which are preferred for flexibility.”
Director, YOLO Entertainment & Weddings
Hemdev, added, “it’s a wholesome destination with practically everything a family may think of while curating their BIG DAY. Food on point, with availability of every cuisine, and some of the best Indian restaurants. Weather during the end of the year is favourable, making every celebration an exclusive one. Different, never seen before venues, Beach Clubs, Yachts, Dessert venues, amphitheatres, Beachfront parties, ensure an exclusive
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A wedding celebration at Waldorf Astoria, RAK by Tamarind Global
“As Dubai continues to grow as a destination for international weddings, Dubai Tourism is supporting local industry stakeholders by bringing international wedding planners to Dubai and by promoting the many options the city can offer to couples from around the world.” Steen Jakobsen experience for the guests each time they visit this diverse destination. Its hospitable people as well as Urdu / Hindi being a common language just makes this destination more approachable. The process of acquiring visas is very simple, making it hassle free for guests while they are planning a destination wedding. When all factors and services offered in a destination are A+, and its logistically accessible, there are only innumerable reasons to come back to this mystical land of adventure and surprises on every visit.”
Assistant Vice President, Dubai Business Events
How Tourism Boards are Extending Support to the Indian Wedding Industry Speaking to the Tourism Boards in the Middle East, we asked how their destination ensuring to stay ahead of neighbouring destinations in building relations and value for the Indian Wedding Planners. And this is what they had to say… Steen Jakobsen, Assistant Vice President, Dubai Business Events and City Operations, “Since the beginning of 2019, Dubai hosted the 2nd edition of the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence Forum and Retreat as well as the Destination Wedding Planners Congress which collectively brought hundreds of international wedding planners and influencers to Dubai to experience the very best of what the emirate can offer. As Dubai continue to grow as a destination for international weddings, Dubai Tourism is supporting local industry stakeholders by bringing international wedding planners to Dubai and by promoting the many options the city can offer to couples from around the world.” Dr. Ali Hasan Follad, Advisor, Bahrain Island Wedding, part of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), says, “Bahrain is a friendly and open-minded island that welcomes all cultures and India is no exception. For hundreds of years, Bahrain holds a very close relationship with India. From the religious to the colourful culture, all this can be seen when walking through the streets of the capital where the oldest temple in the region and colourful Indian stores reside in the Manama Souk. From the moment an enquiry comes through, we aim to create lasting partnerships with the wedding planners and families. The Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) have a strong system in place that takes care of all the family’s needs to ensure an easy and joyful time. We stand next to the family and the wedding planner from the beginning till the end. All aspects are taken care of by BTEA such as visas, Customs, Gulf Air, Vendors, and many else. We live up to our motto, ‘Ours Yours Bahrain’.”
“From the moment an enquiry comes through, we aim to create lasting partnerships with the wedding planners and families. The Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) have a strong system in place that takes care of all the family’s needs to ensure an easy and joyful time.” Dr. Ali Hasan Follad Advisor, Bahrain Island Wedding, Part of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA)
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I N D U S T R Y WATC H | COVER STORY Beautiful wedding celebration decor at Waldorf Astoria, RAK by Tamarind Global
Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said, “Currently Ras Al Khaimah has seen the majority of wedding tourism in the emirate coming from India, as the UAE represents the second most popular country for destination weddings for Indians. Some of Ras Al Khaimah’s iconic properties like the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah and the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Al Wadi Desert, have been home to some high-profile Indian weddings in the emirate and Ras Al Khaimah is being positioned as a discerning wedding destination in India. Ras Al Khaimah boasts a diverse array of natural landscapes that appeal to visitors of every kind and destination weddings from India are seeking an exotic destination with fantastic hotels at value for money. These factors make Ras Al Khaimah most sought after for boutique weddings. Outdoor venues, like beach and golf course are in demand, and Ras Al Khaimah hotels make perfect venues.” “Ras Al Khaimah boasts a diverse array of natural landscapes that appeal to visitors of every kind and destination weddings from India are seeking an exotic destination with fantastic hotels at value for money.” Haitham Mattar CEO Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
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Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, “Abu Dhabi is emerging as a spectacular wedding destination. In 2018 alone, Abu Dhabi hosted around 25 Indian weddings. The Emirate has so much to offer from venues like Palatial Emirates Palace to Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi to St. Regis and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. These venues cater to the needs of all the Indian wedding ceremonies. We have upcoming properties like Fairmont Marina and Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island which will start hosting wedding soon. Standalone places like Manarat Al Saadiyat, Du Arena, Yas Marina have been transformed into beautiful wedding venues. With India and Abu Dhabi being culturally rich and popularity of Indians in the region, hotels in Abu Dhabi are well-versed with Indian traditions and customise their services as per the needs of the individuals. Even at the airport, we have facilities like a private entry for the bride, groom and their families, special welcome at the airport etc.
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“With India and Abu Dhabi being culturally rich and popularity of Indians in the region, hotels in Abu Dhabi are well-versed with Indian traditions and customise their services as per the needs of the individuals.” Bejan Dinshaw Country Manager, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
A wedding at Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah, by Tamarind Global
Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, “Oman is a land of beautiful beaches, picturesque mountains and golden desert sands. A country with breath-taking landscape, excellent air connectivity, short flying time, availability of Indian food and flexibility in adapting to the needs of the Indian weddings has made Oman a perfect setup for destination weddings. Additionally, the change in visa reforms and the introduction of the new short-term tourist visa has made planning a wedding in the Sultanate easier. We work very closely with some of the best Wedding Planners in the business; who in turn have contributed to putting Oman on the map for destination weddings and pre-wedding photo shoots. We ensure our partners are familiar not just with the destination, but with on-ground associates as well like hotels, local event management companies, florists, decorators, stylists and more. We understand the requirements and always ensure premium quality suppliers are presented to clients. From familiarisation trips to co-hosted workshops for wedding planners; recces for family members to inventory checks, we leave no stone unturned in working together to establish Oman as one of the best locales to say ‘I do’.
