Komal and Akshay aptly used the ‘Koshay’ hashtag for their wedding. You are going to love the details that have gone in planning this inspirational celebration. Bride Komal has put in tons of thought and efforts and we are grateful to her for giving us all these tiny details that went in planning her elaborate celebration!
Groom and Bride
Akshay Patni and Komal Khettry Patni
Engagement & Sangeet Date:
– July 4th, 2018
Wedding Date:
– July 5th, 2018
Venue:
– The Westside Pavilion, Kolkata
Brief story of how we met:
Akshay and I first saw each other over 6 years back on his birthday. For both of us there was something that clicked instantly. That same evening, we went clubbing with our friends. After that, he took me out for a long walk and we spent the entire night simply talking to each other. We totally forgot that it was our first meeting and there was just pure comfort of being together. We found ourselves wanting to spend more time with each other everyday.
Our relationship status was “just friends” for a few years until he decided to move back to his hometown for work. After few months of moving away, we realized how much we missed each other. Long distance really tests a relationship and that’s when you know it’s worth it. We knew we had found our companion for life in each other. Akshay and I always disliked mush and never wanted to propose to each other in a clichéd fashion. He traveled all the way to Bangalore to meet me and on the day he was leaving I was really upset, so much so that I fought with him. Ten minutes before leaving to catch his flight, he held my hand and said “This is it Komal!” and randomly popped the question. It felt like the greatest victory ever. I was so happy that I started crying and I cried so much that he ultimately had to miss his flight. All this was a matter of few minutes but it was just non-stop laughter from that point on. That was the most memorable moment for us.
We got married on July 5th, 2018, at Westside Pavilion, Kolkata. Since Akshay is a Jain and I am Sindhi we had a fusion ceremony to respect both religions and families.
Description on the wedding planning process:
My wedding was the most cherished event of my life, and I always had a dream of how it would be. That’s why I did not hire a wedding planner. Deciding the kind of decor, lighting, menu, and music took months of planning. However, we had our family helping us even with the tiniest of details. Once our wedding date was fixed, I remember the first thing I did was contact Jonak Photography and videography. I just loved their expertise. For event management and planning we hired RGV Events by Tanveen Sethi who did a great job.
Wedding shopping
My mom and I went to Delhi and Singapore for my wedding shopping, nearly three months before the wedding. It was the most special trip of my life. We had a great time shopping and exploring. I bought all my western gowns and cosmetics from Singapore while the Indian outfits were all from Delhi. We went all over the city- from Khan Market, Shahpurjat to South Extension, and it was great fun because I liked everything everywhere. The store I liked the most was DollyJ Studio and I bought my wedding lehenga and sangeet gown both from there. Now I realize – However stressful planning a wedding can get but by the end of the day, you only remember the memories you made with your loved ones that were filled with smiles, joy, and laughter.
Events
Bridesmaid Shoot
For me, the festivities started off with an unforgettable ‘All White and floral’ themed bridesmaid shoot. I personally made the favors for all my friends and sisters and had a great time shooting with my girl-gang.
Ring Ceremony & Sangeet:
We had a formal engagement (ring ceremony) and cake cutting followed by sangeet sandhya. It was a fun evening filled with dance performances. Akshay and I entered the venue in elegant style with violin players following us and playing our favorite music. What made the evening even more special was the surprise performance by Akshay who totally killed it. The energy at this function was very infectious, and it was hard to spot a single person who wasn’t shaking a leg. We made sure there was great food to go around. The decor for this evening was very subtle and elegant. My gown was a customized piece from DollyJ studio, Delhi. I had travelled all the way to Delhi to do my trousseau shopping and also picked my engagement and wedding outfit from there itself. Akshay opted for an indo-western bandh gala ensemble from SASYA, Kolkata. Both the outfits were made keeping in mind the timings of the event. My jewelry for this event was from Imperial, Kolkata.
Haldi
This was definitely the most fun function we had at our wedding. We wanted to have the mela theme with a lot of colors and different stalls, and we got exactly that. There were food counters alongside ethnic bangle sellers. The decor was very Rajasthani with beautiful bright colors, and everything was tastefully done and executed. We even had ‘Phoolon ki Holi’ which was a lot of fun. Akshay and I were made to play “The Shoe Game” which we totally killed ! It was a day function, I did not want to wear anything heavy or glamorous, and so I wore a simple yellow lehenga, which I bought from ESTRI, Kolkata.
The Wedding & Reception
The wedding ceremony was conducted as per Jain traditions, and a few Sindhi rituals were incorporated into it too. Since it was a Sufi themed night, we used floral chandeliers and a lot of fresh flowers along with beautiful fabric drapes in pastel hues. Even the ‘phoolon ki chaadar’ under which I entered featured the same flowers. I wore a pink and red lehenga by DollyJ Studio in New Delhi and teamed it with jewelry from M.B. Jewellers, Kolkata. Akshay donned a sherwani from Burlington’s in Kolkata.
One of my most cherished moments was the varmala! When I saw him, I literally wanted to pinch myself. That was the most surreal experience of my entire life. I remember taking a deep breath and thinking, “Is this really happening?” We couldn’t take our eyes off each other. The way he looked at me, I felt complete. When I saw Akshay waiting for me up on the stage with tears in his eyes I felt – I truly couldn’t have asked for a better life partner!
For the reception, which was followed by our wedding, we also invited Legend Adil Hussaini who mesmerized all the guests with his singing.
Venue Selection
Since there was a huge guest list, we knew a destination wedding wouldn’t be possible. Also, since ours was a summer wedding, we wanted luxurious indoor locations rather than outdoor gardens or lawns. After visiting many properties in Kolkata, the elegant ambiance and vibe at The Westin just won our heart. We made sure all our guests have the most comfortable stay and good food at our wedding.
Photography & Videography
For Photography we trusted “Jonak Photography & Films” for the entire wedding.
Makeup/Hair Styling
I chose a very minimalistic makeup for all my events. This is because I truly believe in originality and wanted to feel like myself on the most special day of my life. I found an artist perfect for what I wanted. MUA- Prasenjit Biswas, Kolkata
Henna Artist
Ritu and Ranjita from Kolkata
Caterer
Munna Maharaj, Kolkata
DJ
Wedding Invitations Designer:
Advice for to-be-weds
Everyone advised us to stay out of the planning process to avoid stress but we could not help it. We wanted to be a part of everything for our wedding down to the tiniest of details. Focus on your guests who have come to celebrate with you. Also, please take out time from your work just before the wedding, because there is always a lot to do.
Congrats to the sweet couple! We wish them a happy married life ahead. If you wish to submit your wedding/prewedding photos to us, please write in to us at [email protected]