A 7 Day Mega Indian Wedding in Dubai
Named as the Mega Wedding of the Year 2021, this magnificent wedding for Kashika and Anish took 10 months to create by the talented team of Vivaah Celebrations, under the leadership of its Founder/CEO, Rahul Kumar.
The destination wedding venue chosen for this wedding was Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, where guests were accommodated for the entire week as they enjoyed multiple events as part of the elaborate celebrations.
This mega wedding took a lot of people to help create and design it in the most perfect way, with over 70 operations executives, 100 fabricators, 12 florists, 60 chefs, 40 different menus and over 35 performing artists. The celebrations held during the 7-day extravaganza were truly a spectacle that were witnessed by 400 guests attending from various parts of the world.
It all began with the auspicious Ganesh Puja at the Groom’s residence seeking blessings before embarking on a life-long journey of love and happiness. This event was attended by close family members and marked the beginning of the festivities to follow.
The Chura Ceremony kickstarted the celebrations for the Bride’s side of the family. Hosted at Address Montgomerie, the bride wore traditional wedding ornaments and jewelry, the entertainment for the evening was provided by DJ Gautam.
The Family Sufi Dinner was held at AMALA, the top-rated Indian fine dining restaurant at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. With a limited number of guests in attendance, the traditional Indian culinary fare was much appreciated by the guests as they enjoyed a soulful Sufi performance by recognized local talent, Fahmil Khan.
For the ultimate luxurious and pampering experience, the wedding guests had access to a 24-hour French Patisserie which was set up for all days of the wedding celebration. Active and operational all throughout the day, the pastry chefs constantly prepared and served authentic French delicacies for guests who would choose to enjoy a light bite in a truly French setting with ambiance music serenading them. A special highlight contribution was brought in each day by a renowned Cake & Confectionery Designer.
The Venetian-themed Welcome Dinner was held at The IMPERIUM at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The guests' experience began even before they got to the opulent venue as they entered an immersive experiential tunnel displaying Italian art, sculptures, and paintings from the Renaissance Era. In addition to this, interactive artists such as trained actors, hostesses, and emotional catering professionals elevated the multi-sensory experience for all. Entertaining the audience with their mesmerizing voice was a local sensation, Jin Flora.
The evening further continued into a high-energy event inspired by the finest Parisian Night Clubs. The ‘Evening in Paris’ event was held at THE MUSIC HALL in Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. This event featured custom-made plush furniture and designer bars that represented a VIP Night Club. With some of the finest cigars, cheese, and wine offered on every table, this was a swanky affair!
World-famous, award-winning group Paris Select was the lead performers for this event. Having flown in specially for this performance, they put up a great show that had guests asking for more. To top it all up, the audience went up in roars when the band performed two specially rehearsed Bollywood numbers live for the audience. Elevating the experience further was DJ Bosco and the renowned percussionist Walter Scalzone.
One of the most vibrant events at this wedding was the Mehendi Bash where the venue of PLAJ at Zabeel Saray was converted into an Amazon Rainforest. With dense green forest entrance walkways, artificially created waterfalls and rivers, exotic birds, tree barks, and raw earth elements, this Mehendi setting was unlike any seen before. The culinary offerings at this event were unique and based on easy portion-sized bites. The beach was transformed into a game and chill zone where guests could feel the sand and sea at their feet. Live entertainment was provided by the very talented duo Hari & Sukhmani whose stylized version of folk numbers had everyone swaying to their tunes literally.
The much-awaited Sangeet took place at the open green lawns of Zabeel Saray with the backdrops of the beach. Drawing inspiration from Roberto Cavalli's bling and opulence, this event saw heavy use of crystal chandeliers, hand-blown glass elements, and deep mirror installations to truly define the theme of "Night Under the Stars". The statement piece was the immersive entrance tunnels adorned with Swarovski crystals overhead, as well as, the floor. The couple commemorated the evening with a Champagne Tower standing 8 levels tall where they poured their favorite bottle of champagne to rejoice with their guests.
Adding the entertainment quotient to the evening was MC Abhijeet who is one of the most recognized voices on the radio with a massive fan following. The family performances were choreographed by Satyen Babla of DANS.
The showcase of the week-long celebration was the afterparty that evening. Live in performance was the living legend, the maestro Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who mesmerized the guests in the Royal Mughal settings at The Music Hall of Zabeel Saray. The night continued into the early hours of the morning with DJ Bosco spinning at the decks.
The wedding day morning began with the Haldi ceremonies for the Bride and the Groom, each held separately in Al Nafoorah and Amala respectively. The themes of Orange Hues and Lemon Hues saw innovative use of oranges and lemons that formed part of the delicate décor to complement the event.
The Wedding Lunch at The Imperium was a typical Marwari-Rajasthani Thali with the use of traditional kitchenware and cutlery. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the specially crafted menus at every event, but this particular lunch took guests to the comfort of their meals at home, the traditional way. The culinary team at Zabeel Saray ensured that every event had the right match to their Food and Beverage offerings. The food styling, display, and service concepts truly heightened the guest experience.
The Groom’s Baraat procession was power-packed with his entourage dancing their way through a 400-meter long stretch pathway along the beach. The hour-long Baraat had the Groom sit on a Horse Chariot while the 6-piece Brass Band provided for the traditional fanfare to hype up the Baraat. The Bride entered under a blanket of flowers leading up to the Jaimala stage where the couple exchanged garlands to commemorate the evening.
Amidst detailed tablescapes, plush floral installations, an iconic floral sculpture bar, and some of the finest spirits on offer, the reception evening had the guests in awe of the surreal settings on a chilly evening. As guests indulged in fine culinary offerings, the evening was set for instrumental traditional music being performed live by a trio of musicians flown in from Jaipur.
Finally, the main event – the Wedding Pheras took place under a gorgeous floral Mandap with a glass aisle that made for the most beautiful bridal entry. Situated over the beach, the Mandap sat pretty with the backdrops of the blue Arabian Sea. The rituals and ceremonies ended late at night as the guests blessed the lovely couple for a happy married life.
Wedding Venue: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Planning and Design: Rahul Kumar, Vivaah Celebrations
Artists: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Paris Select, Walter Scalzone, Fahmil Khan, RJ Abhijeet, Hari Sukhmani, Jin Flora etc.
Photographer: Shutterdown
Bridal Makeup: Bianca Louzado
Production Partner: Timeless Events