“A country with breath-taking landscape, excellent air connectivity, short flying time, availability of Indian food and flexibility in adapting to the needs of the Indian weddings has made Oman a perfect setup for destination weddings.” Lubaina Sheerazi India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman
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Anamika Khanna Designs & Eventzinspired Execute A 50th Anniversary Celebration at Taj Bengal Kolkata The fashion designer conceptualized the dÊcor and design for a social event. Taj Bengal Kolkata was beautifully decked up for a 50th Anniversary celebration. The design was first time professionally planned, produced and executed by Eventzinspired. Anamika Khanna, the inspirational fashion designer conceptualized and designed the theme, Tree of Life. The venue was decked in fresh greens for this occasion.
"Working on aesthetics of Anamika Khanna's design, vision, and planning of production of the same, with the woman who achieved the most stylish designer of the year award for 2019 is not only an honour but also our biggest inhouse production benchmark till date. Tree of Life was the concept and all decor was planned around it. We also were proud to execute the production of floral art with her this year in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) for her show and opening of the new mint, the restored heritage site in Kolkata. Her design are minimalistic, classy with aura of freshness and nature. Meant for an audience that appreciates the richness in depth and not on the face." PRERAANA KHULLER Founder, Eventzpired
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7X-Weddings by DevRaj Conceptualises and Plans A Fairy-tale Wedding in Udaipur The wedding celebrations were hosted at the Ananta Resorts.
7X
-WEDDINGS by DevRaj, recently conceptualised and managed a big fat Indian wedding at the Ananta resorts in Udaipur. This “Kinni 'So Ni'” wedding was a stupendous affair for the kind of decor and hospitality it presented. The uniqueness of the decor can be seen in the pictures. A wedding with beautiful pastels all around and colour themes were perfect to leave the guests spellbound. The wedding services crafted an awesome, luxurious experience which would be remembered forever by the couple, Nidhi and Sopan. Weddings usually are not an easy job but when the bride or groom are clear with ideas or what they want, it's always a more difficult thing to give reality to their vision. As beautiful as their love story the wedding was a work of class and love that came together. The concept of baraat for both the bride and the groom was a super hit and the guests just couldn't believe it could be real.
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"The wedding of Nidhi and Sopan at Ananta resort, Udaipur is a marvellous output of hard work and planning. Today most weddings look amazing, but the one you quickly notice, definitely has something different. It stands out, and to make an outstanding wedding, takes in a lot of effort. Ananta is a beautiful property and we tried to inculcate as much of difference in each ceremony right from pastels to florals to lights and everything else. The layout of food, to a nontraditional mehendi to an amazing Sangeet night, this wedding will surely sweep your heart away and you would want one for yourself!" RAJAT SOGANI AND DEVANG SHAH Co-founders, 7X Weddings by DevRaj
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Purple Tree Event Solutions Creates A Gorgeous Balinese-Indian Ambience for this Wedding at the Ritz Carlton, Bali The wedding celebrations were a beautiful fusion of lush green décor and events designed and planned effortlessly by the wedding planning team.
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HE IDEA OF THE entire wedding was to get guests to experience something new yet familiar. And Purple Tree Event Solutions by Nafisa Sheikh Afonso spent a lot of time with the family trying to find a fine balance between the familiarity of South Indian Elements and the Uniqueness of Balinese Culture. The planner spent days researching the connect between Bali, Indonesia, and India and finally able to come up with an experience that was truly unique. From sourcing, room hamper packaging and gifts from the villages that produced these items rather than picking up stuff off the shelves.
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The décor and the hospitality extended towards guests was also a fine blend of Balinese Culture and (South) Indian Sensibilities. The floral work was a merger between the Indian and Bali craftsmanship. Brimming with traditions both local and Indian, the couple arrived at a Lavish mandap. The entire venue was encircled with fabric clad auspicious Penjors (Bali’s decorative Bamboo Poles). It was a venue fit for a royal wedding. The food was a showcase of what Indonesia and India have to offer along with a healthy dose of global cuisine.
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"Working in Bali was an absolute delight. Our breakthrough came when, after quite a bit of research, we found the commonality between Indian and Balinese history and culture (We were looking at Various Destinations across South East Asia then). The Hospitality, Quality of Food and breathtaking views of the sea were top on my list of priorities for selection of the destination. After visiting a lot of venues, we finally zeroed in on the Ritz Carlton- Nusa Dua. It took us just one meeting and a look around to know that this is where the wedding would take place." NAFISA SHEIKH AFONSO Founder, Purple Tree Events Solutions
WEDDING PARTNERS Wedding Planning Purple Tree Event Solutions Local Partner Innaz Communique Venue Partner The Ritz Carlton, Nusa Dua, Bali Indonesia Décor Concept and Execution Flora Lines and Krishna Parijata F&B The Ritz Carlton, Bali, Queens Catering and MNM Food Couture Photo and Video House on the Clouds, Terralogical Entertainment Hari Sukhmani, Staccato, and Local Artiste Invitations Atelier5
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Percept ICE paint HiTex Black and Gold for Sudha Reddy's Birthday Extravaganza The birthday celebration was hosted at the Hitex Exhibition Center, Hyderabad.
