Paris’ romantic charm is difficult to escape regardless of your age. For those who saw the movie, Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar (MP3), the scene where high school sweethearts Rohan and Ayesha reunite after exchanging a kiss right in front of the icon of love, The Eiffel Tower, will forever be etched in their memories.
A decade after the release of the film, actor Ruslaan Mumtaz took a trip down the memory lane with his wife by taking a vacation to the same city that has always captured the imagination of lovers. He says, “I’ve been known as the MP3 actor for a decade now and I think the Eiffel Tower is a big reason as to why people still remember the movie. I wanted to do something special to celebrate 10yrs of being a part of Bollywood and thought I should do a photo shoot with my beautiful wife @niralirm below the Eiffel Tower.” He goes on to mention how special this is to him both on a personal and professional level. “It’s not every day that one gets a chance to shoot such romantic pictures in such a beautiful location.Thank you Eiffel Tower for being a part of my life as well as of many die-hard romantics the world over” he adds.
Indian star cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood’s popular actress Anushka Sharma’s latest Manyavar commercial is all set to win a million hearts! They say, “Marriage is an institution”. An institution of relationship, trust, companionship, belonging, and love. There is so much ballyhoo around the subject, that we today have forgotten the real essence behind “Marriage”. Reinterpreting the ‘saat vachans’ in a light-hearted and eventually kind of romantic, Virat and Anushka establish what marriage means to today’s youth in this Manyavar ad film.
‘Naye Rishtey- Naye Vadey’- The institution of marriage has experienced a sea of change in our country with the current generation taking it on as a partnership in the truest sense of the word. They usually go through the ceremony barely understanding the ‘saat vachans’ they are taking. The Manyavar commercial is a timely and well-executed idea that reinterprets with a fun take, the wedding vows. Through this film, they establish what marriage means to today’s youth – a commitment to trust, respect and above all, be equals.
The advertisement starring Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma as guests at a wedding are shown looking at the couple getting married as the two in a mock-solemn role play narrate vows all the while uttering a different promise to each other. Role models for the youth today, these two were the perfect fit for what Manyavar as a brand is trying to convey. Enjoy the performance on the link below, as well as the important message, which is so meaningful in the times of Tinder swiping and fleeting attention spans.
The “Fuller House” star proposed to the actress at Disneyland with a romantic montage.
The “happiest place on Earth” recently got a whole lot happier when actor John Stamos proposed to actress Caitlin McHugh! Disneyland is the perfect backdrop for proposals but JohnStamos, who is a huge Disney fan, took it to a whole new level. The hunky 54-year-old TV star proposed to his girlfriend Caitlin Mchugh on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Disneyland. Paul Briggs, Disney Animation Director helped John cut a montage of greatest love moments from Disney and he also animated a small scene at the end where Sebastian from The Little Mermaid encourages John to ‘Just ask the girl.’ Caitlin said yes, then John whisked her to 21 Royal where they shared the news and celebrated with their families.
John even posted the big news on Instagram adding, “I asked…she said yes! …And we lived happily ever after.” The photo attached to the message showed a man and a woman sharing an embrace in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland. Dream proposal, much?
We’ve seen all Bollywood actors attending weddings on the silver screen a thousand times. However, it’s a rare sight to catch them at ease, surrounded by their loved ones at the nuptials of friends and family. The real person behind the star letting loose at the sangeet of someone they’ve known all their lives or a warm hug shared with a relative at a reception.
Here are ten times we spotted these tinsel-townies at weddings featured on WeddingSutra.
1. Sonam Kapoor at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Oman
Sonam Kapoor was a boho queen, soaking in the sun in a white Anamika Khanna lehenga as she celebrated with Sasha and Samarth at their beachside mehendi. The lush environs of Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Oman, overlooking the turquoise waters and dramatic mountains served as the ideal venue of an afternoon filled with warmth and fun.
Photo courtesy: The Wedding Salad
2. Athiya Shetty and the Bachchans at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
At Anushka and Abhishek’s wedding, the power of pink was evident. Athiya looked resplendent in her dusty rose lehenga. First family of Indian film, Amitabh, Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan were also color-coordinated to match the theme. The opulent spaces of the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi epitomises luxury living and played worthy host to a glittering guest list.
Photo courtesy: Ram Bherwani Productions
3. Shraddha Kapoor at The Park Hyatt, Dubai
The urge to get into a celebratory mood and indulge in unabashed revelry is irresistible when it’s a close friend who is tying the knot. Shraddha Kapoor is a delight to see as she laughs in an off-white Sabyasachi creation at Eshanka and Harit’s wedding. The Dubai skyline comes alive in these after sunset shots of the Dubai Creek which lies beyond The Park Hyatt, Dubai. A gorgeous, glamorous evening.
Photo courtesy: Imprint Studio
4. Kamal Hassan Shruti Hassan and Akshara Hassan at Goa Marriott Resort &Spa
The vibe is relaxed and easy in Goa where you can send your worries into the wind and let the sound of the ocean soothe you. The Marriott Resort and Spa is a beautifully serene backdrop for what looks like a wild night at Saaksha and Karan’s wedding. Kamal Haasan shakes a leg while daughters Shruti and Akshara pout for the camera and have some fun with the bride.
5. Rohit Bal at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Oman
The ace designer and enfant terrible of Indian fashion – he’s known for his outré persona and his gorgeous Indian attire that pays homage to the bygone eras of Indian royalty. This is Rohit Bal having a good time at Ananya and Anish’s ‘Brunch and Cocktails’.
A bright day and the sprawling open spaces of the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Oman was all that this event needed to get its guests in the mood for love.
Photo courtesy: Colorblind Production
6. Sushmita Sen, Dia Mirza and more on Costa Cruises
Sana and Adel’s wedding was a properly star studded affair. A 4 day cruise through the Mediterranean treated guests to a montage of the shores of Barcelona, Marseilles and Cannes. A series of functions and events saw the likes of the most recognised names of Bollywood such as Sushmita Sen, Dia Mirza, Shilpa Shetty, Malaika Arora and more come together to celebrate their common friend’s big day.
7. Manish Malhotra and Sophie Choudhary, Vienna
If you thought a palace wedding was the grandest way to celebrate one’s nuptials, Sonam and Navin’s lavish celebration may just raise the bar even higher. The duo booked not one, but two historic monuments – the Palais Ferstel and the Palais Liechtenstein – in the gorgeous city of Vienna making their big day an extravagant celebration. The architecture was the star but nearly outshone by many from the Indian glitterati including Manish Malhotra and Sophie Choudhary.
8. The Kapoors at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
When you’re part of one of the biggest Bollywood families ever, it is only fitting that a bif, fat Indian wedding is held at the palatial wonder, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Look at the opulent interiors, where the Kapoor Khandaan celebrated wedding, if you can tear your eyes away from Sonam Kapoor wearing Anamika Khanna and a bevy of beauties! Arjun Kapoor looks pretty pleased to be with his cousins too at Akshay and Aashita’s wedding which turned into a grand reunion for the Kapoor family.
9. Raveena Tandon, Preity Zinta and more, Udaipur
The city of lakes is magic by day and by night. The light turns this high-profile wedding into a fairytale. Covered by the local and international press, the flashlights went off to capture a galaxy of Bollywood stars. We caught Raveena Tandon and Preity Zinta catching up with each other as they celebrated Anu and Sanjay’s union. Others spotted at the wedding were Shilpa Shetty, Manish Malhotra and Sophie Choudhary.
