Mahima & Reinier – The Indian Soiree

When we first heard from Mahima and Reinier, the first thing that caught our attention was the fact that this was a wedding without an actual wedding! Yes, in this story a simple Indian girl marries a Dutch boy amidst their family and friends without having a traditional wedding ceremony. It was off-beat, straight from the heart, and we had a ball curating it for them to say the least!

Mahima & Reinier knew that they wanted to have a destination wedding in her homeland. But it didn’t make sense to sit around a fire, chant slogans that they didn’t understand, and follow rituals that they didn’t associate with. Instead, they chose to bring in their near and dear ones from 45 countries across the globe and design their own vows. They chose the scenic backwaters of Kumarakom as their destination. The events that were spread over two days were a myriad of cultures – with a snake boat race between the families, a bicycle baraat for the groom entry, a bride entry on a boat, a world knowledge quiz, exchange of vows, Bollywood music, dance and so much more!

The Mehendi

For two environmentalists and true nature enthusiasts, it had to be an eco-friendly wedding. Their love for nature’s beings brought us to the idea of having Flora and Fauna as the décor theme for the Mehendi. Birds made out of recycled paper, tender coconut leaves, and animal figurines highlighted the quaint hallways of the Vinca Lake House – a traditional home in this small town. With ancient wooden pillars and an infinite backwater view, one couldn’t ask for more. We will let the pictures speak for itself!

The Baraat & Bridal Entry

It’s tradition for the father of the bride to walk his daughter down the aisle. But this time, the bride was rowed in by her father across the lagoon. Again, this was a magical sight and the highlight of the evening. Mahima looked ever so elegant in her pastel Anita Dongre lehenga on a boat decorated with flowers that complemented her gorgeous outfit and ancestral jewellery.

The Dutch love their bicycles, and to include this bit into the celebrations, Mahima said she wanted her groom and his party to enter the venue riding bicycles! So, we got 20 vintage cycles, decorated them with her favourite flowers and we had a grand entry with dhol and a lot of dancing! We had all the Dutch Baraatis in Orange turbans, riding bicycles to the end of the lake where the two finally meet. The couple then exchanged garlands and went on to seek the blessings of their elders.

To honour the fact that we had esteemed guests who had travelled across oceans from 45 different countries, the dinner was set under the light of a ‘We are the World’ theme. With a beautiful venue like The Zuri, Kumarakom as the backdrop, we had decided to keep the décor minimalistic, yet tasteful. Flags, postcards, travel from around the world, and globes were strewn over vintage suitcases to form the key décor elements for the dinner. Each table was named after a country from where the guests came.

Magic Masala Night

The last night of celebrations before guests left, was the Bollywood night – the quintessential Sangeet of every Indian wedding. The setting at the Amphitheatre at Zuri was colourful, kitsch, and everything retro. We had popular Bollywood movie posters, a cycle rickshaw photo booth, film reels, colourful drapes and spotlights. Mahima and Reinier took this opportunity to exchange their vows and make their promises. A teary-eyed bride and a dapper groom made the photographs look straight out of a movie, while guests danced the rest of the night away!

The best part about Mahima and Reinier’s wedding destination wedding at Kumarakom was the fact that at their core, they knew exactly how they wanted their dream wedding to be. They did not follow rules, followed their heart, and gave our team at Tamarind Weddings one of our most iconic weddings!