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ERCEPT ICE, the Events and Special Projects Domain Company of Percept Limited, conceptualized and managed and produced the high profile Birthday Celebrations of Sudha Reddy at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad on November 24, 2018. The spectacular luxury extravaganza saw an attendance of over 700 socialites, royalty, luminaries, influencers and industrialists from all over India. Percept ICE conceptualized the unique Birthday Celebration of Sudha Reddy which saw the entire city of Hyderabad painted black and gold at the HiTex. The gala celebration commenced with a star studded Red Carpet, hosted by Fashion entrepreneur, celebrity and presenter, Hofit Golan. The entire venue was bedecked in opulent shades of black and gold, and the grandiose chandeliers coupled with elegant reflective bars completed the entire vintage vibe with a contemporary twist. The main event area was set up for an elegant seated dinner with the tables decked in rich fabrics like velvet and organza. Dull gold Dior 42
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chairs added the right amount of charm. The centerpieces were designed in a beautiful and abstract fashion incorporating octagonal mirror bases, tall vintage candelabras and gold vases, black and burgundy candles and a vibrant assortment of exotic flowers and fruits, all in the rich colour palette of wine, oxblood, deep burgundy and gold. Complementing this classic décor was the table setup – gold carved show plates, with white and gold rimmed dinner plates, gold plated cutlery, black napkins and menus printed on hand made paper – the attention to detail was apparent in every element. Famed pianist Kseniya Ayzel played riveting music at the pre function area which opened up into an area that showcased stunning performances by the Gatsby dancers, from where guests were led to the main event area. The celebrations saw three illustrious international fashion designers - Elie Madi spanning Lebanon to Los Angeles, USA; Joao Rolo from Lisbon, Portugal; and Amato Couture – Furne One from Dubai, UAE present their
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"I couldn't have asked for a better birthday celebration. The elegant setup and fashion shows left me awestruck. There was a lot of intricate detailing and planning that went into making this an extravagant affair. I would wholeheartedly like to thank all my guests for making this a memorable celebration, one I will truly cherish for a lifetime." SUDHA REDDY
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"It was a privilege for us to have received the esteemed mandate to handle the grand Birthday Celebrations of Mrs. Sudha Reddy in Hyderabad. It was a very special project for us and is definitely one for the books. We are glad to have pulled off a memorable and much talked about event in the City of Pearls. We are grateful to the faith instituted in us by our client and appreciate the creative flexibility awarded to us. I must thank the entire Percept ICE team who worked tirelessly towards making this event a successful and memorable affair." KHUSHI SINGH Head – Luxury & Weddings, Percept ICE
breathtaking couture lines at the event. The stellar stage event saw entrancing performances by a multi piece live-band from Europe - Paris Select led by Adi Golan and Philippe Jones. The evening wrapped as a customized five tier cake made for a special and nostalgic moment as it was theatrically rolled in with a champagne parade. The event saw a high profile celebrity attendance including Tollywood superstars Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh and Nagarjuna, eminent Fashion Designers and luminaries Neeta Lulla, Reshma Punj, Kazim Ali Navaid Khan, Zeba Kholi, Rajesh Kholi, Jimmy Mistry, Falguni Peacock, Shane Peacock, Krisha and Gautam Ghanasingh, Juhi Godambe, Kailash Surendranath, Maheka Mirpuri, Ramola Bachchan, Krishna Kumariji, Samir Soni, Neelam Kothati, Sheetal Mafatlal, Dalip Tahil and Raghuvendra Rathore. Guests were treated to a multi-course sit down dinner, exclusively curated by India’s culinary chef Ritu Dalmia. Famed for her Mediterranean cuisine and penchant for Italian flavours, Ritu personally handled the fare and guests queries on the delectable fare served. Percept ICE’s scope of work included planning, conceptualizing and producing the entire event, venue selection, show design, set décor & production, entertainment, artist management, choreography, handling the HNI guest list, Food & Bar management, event photography & cinematography, show flow, backstage co-ordination, technical, on ground security, and a seamless show run of the final ground event. Percept ICE commissioned the artistic and versatile Aarti Gupta Surendranath on board to co-curate this high-profile Celebration. A P R I L – J U N E 2 01 9 | E x C e l
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Four Seasons Bahrain Bay Decked Beautifully for a Spectacular Wedding by Milestones to Memories
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ET AMIDST the scenic city of Bahrain, this wedding planned by Milestones to Memories was a combination of extensive planning and ideation.
The varmala was held in the beautiful lawns of the Four Seasons, wherein the bride’s entry was the highlight, as she came on a boat - the groom received her at the jetty until the Varmala stage.
It took five rigorous months for Aarti Manocha’s wedding planning team to come up with the concept, theme and highlights of the wedding. Along with this, there were multiple recces to the destination with the couple’s families that helped them come to a conclusion. The schedule was designed accordingly to make it a great combination of hospitality, relaxation, fun moments for all at all points. All functions were held at different locations with different themes, cuisines, artists and each one was very unique.
The wedding ceremony was conducted on the newly built beach of the hotel. The mandap was unique and contemporary to match the ambience.
An Enchanting Arrival Day 1 – December 15th 2018 As the guests arrived into Bahrain they were drove to the magnificent and architectural statement - Four Seasons Bahrain Bay Hotel. On check in they all celebrated the Haldi function. Followed by the Royal Baraat that lasted for 3 hours - the beautiful weather enhanced the energies of the guest who couldn’t stop dancing to the dhols and to DJ Aman Nagpal’s special Baraat music. 46
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The entire atmosphere was serene and had an emotional high for all, with Vidhi Sharma’s live singing and chants. The occasion was blessed by the presence of H.E. Shaikh Khalid Bin Humood Al Khalifa. As the couple were declared husband and wife, the fireworks began and looked spectacular as all the guests and the couple rejoiced watching it. At dinner, there was a performance by the super talented Amit Gupta, leaving all guests delighted. All guests put on their dancing shoes to rock the after party, which took place on the terrace of 51st floor of Four Season. One could not ask for a better venue to get a 360-degree view of the island. DJ Aman played the best of 70’s and 80’s to set in the retro feel, of course followed by the popular and must have part tracks.
