About: Vivaah Celebrations

Touted as the ‘Mega Wedding of the Year 2021’, the celebrations for Kashika and Anish took shape over a 10-months detailed planning and conceptualizing journey managed by Vivaah Celebrations under the leadership of globally renowned wedding planner in Dubai; Rahul Kumar. 

The destination wedding venue was the prestigious Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah where guests were accommodated for the entire week as they enjoyed multiple events as part of the elaborate celebrations.

With over 70 operations executives, 100 fabricators, 12 florists, 60 chefs, 40 different menus and above all, over 35 performing artists, this 7-day wedding celebration was truly a spectacle that was 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 The Address Montgomerie, this outdoor event saw the Bride being adorned with the traditional wedding ornaments and jewellery. 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.

A 24-hour French Patisserie 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 ambience music serenading them. A special highlight contribution was brought in each day by renowned Cake & Confectionery Designer, 

The Venetian themed Welcome Dinner was held at The IMPERIUM at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. This event had all guests in attendance since many travelled in and checked-in to the hotel on the morning of. The guest 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 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 were 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. Belting out top chart numbers they wowed the audience with their power packed performance. 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 games 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 bling and opulence, this event saw a 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 favourite 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 on this 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 sat 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 offering, 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 Bride entry. Situated over the beach, the Mandap sat pretty with the backdrops of the Arabian Sea. The rituals and ceremonies ended late at night as the guests blessed the lovely couple for a happy married life ahead.

All the themes, concepts, show flows and artists were planned, conceptualized and managed by Vivaah Celebrations.

 Vivaah Celebrations is a premier Wedding Planning & Management company operating locally and globally for Destination Weddings under the leadership of Rahul Kumar who has over a decade of experience planning and managing weddings globally. To plan your next event, connect with us at info@vivaahcelebrations.com

#theREALvivaahteam

The significance of unique tablescapes has grown over time. It elevates the event in various ways and brings life to the overall theme. It takes the right eye to design tablescapes that go well with the theme and enhance it further. Vivaah Celebrations identifies beautiful ways in which tablescapes are used to wow guests at your Wedding Celebrations.

It is always recommended to complement the existing theme or colour scheme of a venue space rather than fighting against it and create tablescapes that may look out of place or be an eyesore. We guide the couples with which shades would look good in daylight and which designs will shine in its sheer magnificence for the evening events.

The choice of linen is always the first pick as its sets the base for everything else to flow over it. Depending on the theme, you could choose to go abstract art or classic. Both have their own charm. It is essential to pick carefully to ensure that the tablescapes complement the theme rather than being disruptive. Once the base linen has been picked, everything that sits atop can be customized. From charger plates to candelabras, floral arrangements, name tags, napkins, and a lot more. It is ideal to have a continuous theme throughout the event from tablescapes to entrance décor, stage design and the bar design. This provides the guests an immersive and a wholesome experience.

Trends are dynamic and season-specific. More recently, we have seen the couple choose more earthy colours and wild elements such as Pampas Grass, Old Potpourri, Raw Wooden elements, and so forth. The theme here is sustainability and minimal wastage. The couples these days choose to use elements that can be easily obtained rather than creating pieces using materials that are toxic to the environment.

Cotton, Silk, Sheer, and Velvet have been used over the years as staple tablescape base linens. However, lately, we see couples opting for their favourite designers to work on their tablescapes for their big day starting from the base linen which incorporates their signature design. This creates a more luxe feel to the entire wedding event setting.

Interactive features such as ‘Build your own Salad’ or ‘Cook your own Meal’ have become one of the favourites in the recent past. This helps break the ice between guests seated on a table and makes way for fun activities throughout the evening. The concept of Interactive Tables is now quite a hit.

Detailing and personalization is possible in almost all areas of a wedding celebration these days. However, we recommend not to overdo it. We have seen that it gets a bit too much when guests are made to see the couples’ branding everywhere from napkins to linens to cocktails, stage designs, etc. We believe in ‘Less is More’. Keep it classy and elegant. It is good to accentuate certain elements such as the wedding cake or the photo corner.