10. Piya Trivedi, Gaurav Kapoor and more at Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, Thailand
When Archana and Dheeraj tied the knot, their closest friends from the industry flew in to make the celebrations more special. Pia Trivedi, flanked by the couple, smiles for the camera at their beachside mehendi. Set on the beautiful Eastern Thai coastline just an hour’s drive from Pattaya, Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, Thailand complemented every mood the wedding presented through festivities that went on for three fun-filled days.
All the platinum ever mined would barely fill a 7.6 cubic meter box. That’s how precious it is. And just like real love, it is rare, pure and perfect to behold.
So is it any surprise that in matters of the heart, nothing seems as apt as this fine metal. It’s a preferred metal to set diamonds in. (One of the world’s most precious gems, the Hope Diamond, is set in platinum.) It enhances the brilliance of the stone and turns any engagement ring into an irresistible promise, impossible to refuse.
Silver sceen stars, even those in Hollywood, choose this metal when it’s time to propose. Here are some of our favorite rings that celebritieswere proposed to with when it was time to seal the deal.
1. Caitlin McHugh’s Ethereal Emerald
After a two-year relationship, Fuller House hottie, John Stamos proposed to his girlfriend, model Caitlin McHugh. The platinum engagement ring is by Neil Lane and holds an emerald cut diamond in the center, flanked by two smaller diamonds on the side.
2. Nikki Bella’s Sparkling Stunner
John Cena and Nikki Bella have been together since 2012 so it was about time the wrestling sensation pinned this one down. He dazzled fans worldwide with his choice of Tiffany &Co. ring; a 5-carat solitaire set in the center of a diamond studded platinum band. Down he went, on one knee and asked her to marry him in front of thousands of their fans.
3. Katie Cassidy’s Marquee Masterpiece
When Arrow actress Katie Cassidy announced her engagement to Matthew Rodge, they made the announcement on Instagram with a picture of the two and her fabulous marquee diamond ring set in platinum for the world to see.
4. Ashley Greene’s Engagement Sparkler
Twilight star Ashley Greene’s boyfriend Paul Khoury popped the question when the two were on a vacation in New Zealand. The ring flaunts an oval-cut center stone set in a platinum and diamond-encrusted band. Ashley announced the news on Instagram with a video captioned, “This is the most beautiful moment I could have ever hoped for. You’ve successfully made me the happiest, luckiest woman alive. I can’t wait to show you my unfaltering immeasurable love for the rest of our lives.”
5. Angela Jones’ Striking Solitaire
Angela Jones’ engagement ring is sure to make all Harry Potter fans proud! Matthew Lewis a.k.a. Neville Longbottom from the phenomenal series, proposed to her with a glamorous diamond ring on a platinum pave halo. Could he have made it any better? He could and he did. He went down on one knee in the City of Lights, right before the Eiffel Tower and of course, Angela said “Oui!”
6. Brie Larson’s Ring of Fire
While holidaying in Tokyo, Academy Award-winning actress Brie Larson’s long-term boyfriend decided to it was time to take their relationship to the next level. Alex Greenwald proposed to his multi-talented girlfriend with a platinum ring with a round cut-centerpiece that was simply gorgeous.
7. Kelsey Hardwick’s Dazzling Diamond Ring
When Tom Parker of The Wanted finally decided to propose to his girlfriend of almost a decade he chose platinum. Kelsey Hardwick, known for her roles in ‘He Who Dares: Downing Street Siege’, ‘Legacy’ and ‘Abducted’, was presented with a glittering diamond ring when her beau asked her to marry him.
8. Miranda Kerr’s Breathtaking Bauble
Victoria Secret model Miranda Kerr announced her engagement to Snapchat co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel through her Instagram with a post that read, “I said yes!!!” Her beau asked her to marry him with a classic ring that showcases a brilliant 4 carat round diamond set in a beautiful platinum mounting with a tapered baguette on each side. The simplicity of the ring is what makes this piece timeless and chic.
9. Ciara’s Colossal Classic Ring
Singer Ciara’s platinum engagement ring holds a brilliant-cut diamond reported to be 16 carats! She and her Seattle Seahawks quarterback boyfriend Russell Wilson announced their engagement through an Instagram video, which he captioned with the words: “She said yes!!! Since day one I knew you were the one. No greater feeling.”
10. Sofia Vergara’s Vintage Wonder
‘True Blood’ star, Joe Manganiello proposed to ‘Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara with a vintage-style platinum halo ring. In the center sits a large cushion cut diamond. The piece is completed with a pave shank. Her beau presented the ring to her on Christmas morning and now who needs Christmas lights when you have a large sparking stone to flash!
The venue for the reception on Thursday, 21st December, is the Taj Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi. And on Tuesday, 26th December, it’s The St Regis Mumbai at Lower Parel. Over 500 guests are expected at the high-profile reception in New Delhi, and over 250 in Mumbai. At Taj Diplomatic Enclave (earlier known as Taj Palace) all the outdoor and banquet spaces including Durban Hall are booked. In Mumbai, the venue is the Astor Ballroom on the 9th floor.
The St. Regis Mumbai (top right) is the venue for the reception in Mumbai and Taj Diplomatic Enclave is the venue for Delhi
The invites for the Mumbai and Delhi receptions featuring a pastel floral theme and silver, gold and glass inserts Designed by EDC (The Entertainment Design Company)
The hosts and their wedding planners Tina Tharwani and Saurabh Malhotra of Shaadi Squad are working with the best Celebrity/ Talent teams to assist with both events.
This is, of course, a very exciting moment for the hotel teams too. Anuraag Bhatnagar, General Manager of The St Regis Mumbai, and Gaurav Pokhariyal, General Manager of Taj Diplomatic Enclave, and their teams are gearing up to roll out the red carpet for the A-list guests who will include the who’s who of business, politics, cricket and Bollywood.
Virat and Anushka’s wedding finally became official when an announcement was made in the evening of December 11, hours after the duo tied the knot. Along with hosting a formal engagement and a fun-filled mehendi, Virat and Anushka exchanged wedding vows at the gorgeous Borgo Finocchieto villa, in Tuscany, in a traditional wedding attended by less than 50 guests. The duo wore creations by Sabyasachi for all their functions. The wedding was planned by Shaadi Squad and the venue designed by Devika Narain. Anushka’s trusted makeup artist Puneet B Saini styled her for all the functions, while celebrity photographers Joseph Radhik of Stories by Joseph Radhik, and Vishal Punjabi of The Wedding Filmer, captured the exquisite celebrations.
Now we cannot wait to see how it all turns out with the grand receptions in Mumbai and New Delhi, and who will be the wedding professionals who will bring these events to life! Watch this space to know more!
Mumbai Indians and India ‘A’ all-rounder Krunal Pandya is all set to tie the knot with long-time girlfriend Pankhuri Sharma. Krunal, who is the elder brother of India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, recently played for India ‘A’ in the tri-series in South Africa. Here are some photos from their cricket-themed pre-wedding shoot by photographer The wedding story.
After a gorgeous secret wedding in Tuscany and honeymoon in Finland, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli headed back to India to celebrate with friends and family.
The royal reception was held on 21st December at the Durbar Hall of the Taj Diplomatic Enclave (earlier known as Taj Palace). It was planned by ace Mumbai-based wedding planners ShaadiSquad who also managed their intimate wedding celebrations in Italy in collaboration with a local partner Super Tuscan Wedding Planners.