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"Working on this project in Bahrain was truly special and I personally loved it. We have known this family very well and this is the second project that we did with them within two years. That made things easy for us to understand their likes and dislikes and what not to repeat from the previous wedding done in the family. They were totally involved with us, except the bride and groom and it was fun to brainstorm ideas and create this amazing experience, for the bride and groom and all guest. Some of the experiences created in this wedding were truly out of the box and fortunately extremely well received by the guests - La Famillia being one of them, and my favourite event amongst all others. The tourism board of Bahrain is extremely supportive and involved. The Four Seasons in Bahrain is one of the best hotel’s to work with and a fabulous product. We hope we are able to take many other weddings to this awesome destination." AARTI MANOCHA Founder, Milestones to Memories A P R I L – J U N E 2 01 9 | E x C e l
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The Manama Souk & Lucid Metal Themed Sangeet Day 2 – December 16th 2018 The Manama souk is the most authentic souk on the island with craftsmen who yet make the most traditional artefacts. The MtoM team wanted the guests to not miss this experience, which made them to create a souk in the hotel itself. The craftsmen displayed and even created their goods on the spot. The famous pearls, local spices and oud were a part of this souk. The decor was so authentic as per its theme, that the guests just could not believe that they were in the ballroom of Four Seasons and not in a true souk. The photo op that had the traditional costume was a fun thing for all and none missed the opportunity to take pictures for their social media. The belly dancers added to the flavour of the theme and ensured the guests were taught some moves like them. The sangeet evening was at an outdoor location by the sea with the view of the skylines of Bahrain and the weather being perfect for an outdoor party. The decor theme was Lucid Metal, with beautiful metal installations in shades of glossy grey and silver with bright yellow flowers. The decor looked the most stunning. Sachin Jigar along with Divya Kumar ensured that all guests were on the dance floor.
"A team of 77 FoodInc by Yum Yum Tree chefs took full control of the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay kitchens to ensure tantalizing treats constantly surrounded the guests during breakfast, lunch, high-tea, dinner, and late-night. With a flying buffet service, the Bahrain Bay Area was transformed into a dazzling carnival at night to celebrate an amazing Sangeet for the lovely couple." VARUN TULI Managing Director, FoodInc by Yum Yum Tree
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"Bahrain is a new and a beautiful destination and we wanted the guests invited for the wedding to get excited to visit this neo dessert seascape and enjoy the wedding. We stumbled upon the idea of working with virtual reality and create a new experience altogether for the guests in the form of the wedding invitation and make them experience the place before they actually land." PUNEET GUPTA Director, Puneet Gupta Invitations
La Familia Day 3 – December 17th 2018 To ensure the last day had to have the high moments, MtoM took all the guests to Bahrain International Circuit wherein everyone was divided in six teams to enjoy the day with different activities and games that were organised for them. The theme was named La Familia. The atmosphere was fun, competitive, one could sense the adrenaline rush, as the teams competed against each other in the games zones that were created and the ultimate highlight being the go karting race. The cheering, the fun, the enthusiasm created moments that all guests could take back as memories. This was a unique day out experience and the guests did not fail to mention the same, as they were heading back to Four Seasons by evening. The reception, this evening was a formal affair with the decor itself being classy and chic. All men were in black tuxedos and women in blue gowns. The couple popped the champagne, followed by heart-warming speeches from the immediate family.
WEDDING PARTNERS Overall Planning and Management Milestones to Memories Pvt Ltd (MtoM) Invitation cards Puneet Gupta Catering FoodInc by Varun Tuli Decor YQ Arts Bahrain Technical Showtech Bahrain EMCEE Gunjan Utreja
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Exchanging Vows on the Island of the Gods A Wedding Planned by Event Tadka Bali is known famously as the Island of the Gods and brings to mind visions of a tropical paradise, a positive spirit, and a picturesque landscape of coasts perfect for an extraordinary wedding.
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ANY WEDDING PLANNERS would think twice before suggesting a celebration at this paradise on earth because of its long travel routes, constraints on containing guests within the resort and due to the overall challenges of planning an event at an island in the Indonesian archipelago. But this did not deter the creative minds of leading wedding planning agency, Event Tadka. Not only did they bring the coastal vibe to the mehendi but also the zen of the utopian land to the beach wedding hosted at the Ritz Carlton, Bali.
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Travel plans were executed to perfection with a smooth and thoughtful process of guest welcome. Traditional Balinese dance performances and fire acts followed by a rendition by Bhumik Shah left guests delighted at the Welcome dinner and the curtains closed on the first day with words of praise for the planners. The next morning saw a beautiful Mehendi carnival with soothing pastel toned décor and fun-filled entertainment acts by international artists.
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"Bali being an island rich in culture we thought blending the indian and the balinese cultures to create a seamless experience would be the perfect approach. And that’s exactly what we did!" ROHAN SHAH, PRATIK SUCHAK, JAY SHAH AND RUTUDHWAJSINH JADEJA Co-founders, Event Tadka
The night sizzled with power packed performances by Sachin Jigar and Divya Kumar and the momentum was paced by anchor Jitesh Chawla against a backdrop of chic and stylish décor in red and high gloss black! The afternoon of the third day brought guests to experience the sound of the island’s waves while the couple in love exchanged vows and were tied in marital bliss on the beach. The final magic trick by the planners left guests spell bound as they entered a memorable dining experience under a canopy of twinkling fairy lights to the tunes of Yashita Sharma. As guests experienced the joy and luxury of the island vibe, the planners smiled as they added a feather in their cap at the end of the celebration on that starry night.
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North Goa’s La Cabana Becomes A Spectacular Beach Wedding Venue For A Wedding By A More Entertainment The team had planned the event such, that the families could enjoy every moment spent during the ceremonies while creating beautiful memories that last for a lifetime. The spectacular beach wedding event was ideated and executed by A More Entertainment. The wedding couple Sarita and Pablo chose La Cabana, North Goa for their destination wedding ceremony. The bride, an Indian NRI, and the groom, a Spanish resident had invited their friends and family to attend their tailor-made 2-day extravaganza wedding in Goa.
DAY ONE, 1 MARCH 2019, started with guest arrival at the airport, their transfers were managed seamlessly without any hassle, by the logistics team. They had guests flew from across the globe – Italy, Spain, Germany, the USA, Singapore, Kenya, Uganda, the UK, and Hong Kong. Each guest’s luggage was labelled with a customised wedding luggage tag to ease the luggage transfers at the hotel.
A More Entertainment team had planned the event such, that the families could enjoy every moment spent during each ceremony while creating beautiful memories that last for a lifetime.
A very unique and stylish itinerary ‘Passport’ was given to every guest, which had the 2 days schedule along with a special message from the bride and groom’s parents. A welcome hamper was placed inside each guest’s room.