The number of ways one can incorporate unique tablescapes is countless. Wow, your guests with an experience as no other by implementing these tablescapes at your Celebrations. 

Vivaah Celebrations is a premier Wedding Planning & Management company operating locally and globally for Destination Weddings under the leadership of Rahul Kumar who has over a decade of experience planning and managing weddings globally. To plan your next event, connect with us at info@vivaahcelebrations.com

A candid discussion with the best Wedding Filmmakers and Photographers

Weddings are once in a lifetime celebration which has its own special moments that a couple can reminisce for a lifetime. To capture these unforgettable moments, there exists a team of mavericks who have the knack of timing, lighting and more importantly, story-telling. 

Vivaah Celebrations spoke to some of the finest talent in the world of Wedding Photography and Filmmaking to understand the thought process and inspiration behind some of the most iconic wedding films and images. This art truly deserves its recognition to the levels of the Oscars as every emotion, celebration and joyous moment is captures for eternity. Precious moments can be cherished for a long time to come, only if they’re captured by talented and passionate professionals.

We asked one of the most renowned and sought-after wedding photographers in India, the Award-winning duo Sam & Ekta (IG: @sam_and_ekta); What are the key essentials they expect from a couple to be able to capture their special moments in their signature style.

“We like to break the ice with our couples before the wedding – we try to catch up with them over dinner or an evening out, so we get to know each other beyond just emails, messages & phone calls. This helps us connect with them on a personal level. Since we do not follow a template approach, we expect the couple to have complete trust in our approach toward photography & wedding films and go with the flow. The couples who get us on board always understand that we work with a childlike curiosity in a wedding, observing and documenting everything we find interesting.

Lastly, we want our couples to enjoy their wedding as much as they can, so that our documentary approach in photos & films can truly capture their experience of their own wedding – every choice we make is designed toward enabling this.” – Sam & Ekta

Avid travellers and thrill seekers, Noopur and Anish of Happy Flashbacks (IG: @happy_flashbacks) have been wanderers and explorers in search of adventure all their lives. This has influenced their style of capturing and presenting wedding photos and films. We asked them when they discovered their passion for wedding films and photography and if their journey has been an easy sail or a bumpy road?

“We at Happy Flashbacks believe in honest storytelling. Our goal with HFB is to document stories in a way that is thrilling and fun, making the couple the protagonists of their own film. 

It all started with a dream and a conversation over a cup of morning tea. The inception of the name ‘Happy Flashbacks’ that morning is what propelled us to pursue this idea, and it was helped by the fact that we wanted to take on a new creative journey as a couple. And so we began, in 2015, with the wedding shoot of our first ever couple and there was no looking back. 

Today, we’re proud to see how far we’ve come. But our thirst for good stories hasn’t been satisfied. And we’re always on the lookout for interesting stories. We capture moments as they happen – spontaneous and unvarnished. We capture details that are often overlooked; personal moments, the little oddities, and a relationship unscripted. 

It surely has been a bumpy ride, with few challenges out of our control, however these have been a great learning, making us manoeuvre and come up with better solutions and effective approaches towards our work. The journey so far has been adventurous and that’s how we both like it. 

The bumps on the way are what truly makes us better and we feel fortunate to experience it all.” – Noopur and Anish

Delhi-based Lakshya Chawla of Shutterdown Photography (IG: @shutterdownphotography) is a genius when it comes to using the best state of the art technology to produce captivating content. In discussion with Megha K of Vivaah Celebrations, Lakshya tell us what major shift in trends he sees going forward in wedding films and photography at destination weddings.

“With technology progressing leaps and bounds, we see that the clients today are willing to embrace and accept our recommendation for something path breaking and innovative. The technology I strongly believe in and presently working on is – Virtual Reality. We are seeing Virtual Reality as the next big thing in Wedding Photography and Filming. More than just seeing the films on screen, people would love the experience the entire wedding. Have a 360-degree experience of the property where the wedding took place and literally being a part of the Baraat and Sangeet is something that everyone would want and love to experience in the coming few years.” – Lakshya Chawla

Luv Israni and Megha Israni, the brother-sister duo of Israni Photography (IG: @israniphotography) have a rich legacy of Photography and Films as a profession in their family across generations. Luv is known to be someone who guides and mentors the young breed of photographers and filmmakers. Vivaah Celebrations asked him what advice would he like to give to those looking at exploring the world of wedding films and photography?