Anushka wore a red Benarasi saree inspired by the Peeli Kothi in Benaras and a heritage uncut diamond choker and jhumkas from the Sabyasachi Bridal Jewelery collection. Virat complemented his bride in a very subtle and elegant manner. He wore a black textured silk signature Bandhgala and teamed it with a white silk kurta with hand woven brocade churidaar.
A red bindi, the sindoor and the mogras in Anushka’s hair completed her traditional and royal look. Virat accessorised his outfit with mojris from Sabyasachi’s accessories line and a hand embroidered antique pashmina shawl from their ‘Kashmir Revival’ project.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the occasion and congratulated the couple on their marriage. Other guests included family members of Virat and Anushka and cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir.
The couple will host another reception for their friends from film and cricket industry on December 26 at the Astor Ballroom at The St. Regis in Lower Parel, Mumbai. Early next year, the newly weds are expected to move into their 35th floor luxury pad at ‘1973’ (Omkar 1973- a grand skyscraper developed by Omkar Realtors and Developers in Worli).
Christmas is usually a busy period at all hotels and retail establishments here, but for the staff at The St Regis Mumbai and its adjoining Palladium Hotel, the Christmas weekend was also an unusually exciting one. That’s because exactly one day after Christmas, The St Regis Mumbai will host the Reception of the Year.
After a secret wedding in Italy, and a grand reception for family and top politicians in New Delhi, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli are hosting a party for Bollywood A-listers, select business barons and the Mumbai cricket fraternity at The St Regis Mumbai on December 26th.
Guest list
This will certainly not be a mega-scale event for the hotel staff or wedding and event managers like Shaadi Squad who are used to managing events with 500 or more guests. Virushka’s reception will have less than 500 guests, but the profiles of the expected attendees and the fact that this reception will be the finale event of the #Virushka wedding celebrations make it something on a different scale altogether.
The Wedding Makers
At the 9th floor lobby of The St Regis Mumbai, one of our team members spotted wedding planners Tina Tharwani and Saurabh Malhotra of the now famous company Shaadi Squad with Team WE (Weddings & Entertainment) Hospitality and ace bodyguard Yaseen Khan. A favorite for most Bollywood and high-profile cricketers’ weddings, Yaseen Khan was earlier Shah Rukh Khan’s personal bodyguard and now runs YK Protection Services.
We got talking to one of the Shaadi Squad team members but he was tight-lipped about arrangements for the reception. All he was willing to divulge was his role at the event – to coordinate with the key teams also involved with the #Virushka reception such as photographers Aayushi Sachdeva and Kanishka Sonthalia of The Wedding Salad and Vishal Punjabi of The Wedding Filmer.
Business as usual at restaurants
We spoke to a senior manager at The St Regis Mumbai to enquire if their hotel’s indulgent restaurants– from the all-day diner Seven Kitchens, the Pan Asian restaurant By the Mekong (our favorite) and Yuuka, the Japanese restaurant will be open for business on the evening of December 26th. “Of course,” he answered, emphasizing that the entry to the reception venue will be from another entrance so it will be business as usual at the hotel while admitting that the lobby and restaurants are likely to be full of guests.
Celebrity wedding guests
With so many celebrities expected in the evening, how do the hotel plan to keep curious onlookers at bay? The manager shared details with us off the record, “All arrangements have been put in place by our crack team in coordination with Shaadi Squad. The runway leading to the reception venue will be masked with black cloth so no one will be able to see who is entering. Special arrangements have been made for over 50 media photographers to click pictures of the celebrity guests. Virat and Anushka will, of course, step down for a photo op for ten minutes.”
We wish all the Wedding Makers and the gorgeous couple all the luck for this special and grand occasion! For more updates follow us on Instagram and Snapchat.
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s grand wedding reception was held at the Astor Ballroom on the 9th floor of The St Regis Mumbai. One of the earliest guests to arrive was actor Boman Irani. Virat’s family also arrived early and posed for the shutterbugs who were waiting since 5 pm. The party got bigger and merrier post 9 pm as the who’s who of Bollywood and sporting legends arrived. Guests from B-town included the Bachchan clan, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor.
Anushka wore a golden embellished lehenga by Sabyasachi. Her stunning dupatta was clinched on the waist with a Bengal tiger belt. The look was accessorised with a necklace and earrings handcrafted with rose cut diamonds, solitaires and briolettes from the Sabyasachi fine jewelry collection.
Virat wore a classic navy blue bandhgala by Raghavendra Rathore which he teamed with white Jodhpur Breeches, a pink pocket square and brown leather shoes. The bride wore her hair in retro curls, side swept and pinned on one side.
While Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif wore creations by Manish Malhotra, star daughters Sara Ali Khan and Shweta Bachchan wore Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. Kangana Ranaut wore a stunning Sabysachi lehenga while Lara Dutta and Madhuri Dixit wore ethereal creations by Tarun Tahiliani.
Shweta Bachchan-Nanda and Amitabh Bachchan
MS Dhoni and daughter Ziva(left), Rohit Sharma and wife Ritika Sajdeh, Zaheer Khan and wife Sagarika Ghatge
Sachin Tendulkar, wife Anjali and daughter Sara
A. R. Rahman(left), Karan Johar and Sidharth Malhotra(left) and Shahrukh Khan(right)
Nita Ambani and Ranbir Kapoor
Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Kaif
Sridevi and madhuri Dixit Nene
Aishwarya and Abhishek Bacchan
Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan
Katrina Kaif and vaani kapoor
Lara Dutta, Mahesh Bhupathi, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh
Aditi Rao Hydari and Kriti Sanon
Kangana Ranaut and Rekha
Zenobia and Boman Irani and Rajkumar Hirani
The decor theme for the evening was ‘Enchanted Forest’. The magnificent food spread included the most popular dishes from all The St. Regis Mumbai restaurants- European grills, a huge Japanese Sushi bar, Awadh delicacies, and food from Thailand and Hong Kong.
This week the couple is expected to travel to South Africa where the Indian captain will prep for the upcoming series, and Anushka will spend New Year’s Eve with him. And soon after, Anushka will return to Mumbai in the month of January to begin the next schedule of Anand L Rai’s film co-starring Shah Rukh.
The Wedding Makers (#AVSquad) Bride and Groom Ensembles: Sabyasachi and Raghavendra Rathore Jewellery: Sabyasachi Fine Jewellery Makeup and Hair: Subhash Vagal (Subbu) and Gabriel Georgiou Styling: Allia Al Rufai
Event Design and Decor: Devika Narain R of Devika Narain & Company Florals: Anchal Aurora of JUNE 8 EVENTS Photography & Film: The Wedding Salad and The Wedding Filmer
Food: Himanshu Taneja (Director of Culinary) and team of The St. Regis Mumbai Wedding Planners & Event Management: Tina Tharwani and Saurabh Malhotra of Shaadi Squad Hospitality & VIP Coordination: WE (Weddings & Entertainment) Hospitality Event Security: Yaseen Khan of YK Protection
Celebrities knew they had to look ravishing at #Virushka’s Reception of the Year. So they pulled out all the stops and stepped out in designer ensembles that made them stand out. Here, we present some of our favorite looks.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore a dreamy Manish Malhotra lehenga
Sridevi in a royal blue Manish Malhotra saree
Siblings Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan outfits designed by Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla
Karan Johar made a statement in a Manish Malhotra outfit
Siddharth Malhotra looked dapper in a blue jacket by Manish Malhotra
Katrina Kaif dazzled in a lavender Manish Malhotra outfit
Kriti Sanon looked pretty in a Manish Malhotra off-shoulder saree
Kangana Ranaut chose a traditional look in a gold Sabyasachi Mukherjee saree
Vaani Kapoor wore a sheer Manish Malhotra saree with a tasseled blouse
Aditi Rao Hydari sashayed in a silk and velvet lehenga by Manish Malhotra
Madhuri Dixit looked pretty as ever in a Tarun Tahiliani saree
Shweta Bachchan wore a baby pink Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla saree
Saina Nehwal wore a cape lehenga by Neeta Lulla
Lara Dutta wore a heavy Tarun Tahiliani anarkali lehenga
Newly married Sagarika Ghatge wore a rust and olive lehenga by Anju Modi
Nita Ambani looked stunning in a back outfit with details in gold, designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee
2017 witnessed several stars say ‘I do’ to their beloved. WeddingSutra brings you a list of 35 such celebrities whose weddings ranged from grand to intimate and everything in between.
