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We're all suckers for fairytale romances. Especially those that entail a fabulous wedding in its chapters. And that's what we witnessed with the amazing wedding story of Shelley and Nikhil, a couple that met halfway across the world, yet held their wedding closer to home and that too in an offbeat backdrop of a cafe! Scroll down below for one of the most fantastically picturesque Intimate Wedding we have seen so far where Shelley’s mother made 500 paper cranes for the wedding day that is simply WOW! 

The LifeInANikShell Love Story

This fairytale romance began in the sandy regions of Dubai, in the Middle East. Normally, Dubai is considered to be an extremely safe city. However, our bride, Shelley, had the weirdest luck in the city and got kissed by a total stranger on the forehead on her second day there. Obviously a bit traumatised, she called a friend who introduced her to Nikhil. When Nikhil and Shelly met, something must have gone right, because time flew by for them, as Nikhil laughed at Shelley's initial Dubai experiences and they immersed themselves in conversation. 

Soon, The Dubai Mall became a common meeting place for the duo, since they came from different ends of the city. They had a special spot in the park facing the Burj Khalifa where they would lie on the grass and rant about their lives every week. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.

When Nikhil proposed to Shelley, he went back to that spot and sent her a video from there which obviously made her cry before 'She Said Yes!'

Finally, In 2018, Shelley and Nikhil decided that it was time they took their relationship to the next level and get married. 

Shelley & Nikhil's Gorgeous Intimate Wedding Celebrations

When Shelley and Nikhil decided to get married, they set a few ground rules:

  • They would fund it.
  • Because they were funding it, it had to be a limited guest list (85-90 guests approx).
  • They wanted a mountain wedding.

They conversed with a number of planners, got quotes from numerous hotels until they finally found their match in Plan With Nonya. For their wedding, while the couple was unsure of what they wanted, they were a hundred per cent sure of what they didn't want and that was a flashy and elaborate celebration. Their wedding board included ideas that danced around a rustic mountain theme, something more natural and organic. 

As their wedding started coming together, Shelley's parents fell ill. This made the couple choose a location closer to home, which was ideally Gurgaon. Finding a suitably quiet location in the middle of the bustling city was difficult, but not impossible. Eventually, the functions took place in a cute little blue hotel tucked inside the lanes of Gurgaon and their wedding at a cafe! There was nothing ordinary about this wedding, even the invites were personalised and designed by Shelley herself, with visual clues from the venues, leaving us very impressed.

Sangeet Party With Mediterranean Lanterns & Florals

Both Shelley and Nikhil are cursed with two left feet, so the idea of a Sangeet function wasn't really something they were looking forward to. But since they had guests coming from all over, the couple decided to rise to the occasion and throw them a party they all deserved. 

They ensured that their wedding planner made the venue vibrant, with lots of fairy lights. In fact, the planner combined Shelley's obsession for turquoise and teal and Nikhil's love for earthy tones and transformed the simple and quaint terrace of Blooms Boutique into a gorgeous rustic paradise. Bold use of colours, specks of gold, Indian motifs and a whole lot of lights! The vibe was extremely Indian with a few highlights of Mediterranean lanterns and florals spread across the outdoor venue. They even had an experimental mix of cocktails which made sure everyone forgot about Shelley and Nikhil’s awkward dancing and focused on enjoying themselves all night! For March, the weather was almost as good as mountain weather almost like divine intervention. 

For her sangeet ceremony, Shelley picked out a gorgeous ultramarine blue lehenga with subtle gold embroidery by designer Pooja Peshoria. Nikhil, on the other hand, wore a dashing black sherwani from Erkan, Dubai - a designer store owned by his close friend who took the overall responsibility of making this groom look like a groom. One of the most essential elements of their ensemble was their comfy shoes, which they were very particular about so that they could enjoy themselves to the fullest!

Another element of their wedding was food. When Shelley and Nikhil first met, they had bonded immensely over food and their love for it. The venue also shared a similar sentiment and lived up to the couple's expectations. With a staff as sweet as honey, every guest felt like they had come to their grandmother’s home where they got pampered, but in a homely way. 

Intimate Wedding At a Cafe in Gurgaon

Shelley and Nikhil were all in for their wedding at gorgeous blue coloured Blooms Boutique, there wasn't enough space there. So, their planner found them a quaint yet stunning BYOB cafe just 10 minutes away called Cafe Soul Garden. The moment the couple walked into the cafe, they were in love. The whole idea of holding their intimate wedding at a cafe like this just clicked! There’s a feeling that you get when you’re able to imagine a mandap and all your family and friends around you, and this was it. 

The venue was as excited as the couple. So much so, that they even hired a chef from Lucknow to ensure that they were catering correctly to the desi palette. Honestly, the couple never thought they'd ever get emotional over wedding food, but this time, it was so good that they were surprised beyond imagination. The venue was decorated based on 'Brunch in Positano' vibes. The entire place was covered in fresh blues, whites and greens with highlights of lemon yellow. A special addition to the decor were the hanging strings of over 500 paper cranes that Shelley’s mother made!

For the wedding ceremony, Shelley wore a gorgeous beige silk saree by Suzanna and Sophie's, while Nikhil was dressed in a beige ensemble by Erkan, Dubai.

The couple had a Malayali wedding with a mix of Bengali traditions with the help of Nikhil's parents who helped organise the ceremony. The Ceremony was quick and fun and followed by a live band, a friend’s - The Revisit Project, who made sure that no one was sitting down even for a minute! Shelley’s sister-in-law had baked the cake for the wedding, which was a delicious addition to the whole event where not even a piece was left!

The wedding in whole was unique due to its reflection of who Shelley and Nikhil are as individuals. Plus, since it was an intimate wedding with a close group, everyone had a role to play and was a special part of those two beautiful days together!

WEDDING VENDORS

Wedding Photographer: Mohit Kapil Weddings | Wedding Planner: Plan with Nonya | Wedding Venues: Bloom Boutique Hotel (Sangeet); Cafe Soul Garden, Gurgaon (Wedding) | Bride's Outfit: Pooja Peshoria (Sangeet); Suzanna and Sophie's (Wedding)  | Groom's Outfit: Erkan.Dubai | Bridal Jewellery: Prerto (Sangeet); Tanishq (Wedding) | Bride's Makeup: Makeup by Simran | Hairstylist: Gaurav Chawla | Wedding Rentals: With Love Noor | Shoes: Chalk Studio | Wedding Cake: Kisses Hugs and Cake

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So, what did you like the most from this adorable intimate wedding? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!


Unique Intimate Wedding At a Cafe in Gurgaon With Tons of DIY & Personalised Elements!

by Shivani Singh

Unique Intimate Wedding At a Cafe in Gurgaon With Tons of DIY & Personalised Elements!