“Wedding Photography and Filmmaking is a wonderful job that allows you to be a part of the couple’s most memorable moments. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a treasured memory! For some starting new I would like to say, “Don’t treat it like a job; instead, become engaged on a personal level and treat the family like your own. Also make sure you are always on your toes so you don’t miss out on capturing any key moment or emotion. One must consider the genre in terms other than profession; I truly believe that we must respect the fact that someone has invested a significant sum of money in capturing this very special moment in their life, and as professionals, we must ensure that the smile on their face remains even after the event is over, because the moment may be gone, but the memories we have created for them will live on.” – Luv Israni

Dubai-based Anish Ahuja of Imprint Studio (IG: @imprintwedding) has shot some of the most beautiful weddings around the world. We asked him if he sees any difference in expectations from clients from the Middle East vis-a-vis clients from the Indian subcontinent.

“Having covered over 180 weddings in the last 10 years in beautiful destinations like Switzerland, France, Thailand, Bali, Ibiza, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Turkey, Oman, Baku, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah & our home turf – Dubai, we feel our clients from the Middle East market are not so different from the Indian market. A wedding is a special occasion in the lives of the couple and their families. They all want the same thing in terms of preferences & style which is Creative Candid Wedding Photography & Contemporary Storytelling Cinematic Wedding Films.

As a team of professionals, we have always raised the bar and challenged ourselves to provide the most heart-warming photos and films that our clients cherish for a lifetime.” – Anish Ahuja

Connect with Vivaah Celebrations on info@vivaahcelebrations.com for your Wedding Celebrations!

Top Female DJs in the region exploring Destination Weddings

Wedding Celebrations are synonymous with music and dance extravaganzas, fun sessions on the dancefloor and high energy performances. It is seldom seen that the talent facilitating and making all of this happen is recognized at all. Some behind the scenes, some on the forefront, this community of talent is one aspect of the wedding we cannot function without. Yes, these are our beloved DJs!

Staying up endless hours, constantly belting out chart hits, attending to guest requests and keeping the momentum going is all a part of their daily lives ensuring that their audience have an ecstatic time. 

Another breed of talent slowly and gradually making their way into the mainstream foray is a bunch of talented Female DJs who can definitely give their counterparts a run for their money. Not just pretty faces, these ladies are the total package of confidence, attitude and immense talent.

Leading wedding planners in Dubai, Vivaah Celebrations spoke to some of the finest Female DJs in the region to get their two cents on the evolution of the music scene in the events and wedding industry and what the future holds for them. 

DJ Panache (IG: @djpanachedubai) is a sensation amongst her fans, mesmerizing audiences with innovative mixes at the clubs and with her creative music production skills. Having conceptualized and featured in several music videos, she is unstoppable. We asked her what made her opt for DJing as a career.

“I have always been passionate about music. Keeping in mind the latest trend of music, I learnt to DJ. It just began as a hobby when I was at university. But when I started performing and the crowd would ask for more, I knew I could never quit DJing. I like being different, so I started performing audio visual acts that would fascinate the crowd. I also release my mixes very often and play them as a part of my set. All I want to do right now is wait for clubs to allow dancing on the floors…so I can hit the decks and make the crowd groove to my beats. A career that lets you travel, meet new people and play some banger music- I’d be crazy not to choose it!” – DJ Panache

Another super talent creating ripples in the music scene is DJ Tripti (IG: @djtripty). Hailing from India, she is currently one of the most popular Bollywood DJ based in Dubai. She experiments with her vibrant style of blending Bollywood, Hip-Hop, Reggaeton, Arabic and Afrobeat keeping the music scenario fresh, exciting and energetic. Vivaah Celebrations asked her how she managed to make a mark for herself in a predominantly male dominated industry and the challenges she has faced along the way.

