The Parle G Wedding: Destination weddings are surely on the rise this year. With 2022 weddings going bold and bigger, we absolutely loved the wedding of Arelenne Reguero and Pawan Varyani who tied the knot on May 22, 2022 at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.
While the groom comes from an Indian background and the bride is Puorto Rican, the two didn’t want either partner to have to give up their own wedding traditions. So, they blended them all together! To express their love, and represent the enmeshing of their cultures and worlds, the concepts that would surprise and be dreamed up and executed seamlessly – with the fastest theme transition taking just under 4 hours, with a crew of 50 professionals working to transform the space before guests returned.
Indonesia-based wedding planner Innaz Communique was tasked with bringing these two different cultures to life in a cohesive way. While it was no small feat, they nailed it!
The whole event was organized in the 3 months leading up to the occasion. With no detail left untouched from wedding invites to décor and sound and light, Innaz Communique partnered with vendors who had the same vision as the clients to execute the wedding to perfection.
As such, Fête Events creatively designed and executed the décor/production, taking the guests through a journey from the glamorous 1920s in San Juan to Mehendi in the afternoon, from an Amazonia Rajasthan concept to an African safari.
Welcome Reception and Dinner: Theme: 1920s in San Juan
With a Great Gatsby dress code, guests were dressed to the nines for the first evening of the wedding celebrations. Fete Events set the tone with entry through an unmarked scarlet door that led to a glamorous speakeasy-inspired setting, where gold art-deco lettering spelled out the playful message: a little party never killed nobody.
Chandeliers sparkled, candles flickered and flamenco music filled the air creating an energetic ambiance that, in a nod to the bride’s heritage, saw Puerto Rican-themed dancers swirling on the dancefloor. Luxurious emerald-hued lounges offered a welcome respite for guests after dinner had been served in the lavish dining setting.
Every inch of the extended dining tables was bursting with pink floral arrangements that complemented the shimmering gold chairs and contrasted beautifully with the art-deco table top.
Day 2: Mehendi in the Afternoon Theme: White Winds
The bride requested a Mehendi celebration that would give a nod to her Puerto Rican roots – and capture a boho-chic vibe. Her dream was delivered with neutral colors, feathery pampas and cappuccino-hued roses.
Guests were gifted Havana hats to don and fans to flutter, complementing the all-white dress code and making them feel as though they’d been instantly transported to the island of Puerto Rico, where they would spend a relaxed afternoon mingling with friends, soaking up the sun on the white shores of Playa Flamenco and enjoying a chilled vibe.
The space was filled with lounges in plush velvet, shimmering spheres, a wicker-inspired arch and mirrored walls adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of those that feature on the tiles that brighten the walls and sidewalks of Puerto Rico.
Sangeet in the evening Theme: Amazonia Rajasthan
The second evening’s theme gave a nod to the groom’s rich heritage: a mix of Indian, South African and Ghanaian influences inspired Amazonia Rajasthan. An explosion of color was created with towering arrangements of fresh flowers and planters of monstera leaves that had been meticulously hand-painted in vivid purples and blues.
Dancers appeared in glitzy gold bird cages, while flickering candles and opulent chandeliers lit the scene, while floor-to-ceiling video mapping transported guests to the depths of the Amazon, where trees towered and flocks of birds soared overhead.
To create even more of an impact and really get the after-party started, wait staff and entertainers were dressed in vibrant neon outfits trimmed with feathers, and a dancefloor space was ready for the bride, groom and party-goers to go wild.
Day 3: Wedding Theme: When two hearts unite
Arelenne was adorned with traditional Indian bridal jewelry for the wedding ceremony. Each and every piece looked amazing! The couple looked nothing short of spectacular together in their traditional wedding day garments. Her red and green Sabyasachi lehenga suited her absolutely perfectly!
Bookended by vibrant parties, the wedding ceremony itself was beautifully calm. The soothing tones of The Art of Living singers filled the air, creating an atmosphere of romance and serenity.
A custom-made mandap was created and decorated with florals that would perfectly complement the bride’s Sabya Saachi ensemble, while theatre-style seating ensured all guests had a bird’s eye view of the ceremony.
Reception Theme: It’s time for Africa
With less than four hours to transform the ballroom for a sit-down dinner with 250 guests in attendance, the mandap was cleverly left in place to arch over what would become a focal point for speeches, dancing and the cutting of the cake.
A sumptuous five-course meal was served to guests as they dined in a chic safari-inspired setting described as Dolce & Gabbana meets Africa. Elephants ambled by on the video-mapped walls, while the cheetah-print table settings created a canvas for freshly cut mangos, pomegranates and florals in deep red hues.
Sound, lighting, décor and meticulous planning combined to close out the wedding ceremony with perfection. The It’s Time For Africa theme alluded to the couple’s relocation to Ghana, where they will begin their new adventure as husband and wife.
The decor for the ceremony was unbelievable! Each element glistened beautifully and meshed together just right. Every aspect of this wedding was beautifully curated to cater to the lovely couple’s expectations and the transformations that happened in the nick of time were absolutely breathtaking!
Meet this incredible planner in Bali at the DWP Congress 2022 from 27-29 September.
Vendors:
Planners: Innaz Communique: Innayat & Prerna Khubchandani
Décor: Fete Events: Sahiba Narang and Mallika Singh
Rentals: Reve Rentals
Sound & Light: Flair Event Services
Entertainment: La Cle Entertainment
Tent: Artisan Tents
DJ: DJ Nitesh
Hotel: Taj Exotica Resort – Palm Dubai
Photography: Imprint
Bride: Arlenne Varyani
Outfits: Pheras: Sabya Saachi, Sangeet: Amit Agarwal / After Party – Manish Malhotra, Reception: Stella Nolasco, Mehendi: Stella Nolasco, Make Up & Hair: Christopher Feliciano, Mehendi: Barbie Ima