An exceptional wedding logo was designed for the gorgeous couple.
The wedding celebration started with Mehendi at the lawns with close family and friends at attendance. The colour theme was
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pastel – Purple, Mint green and yellow. The décor elements were beautifully matched for the occasion that included ‘Takhat’ seating for the guests and Cabana was the Mehendi station. In addition to that, we had bangle bar and laakh chuddi wala, guests could take any bangle of their choice from these sections. The cocktail bar was open for all, during every occasion. Next on the schedule for the day was Sangeet. A dedicated team was appointed for the guests to help them with hairstyling, makeup and sari draping for 2 ceremonies namely Sangeet and Baraat/ Pheras. Black and gold was the décor colour theme. It had a complimenting set up of a fanciful mirchi light tunnel at the entrance and the LED stage was created for the friends and family performances. Groom along with his friends had an exceptional performance on Bollywood and some Spanish songs. Special effects were used during the astonishing performances on stage. The event went a notch higher when the after party started at the restaurant by the beach, where the groom’s friends along with the groom sang a few songs, while his friends played the guitar. The restaurant beamed with magnificent lights and the guests swayed to the music played throughout the evening before the DJ took it over to make the guests dance till wee hours.
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DAY TWO, 2 MARCH 2019,, started with the Haldi ceremony and the colour theme was yellow with hot pink. A customised cabana with floral décor was made especially for this occasion. A volleyball setup along with Bali beach flags were placed at the beach for the guests to engage themselves in the game and each one of them was given a fancy pair of vibrant sunglasses. In the evening, for the Baraat ceremony, the groom made a royal entry with his groomsmen and the family on a Ghodi followed by dholwalas. Each guest adorned a ‘Safa’ - Peach & green floral print. The baraatis were welcomed with lovely ‘Brooches’.
"Sarita and Pablo's wedding was a special one. Both being foreigners, we had to plan and put a lot of emphasis on detailing to create an amazing experience for the guests as well as for the beautiful couple. It was exciting to conceptualize and execute something this grand and special." SUMIT PARASRAMPURIYA Founder, A More Entertainment
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The bride walked down the aisle of the unconventional venue by the beach, under a ‘Floral Chadar’ which was ushered by her brothers on the song – Din Shagana Da. The couple exchanged the rings followed by the Varmala ceremony in front of a customised floral backdrop that stated – ‘We decided on together’. It was now time for the Pheras! Blue and gold was the decor colour theme. The Vidhi mandap was specially curated for the occasion at the beach, keeping in mind the couple’s preferences. Spanish fans were given to all the guests and the Phera ceremony was accentuated by a religious hymn and flower petal showers before they entered the wedding bliss! These special moments were captured by Rebecca.
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Doha's Ritz Carlton Sharq Village Becomes a Glamorous Beach Venue for a Wedding by Tamarind Global
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AMARIND GLOBAL planned and managed a beach wedding in the trending new destination – Doha at the Ritz Carlton Sharq Village for 450-500 guests from February 20th to 22nd 2019. It was a unique wedding as the couple chose a unique theme for each event.
The first day started with a lavish welcome Lunch at Al Wasl Ballroom where the dress code was Ikkat, a unique dying technique, followed by a welcome dinner at the Fountain Courtyard where Jonita Gandhi weaved the night together with a magical performance on a dice right above the pond. The decor made for a perfect ambience with rustic and earthy elements and candles lit all over. The night went on till early hours of the beautiful morning with a rocking after party at STK house. The dress code was Ivory Formals! The second day was a surprising, fun-filled beach party! White themed, matching the white sand of the beach with dramatic drapes, comfortable seating done up in white florals set the mood just right for a lazy, casual day by the beach. Different activities
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and entertainers like a football freestyler and calligrapher were arranged for the guests. To give the whole theme the right contrast the couple chose Vibrant Desi as their theme that rightly complimented the day! Sangeet evening brought with it an essence of the vintage glam! An entrance that made it look like a walk under a starry sky, décor with mood lighting, light canopies, and elegant flowers; it looked straight out of a dream. To supplement the slightly mysterious ambience and add an element of spark, a special performance by fire acrobats was arranged for the guests. The dress code added the drama to the evening with Pathanis for men and Shararas for women. The last day was a colourful affair with a Souq market by the poolside followed by lunch. The baraat assembled outside Al Mukhtasar and proceeded for Varmala at Marina, The Ritz Carlton. The décor theme was a royal red theme. The venue was decorated with red florals, dramatic drapes, and rustic elements. Aptly the wardrobe theme for the evening wedding was Royal Indian attire.
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WEDDING PARTNERS Overall Turnkey Wedding Planning & Management
"Doha made for a beautiful destination with a lovely arrival experience and great infrastructure. The Ritz Carlton Sharq village is quite close to the airport and hosts some fabulous outdoor venues, a beautiful ballroom, and the fabulous Iris beach club. The property has a combination of the intimate resort vibe with grandeur and luxury in every bit of its aesthetic. This was the first wedding to ever take place here and it went off like a dream." ALISHA SHIRODKAR Director - Marketing, Tamarind Global
TAMARIND GLOBAL WEDDINGS Tamarind Scope of Work HOSPITALITY, LOGISTICS, ARTIST, DESIGN OF DÉCOR, PRODUCTION Artists & Entertainment JONITA GANDHI, FOOTBALL FREESTYLER & CALLIGRAPHER AND FIRE ACROBATS. Food FOODLINK Photographer THE PHOTO DIARY A P R I L – J U N E 2 01 9 | E x C e l
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Vivaah Weddings Decks Up Fairmont Ajman in UAE for This Gorgeous Indian Wedding
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EERA MEHTA and Keval Dhanani’s wedding was hosted at Fairmont Ajman, UAE. After a surprise proposal in Dubai, Meera and Keval wanted no surprises on their wedding and therefore picked their vendors with extra care. As a result, their nuptials with its cool thematic events went off smoothly.
The hotel gave them an upgrade and put them up at the hotel’s penthouse, and the team spoiled Meera as a bride which made her feel very special.