‘’Similar to all other industries, music and entertainment industry also happens to be predominantly male dominated and women have to go that extra mile with their display of talent to prove their worth to win the attention and respect of their audience.

Without a doubt, it is easier to get an entry being a female DJ, but it is much harder to sustain from there on. High expectations, rolling eyeballs and heavy criticism comes from the closest people who would like to see you quit. But, you also find a lot of music lovers in your journey who will believe in you and inspire you to grow big despite of the gender roles. Over the years I’ve come to understand that it is important to have fun while playing and entertaining the crowd which has definitely helped me the most to evolve.

Music is dynamic and ever-changing. I enjoy my career playfully which helps me grow and groom along the way. It brings me great happiness to see people groove at my fingertips. As a DJ, that is my motto.” – DJ Tripty

In a candid conversation, we asked one of the most renowned DJs in India, Akanksha Popli (IG: @djakankshapopli) whether she prefers playing for an audience at the clubs or mesmerising guests at a destination wedding.

“For me, playing in the clubs has always been my first love because that’s where I started my career. After appreciating my music internationally, families and couples started hiring my services for their weddings. While I enjoy entertaining audiences of all kinds, the only difference is that in clubs we don’t get to connect with the crowd emotionally and directly. We can most definitely play their favours tracks and keep them engaged. But when you are playing in a wedding you feel like a part of the family; you get to meet them, you can talk to them and shake a leg with them, specially in a destination wedding. In my opinion, a DJ’s career should parallelly exist at clubs as well as weddings. I personally cannot favour one over the other.” – DJ Akanksha Popli

Connect with Vivaah Celebrations on info@vivaahcelebrations.com for your Wedding Celebrations!

Families globally are beginning to understand the significance of unique floral elements for their celebrations. Flowers can be implemented in numerous ways throughout your beautiful Wedding Celebrations, from bouquets and boutonnieres to exquisite floral centerpieces, guest experiences, and flower petals down the aisle. These blossoms can be utilized in various ways. 

Flowers are a vital element of any wedding celebration; they have the power to enhance the ambiance, beautify the venue and create memorable moments for your unforgettable day. Vivaah Celebrations identifies beautiful ways in which florals are used to wow guests at your Wedding Celebrations. 

Guest Welcome

Every wedding experience starts with the welcome of your loved ones. One way to use flowers is  to create a welcome experience by giving out a rose blossom to your guests upon their arrival at the Wedding Destination. This can be something handed over at the airport or the venue.

If you’d like to give out at the venue, this may be in the form of a boutonniere for men, an accessory for women, or simply a flower handed over to them, but it most definitely would touch your guests’ hearts and set the mood for the celebration. 

Floral Jewelry

The inclination of floral jewelry has continued to pick up by chic brides again, and the trend seems like it’s only growing amongst these gorgeous brides. Day events such as the Mehendi and Haldi have been opportunities for brides to flaunt their beautiful floral jewelry with their vivid attires. 

Any bride can implement this jewelry for her big day. From traditional events to a simple lunch or even her big wedding day, floral jewelry can be hair accessories, floral bangles, necklaces, or even floral earrings, making you look like you’ve come out straight of a fairytale. Should you wish to go more traditional, floral jewelry can also be anklets, maang ka tikka, or other hand accessories; the options are limitless. 

Wedding Garlands  

Exchanging Wedding Garlands has been a tradition that has been carried forward over the years. These garlands are made of fresh flowers; thus, using the right choice of flowers and ensuring that the garlands match your bridal outfits and the decor around you is very important. Using the right flowers to compliment the theme can make a huge difference. 

Bridal Bouquets and Boutonnieres 

The use of Fresh flowers for bridal bouquets and boutonnieres is one of the most elegant ways to implement flowers on your big day. There’s a variety of flowers you can use while ensuring they match the outfits. These boutonnieres are perfect for your Groom and groomsmen while the bride carries the beautiful bouquet. If you aspire to add some color to the bridesmaids, they can even have an elegant floral hair clip to match the others. 

