Our initiative ‘

The two shared interests and ideals – travelling, trying new cuisines, anime movies… and the texts flew back and forth between the two until Saqib asked Amrozia out. A student struggling with her thesis then, Amrozia found her solace in spending time with Saqib, a professional banker, who would help her with research in whatever little way he could. One thing led to another, and before they knew it, the two were madly in love, Amrozia says, “Within a couple of months of meeting we were already very close. We never really understood the transition from being friends to lovers. We are so real and comfortable around each other. That’s the best and the most secure feeling.”

The couple has been inseparable since. From their first bike ride together, they’ve gone gallivanting and exploring all the way up to Ladakh. But a trip to Bali was what it took for them to eventually realise what was brewing. The couple could finally see the mind-blowing chemistry they shared and Saqib knew, most certainly, that he wanted to seal the deal for life.

The trip back home was a ride full of speculations. He knew he wanted a proposal that would last in their memories forever. He went back and forth over a million details but there was one thing he was sure about; he wanted to pop the question with a keepsake that would symbolise the purity and innocence of the relationship he shared with Amrozia. A Platinum Love Band was exactly what he needed.

And finally their Platinum Day of Love arrived…

With a lovestory like one that’s written in the books, Amrozia and Saqib were drawn to the neighborhood library for a romantic date.

Wings on her feet forever, Amrozia couldn’t resist the travel books.

While she was lost in the words, Saqib seemed lost in her beauty.

How in the world did we find each other? But now that we have, we can explore the globe.

Amrozia kept suggesting place after place, only to have Saqib put down every suggestion of hers.

Little did she know that Saqib was getting ready to start their most beautiful journey.

But he was taking his time and she had no idea why they couldn’t agree on a destination.

Dejected and stultified, Amrozia decided to call off the plan and head home, but…

Saqib: I want to climb mountains and swim oceans across the world, but only with you by my side. In this journey of life, Amrozia, will you be my partne

Saqib was swift enough to sweep her off her feet and slide a Platinum Love Band on her finger.

Down on one knee is the most important first step.

Every eternal romance deserves the perpetuity of Platinum.

They set their sights and sails to celebrate the journey of life with their Platinum Love Bands

Amrozia’s gorgeous look was created by make-up artist Love Actually’ write to [email protected] with the link to your Facebook profiles, wedding date and ‘How you met’ story. Selected couples will be invited for the shoots in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

The potential of a career in the 40 billion dollar wedding industry is incredibly promising. And when dedication and enthusiasm ride on sound knowledge, success and fulfilment are very much par for the course.

“We’re quite a ‘typical’ school. We expect our students to report before time, nobody is given the option of missing lectures, they have to take notes, whilst in class, they are not allowed to access their phones, they have to be attentive – everything that one would find in an old-fashioned school. We also give them assignments on the basis of which their performance is evaluated. This eventually enables them to get placed in organisations that are best suited for them.

My mother, Dr Usha Parikh has an academic background and we together have personally designed the curriculum. She has been part of the wedding management firm for nearly a decade and along with her experience her academic process ensures the programs are very thorough. Classes are either given by me or industry experts and we conclude with a Q&A round where students are allowed to clarify doubts and discuss queries.”

Our initiative ‘Love Actually’ features engaged couples and couples and captures beautiful moments between them. The series celebrates people in love as they start their lives together. Over a fabulous makeover and a photoshoot, we get these couples to share how they met, document the rare connection they have and talk about their day of love.

Here’s another reason to believe in love at first sight.

Dhaval took one look at a pretty stranger at a musical night and found that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Yashvi, bubbly and animated noticed him too. As Dhaval wrestled with his shyness, apprehensive of going up to talk to her, Yashvi took the first step. The die-hard Bollywood fanatic also opened up in other ways – she showed him the collection of poems she’d written. Reading her beautiful words, Dhaval fell head over heels in love. Yashvi says, “The way he looked at me after reading the poems made me feel very different…. I could literally hear violins playing.”

That first meeting led to a series of incessant calls and messages. Then on three consecutive days, the couple went on dates that stretched from coffee in the morning to dinner late at night. Dhaval knew one thing for sure – he was madly in love with Yashvi. Yashvi felt it too. She says, “We never really had to say anything to each other. A look or glance was enough to comprehend what was going in the other’s mind.”

