Anjali Hariyani is a successful corporate Banker and a fashion and lifestyle blogger hailing from Boston. She and her now husband Sukumar Hirani celebrated their union at the famed Samode Palace in Rajasthan. Their love story culminated into marriage with a wedding that was nothing short of magic.
To ensure everything was perfect, Anjali went to lengths and ends to have her dream become reality. There were a total of five events namely : Mehendi Carnival, Engagement, Haldi, Wedding & Reception – all the quintessential elements of a Big Fat Indian Wedding.
How They Met
We first met as teenagers at a friend’s wedding, and eight years later, we reconnected through family friends. Our first date was actually at the airport, where Su made me drive for an hour to a perfect spot to watch airplanes take off and land. Initially, I thought the idea of a first date at an airport was stupid, and internally, I doubted if I would go out with him again. However, here we are, a married couple. According to Sukumar, he fell in love with me years ago and pursued me until he finally won my heart. For me, though, it took some time to say “yes” to the wedding proposal. Su proposed to me in Indore, where he arranged a private dinner at our favorite restaurant and surprised me with a balloon that said “Be Mine,” containing a ring inside. Instantly, I said yes to the cutest guy on Earth.
How They Decided to Get Married
We Got married in Jaipur, Samode Palace on 31st Dec 2023( Ringed in the New Year, the most iconic date ever, as in the USA, the date read as 123123 (12.31.23).
Crafting the Perfect Celebration:
Anjali’s meticulous planning ensured that every facet of their union was nothing short of extraordinary. From the Mehendi Carnival to the grand Reception on New Year’s Eve, each event was a testament to their love story, brimming with the quintessential elements of a Big Fat Indian Wedding.
Mehendi Carnival:
The festivities commence with the vibrant Mehndi Carnival, a celebration inspired by the rich cultural tapestry of Rajasthan and Anjali’s artistic flair. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Samode Palace’s picturesque gardens, guests were immersed in a world of color and joy. Anjali, resplendent in a unique Papa Don’t Preach ensemble adorned with a customized hashtag, set the tone for the festivities. Interactive stalls and surprise performances delighted guests, while the ambiance was enriched by the vibrant decor reminiscent of Jaipur’s charm. Anjali’s thoughtful inclusion of her American friends ensured that everyone felt at home amidst the Rajasthani splendor.
Engagement:
Anjali and Su’s Winter Wonderland-themed engagement was a vision of enchantment and romance. The venue was transformed into a magical setting, complete with sparkling lights, crystal chandeliers making a cloud on stage, and snowflake motifs to give the snow a feel. Anjali’s emotional entry, accompanied by her father and clad in a Gaurav Gupta lilac ensemble, captivated all present. She and her dad were revealed by a chandelier and then walked the aisle together whereas Sukumar entered with a bang with his groomsmen dancing to Song Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson. The evening was filled with heartfelt moments, ring ceremonies, and lively performances, culminating in an atmosphere of pure bliss and celebration.
Haldi
Sunshine came and it was time for Anjali’s haldi. A rather experimental look to pull off, her pre-draped sharara saree from Bageecha featured a gorgeous bandhani print and gold detailing which paired perfectly with her gota patti jewelry. A pair of fun yellow sunglasses and an away-from-the-face braid later, she was ready to be doused in haldi and showered with flowers by her nearest and dearest.
Wedding
What is also special about this union was the wedding date, which was New Year’s Eve ‘23. Anjali truly pulled out all the stops for the wedding look which featured a couture Limited Edition Sabyasachi ensemble that truly was one of a kind. The printed and zardosi lehenga when paired with green jewels and a statement nath became a sight to behold. The pictures from this event were taken in the iconic Sheesh Mahal whereas the event itself took place right in front of the glorious pool. Anjali entered a song written and sung by her groom for her while her friends and family wrote messages on lanterns and allowed them to float in the pool. The whole ceremony had a warm, fuzzy, and illuminated feeling which was perfect for their new beginning.
Reception
The last of the festivities moved into the reception, which was also their biggest New Year’s Eve bash yet. It was full of all things unique that were planned by the bride and groom themselves. A magical first dance when the clock struck twelve, confetti showers, champagne towers, fire letters, a New Year’s countdown, and so much more. For this event, Anjali knew she wanted a gown to be the silhouette of choice for her look. Another thing she was sure about was that it would be a Manish Malhotra, as they needed something glittering and no other designer does it better than him. A gray silver gown with dramatic cape sleeves and a ‘love’ accessory on her mane made her the center of attention. What made this wedding so special for everyone was that Anjali & Sukumar’s anniversary will always be celebrated by the whole world, and life will always be one big party!”