Wedding Decor  

Any wedding decor is crucial as it sets the mood, vibe, ambiance and beautifies the venue. Using fresh flowers and implementing them in your decor is only going to make your venue stunning. Centerpieces can be designed and made with fresh flowers, whether peonies, hydrangeas, or roses, or a mix of all. Brides also tend to love a heavy floral mandap or wedding arch for their big day, as this definitely adds a wow factor to the decor. This can be followed by an aisle with flowers on both sides, making it exclusive for the bride. 

Fancy a floral backdrop like Kim K. this can be used as a photo wall for your gorgeous wedding day! Flowers can be implemented in so many different aspects of your decor, whether your stage, entrance arches, or enhancing your tablescapes. 

Wedding Cake  

Choosing your wedding cake does not revolve solely around the flavor; however, design and aesthetics also play a significant role! Amidst all the decor and floral aspects, incorporating fresh flowers picked straight from the garden on your wedding cake can add a lot to the overall decor: Roses, Ranunculus, orchids, or even peonies. Whichever flowers you choose to incorporate, they will definitely give a touch of elegance. 

Fresh flowers on wedding confections have been used a lot; however, this trend is undoubtedly coming back. We at Vivaah Celebrations can assist you with designs and even connect you to professionals who’d know the best way to implement these buds in your wedding cake. 

Edible Flowers  

The number of ways you can incorporate flowers at your wedding celebrations is countless. Wow, your guests with cocktails, appetizers, meals, and desserts with gorgeous edible flowers. This is not as widely seen, so it will surely leave an impression and enhance your food aesthetics. Rosemary, Lavender, and many other edible flowers are now available to add a touch of elegance to your food.

Overall, incorporating flowers in a few different aspects of your wedding can surely help tie your decor together. It makes everything match one another, whether your cake, tablescapes, or the wedding aisle, making the event glamorous. 

Connect with us at info@vivaahcelebrations.com to help you plan your beautiful Wedding Celebrations. 

In conversation with the top choreographers in the region

The Big Fat Indian Wedding would be incomplete without elaborate dance performances, designer outfits and larger than life celebrations. 

Sangeet Evenings are one of the most sought-after events at a wedding celebration. A lot goes on behind the scenes for months before you witness that picture perfect family performance that presents itself like clockwork. Those impressive dance moves, special effects, flamboyant entries and the entire show production is the genius of the masterminds behind the craft – the Choreographers! These unsung heroes work over weeks for endless hours training family members on their dance steps till they can perfect them and time them correctly. They travel internationally with the wedding groups to slip in that one last practice session before the performers go up on stage. This is their passion towards their skill. 

Being one of the most experienced wedding planners in Dubai, Vivaah Celebrations had a candid conversation with leading choreographers in the region about their craft and the future of their business.

One of the leading choreographers and UAE’s biggest dance You Tuber, Nidhi Kumar (IG: @nidhikumardance) believes the pandemic has led to an evolution in the way the Sangeet performance is choreographed.

“In adversity often lies opportunity. As the world succumbed to a pandemic, the wedding industry also was hit. But despite the hurdles, the industry evolved & that is where the win is! 

Sangeet performances now have become more intimate and digitally friendly. I have choreographed two in the USA where the whole family from across the world came together on zoom and danced! Did we ever imagine that before 2020?! 

Instructors, now have a wider audience to cater to & expand their business. This change is so beautiful. We may have been locked down, but our love for weddings and dance can never be!” 

– Nidhi Kumar

Another renowned choreographer with years of experience in destination weddings, Satyen Babla of DANS (IG: @dans_me) expresses the challenges he faces when working on a high-profile destination wedding.

“High profile weddings are always fun. Having said that, they do come with some challenges. One of the top challenges is availability of the client’s time. Most of our clients are business families or working professionals who usually have formal commitments followed by family time which makes it difficult for them to allocate time for choreography and practice sessions. 

