Beachside weddings at an exotic location are no new thing. But when we spot one which is as grand as that of Deepika’s and Anushka’s, it’s hard to be ignored & put at the back seat. And that’s exactly what happened when we stumbled upon Viren & Kena’s magical nuptials in JW Marriott, Khao Lak, Thailand! From a sangeet that boasted of vivid hues, power-packed performances & gorgeous designer outfits to the wedding that saw a dreamy, pastel-hued mandap and the bride entering on a boat, this couple’s unending celebrations had all things fancy (that immediately caught our attention!) You will literally stop and gaze at all the lovely pictures captured by the ace crew of Destination Photographers. So, dive straight into this magic created by DFL Events and Wizkim Wedding Design & Style.

Kena and Viren's Extravagant Wedding Ceremonies

Kankotri Ceremony

Commencing their wedding celebrations with some inevitable rituals, Kena and Viren hosted a warm & intimate Kankotri ceremony at their home (invitation writing ceremony) where the two families invited each other for the big day celebrations. Even though it was a close-knit affair, the decorations were done beautifully. There were a lot of marigold garlands hanging down the trees, tucked at the entrance and sprinkled around the entire venue. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the happy & spiritual vibes of the event. Since Kena was not in town, Viren made all possible efforts to get everyone at ease. Also, he made for a charming groom in his muted khadi kurta and that consistent smile on his face.

Warm Welcome

The official wedding shenanigans began at JW Marriott, Khao Lak, Thailand with a fun-filled welcome. The ace team of DFL events left no stone unturned to plan every single detail with perfection. There were thai artists who welcomed the guests with a flower shower and a couple of Dhol-walas who got them grooving. Viren and Kena were dressed their casual best. While Viren kept it all comfy in his white shirt and blue shorts, Kena swore by an easy-breezy co-ord set to keep it all light and simple.

Also, don’t miss out on those red paper parasols that made just the perfect prop for their photos.

Sundowner Mehndi

Owing to how cheerful and light-hearted a mehndi ceremony is supposed to be, Kena and Viren celebrated their Mehndi ceremony with all sorts of fun and glamour. The venue for the day was gorgeously adorned with cascading bulbs, elegant flower arrangements and pillar candles. There was also a gardenia themed photo booth wrapped up in lush greens & blossoming flowers put up in one corner. The pool area was equally lit, with all those fancy adornments.

Giving us some major outfit inspiration, Kena looked every bit stunning on her Mehndi ceremony. She again opted for an elegant co-ord set, but this time straight out of the swanky stores of Anita Dongre. It was an eye-pleasing printed lehenga and crop top set, paired up with a bunch of oxidised jewels & dramatic braided hair. Adding the finishing touches was her clean face, rosy lips and fluttery eyes. Viren, on the other hand, looked all desi in his white Kurta-pyjama set which he teamed with a phulkari dupatta (Yes, it’s a fad amongst grooms too!)

Post-Mehndi Rituals

To loosen up a bit & do away with some mandatory rituals, the bride and her squad planned a relaxing bridal shower right after the mehndi madness. It was all about raising toasts, delivering hearty speeches, playing fun games, relishing wine sips and all things girly. And to add to it were their cutesy co-ordinated PJs in pink. We absolutely loved how the bride looked so happy in all of her photos and seemed to have enjoyed it all to the fullest.

Manglik Prasang

Prior to the wedding day, the couple indulged in a series of spiritual events, one of which was their Manglik Prasang ceremony. This ceremony involved several different prayers to Lord Ganesha, to remove all the obstacles from their happily ever after. The bride was smeared with turmeric paste & blessed by the elders of the two families. All in all, it was a very auspicious event for the couple and the two families. 

Keeping their outfit game on point, Viren and Kena dressed in their fashionable outfits for this ceremony. Viren slipped into  an asymmetrical yellow kurta with a pair of white churidars and looked all dapper. Kena too struted in style donning her ivory lehenga with a tangerine jacket-style cape & some floral jewels.

Scintillating Sangeet

The Sangeet was one helluva affair, with every nook and corner screaming of vibrancy. As you enter, there were colorful potted plants lined up at the entrance archway with a couple of signages and some pompom strings & dreamcatchers etched on the wooden arches. For the sitting lounges, there were comfy sofas, cushions and tall paper parasols to prevent the guests from scorching heat. The bar area was also outlined with popping yellows, blues & purples. However, taking all the brownie points and making for a perfect photo op, was the couple’s breathtaking jhoola seating. It was all inked in vibrant hues. The team of Wizkim Wedding Design & Style definitely deserves an applaud for doing such a great job with the decor. 

