Ankit & Ria Pune : This shaadi saw a Bohemian soiree, a rooftop mehendi and a wedding inspired by the Ganga ghats.

A picturesque venue, jaw-dropping decor ideas, and a love story that began over the Internet! This wedding had all the ingredients of a contemporary affair.

A love connection

Lovebirds, Ria and Ankit, met over LinkedIn. Ria was looking out to moving from the UK to India and was scouting and reaching out to professionals in companies, that she wanted to apply to. 

At the time, Ankit was working for Deloitte, and she reached out to him to enquire about the application process. It was a rather brief exchange- a couple of professional emails, nothing else. 

A few months later Ria moved to Mumbai. Ria and Ankit got in touch again as both were working for JP Morgan, however, at different offices in the city. Before they met, the two had a month-long conversation over Whatsapp. Ria says, “We had a strong connection from the beginning, without even meeting each other. It was odd but great! I think we both knew we had felt something for each other, from the moment we started talking.

How she said ‘YES’

The two had planned a scuba diving trip. However, due to Ria’s annoying curiosity and Ankit’s not-so-subtle hints, Ria figured out that Ankit was going to propose. She confided about the same to her sister-in-law and best friends, however, they were ‘in’ on Ankit’s secret and they informed him about the same (Facepalm). 

Now, Ankit rescheduled the proposal by two months and caught Ria off guard! “He flew me down to Goa randomly on a working weekday, made me skip work without any prior notice and then proposed to me at Grand Hyatt.” The setting was beautiful- a romantic candlelight dinner arranged by the beach. 

The Wedding Festivities

Bohemian Soiree

The function saw everything Boho and chic!

Canopy and teepee style seating arrangements in pretty pastel colours guaranteed a cosy and comfortable evening. The venue was bedecked with elements like large dream catchers, wooden tables, jute stools, industrial style vases and simpler decorative items like flowers in a jute paper bag. 

Some decor ideas which particularly caught our attention were the vintage transparent jar-like items with candles inside, the unique way of displaying flowers, and embroidered lamp shades with bird motifs.

Ria was seen wearing a sage green lehenga, paired with an unconventional powder blue blouse. Ankit was seen wearing a shirt and a pair of trousers, paired with a floral printed jacket. 

Rooftop Mehendi 

The USP of the mehendi ceremony was the scenic view and the gorgeous decor.

The geometric backdrop for the ceremony simple yet stunning- a framework decorated with floral printed drapes and origami shapes. The entrance to the mehendi was sunny, happy and bright! The signage was decorated with limes, bunches of gorgeous lavender flowers, and vintage trunks. 

Ria was seen flaunting a baby pink lehenga with bell sleeves and a gold belt to accentuate her silhouettes. She paired her outfit with a silver offbeat and modernistic choker. 

Haldi 

The haldi was an itimate affair with close friends and family. The bride was seen flaunting an understated yet elegant orange and white outfit, paired with minimal jewellery.

Wedding 

The shaadi decor was a perfect amalgam of tradition meets modernity. Aash Studio recreated the Ganga ghats in the rainwater amphitheatre of the hotel and stuck mostly to colours like red and yellow.

The mandap was rustic yet modern- with leaves, woods, red flowers, twigs, and floral print flooring. All of this was meticulously combined with modern lamps, candles and pots. 

Ankit wore a baby pink shimmery sherwani paired with a dusty gold safa and a ruby necklace. Ria was seen wearing an offbeat fuschia pink- a blend between a lehenga and a dress. She paired it with a wrap blouse and blue sneakers. 

About the Decorator

We picked Aash Studio (Aashna Singh) for our decor. She was brilliant and

implemented everything exactly as we wanted. Elegant, classy and out-of-the-box ideas! Her design aesthetic is impeccable and she has the best ideas if you’re looking for something that’s not too common. She really understood what I wanted, and went out of her to make it happen to

my highest level of satisfaction. Extremely pleased with her efforts!”

Wedding tips from the bride

You could stress as much as you want prior to the wedding. However, avoid worrying and taking too much stress during your wedding festivities. 

Work hard on the planning beforehand- spread it out and plan promptly. However, on the day of the shaadi, stay calm and composed. Look at the bigger picture and don’t overthink about every decor element or every food item. No one will notice! So, enjoy every minute, every second.

Dream Team

Photographer- WhatKnot Wedding Photography

Decorator- Aash Studio

Venue- Hilton Resort and Spa, Shillim