2017 was a year of weddings, revelries and more. As we prepare to welcome the next year we’re looking back on the celebrities who tied a knot in 2017. From intimate secret weddings to flashy grand affairs, we bring to you the top nuptials this year.
1. Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli
One of the most anticipated weddings of the year, finally took place in the month of December right before #Virushka bid adieu to 2017. The duo got married in an intimate and secret wedding in Tuscany, Italy, surrounded by their close family members and friends.
Photo Courtesy : Stories by Joseph Radhik
2. Zaheer Khan and Sagarika Ghatge
The Chak De girl who romances a cricketer in the movie as well, married her long-term cricketer beau in real life. While the two opted for a fuss-free registered marriage, their mehendi exuded grandeur and the reception made for a star-studded event that was visited by the who’s who of the film and sports fraternities.
3. Kate Upton and Justin Verlander
Walking down the aisle moments after saying their vows, model Kate Upton and Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander looked happier than ever. In November, this couple tied the knot in Italy at a gorgeous venue overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany.
Photo Courtesy : KT Merry
4. Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
The tennis diva tied the knot this November with her then-fiancé and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the affair was a grand slam of weddings. From the bride’s stunning Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen wedding dress to the out-of-this-world entertainment and star-studded guest list, their New Orleans nuptials were grand. As of the ceremony itself – it was truly picture perfect.
Photo Courtesy : Mel Barlow & Co. / Allan Zepeda
5. Pippa Middleton and James Mathews
With several heirs to the throne and the cream of high society in attendance, Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Pippa Middleton, married James Mathews. Earlier this year in May, the internet was taken over with photographs of the gorgeous couple at a picture-perfect English country setting announcing the big news.
6. Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet
In October, Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa married his girlfriend in a secret wedding ceremony. While the actor was not too pleased with the news of his nuptials being leaked, he did, however, confirm the news to be true. While the two have been together since 2007 and even have children together, they officially got married this year.
7. Amrita Puri and Imrun Sethi
Be it a raging party or an elegant wedding, Bangkok is a city that knows to pull off both with panache. Kai Po Che actress Amrita Puri hosted her wedding in the party capital of the east in October and the pictures looked like they were straight out of a fairytale. The actor-turned-designer married long-time boyfriend Imrun Sethi in the presence of only her closest friends and family.
8. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya
For Samantha and Naga, there was not one but two weddings that took place in Goa in October. They first wed each other as per the Hindu rituals which was followed by a church wedding the following morning. Needless to say, the duo looked stunning in both their avatars.
Photo Courtesy : Stories by Joseph Radhik
9. Aaskha Goradia and Brent Globe
One of the most popular names on the Indian silver screen, Aashka Goradia wed her American boyfriend Brent Goble earlier this month. The Gujarati bride flew to her hometown, Ahmedabad, for the ceremonies. The wedding was attended by closest family, friends and Aashka’s industry colleagues.
Photo Courtesy : Knotting Bells
10. Lionel Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo
Form childhood sweethearts to man and wife – Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo hosted civil ceremony was held at a luxury hotel in their hometown, Rosario in Argentina. Everything about this wedding was exquisite right from the bride’s dress that was flown down in a private jet from Spain to their prestigious guest list for whom hundreds of police were deployed during the event. The couple looked over the moon as they tied the knot in front of their young sons Thiago and Mateo.
11. Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa
The queen of Indian comedy got married this year and the celebrations were no joke! The grand event took place in Goa with the pheras at a beach. While Bharti looked gorgeous in her pink Neta Lulla lehenga, the groom looked suave in his blue sherwani.
12. Smriti Khanna and Gautam Gupta
While the duo announced their impending wedding earlier this year, the two indulged in full-blown Punjabi celebration only last month. They kept their fans updated on Instagram and while there were several pictures that the two shared, the most endearing was the video of the couple dancing on the beats of the dhol at their mehendi.
Photo Courtesy : The Glam Wedding and Get the Look By Rajvir-Shilpa
13. Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel
Arguably one of the most powerful weddings of 2017, Victoria Secret model Miranda Kerr and Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel said their vows in July. While the home wedding saw only about 45 guests, it didn’t stop the bride from channeling her inner princess. She walked down the aisle in a white Dior gown while Evan opted for a black tuxedo.
Photo Courtesy : Patrick Demarchelier
14. Neil Nitin Mukesh and Rukmini Sahay
The actor’s wedding February wedding was nothing short of royal. Neil Nitin Mukesh and Rukmini Sahay got married in the City of Lakes where they tied the knot as per Hindu rituals. Their magnificent nuptials in Udaipur were followed by a star-studded reception in Mumbai.
Photo Courtesy : The Wedding Story
15. Naman Shaw and Nehaa Mishra
These two sweethearts from the Indian television industry got married to each other in Kolkata this November. On their wedding day, however, they made sure to share the celebration with their friend who had his wedding anniversary and another one who had her birthday on the same day. The duo surprised their pals with this sweet gesture and truly made the occasion special for everyone!
16. Vatsal Sheth and Ishita Dutta
After keeping the relationship under the wraps for a long time, Vatsal Sheth announced the news of his wedding to his fans with a post of him with Ishita sitting in the mandap. While Ishta made for a gorgeous Bengali bride in her red saree, Vatsal was debonair in a white sherwani.
17. Alesia Raut and Siddhant Suryavanshi
One of India top models, Alesia Raut, got married to her longtime boyfriend this November in a glitzy wedding in Mumbai. For the ceremony, Alesia wore a pink lehenga and teamed it with a blue choli, and Siddhaanth opted for a green sherwani and saafa.
18. Hrishita Bhatt and Anand Tiwari
Actress Hrishitaa Bhatt, known for her stellar performances in films such as Asoka and Haasil, married her long time beau, UN Diplomat Anand Tiwari in New Delhi. Since their families had been particularly careful about keeping this a private affair, they solemnized their relationship in March in the presence of family and a few close friends.
19. Mandana Karimi and Gaurav Gupta
As per Mandana’s wish, these two had a big fat Bollywood wedding earlier this year in Mumbai and as the pictures of their nuptials flooded the internet we were stunned by how beautiful she looked on her big day. For the wedding, she dressed up in a pink lehenga while for the receptions she opted for a pastel green Gaurav Gupta number. Gaurav, on the other hand, wore a white sherwani for the ceremony and in a black tuxedo for the event later.
20. Victoria Swarovski and Werner Mürz
The couple married in a magnificent wedding ceremony in Italy in June, and Victoria in her million dollar Michael Cinco gown was a sight to behold. Her wedding dress featured a six-meter train, was matched with a 26 feet long veil and was complete with 500,000 Swarovski crystals! After all, when you are a member of the family that was the world’s most prestigious crystal empire, sparkles have got to be a part of your big day.