A dentist by profession, Dhaval wanted to add a personal. He asked Yashvi to meet him at his clinic and when she did, he went down on one knee and sang her her favorite Bollywood song. Yashvi says, “Our chemistry was so powerful that I just knew, this is it!”

Yashvi’s family accepted Dhaval as one of theirs the moment they met him. All it took was a conversation with him and he instantly became the family favorite. She too was lovingly accepted by his family immediately.

As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the couple became a part of each other’s lives, schedules and activities. Their coffees and movies continued but they began to introduce each other to their interests and passions. Reading books, meditating together, they realized they’d begun to enjoy these trivial and not so trivial parts of the other.

And that’s how they discovered a universal truth – when you enjoy moment after moment, no matter what you’re doing, because of the person you’re with, all those instances together become endless days of love. And this is exactly what led to Yashvi and Dhaval deciding to celebrate their Platinum Day of Love.

Yashvi knew these moments with Dhaval make her life complete. And she knew she wanted to mark them in her memory even as she began to plot a special proposal. Knowing Dhaval, and his love for simplicity, she wanted to keep the proposal intimate and incorporate it into a daily activity they loved. This would remind them of the special moment every day for a lifetime.

To make the proposal even more meaningful, Yashvi decided to present him with a Platinum Love Band. Then Yashvi got to work – confirming their daily yoga practice session.

Let’s start with a little partner stretching – you push, I pull, we balance it all out.

Dhawal looks on in awe and a little confusion as Yashvi does a perfect Virabhadrasana (Warrior pose).

This couple in matching Vrikshasanas (Tree pose) know it takes a few trees to make a forest!

She’s trying to focus her third eye but he’s only got eyes for her!

Yashvi wants to know why Dhaval just can’t concentrate today!

From the warm up to the Navkasana (Boat pose), to touching fingers, Yashvi taught Dhaval a few new moves and sneakily slid that platinum band of love on his finger!

Dhawal: Wait… What is this?

Yashvi: Will you be my yoga partner for life?

“Always and Forever” says Dhawal.

True love is really uplifting on every plane… mental, physical and spiritual.

This was indeed a day that would stay with them forever, just like these platinum love bands!

Make-up artist Love Actually’ write to [email protected] with the link to your Facebook profiles, wedding date and ‘How you met’ story. Selected couples will be invited for the shoots in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

Platinum love bands and Jewelry:  ORRA Bandra Venue: Preeti’s Makeup Missile Photographer: Wedding Art

Little by little, with each passing day it is becoming easier to live a socially conscious life and when it comes to your big day, it can serve as a way of sharing your joy with a lot more people than you think! A wedding comes with many moving parts and several aspects bring along the opportunity to make a choice that will benefit others thus making your festivities more philanthropic. Right from donating to charities to volunteering yourself, there are many options that one can explore.

Here are seven ways in which you can let the ‘D’ in you D-Day stand for the difference you make by allowing your wedding to be a charitable one.

The new generation of brides and grooms are always on the lookout for trending elements, these include food buffets and bar setups that are anything but regular for their wedding functions. They want to do something different that will be memorable for their guests. These couples are interested in showcasing unique and offbeat gastronomy such as DIY food stalls, vegan and healthy dishes or cuisine cooked with local ingredients and techniques. The Taj is committed to providing exemplary service and is well equipped to cater to all special requests, to help make your wedding timeless. Here, we interviewed Shyam Longani, Executive Chef,

Amit: “We have a lot of guests who enquire about the source of the ingredients, and request for local ingredients. In order to cater to their requests, we source a majority of our ingredients locally. Also, we try and incorporate innovative, local ingredients that are sourced from smaller producers rather than major brand names.”

Amit: “Some additional unique food-related ideas include having personalized gifts such as goodie bags with customized desserts, the use of rustic props and sculptures to enhance the food menu theme and informative displays with calorie count and sugar content for the health-conscious.”

Shyam: “Spend time with your chefs and discuss the food menu at length. Get suggestions from your chefs, entrust them and have faith in them. Do trials and tastings. Share your feelings and thoughts with your chefs, so that they are able to transform your ideas into sensational dishes and do justice to your event. Last but not least, be practical and choose quality over huge spreads.”