Wedding Planning
They wanted to host a destination wedding because Keval and Meera have families spread across Kenya, Britain, Australia, and India. Keeping this in mind, they felt that UAE would be the ideal location.
Their nuptials were planned and managed by Vivaah Weddings because the family liked their ideas and approach. What they liked best is that Vivaah are easy to get in touch with. Arun Bablani handles operations and logistics while Rahul Kumar is the one who is in touch with the bride & groom and knows how they are feeling.
The directors of Vivaah Weddings spent 3-4 days with the family looking at numerous venues across Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai and Ajman. After visiting almost 11 hotels across UAE we ended up at Fairmont Ajman. After seeing this hotel, they felt they didn’t have to look any further. The view of the open waters from the rooms was breathtaking, they had experience in managing Indian weddings – which was an important pre-requisite for them, and they decided to say their vows on the very popular helipad.
Raja Shah of Clearvision Photography was their wedding photographer. He is based in the UK which made it easier for them to coordinate the shortlisting of the pictures, the details of the wedding album, and other details. The music was taken care of by Shiv Gopal Mehta. Resham Moorjani of Moor Designs created the wedding invites. Meera and Keval worked on it with the designers and all the artwork on the cards were created in alignment with the colors of the decor that would have been seen at the wedding.
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Welcome Lunch
"They kicked off the wedding celebrations with an informal welcome lunch which was called 'Marhaba.' The first function was interesting yet made sure that the guests could look forward to what was in store next and then be bowled over by the larger scale of the next event."
Beach Party
"The beach party took place on the same day. The party began at 5 pm and went on till midnight. The theme for this was 'Carnival,' and the dress code was florals for the ladies and linen for the men. Meera wore a plain blue dress with flower embellishment in the bottom while Keval opted for a beige suit. They had floral decor and a gorgeous photo booth. The pictures clicked there were sent to the rooms of all their guests as memories that they could take away from the wedding. They had fire dancers, lots of music, a percussionist, Walter Scalzone - who was amazing, and even a team of mixologists who go by the name The Flaming Trio. Everyone partied together and danced the night away.
Mehendi
"The 'Moroccan Mehendi' was held at the Arabic themed restaurant of the hotel. The space was so nicely done that very minimal décor was needed. The venue was decked up in floral arrangements and the vibe was fairly informal. For entertainment, there were tanoura dancers and a Turkish ice cream man who performed tricks with his desserts. They also had sheesha because that’s something Keval and Meera bond over with their friends. The function was held by the pool, so a lot of our guests swam and some even played cards."
"It took us over a year to shape up this gorgeous wedding. With a bride like Meera who was focused and hands on, all things fell in place and well in line with what she had envisioned for her big day." RAHUL KUMAR
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Sangeet
"'Mughal Mystique' was the theme of the sangeet, and the couple had their friends emcee the whole event as well as give speeches, that felt like a way of making everything more personal to them. Meera and her nine-year-old niece did solos. Other performances included Meera’s dance with her sisters, a medley to which their friends danced and a surprise performance by their cousins. Their mixologists created cocktails and mocktails that were not only created especially for their wedding but also christened after the bride’s and groom’s names and their wedding hashtag."
Reception
The theme for their reception was ‘Frosted.’ The decor there was just mind blowing, and they weren’t expecting it to be anything like the way it turned out. There was fake snow on the stage and the dancefloor, the tables looked like ice cubes, and their cake came down from the ceiling. It was beyond what they had. They had canapés and cocktails on the menu. Keval and Meera entered the venue and had their first dance which their friend Shiksha helped choreograph. On this night, they had speeches by their family and Raaga Factory, a band from Dubai, played live during dinner."
Wedding
"Keval and Meera had their pheras in the evening, and Keval chose to enter the venue on a camel instead of a horse. Their mandap featured beautiful spirals that were created using fresh flowers, and the overall appearance was ombre. They exchanged vows just as the sun was setting, and it was magical. At one point, the weather had got so windy that the water was coming onto the helipad and they were forced to consider another venue option. However, it got slightly better just in time for the ceremony because of which they could proceed with the location that they had their heart set on. Even during the pheras, the wind was fairly strong because of which they could feel the mist around them, which, they thought, felt nice. Meera walked down the aisle to a song that she had pre-recorded. Keval and Meera left quickly after a happy 'vidai' (farewell for the bride) because Meera was very sure that she did not want to cry at her wedding."
WEDDING PARTNERS Wedding Planning & Management Wedding Invites & Stationary Design Design, Decor & Lighting Photography
Vivaah Weddings Moor Designs Timeless Designs Clearvision Photography
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Jumeirah, ITC Grand Maratha, and Four Seasons Beautifully Decked-up by Krayonz Entertainment for this Multi-Venue Wedding Extravaganza Sakshi and Varun got married in a lavish ceremony at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi. The magnificent wedding was planned by Krayonz Entertainment, Entertainment was by DJ Nitesh, Invitations by Rifha Rafeeq and Photography and Videography by The Lightsmiths.
This two day wedding extravaganza began with a reveling pool party complete with entertainment, food, and dance to get everyone in a celebratory mood. From water drummers to Caribbean dancers and life size Jenga, Sakshi and Varun’s pool party was all kinds of fun!
Sakshi and Varun, with the help of Krayonz Entertainment translated this moment of happiness into a celebration to be cherished by their near and dear ones. Sakshi and Varun wanted their friends and family members to come together and enjoy these 3-5 days of wedding festivities to the fullest. The wedding festivities and functions took place in Mumbai at the ITC Grand Maratha and Four Seasons, and at the Jumeirah in Abu Dhabi.
Sangeet festivities followed the pool party. Friends and family members indulged in a night full of dance and celebration. Krayonz Entertainment made various arrangements to ensure the comfort of guests, and their hospitality was appreciated by one and all! DJs, bartenders and dreamy décor added a touch of magic to the entire function.
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Gearing up for an eventful day ahead, Sakshi and Varun engaged in pre wedding functions accompanied by their close ones!