21. Priya Bhatija and Kawaljeet Saluja
Earlier in May, TV actress Priya Bhathija tied a knot with Kawaljeet Saluja in a ceremony in Raipur. The bride looked splendid in a yellow golden lehenga choli which she teamed up with a pink dupatta. The groom, on the other hand, wore a cream sherwani and also sported a pagdi.
Photo Courtesy : Knotting Bells
22. Hunar Hale and Mayank Gandhi
Television actress Hunar was Punjabi bride this August at her ceremony in the capital. The finance of the Splitsvilla’s season 7 winner, Mayank Gandhi, she looked resplendent in a pastel green and pink lehenga. Mayank went with a white sherwani and their wedding was nothing short of a fairytale.
Photo Courtesy : Israni Photography
23. Nauheed Cyrusi and Rustom
From Badminton buddies to bride and groom, Nauheed and Rustom crossed the bridge in January of 2017. Their Parsi wedding ceremony took place in Mumbai. For the event, she wore a blush pink saree what was embellished with Swarovski crystals and enhanced further with heavy work.
Photo Courtesy : Rehan Daruwalla
24. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander
The two reportedly tied a knot in the company of only their nearest and dearest in Ibiza in October.
25. Stevie Wonder and Tomeeka Robyn Bracy
In July the musician married long-time girlfriend Tomeeka Robyn Bracy in Los Angeles in a lavish ceremony. Not only was the venue elaborately decorated with various flower arrangements and string lights, but they even released hundreds of butterflies during the ceremony. Now isn’t that something!
26. Kate Mara and Jamie Bell
After two years of dating these two actors tied a knot this year in July in Los Angeles. The two kept the affair fairly private but took to Instagram to announce the big news once they were wed.
27. Ally Hilfiger and Steve Hash
When your father is one of the most popular designers there ever was, you can rest assured that your wedding dress will be an eye-grabber, statement-maker and more! Ally Hilfiger married her partner of six years, Steve Hash in a small ceremony on the Caribbean Island of Mustique in June and was her gown exquisite! She wore a cream V-neck slip dress and swapped the traditional veil for an embroidered hooded cape to look like a boho-chic bride.
28. Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak
The Big Bang Theory star, Jim Parsons, tied a knot with his partner of 14 years at the Rainbow Room in New York City. With both of them dress in a Tom Ford tuxedos, they sure did get married in style.
29. Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski
If the idea of eloping has been your romantic dream, this couple’s wedding will be too. Both of them took off with only their officiant and exchanged their vows only in each other’s presence.
30. Aasif Mandvi and Shaifali Puri
A correspondent for The Daily Show and popular American actor Aasif Mandvi tied the knot with Shaifali Puri, CEO of the Uplift, an anti-poverty non-profit on Fox Theater’s famous stage, in front of a gathering of 220. Given that the bride is a Hindu while the groom, Muslim, their August wedding was a colorful multicultural celebration.
Photo Courtesy : Our Labor of Love
31. Aftab Shivdasani and Nin Dusanj
While actor Aftab Shivdasani registered his marriage to Nin Dusanj three years ago, they had a ceremony only this year. Their dreamy destination wedding took place in the beautiful and luxurious Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Sri Lanka. During their holiday there, the couple fell in love with the lush locales and decided to have their functions in this paradise destination.
32. Kavita Kaushik and Ronnit Biswas
Actress Kavita Kaushik wed her fiancé in an intimate wedding and when we say “intimate” we mean 15 people! The couple started their journey surrounded by spirituality at a temple in the holy land of Kedarnath.
33. Pia Sodhi and Kshitij Khemka
Nafisa Ali Sodhi’s daughter Pia tied the knot with Kshitij Khea in a beautiful celebration amidst close friends and family in Delhi. The pretty bride’s mother took to Instagram to announce the happy news of her daughter getting married to her childhood friend this month.
34. Priya Sachdev and Sanjay Kapur
The Delhi-based industrialist tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend in April. Following their New Delhi wedding was a reception in New York and the news of their wedding s only broke when Priya’s sister posted a picture of the newlyweds on social media.
35. Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich
Dancing with the Stars judge Julianne Hough waltzed into her married life this year in July with Brooks Laichby her side. The duo tied a knot in a romantic, outdoor wedding at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The venue had always been a special spot for Julianne who spent her summer there growing up and Brooks to fell in love with it the moment he saw it.
Photo Courtesy : Sarah Falugo
Stay inspired with exclusive celebrity weddings here.
Oman and Thailand may be the top destinations for India’s well-heeled, but when it comes to A-list celebrities, business barons and corporate chieftans, the top favorite is Jodhpur in Rajasthan. After all, who does not want to host a gorgeous palace wedding for loved ones gathering from across the world? And while there is growing buzz that Sonam Kapoor has chosen Umaid Bhawan as the venue for her wedding slated to be held on or around 23rd March, Jodhpur is set to host two Mumbai business families weddings next week.
Zubin weds Aashna at Umaid Bhawan Palace
Zubin Mehta, son of Blossom and Nitin Mehta, owner of Mecords India, is tying the knot with Aashna Varma at the Umaid Bhawan Palace. The celebrations will be held between Umaid Bhawan, Balsamand Lake Palace and Mehrangarh Fort. The hosts have booked over 200 rooms at three different hotels in the city: Vivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, Ajit Bhawan and Umaid Bhawan of course. The groom’s parents are very connected in the Mumbai society circle and the high-profile guests from Mumbai include Arti and Kailash Surendranath, Kaushika and Kamlesh Hemdev, Palak and Sammeer Sheth, Maheka Mirpuri, and Kamal Basu.
Kripa Mehta and Yash Mehta at ITC Jodhpur
On the same dates, another Mehta family from Mumbai is hosting a grand wedding. Actress Alia Bhatt’s bestie Kripa Mehta weds Yash Mehta, and the celebrations will be held between ITC Jodhpur, Indana Palace, and the Maharaja Gaj Singh Grounds. Orchestrated by Mumbai’s Momente Wedding Planners, the pre-wedding celebration-cum-engagement at the Turf Club in Mumbai was a grand affair and created quite a buzz on social media – after all, the bride’s bestie is Alia who was seen at all the celebrations, sharing her favorite pictures from venues such as Estella, Turf Club and Dome at InterContinental Marine Drive. A team of over 300 wedding professionals and vendors, including top decor and food companies from Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Jodhpur and Mumbai, have been roped in for the three-day affair.
Alia Bhatt at her bestie Kripa Mehta’s engagement at Turf Club Mumbai
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja are rumored to be getting married on 23rd March at the Umaid Bhawan Palace. Anand, an alumni of The Wharton Business School, interned with Amazon.com and later joined his family business (New Delhi-based apparel manufacturing company Shahi Exports) and founded clothing label Bhane.
Sonam and Anand may tie the knot on March 23rd at Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur
In 2014, Sonam’s first cousin Karan Singh, the Managing Director of ACG Worldwide wed at the same venue. Karan’s mother is renowned interior designer Kavita Singh and is the sister of Sonam’s mother (Sunita Kapoor). Kavita Singh along with wedding designer extraordinare Dhun Cordo designed the decor for the celebrations and it was touted as the wedding of 2014. Watch the wedding film here.