I’ve made adjustments to capitalize “New Year’s Eve,” add commas after “confetti showers” and “New Year’s countdown,” and added a comma after “Anjali knew she wanted a gown to be the silhouette of choice for her look.” Additionally, I added a comma after “Anjali & Sukumar’s anniversary will always be celebrated by the whole world.
TIPS They Want to Give You
I would advise you to do the budget planning well in advance so that you can prioritize the amount of money you want to spend on the venue, food, decor, outfits, and jewelry. We ended up spending way more on our wedding than we thought due to the involvement of different vendors and not planning the budget well in advance. Also, make sure to discuss the decor in detail with your event planners, as your expectations can differ from reality, and in the end, you wouldn’t want to be disappointed at the event.
The Wedding Vendors
The wedding venue/destination
We got married in Jaipur, at Samode Palace. Samode Palace is among the top 15 palaces to get married in India, according to The New York Times and Vogue. I was very sure that I wanted to get married in a palace, and being among the top 15 was a priority for me. My mom is from Rajasthan, so growing up, I was aware of the royalty this state holds. I always dreamed of a royal wedding, and I couldn’t have been happier when Time Magazine released an article calling my wedding the Most Royal Wedding of the Year.
Outfits and looks for different functions
Carnival:
My outfit was from Papa Don’t Preach. I flew down from Boston to Mumbai specifically to visit the Papa Don’t Preach outlet. During my visit, I met the designer Shubhika and asked her to design something unique for me—something that is not a lehenga, saree, or gown, but has a personalized touch and includes a veil, as I had not worn anything like that before. She sketched a beautiful sharara set for me, complete with a personalized hashtag, and I was blown away. I was the first PDP bride to have her hashtag on her veil and wear a sharara set.
Bride’s Outfit : Papa Dont Preach by Shubhika
Jewels : 𝐎 𝐔 𝐓 𝐇 𝐎 𝐔 𝐒 𝐄
Engagement:
I picked up an Off the Runway set from GG(presumably a designer or brand), purple-hued, which no one else had ever worn, and I was so happy to have found this unique color.
Bride’s Outfit : Gaurav Gupta
Jewels : ZevarBySethis
Haldi:
Though I was breaking stereotypes with all my other outfits, with this one, I wanted to just go basic and have yellow for haldi. I was certain I wanted to pair it with folljhadi jewelry.
Bride’s Outfit : studiobageechaa
Jewels : Fooljhadi
Wedding:
My wedding outfit was a limited edition pink lehenga from Sabyasachi, which I will be the only bride to ever wear. I was so happy with my outfit; it was the dreamiest lehenga I have ever seen.
Bride’s Outfit : Sabyasachi
Chooda, Customized Kaleera : Chotteylal Sons
Jewels : Anmol sandhu
Reception:
I am a Manish Malhotra fan, and since the day I decided to marry on NYE night, I knew it had to be a BLING GOWN from MM.
Bride’s Outfit : MANISH MALHOTRA, Manish Malhotra Vows
#AnjaliHariyani #SuCapturedAJ
MUA:
My makeup artist was Shradha Luthra. If there was one decision I was very sure about for my wedding, it was to hire Shradha to do my makeup. She is an extremely talented artist, and it’s evident from her work. Not only did she help me make all my looks beautiful with her makeup skills, but she also assisted me in styling each and every look to perfection. I haven’t worked with any makeup artist who helps her clients to the degree that Shradha does. I was fortunate to have her onboard and will forever be grateful for all she did for me.
Planner:
I saw Dessert Pearl event planners’ work at one of my relative’s weddings, and I was sure to have them for my wedding. Niyati brings in a lot of creative ideas, and it’s a women-led planning team that puts their heart and soul into wedding planning.
Photographer:
I have seen Alif’s work for years, and all my friends’ weddings were captured by them. I was always sure to hire them. They have done incredible work at the wedding, and I thank the team for all their dedication.
Bride : Anjali Hariyani
Groom : Sukumar Hirani
Makeup & Hair : Shradha Luthra
Wedding Planning & Decor : Desert Pearl Weddings
Photo & Video : alifstudio cineweddings
Venue : Samode Hotels India
Thank you for the feature 🫶