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Saafa Bandhai ceremony was followed by Baraat procession. Groom's entry was magnificent and guests danced enthusiastically to the beats of desi dhol and a wedding band. A really fun mood was set for the wedding ceremony. The guests thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated team Krayonz’s thoughtfulness behind all the arrangements. Sakshi looked beautiful as she stepped for the varmala as flower petals were showered on her. Splendid fireworks left everyone enthralled. The beautiful Varmala ceremony and a splendid wedding bonded two lovers into a beautiful relationship together. The wedding was followed by a one of a kind Arabian Nights themed reception party, complete with beautiful décor elements, and live music. The newly married couple celebrated this new phase in their lives by grooving to the beats of love in an epic after party planned by Krayonz!
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Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah, hosts 500 guests for this Cool and Quirky Wedding by Tamarind Global
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AMARIND GLOBAL planned and executed a fairytale wedding at Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE for around 450-500 guests. To make this wedding as cool and quirky as the couple, a huge wedding hashtag was created and placed by the poolside for all the days.
were arranged all around the hotel. Towards the late evening, a mehendi function was organised with Origami flowers as the theme and a rain dance that made sure guests of all ages had a fun and frolicking first celebration. The event ended with dinner at Marjan.
The wedding celebration was hosted from December 9th to 12th, 2018. A seamless and traditional check-in experience for the guests was organised with a dhol at the entrance.
The next day started with breakfast at Qasr Al Bahar after which a Ganesh sthapna Puja was arranged for the groom side and Gauri puja for the bride side.
The first day had a welcome lunch at Lexington Grill followed by a Pre-wedding photoshoot of the couple as giant props
The evening treated guests to a grand cocktail and dinner followed by an after party at 17Squared.
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"RAK has been our playground for weddings for some time now and we were looking forward to bringing something fresh and new to the table. This time we had a couple who was game for unique, quirky and millennial ideas and we managed to pull of something quite different and surreal." KUNAL RAI Vice President – Weddings & Events, Tamarind Global
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The third day started with a pool party at the Amoeba Pool followed by lunch. The sangeet at the beach started with the family performances followed by Akhil Sachdeva, Aishwarya Bhandari and DJ Ganesh entertaining the guests. To add some more fun to this day there were small acts and activities like Dabke dancers, water drums, mega Jenga, beer pong, a flyboarding show, digital caricature, masseurs, tarot card reader, roaming polaroid photographer, trampoline, Go-Go Dancers, and mermaids. The last day celebrated the haldi, myrah and varmala; and the wedding ceremony was performed at the beach. For this beach wedding, white flowers were selected for the mandap decor which made it look like a little fairy castle from a distance. This was followed by a grand reception. PHOTOGRAPHER Pramod Kadam & Group TAMARIND SCOPE OF WORK Complete Turnkey Planning and Wedding Managament - Logistics, Décor and Production, Hospitality & Artist Management ARTISTS Akhil Sachdeva, Aishwarya Bhandari & DJ Ganesh
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6 Photo Experts Take A Look at Dubai Being A Potential Location for Wedding & Pre-wedding Shoots EVENTFAQS spoke with the best photographers to know more about the skyline of the city and locations in Dubai that serve as the perfect backdrop for photo shoots. Dubai has turned into a one stop destination for weddings all these years since the time destination weddings became a hit. ExCel spoke with the best photographers to know more about the
skyline of the city and locations in Dubai that serve as the perfect backdrop for photo shoots. And here are the excerpts from all the six photographers:
Ritin Kumar – CineLove
Iq Dhutti – The VIP Studio
"Dubai is one of the most popular cities in the UAE and is known for the luxurious lifestyle, it glitters like a star in the Middle East. Having anything and everything for your creative, adventurous pre-wedding shoot checklist – endlessly undulating dunes, golden beaches, luxurious resorts, traditional, rustic hubs and shimmering futuristic skyscrapers. Dubai presents diverse elements from different eras, cultures and countries."
“Dubai is one of the very few locations in the world that offers such a vast range of unforgettable backdrops. Be it the picturesque stretches of coastlines, the beautiful beaches, the magnificent marina filled with luxurious boats or the natural whispers of the glittering desert! Dubai is the perfect canvas for any photographer.”
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Ankita & Akash – WeddingNama
Anand Rathi – Reels & Frames
“Dubai indeed offers a variety of backdrops for photography! The cityscape itself is quite picturesque and it has few unique architectural wonders. Then there are hotels that we love to shoot at like Atlantis the Palm, Madinat Jumeriah that also offers the backdrop of Burj-Al-Arab, and not to forget the view of the Burj Khalifa. Apart from that you also have the natural landscape that is the desert and all its drama. You can plan a shoot in the city during the daytime and head to the desert for some beautiful sunset shots, go dune bashing on the way as well! The seascape is also quite stunning and you can hire a yatch and go for a ride. All in all, we would love to see more Indian weddings happen there!”
“A good picture always comes with the richness in the destination. Dubai is one such destination which has richness in its landscape, culture and colors. From a high rise set up to stretches of dune lands, Dubai has always been a cityscape photographer's favourite land. Being a wedding photography and film company, Dubai has been a great location for couple shoots as well as weddings for Reels and Frames. The contrast of natural light in the day and the beauty of lights in the night, Dubai definitely has a lot of elements that are absolutely picturesque. One of the surely loved places for its vibe, beauty and the variety in one patch of land.”
Aayushi and Kanishka – The Wedding Salad
Mark Swaroop
“Besides giving a larger than life feel to the events, Dubai offers a variety of backdrops for your celebrations, from desert retreats to dazzling ballrooms and beach side havens. As a photographer, it fires up the creative cells and also gives an opportunity to experiment and create unique work for our clients.”
“Dubai has the most varied backdrops. As a photographer I love silhouettes and only in Dubai I can put my couples in front of urban landscapes, the desert and water all in one glorious place.”
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Sagar Kumar & Ritin Kumar of CineLove Speak on Taking Wedding Photography to Another Level CineLove is the wedding photography division of Luxmi Digital Studio based in Delhi.