Now that it is more or less certain than Sonam is marrying in March or April 2018 and in Jodhpur, speculation is rife on who is designing/ planning the celebrations. The buzz in wedding circles is that some of the names associated with the wedding could be Delhi’s Vandana Mohan, Mumbai’s Dhun Cordo or Shaadi Squad (they managed the ‘Virushka’ wedding recently and Sonam’s best friend Sasha Rawal’s wedding in Oman earlier). Or those who designed the themes of the ‘Veere Di Wedding’ (Sonam Kapoor starrer produced by her sister Rhea Kapoor) – Rani Pink, Devika Narain, Q Events by Geeta Samuel, all New Delhi-based and well-known for designing the most exclusive celebrations in Delhi and Rajasthan.
PS- There’s buzz that Sonam and Anand have not finalised the D-date and they may even consider London as the destination. Watch this space for more!
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain intuitively understands how to infuse ‘Ultimate Luxury’ into any event – whether it’s an opulent extravaganza or an intimate soirée. This glamorous, sophisticated venue is perfect for celebrations and this wedding season, discerning celebrities flocked to one of the most elegant weddings of 2017 – Diya and Ayush’s three-day celebrations in Bahrain.
The crème de la crème of industry, politics, and entertainment arrived from all over Europe, Asia, and the US to celebrate at this gorgeous private Ritz-Carlton island which overlooks a stunning lagoon. The lush landscaping around the hotel provided a beautiful backdrop for each event while the soft sand and seascapes were the perfect setting for a romantic beach wedding ceremony.
Truly out of this world, here’s a sneak peek into this fairytale celebration.
Bride Diya was resplendent in an Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla lehenga with extravagant beige embroidery interwoven with pink accents and shimmering silver bridal details for a night of celebrations.
For the sangeet, Shloka Mehta, bride Diya Mehta and Isha Ambani were a vision to behold in their dreamy Chikankari lehengas with universal gold accents.
Since the beginning of time, seas and oceans have inspired explorers, poets, and lovers, alike. Today, it has become a favorite wedding ‘location’ for adventurous couples who choose to wed on cruise liners. After all, a wedding aboard a majestic liner has multiple benefits – things are easier to plan and manage since diverse venues are all at one place, they can be relatively cheaper than a land wedding and also offer that wonderful honeymoon vibe even before the nuptials. And nothing can beat the romance of saying “I Do” on the high sea with the endless horizon in front of you.
That’s exactly what businessman Neil and TV actress Deiya signed up for when they decided to get married on a majestic MSC cruise liner that took them sailing on the Mediterranean Sea – from Barcelona, Spain, to France, Italy, Malta – and back to Barcelona. With a dream wedding planned aboard the cruise by WeddingSutra Favorite Var Vadhu, the picture-perfect nuptials were documented by WeddingSutra Favourite Israni Photography.
The beautiful backdrop of the sea was used creatively for many photos, as were the historical landmarks in France, Italy, Spain, and Malta. The large cruise liner had many regal venues – from stunning staircases, open decks, glitzy dining areas and spectacular interiors that were used creatively and effectively for various functions and shoots.
From Deiya twirling her rich burgundy gown in front of the cruise liner to the duo doing the classic romantic ‘Titanic’ pose on board, every frame of this wedding was full of eye-catching splendor. The performers on board included dancers, musicians, and singers who regaled audiences with their acts. Deiya and Neil’s cool wedding on a cruise liner caused waves of excitement for guests who are bound to remember the occasion for a long time.
Actor Mohit Marwah is marrying his long-time girlfriend Antara Motiwala in the peaceful Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). The venue for the three-day wedding is Waldorf Astoria, and the high-profile celebrations are being planned by UAE/ Mumbai-based Milestones to Memories (MtoM).
Mohit Marwah and Antara Motiwala
Mohit Marwah is the son of Reena and Sandeep Marwah from New Delhi. Reena Marwah is the only sister of Bollywood actors Anil and Sanjay Kapoor, and producer Boney Kapoor – all of whom will be there at the celebrations. All eyes will also be on the groom’s cousin sister and soon-to-be bride Sonam Kapoor whose wedding is expected to take place at a secret destination in end-March or April (earlier the buzz was that it would be hosted in Jodhpur; now there are whispers that it may be held in New Delhi or at a secret destination in Asia or Europe).
Antara, a Bollywood stylist by profession, is the daughter of Bhavana Motiwala who is the elder sister of Tina Ambani. So this will be a grand celebration with Bollywood A-listers and business biggies including Karan Johar and Varun Dhawan alongside Anil and Tina Ambani. There are rumours that the Bachchans are expected to attend too.
The Marwah-Motiwala wedding will commence with a welcome dinner on February 18th. The afternoon mehendi will be held the following day on the hotel’s Cabana Lawns, followed by an evening sangeet at the Al Fayrouz Beach Front. The wedding ceremony will take place on February 20th, followed by the finale cocktails and dinner at the Al Fayrouz Poolside. The design & decor production for all the events is by Fete Events Dubai.
Mehendi at the serene setting of Cabana Lawns
Sangeet at the Al Fayrouz beach front
Sehra Bandhi at the glamorous Camelia Lounge
Cocktails and Dinner at the Al Fayrouz Poolside overlooking the beach
Luxury resort Waldorf Astoria tucked away in RAK is an ideal venue for a big Indian wedding. Several prominent business families, including Bangalore’s Mantri Builders, have hosted grand wedding celebrations at this resort which has a private white sand beach, 346 rooms, and spacious suites with pristine views of the Arabian shoreline.
The Mantri Builders family wedding was also orchestrated by the same team that is managing the Marwah-Motiwala wedding such as Aarti Manocha of M2M, and the design/ event production by Mallika Singh of Fete Events Dubai. Around 800 guests flew in from India for the Mantri Builders wedding, and were accommodated at the Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort in RAK. The wedding ceremony, beach party and cricket match took place at the Waldorf Astoria. The sangeet was organized at the Bassata Desert Village which is a 30-minute drive from Waldorf Astoria, and the reception was hosted at the Al Hamra Golf Course.
Watch this space and our Instagram page for more updates on the Marwah-Motiwala marriage!
In November 2010, when Taj Falaknuma Palace opened its doors, the lavish property was touted as the next amazing luxury destination for weddings. Since then the former private palace of the Nizam of Hyderabad has hosted many high profile soirees including weddings and anniversary celebrations of Bollywood and international celebrities.
Between February 23rd and 25th, Vihang Sarnaik, son of prominent politician Pratap Sarnaik from Maharashtra, is tying the knot with Anahita Paghdiwalla, a Parsi girl from South Mumbai. After a whirlwind romance and a formal proposal in the UK, the groom and his bride-to-be began the search for their dream wedding venue. They wanted a palace setting in India, and after visiting Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Udaipur, the next stop was Taj Falaknuma Palace. This 32-acre property ticked all the boxes – it offered a tranquil ambiance, ultra-luxurious interiors, and a European royal heritage-meets-modern Indian elegance setting.
The proposal at The Brighton Pier in Brighton, England
Vihang Sarnaik, an architect by qualification who is now in the construction business, tells us about how it started and the journey so far. “When we stepped into Taj Falaknuma Palace our first reaction was ‘It can’t get better than this!’ We’ve stayed at many heritage palace properties in Rajasthan, the Middle East, and Turkey but we were sure that Taj Falaknuma Palace would provide an experience like no other.”