Naing Win and Aye Nandar Myint’s reception and cocktail party in

Meticulously executed by the team in a span of two weeks, the reception hosted 500 guests, including the who’s who of the Myanmar government. The dignitaries were treated to over 14 spectacular local folk performances put together by talented native Thai dancers.

The decor emulated lush forests, with hues of purple thrown into the exotic setting through lights. Candles and lasers illuminated the forest, enhancing its magical appeal. Luscious blooms, embellished arches and chandeliers contributed to the gorgeous decor. There was also a gigantic tiered cake that was later cut by the couple. The ceiling was decorated with drapes and lasers that resembled the magnificence of a starry night.

The highlight of the special night was the ring ceremony. For the event, the couple’s wedding rings were brought in by flight – via trained exotic birds!

Nidhi and Varun first met at a music festival but long after the festival ended, the romantic background score played on. A few years later, they decided to celebrate their wedding at the Jai Mahal Palace. The festivities, orchestrated by WeddingSutra Favorite – Indian Wedding Planners, were a sight to behold! Co-founder Anant Khandelwal says, “Our vision for this wedding was to create regal magnificence and we spared no effort in trying to achieve absolute perfection. Right from palatial venues and magnificent decor to captivating couple entries and other unique details, everything contributed to this royal theme. This indeed was a once in a lifetime celebration that will be cherished not only by the two families but also their gusts.”

The groom tells us their story and shares highlights from their wedding.

“Soon after the engagement, our families decided on a destination wedding in Jaipur. We wanted the venue to be very regal and Jai Mahal Palace stole our hearts! The 280-year-old, 18-acre property has three large lawns that are frequented by peacocks and various species of birds. Not only was this hotel undeniably majestic but even the staff were incredibly warm and hospitable.”

Indian Wedding Planners and it was a pleasure working with them. They did a fantastic job of bringing everything that we wanted to life using their expertise. The team was patient, cooperative, willing to understand our needs and eager to work with us as a family. We are grateful to have had them by our side through this journey.”

“We kicked off the wedding with a smashing pool party in shades of blue, yellow and white. At the entrance, we had trellises decorated with oversized paper flowers along with wooden ladders decked with fresh blooms. The canopies featured origami birds while colorful paper lanterns were suspended from the trees. The vibrant color palette we chose was perfect for this bright day!”

Rambagh Palace under the starry sky. While the decor designed for this function further enhanced the regal appeal of the venue, the stellar performances put together by our family and friends made this night absolutely unforgettable.”

“For the Sufi Night, Nidhi and I made our entry to the song ‘Azeem-O-Shaan Shehenshah’ in a horse-drawn chariot. The dress code was red and gold. The décor was filled with Moroccan-inspired elements – metal water jugs decorated with flowers as centerpieces, large Moroccan lamps at the entrance and sofas with bright rugs and cushions set the stage.”

Jai Mahal Palace to life. I arrived with my baaraat on an elephant for the varmala. This was followed by a beautiful ceremony conducted by a priest who explained the significance of each ritual. These were some of the most poignant moments from all the festivities and are sure to be etched in our memories forever.”

Venues: Jai Mahal Palace (Pool Party, Mehendi, Sufi night and Wedding), Rambagh Palace (Sangeet) Wedding Planner: Indian Wedding Planners Makeup: Zorains Studio and Khowsalya DJ: DJ Ronnie Choreography: Vijay and Zafar

Photography: The Candid Pictures

‘A Day With WeddingSutra Favorites’ is all about WeddingSutra bringing its wedding planning enthusiasm and expertise to excited to-be weds. We customize a program for one lucky WeddingSutra reader, which includes visiting a specially-curated list of wedding service providers, wedding couturiers and other specialists. This process has turned out to be invaluable for couples planning their wedding.

Bride-to-be Palaek spoke to us about how her ‘Day with WeddingSutra Favorites’ helped her gain valuable insights when planning her dream wedding.

If you’re engaged and would like to spend ‘A Day with WeddingSutra Favorites’, please send in your nomination as per format below (email: [email protected]).

Selected readers will be invited for this unique experience in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore.

Email Subject line: A Day with WeddingSutra Favorites

Please share your names, links to your Facebook profiles, date of your wedding, the city you live in and the city where you will be getting married.

Photos Courtesy: The Photo lab