CineLove is the wedding photography division of Luxmi Digital Studio based in Delhi. Today we spoke with Sagar Kumar and Ritin Kumar, the leading men at CineLove about their vision for the wedding photography division and how they’ve come so far with impeccable work and creative ideas. Excerpts below. Being in the photography and videography industry since 1980, Luxmi Digital Studio has worked on several projects, how has your journey been so far? Our Humble Beginnings We have come a long way from our humble beginnings in 1980. 38 years, 1000s of weddings, and a million captured smiles later Luxmi Digital Studio today has successfully established itself as a trusted expert across India for all kinds of photographic needs by making the process of being photographed a joyful
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experience and consistently encapsulating moments into beautiful snapshots of memories. In these three decades, while we have been working with commitment, dedication and trust, the unwavering faith and confidence of our clients and the event industry has helped us grow tremendously. Whether it be a destination wedding in a distant Mediterranean Island, a political wedding in UP with a 25,000+ guest-list or a fine art corporate documentary for a prominent MNC, we have done it all. The journey has been nothing but extraordinary, enriching and enlightening for us. Nothing is greater than being a valuable part of one’s most memorable occasions and having the privilege to capture and serve those moments to be later relived for a lifetime.
P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | F E ATUR E
Being a part of Luxmi Digital Studio, how does CineLove strive to offer the most unique and promising photography and wedding filming services to the clients? Photography – Not a mere Process but an Art CineLove Productions co-founded by the brother duo – Ritin and Sagar Kumar aims at presenting a wedding as a vibrant spectacle of emotions and celebrations. Team CineLove is made up of celebrated photographers and cinematographers who come from all over the world bringing a thorough photojournalistic approach to wedding tales. For CineLove, photography is not merely a technical process, it’s a form of art. It’s a canvas which captures a person at their truest self. When emotions are laid bare and through our lenses, we capture their soul. This belief has been instrumental in us acquiring a diverse set of skills and the blossoming of trust in the hearts of our clientele. Our team of professionals, including documentary editors, fine art directors, creative animators and sound artists, many of whom have done some illustrious work across the globe, are always on a lookout for emotions that make every frame retell the unseen story behind the union. A tale is nothing but a string of moments that may be anxious, full of excitement and love, jittery or fun. From suave dance moves, to when the bride first descends the aisle with her bridesmaids, to the tears running down Grandma's cheek as she sees the bride off - we capture what a couple would miss the most.
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P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | F E ATUR E
Sagar Kumar & Ritin Kumar of CineLove
Which project did you find as the most challenging? Every single Wedding we do brings with it a unique set of experiences and challenges associated with it. Each story we capture is unique and thus requires a thorough individualistic approach in understanding the couple and their union before we proceed to document the biggest day of their lives. Weddings these days are inclined to serve as an experience for the guests involved and photographer plays a very important role in this. Be it a same day edit teaser to be played in front of a huge gathering, complex team and equipment logistics of a big fat destination wedding or unforeseen weather changes, we embrace every mild and big challenge we come across and try to overcome it with something to learn. What are the ways in which CineLove makes the best to consider not only for weddings but also for corporate events? What makes us click Our creativity and imagination has always made us stand out. Through CineLove, our wedding photography division, we have had the honour of covering 1000s of weddings worldwide across different cultures and traditions. This extensive creative experience is one of our key USPs when it comes to reliability.
With a dedicated corporate photography and filming team, Luxmi also boasts of a prominent client list in the corporate world. We understand that a business requires not only high quality, but high quality delivered at swift speeds. With state-of-the-art equipment and advanced postproduction units, we ensure that all corporate assignments are taken to completion in the least possible time and are as unique as a business’s identity. We have always ensured that our clients can keep their fondest memories in loving photographs and will continue to be at their service, forever.
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JOBS Party Cruisers Limited
Production Head Event & Wedding Manager – BD General Manager – BD EA/Admin Assistant/Generalist HR Event & Wedding Manager – BD
Craftsman Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Sr. Designer – Creative Assistant Manager/Manager – Operations Sr. Manager/HOD – Operations Assistant Manager/Manager – Client Servicing Assistant Manager/Manager – BD
Location: Mumbai, Goa, Jammu, Hyderabad & Ranchi Mail CV to hr@partycruisersindia.com
Location: New Delhi Mail CV to Info@craftsman.co.in
Senses Creations
Eventales Designs Private Limited
Asst. Manager – Business Development Asst. Manager – Client Servicing General Manager – BDM Executive – Graphic Design, Illustration
Sr. Manager – Business Development-Events Exhibitions – Business Development Accounts Manager Intern – Events & Exhibition
Location: Bangalore Mail CV to kallal@sensescreations.com
Location: Delhi Mail CV to careers@eventales.com
A For Pineapple
Event Crafter
3D Designer – Manager Associate – Business Development Associate – Operations
Senior Manager/Manager – Production & Operations Senior Manager – Rural Marketing Head Business Development – Government Events
Location: Mumbai & Delhi Mail CV to info@aforpineapple.com
Location: Jaipur Mail CV to kriti@eventcrafter.com
F5 Advertainment
Gravity Concepts
AVP – Client Servicing 2D & 3D Graphic Designer
Assistant Manager – CS & BD Senior 3D/2D Designer/Sr. Graphic Design (2D)
Location: Mumbai Mail CV to hr@f5advertainment.net
Location: Mumbai Mail CV to ankita@gravityconcepts.co.in
SPREE
TAG Vinnatti
Business Development Manager Production Manager
Event Client Servicing Manager Business Development Manager – Events
Location: Mumbai Mail CV to careers@spreedesigns.com
Location: Mumbai Mail CV to careers@tagvinnatti.com
DO It Talent Ventures
Imprint LED Displays Pvt Ltd
Sr. Manager – Events Manager – Events
Video Technician/LED Operator
Location: Mumbai Mail CV to ambika.c@doittalent.com
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Location: Mumbai Mail CV to nikita.kale@imprintindia.com