We asked Vihang what has been his most enthusiastic contribution to the wedding planning process, besides the venue selection of course. He shared, “The coordination, logistics, and travel arrangements are being taken care of by our wedding planners – Milestones to Memories (MtoM). Since I quite enjoy the creative process of planning events, I keep sharing ideas with MtoM, and our decor designer Heena Patel of Amaahyaj Baroda. The other exciting part is planning the pre-wedding shoot, and brief for the wedding photos and film, so the super-talented and dynamic Anand Rathi of Reels & Frames is on my speed dial. No celebration in our home is complete without a lot of thought on what food should be prepared and how it should be served. We’ve had extensive meetings with the teams at Taj Falaknuma Palace, and the details have been finalized in consultation with my brother Purvesh Sarnaik who runs catering company ‘Purple Carrot.'”
The wedding celebrations will commence with a floral-themed mehendi at the hotel’s Pool Lawns which will be followed by a haldi ceremony at the Zenana Courtyard. The theme for the sangeet is ‘Glitzy and Techno’, and it will take place at the Falaknuma Main Lawns. The wedding ceremony theme will have a ‘Paithani and Gara’ (Maharashtrian groom and Parsi bride) vibe, and the finale celebration will be the reception which is being planned with a ‘Royal’ theme.
Around two years ago, the Taj Group of Hotels commenced their new initiative ‘Destination Hyderabad,’ and they showcased their plans at WeddingSutra Engage – Hyderabad edition. Speaking at WeddingSutra Engage the city’s top bridal and wedding influencers including designer Anushree Reddy, wedding planner Dinaz Noria and Shalini Bhupal of the GVK group spoke about why Hyderabad – with its rich culture, heritage venues and modern infrastructure – is perfect for destination weddings.
Horse-drawn carriages, palace butlers and a heritage walk make you relive Hyderabad’s grand history at Taj Falaknuma Palace.
Aarti Manocha of Milestones to Memories (M2M) who is planning the Vihang-Anahita wedding tells us about her experience of working in Hyderabad: “We’ve planned many royal theme celebrations in Rajasthan, so for the longest time I wanted to work at Taj Falaknuma Palace. The property has the most picturesque outdoor spaces, and the families have booked all the 60 rooms at the hotel for three-day celebrations. The VIP guests and senior members of both families will be staying at the Taj Falaknuma Palace itself. The rest of the 300 guests will be staying at other hotels in the city. It’s been an amazing and stress-free experience planning a celebration in Hyderabad, and after this wedding, we look forward to many more memorable experiences here.”
Dr. Lakshmi Venu, daughter of prominent industrialists Venu Srinivasan, Chairman – TVS Motor Company, and Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman – TAFE, tied the knot with Entrepreneur Mahesh Gogineni from Bengaluru. The very private celebration was held at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur on Thursday 8 March, 2018.
The three-day celebration was attended by close friends and family only who included the who’s who of business and corporate India from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru.
To respect the couple’s privacy, all guests were requested not to share photos or post any details on social media. Like with most high profile families seeking a very private celebration, all the wedding makers and key vendors were bound by an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) and the venues in Jodhpur (Umaid Bhawan and Mehrangarh Fort) were off-limits for the local media. Of all the high profile industrialist family weddings held in the last few years, Dr Lakshmi Venu and Mahesh Gogineni’s wedding would qualify as the most private one.
Mahesh Gogineni is the great grandson of illustrious parliamentarian, President of the Swatantra Party, and Padma Vibhushan awardee, N G Ranga; and the son of Suguna and Dr. Kamalendra Gogineni. A graduate of BITS Pilani and London School of Economics, and an MBA from Stanford, Mahesh Gogineni bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, returned to India. A tech entrepreneur, he made a successful exit from his first startup, and is currently pursuing his second startup Gifskey.
Dr. Lakshmi Venu is the Managing Director of Sundaram Clayton Limited (SCL) and Director of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited (TMTL). She holds a Doctorate from the University of Warwick and is a graduate in Economics from Yale University. She spearheads Sundaram Clayton which has global auto majors including Cummins, Volvo, Hyundai, Daimler and Paccar as its customers. She is credited with SCL’s foray into the USA with the setting up of a Greenfield factory in Charleston, South Carolina, USA to manufacture high pressure die-cast and gravity cast parts.
According to sources, the wedding was held as per Andhra and Tamil traditions (the groom is from Andhra Pradesh and bride is from Tamil Nadu). All the guests were hosted in the luxurious 64 suites of Umaid Bhawan.
It’s dubbed as the celebration which is going to be the wedding of 2018! But naturally- the bride-to-be is Shloka Mehta, daughter of diamond magnate Russell Mehta, and the groom Akash Ambani, son of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani. There has been no official announcement on the alliance from either family, but the pink papers have quoted closest friends and company officials who have confirmed that Shloka and Akash, former classmates at Dhirubhai Ambani International School, are tying the knot in November or December this year. There’s speculation that the engagement will take place in March or April at Antilia (the Ambani residence) or at The Oberoi, Mumbai (Nita Ambani is on the board of The Oberoi Group).
Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta
Mukesh and Nita Ambani with Akash, Isha and Anant Ambani. Russell and Mona Mehta with Shloka, Diya, Viraj and his wife
Akash and Shloka
Akash and his twin sister Isha are the eldest of the three children of Nita and Mukesh Ambani. Akash is on the board of Reliance Jio, the group’s fast-growing telecom venture.
Shloka is the elder daughter of Mona Mehta and Russell Mehta, who heads Rosy Blue Diamonds, formerly known as B. Arunkumar & Co. After finishing schooling at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in 2009, Shloka went on to study Anthropology at Princeton University and completed her Masters in Law at The London School of Economics and Political Science. Currently, she is a director at the Rosy Blue Foundation and a co-founder of ConnectFor, which matches volunteers with NGOs that need them.
The Buzz
It all started after Nita and Mukesh Ambani attended Shloka’s sister’s wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and Ritz Carlton Bahrain in April last year. And word spread that the Ambani clan were there not just as friends of the Mehta family, but as their soon-to-be ‘samdhis’ (in-laws).
Nita and Mukesh Ambani are known to orchestrate the most magnificent parties or pre-wedding celebrations for their family members/ friends at their private residences, but this will be the first wedding they will be organizing and there’s a lot of curiosity on their preferred locations. And while event professionals have vied to have Nita and Mukesh Ambani as their clients, Mona and Russell Mehta are the darlings of Mumbai’s top luxury wedding makers. Both are known to have the finest tastes in food, decor, and entertainment, with a passion for exemplary hospitality. This will be the third wedding they will be organising as Shloka’s siblings are both married – Viraj wed in Mumbai and Diya in Bahrain.
According to sources, in all likelihood, Akash and Shloka will tie the knot in Mumbai only- with the celebrations spread between the Mehta residence, Ambani homes – Antilia in Altamount Road and Sea Wind in Cuffe Parade, The Oberoi in Nariman Point and the Jio Gardens at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Guests of the Ambani family will be hosted at The Oberoi and Trident Hotels in Nariman Point and Trident, BKC. Travel agents and hoteliers all over Mumbai are bracing up to manage the surge in demand, as all rooms in these three hotels will be unavailable a week pre and post the wedding dates.
How Billionaire Weddings Work
When there is a wedding in a billionaire family, typically the family offices or their in-house event coordinators reach out to their most trusted wedding makers to set up meetings for information and ideas- these include not just wedding planners but couturiers like Manish Malhotra and Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla who sometimes play key roles in orchestrating the theme for each of the celebrations.