In other cases, most of the performing dancers are in different parts of the world. Hence, a lot needs to be worked on remotely through videos or online sessions. 

Finally, we have seen multiple additions, edits and removals of songs even after the production has been finalized which compromises the flow and continuity of the performance on the days of the events.” 

– Satyen Babla

Known as the maestro of Sangeet performances at Indian, wedding Sumit Khetan (IG: @sumitkhetanent) is a force to reckon with. He spilled the beans on one of the most elaborate Sangeet production and performance he has choreographed under the banner of his company Sumit Khetan Entertainment Co.

“There are many (large projects) to pen down, but in case if I have to choose one, I would highlight a wedding that I recently choreographed in 2020 at Aamby Valley City (Lonavala). The venue was huge, it was called Town Square. We had a larger than life stage measuring 100 meters x 80 meters.

 The elaborate acts included special entries, aerial acts, LED interaction and a whole lot more that took months to put together in a seamless manner. I am glad Sumit Khetan Entertainment Co. got an opportunity to design and direct this wedding and we are proud to exceed the client’s expectations too.”

 – Sumit Khetan

Dubai-bred talent Riya Berry (IG: @riyaberry) is loved by many for her bubbly and chirpy nature that puts all her clients at ease instantly as they feel deeply connected with her as friends. This gives them the comfort of following Riya’s dance choreography steps quite easily. This power packed talent is creating ripples in the world of destination weddings. 

“Typically, choreography should start a month in advance and regular practice sessions should be followed once the songs are finalised. I am aware of clients’ different levels of dancing skills and I guide them accordingly. 

Once I arrive at the wedding venue, I liaise with the light and sound team as well as the performers to make sure we practice 2 hours before the event starts so they can mark their positions on stage and get used to their props as well. I am constantly working with the DJ and light team during the entire performance to make sure everything goes right.

Destination weddings are trickier because the Sangeet practices are usually after a pool party, mehndi or any day event – which makes it harder to gather guests together for stage practice! However, performers and guests usually love the essence of a well-choreographed dance skit and more than happy to take that time to make sure everything goes well.”

 – Riya Berry

To curate memorable experiences for your destination wedding celebrations, connect with the best wedding planner in Dubai.

Vivaah Celebrations on info@vivaahcelebrations.com

Without a doubt, Food & Beverage plays an important role in any wedding celebration. More so for an Indian wedding, where delectable flavours come together in elaborate settings to elevate the sense and the overall experience for the guests. 

Good food has known to touch a chord with many taking them back to fond memories of their hometown or even their childhood. Food at Destination Indian Weddings has evolved over the years and is a full-grown industry in itself with world class catering companies leading the foray. 

Our Director, Rahul Kumar has led Vivaah Celebrations to be recognized as one of the most renowned and leading wedding planners for destination weddings. With Big Fat Indian Weddings slowly making its comeback after a challenging couple of years, Vivaah Celebrations is always on the forefront to deliver exemplary wedding planning and management services to the top and elite families globally. 

As they say ‘With great power comes great responsibility’; the experienced team at Vivaah Celebrations ties in together all aspects of the weddings and the finer details to provide the clients and their guests with a wholesome memorable wedding experience. This most definitely has key focus on the Food & Beverage offering including the trending Culinary Art to satisfy the aesthetics of how the food is presented and served. 

We spoke to some of the leading experts in the field of Food & Beverage who have catered for large events and they proudly have in their list of clients, some of the top renowned business families, industrialists and celebrities.

One of the leading food specialists in India and the Middle East – Mr. Sanjay Vazirani of Foodlink (www.foodlink.in) shared his views about how food has evolved at weddings celebrations.

“We have been blessed to be the caterer of choice for esteemed clients such as Deepika Padukone & Ranveer Singh, Ambani family, Bachchan family, Shilpa Shetty et al. I can’t divulge specific details due to our non-disclosure agreements, but it gives me great satisfaction to deliver memorable gourmet experiences for them. The strong influence of culture, tradition and hence regional delicacies and traditional sweets continue to remain the same and so does the flair and eye for excellence that Foodlink promises, while the rest including the overall offering and approach keeps evolving based on trends.

