Destination Wedding At The Zuri Kumarakom For Kapil & Neha

This is a story about a Dubai based Maharashtrian bride and her Sindhi groom who decided to have a wedding in Kerala. Since all their friends had destination weddings, Neha and Kapil wanted to do the same, yet be different. Their hunt for a perfect setting for the wedding led them to the backwaters of Kerala. With crucial inputs from the Tamarind team, they decided to hold their wedding celebrations at The Zuri Kumarakom. The Zuri Kumarakom is one of the most luxurious destination wedding venues in Kerala.

Neha says, “We came across the Zuri Kumarakom, and it was love at first sight. The property on the backwaters seemed like the perfect place to make our vows. Also, the capacity of rooms, facilities, food and service were just perfect.”

The scenic setting had much to offer and according to the couple. They quote, “A personal favorite is the infinity pool that overlooks the lagoon and the backwaters at a stretch – watching the sunset from there was beautiful.”

The 200 or so guests gathered at the resort to kick off the wedding celebrations with a Mehendi (bridal henna) ceremony. DJ Knox set the ball rolling as the ladies assembled under the colourful tents set up on the lawn. The entire place was festooned with marigold garlands announcing a wedding in the air. As the bride says, “It was as if all the Powerpoint presentations and Pinterest pictures had come to life, but even prettier than imagined.”

A caricature artist added a dash of fun to the sunny day. Taking advantage of all the canals around them, the bride and groom’s party then engaged in a thoroughly enjoyable boat race. We hope the losers manage to live down their loss – eventually!

As dusk settled, the guests turned out in their finery for the Sangeet held in the ballroom. The spoof on DDLJ by the guests was the highlight of the party that continued into the wee hours. The special lanterns, garlands and décor added to the ambience while DJ Knox kept the buzz up all night.

The D-day dawned bright and clear. The afternoon wedding ceremony was held in the amphitheatre which wore a festive air with colourful seating and jewel-toned bolsters. As the guests arrived, they were greeted with the traditional band playing the latest Bollywood numbers and were given the traditional pagdi (turbans) to don.

The groom arrived on a decked up elephant. And not to be outdone, the bride arrived on a decorated canoe, accompanied by the traditional chenda melam! The pheras took place on the mandap with the priest leading the couple through the ceremony. The radiant bride and her dashing groom, surrounded by their loved ones looked solemn and happy.

And the tradition continued for the bride’s bidaai on a garlanded palanquin, to get ready for the reception that was to follow.

Once again as the sun set, the newlyweds and their guests turned out in their finest garb for the wedding reception. The vintage car that the couple arrived at the Zuri Kumarakom in drew oohs and aahs from the assembled guests.

There were many special moments and a few emotional ones too. Neha says, “We moved towards the lagoon. Kapil and I lit the first fire lantern. And when that pretty red lantern flew away in the dark star-studded skies, it was so divine.”

Fireworks followed and the revelry continued with song, dance and a sumptuous wedding feast. The DJ continued to enthuse the guests and the party went on into the wee morning hours once again.

It was truly a wedding to remember and reminisce about. As the festivities drew to a close, we were delighted to have filled Neha & Kapil’s expectations. Testimonials are always welcome, glowing testimonials ever more so. And we sincerely appreciate what they have to say:

Neha and Kapil’s testimonial:

“Oh! It was a long and fun relationship of 6 months. We first met the Tamarind team in the Zuri Kumarakom in September 2014. And we knew instantly that we couldn’t find a better planner for our wedding than their team. They understood our needs from Day 1. What surprises me is the fact that we met them first in September 2014, then there were 6 months of Powerpoint presentations, décor ideas, discussions (all online or telephone). And then, when we met them at our wedding in February 2015, they had brought all those words to life. Apart from being a great team, they have a lot of tolerance and patience – which I believe is the most important when one chooses their wedding planner.”