While Manish Malhotra and Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla are the favorite couturiers, the go-to event managers/wedding planners include WedNiksha, Cineyug, Seven Steps, WedGuru and Tamarind Global. The favorite scenographers/ decor designers include Sumant Jayakrishnan and Vandana Mohan from New Delhi and, Gurleen M Puri and Dhun Cordo from Mumbai. Others on the list of the billionaire club include food consultants/caterers Foodlink from Mumbai and Ritu Dalmia, Indian Accent, Puneet Sikand and Maruti Sikka from New Delhi; and invitation card designers EDC and Uttara Shah.
Typically, the management of a billionaire wedding involves extensive coordination between the host families and their in-house teams and all the luxury wedding makers. Often, there are multiple wedding planners and event managers entrusted with specialized responsibilities for different celebrations. These could include hospitality management for the bride or groom’s guests, travel coordination/ticketing for guests traveling from overseas, decor and event production as well as artist management for live entertainment or international acts.
The proposed Ambani-Mehta nuptials is slated to be the biggest yet, in terms of budget, scale, concepts and a power-packed guest list. Watch this space as we reveal who is in on the action as planning this billionaire wedding extravaganza gets underway.
When the groom-to-be is heir to India’s richest business empire, and the bride is the daughter of a billionaire diamond merchant, you can be sure there will be a lot of buzz and ‘When-Where-What’ queries around their wedding. Quite unexpectedly, Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s pre-engagement party was a quiet and intimate affair with around 50 guests. While many believed the location in Goa would be the Ambani home in Goa or the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa (owned by Mukesh Ambani’s sister’s family) the chosen venue was the Taj Holiday Village in Goa, well-known as an idyllic family vacation resort.
The bride-of-the moment Sonam Kapoor who was expected to wed in Rajasthan in March is finally tying the knot with beau Anand Ahuja in May, and the location, as per media reports, is Geneva, Switzerland!
Destination Rajasthan
Sonam has been keeping the media guessing since the second half of 2017. Key media, including WeddingSutra, reported that she was getting married at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. Later, there was news that London would host the nuptials (she went there only for a Christmas vacation). Now, reports have emerged that the starry wedding will take place in Geneva.
According to inside sources, Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja were keen on getting married at the very exclusive Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur. However, early this year, they contemplated taking a final decision after Sonam’s cousin’s wedding at Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE. This month, they decided to move away from Rajasthan and go to Geneva.
The date and venue for the Ambani-Mehta wedding celebrations are not formally announced yet. Sources say the wedding may take place at one of the exclusive hotels run by The Oberoi group in Rajasthan (in all likelihood The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur) and the post-wedding celebrations may be held between the Reliance-owned Jio Gardens or The Oberoi, Mumbai.
Formal Engagement Party at Antilia
The Ambani-Mehta engagement bash will be held at Antilia, the Ambani residence, at Altamount Road tonight and is expected to be a glitzy affair with over 160 hand-picked guests. Wedding insiders share that some of the top names in wedding design and decor may be involved in orchestrating the celebrations – they include Punit Jasuja who runs New Delhi-based Second Floor Studio, Dinaz Noria of 3D Hyderabad and Gurleen Raheja of Gurleen M Puri, Mumbai.
The Switzerland Story
Business and Bollywood circles have been talking in hushed tones about why these two prominent families hosting the landmark weddings of 2018 will keep it simpler than expected due to the recent developments. Sonam Kapoor’s aunt Sridevi Kapoor passed away suddenly in UAE in February, while Ambani’s close relatives Neeshal Modi and Vipul Ambani, who are connected with Nirav Modi in professional capacities, have been in the eye of a storm. Incidentally, Nirav Modi is also related to Shloka Mehta’s mother, Mona Mehta. The Ambanis, sources say, were initially considering a big, fat wedding at St Moritz in Switzerland, and are now looking at a winter wedding in Mumbai or Rajasthan.
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Photo courtesy: The Wedding Salad
Photo courtesy: Ram Bherwani Productions
Photo courtesy: Imprint Studio
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Photo courtesy: Colorblind Production
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Photo courtesy: The Lightsmiths
The St. Regis Mumbai (top right) is the venue for the reception in Mumbai and 
The invites for the Mumbai and Delhi receptions featuring a pastel floral theme and silver, gold and glass inserts
Shweta Bachchan-Nanda and Amitabh Bachchan
MS Dhoni and daughter Ziva(left), Rohit Sharma and wife Ritika Sajdeh, Zaheer Khan and wife Sagarika Ghatge
Sachin Tendulkar, wife Anjali and daughter Sara
A. R. Rahman(left), Karan Johar and Sidharth Malhotra(left) and Shahrukh Khan(right)
Nita Ambani and Ranbir Kapoor
Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Kaif
Sridevi and madhuri Dixit Nene
Aishwarya and Abhishek Bacchan
Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan
Katrina Kaif and vaani kapoor
Lara Dutta, Mahesh Bhupathi, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh
Aditi Rao Hydari and Kriti Sanon
Kangana Ranaut and Rekha
Zenobia and Boman Irani and Rajkumar Hirani
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore a dreamy Manish Malhotra lehenga
Sridevi in a royal blue Manish Malhotra saree
Siblings Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan outfits designed by Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla
Karan Johar made a statement in a Manish Malhotra outfit
Siddharth Malhotra looked dapper in a blue jacket by Manish Malhotra
Katrina Kaif dazzled in a lavender Manish Malhotra outfit
Kriti Sanon looked pretty in a Manish Malhotra off-shoulder saree
Kangana Ranaut chose a traditional look in a gold Sabyasachi Mukherjee saree
Vaani Kapoor wore a sheer Manish Malhotra saree with a tasseled blouse
Aditi Rao Hydari sashayed in a silk and velvet lehenga by Manish Malhotra
Madhuri Dixit looked pretty as ever in a Tarun Tahiliani saree
Shweta Bachchan wore a baby pink Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla saree
Saina Nehwal wore a cape lehenga by Neeta Lulla
Lara Dutta wore a heavy Tarun Tahiliani anarkali lehenga
Newly married Sagarika Ghatge wore a rust and olive lehenga by Anju Modi 
Nita Ambani looked stunning in a back outfit with details in gold, designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Photo Courtesy : Stories by Joseph Radhik
Photo Courtesy : 
Photo Courtesy : KT Merry
Photo Courtesy : Mel Barlow & Co. / Allan Zepeda
Photo Courtesy : Stories by Joseph Radhik
Photo Courtesy : Knotting Bells
Photo Courtesy : The Glam Wedding and Get the Look By Rajvir-Shilpa
Photo Courtesy : Patrick Demarchelier
Photo Courtesy : The Wedding Story
Photo Courtesy : Knotting Bells
Photo Courtesy : Israni Photography
Photo Courtesy : Rehan Daruwalla 
Photo Courtesy : Our Labor of Love
Photo Courtesy : Sarah Falugo
Alia Bhatt at her bestie Kripa Mehta’s engagement at Turf Club Mumbai
Sonam and Anand may tie the knot on March 23rd at Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur
#whatanaydiya
Mohit Marwah and Antara Motiwala
Mehendi at the serene setting of Cabana Lawns
Sangeet at the Al Fayrouz beach front
Sehra Bandhi at the glamorous Camelia Lounge
Cocktails and Dinner at the Al Fayrouz Poolside overlooking the beach
The proposal at The Brighton Pier in Brighton, England
Horse-drawn carriages, palace butlers and a heritage walk make you relive Hyderabad’s grand history at Taj Falaknuma Palace. 
Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta
Mukesh and Nita Ambani with Akash, Isha and Anant Ambani. Russell and Mona Mehta with Shloka, Diya, Viraj and his wife