For instance, In the current time, modern diets need to be considered while designing the menu. Single-serve packages/Mono Portions are a trend to stay. Plant-based eating is on the rise. With COVID being a major factor in play, there is a move towards the main essence which is QUALITY FOOD – with less extravagance. You can say Minimalism & “Less is More” is the new mantra. A robust and updated ‘Food Safety Management System’ and appointment of trained hygiene officers are a must-have. Interactive Live Cooking Stations are the need of the hour and are fast developing to add more dimensions to them to please all senses.

What’s constant is that we continuously strive to reinvent ourselves according to the existing trends and guest preferences. While we have specialty chefs in our chain of restaurants and banquets, if a guest requests a cuisine or dish that is not in our domain, we are sent on special training programs to develop the required skills. We also collaborate with other Chefs in different parts of the globe and learn from their inputs and experience.”

Known as the guru of fusion and quirky, Rahul Sajnani of MOSHI (www.moshiuae.com) has entered the market in a much unique manner by fusing traditional flavours with local delicacies. We asked him What inspired him and how his out of the box offering has been received by young couples as part of their wedding events menu. 

“I always noticed there was a gap in the market and people wouldn’t eat/try new items easily. For example – Sushi. The mindset of it being served with raw ingredients kept people away from it. We changed that perspective by adding unique fillings / flavours into it. This made our brand stand out and differentiate from the rest.  

We then started tweaking other dishes combining it with a couple of cuisines which people avoid eating or trying. Moreover, we wanted to bring some fun element into the food. Sushi gave us a boost and made us want to explore more cuisines and since then we have been known for our unique concoctions. 

Young couples and teenagers are the easiest way through which our products are marketed as they are the ones looking for different concepts and are ready to try newer dishes. It has been a great hit amongst the younger generation and eventually they would bring their loved ones and families to try our unique flavours. 

Once we became part of their daily cravings, we had an easier way in to becoming a part of their occasions such as weddings, birthday, anniversaries etc.”

Creating a distinguished experience for discerning clients is Food Inc’s (www.mmmbox.ae) priority and forte. Led by renowned Food & Beverage expert, Varun Tuli, the catering experience that their clients enjoy is unparalleled. We asked Varun what are the demands and expectations of clients from Food and Beverage at a wedding?

“All of them demand a truly unique experience and we leave no stone unturned to exceed their expectations. 

We craft a bespoke menu in collaboration with our clients. Our expansive repertoire helps us ensure that each celebration catered by Food Inc is a distinctive experience with an abundance of cuisines. Be it for intimate gatherings or celebrations that bring thousands of people together, no two of our menus are alike. 

From starter islands, dessert bars, conveyor belts, flying buffet service, sit-down dinners to flying in specialised international chefs, we are always willing to assimilate a multitude of innovative concepts to make an indelible mark on our client’s guests. We conceptualise various themed live counters, fun and unique stations, pop-up restaurants and menus that are one of a kind.

We design a culinary carnival with extraordinary experiences that ensure the celebration is extravagant and entertaining. Even while crafting thousands of dishes in a single day, we ensure that each one is a gastronomic affair for our clients and their guests. It has been thrilling to create a Thali that encompasses an entire country with chaat from Benaras, curries & bread from Punjab, Awadh and Kerala, rice delicacies from Hyderabad that ends with delectable desserts from Bengal or curate a Dastarkhwan under the starlight sky set against the dunes of Jaisalmer. Over the past few years, we have created avocado bars, tiffin stations for South Indian cuisine, teppanyaki pop-ups, detox bars, stations by renowned regional delicacy vendors, pizza acrobat counters, edible helium balloon stations and pop-up restaurants like Indian Accent, Yum Yum Cha and tbsp with a curated set menu. 

We hope that our passion for bringing food and people together shines through in our scrumptious food, spectacular food display and splendid service.”

To curate culinary experiences for your destination wedding celebrations, connect with Vivaah Celebrations on info@vivaahcelebrations.com