Happy Tuesday, Maharanis! Are you ready for a new and exciting adventure? If so, get your luggage and your travel documents, because today we are taking you on a trip to a different continent. You read right! Today, we are taking you to Sydney, Australia, to enjoy Hitika & Sagar's fabulous wedding celebration. So get ready to enjoy it! For this first installment, we'll be taking a look at one of our favorite pre-wedding ceremonies in Indian weddings, and that is none other than the Haldi Ceremony. Right off the bat, we have to say that we are major fans of this pre-wedding ceremony, as it is so fun and meaningful! For this event thoroughly planned by Hitika & Sagar with the help of Hitika's family, Shagun Events designed a minimalist decor featuring traditional linens in bright and bold hues more than suitable for this festive occasion. And we want to give a big shoutout to Rolling Canvas for the fantastic shots they captured during this Haldi! Thanks to their outstanding work, we can enjoy all the fun-loving moments of this pre-wedding ceremony, and all the beauty of Hitika, who looked ravishing after being glamorized by Geeta Artistry. If you can't get enough of this Haldi, make sure to check more of this fantastic event in today's fabulous gallery. You are going to be amazed!
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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I first met him when I was 6 years old, we reconnected in 2014 again and I knew he was the one when we first started talking after many years as we couldn't stop talking and at one point we talked for 14 hours non stop (no food, no break). That day when we hung up the call, I felt so heavy, I did not want to hang up. That feeling was assurance, he is it.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
I proposed. So Sagar is a bit slow sometimes, this one day (5 years ago) I felt like, If not now then it would never happen. So we were in India, I had a rikshaw vala arranged by a florist and told them I will propose a guy and you will be on youtube (rickhsaw vala was very happy to participate to be famous). I had the rickshaw decorated. Had a friend bring Sagar to a quiet garden where we parked the rickshaw and I then proposed him. He was obviously in shock, but was a memorable day.
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We stared 2 years in advance. I knew I wanted my phere/ceremony on the cruise so we went boat hunting for months. Finally came across Aussie Magic Boat from All Occasion cruises and booked them 12 months in advance. We then decided to have a reception hall not far from the city as the cruise wouldn't go anywhere else. So we decided on a route. Baraat at Opera, aboard cruise from ManOwar steps, ceremony under the bridge and by the Opera in water. Cruise took us to Darling Harbour, we had the Pyrmont bridge open for us with Music and reception at Dockside.
Outfits were also in planning froma year in advance, Most of them were sketched and designed by mum, me, dad and Sagar, all our outfits are our own creation. We had followed a theme for all events so most of them are themed. We had my two Lehengas (one wedding in sydney and next one in Delhi) from Frontierraas but we made many changes on those lehengas including changing their dupattas too and Sagar's outfits were designed by us again to match those.
MUH for all events except the wedding was Geeta Makeup Atristy. Wedding day was Sana
Decor was by the lovely Dee from Shagun events. My garlands were amazingly done by Sai Garlands. DJ was DJ Bali, All other reception vendors were by Dockside group and Catering was also matched to the theme of colours and was by Taj.
How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
My parents went to Chennai first, got some ideas there but couldnt connect. Most of my sarees for pot bridal wear were from Chennai, including different silks and Organzas. But both my lehengas were from Frontier raas, since I had two wedding I was lucky to have worn but my dream colours for my wedding which is maroon burgundy in Sydney and Peach Pink in Delhi. Both are subtle colours and are designed in a way that I can wear them again with anything else such as a saree.
What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
Designing dresses, sketching, making themes, getting everyone's outfit matched as per themes. We even had food matches with theme colours. So on Haldi we had shades of sunrise as a theme, and most food was yellow and orange.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
The detailing and thoughts into it and the locations. We had our pre-wedding functions in Annangrove/dural area in an acreage property. People could stay till late and music was till late with no restrictions. Most importantly we had no alcohol, and guests enjoyed being in the moment
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
When I was on the Jet Ski for my Bridal entry on the cruise and I saw Sagar with a content, happy and proud face.
For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
One big special detail was - we changed all traditions and rituals to keep equality. No gifts were exchanged within families. Hindu rituals where we bride had to vow certain things that promoted patriarchy were edited to a newer more suitable version to respect the rituals in the true essence we will follow.
As for the decor - most of it was done by Dee - she also made sure theme was followed for all three pre -wedding functions which was - shades of sunrise - Shades of Ivory and - Shades of Peacock.
Some of it was done by my cousin who is a graphics designer and my sister who is purely awesome.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Please dont waste money on expensive lehengas. It hurts so badly to see "sabyasachi bride" "Manish Bride", Just because you spend $10,000 on one outfit that you wont wear again (Especially if its one of those bright red lehengas) and your one photo featured on an instagram page. Find your value for money. Dont get carried away with brands and what's more famous. Check to see genuinity and its value in all respects.
Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
My Mhenedi was - Shraddha Henna - She is absolutely into detail, My mehendi was special as she drew a rikshaw and all other places we had visited while dating in my mehendi,
My 3 tier, butterscoth, hazelnut and chocolate cake was elegant and eggless.
My reception dress sketched, material bought from different shops in sydney and stitched in sydney was nearly 50m of clothing with its weight nearly 8-10 kilos. Same with Sagar's double breasted suit that was custom designed and stitched in under $400. Garlands were an absolute delight.
Don't go too far if you don't want to miss what is coming next!