Coming to the couple’s sangeet looks, they were just as phenomenal. Kena picked up a flashy firozi lehenga and ornamented her look with an offbeat meenakari set and a stack of colorful bangles. Her makeup artist further brushed off her face with subtle base, bold lips and striking eyes to add some more charm to her look. Viren whereas, complemented her just well, dressed in an ivory Kurta-pyjama with a printed nehru jacket.

But this wasn’t all! Soon after their sober day sangeet shenanigans, they jumped into their groovy sangeet mode in the night. A lot of choreographed performances were lined up for the day. The couple literally set the stage on fire with their killer moves and roped in all the others as well. The decorations were themed around a carnival, with a lot of reds and whites taking over their sangeet setup. 

Playing their color-coordination game strong, Kena and Viren dressed themselves in classy ivory outfits. Kena made for a complete diva in her all white chikankari lehenga which she styled with a set of noteworthy baubles. She refrained from doing too many alterations with her makeup & hair, and kept it as it is. Viren effortlessly matched with her beauty by donning an all white kurta-pyjama and a chikankari blazer over it. 

The Wedding Day

For Viren and his family, the wedding day kick-started with the usual haldi proceedings, where everyone from his immediate family smeared his face with the turmeric paste. Even though it was a low-key affair, the groom’s closed ones made it double the fun for him. 

The wedding day was an elegant display of pastel hues, attention-grabbing entries and dazzling outfits. The decorations for the big day were par excellence. Whether it was the stage, the sitting area, the table settings or the entrance, every little and big detail was planned meticulously. However, our favorite highlight was the oh-so-whimsical mandap, where all the action took place. It was magically bedecked with florals, drapes and lush greens.

Before heading towards the altar and beginning with her new phase of life, Kena surprised her mommy and daddy dearest with personalised gifts, that comprised of custom-made mother & father mugs, a couple of white roses and hand-written notes for both. 

Dressed in a ravishing red gota patti lehenga and a contrasting powder blue blouse from Anita Dongre, Kena made a  stellar bridal entry on her wedding day. She zipped through the waters, sitting on a boat like a royal queen, that instantly caught everyone’s fancy (tbh, ours too!) And giving her tough competition was none other than her own soulmate, Viren. Looking dapper in his ivory ensemble with a printed nehru jacket and an orange safa, Viren entered the venue with a lot of pomp and show. He danced all the way to the mandap with all his baraatis and it was total Dhamal.

Glamorous Reception

The wedding was followed by a hep reception bash, where the bride and the groom took their fashion game one step ahead. While Kena opted for a glimmering moon-grey attire with a sleek diamond set & half-tie hair, Viren, on the other hand, slayed in a classic black tux with a white shirt and a black bow-tie.

Much like all the other ceremonies, the decor for the reception night was also done with utmost perfection. Flowy drapes, ornate chairs, floral chandeliers and cascading paper crystals were all incorporated into this wedding. What acted as a cherry on top was the couple’s sizzling performance and the guests’ heart-filling speeches.

Fun Pool Party

Concluding their revelries on a rather joyous note, Viren and Kena threw a refreshing pool-party that got us hooked at the very first sight. The decorations for the fun party was a mix of bohemian and rustic. There were a lot of drool-worthy elements infused in the setup, like the tangerine mini bus that acted as a photo booth, the tented sitting lounges, the fun gaming area, the floating snack bar and a lot more. 

Giving us a tingling feeling in our stomachs was also the couple's sweet, romantic chemistry, that was evident in all of their pictures.

WEDDING VENDORS

Wedding Photography: Destination Photographers | Wedding Location: JW Marriott, Khao Lak, Thailand | Wedding Planner: DFL Events | Wedding Decorator: Wizkim Wedding Design & Style | Bride's Outfits: Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Nivedita Saboo, Mumbai (Reception), Ohm Creation, Ahmedabad (Manglik Prasang), Anita Dongre (Mehndi, Wedding) | Bride's Jewellery: Fuzion, Ahmedabad, Shamini Patel, Baroda | Groom's Outfits: Just Men, Mumbai | Makeup & Hair: Anjali Bhasker, Vishnu Witsanu

The couple's stylish outfits or the bride's phenomenal entry, what did you like the most about this wedding ?

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