Sanjeevani Lamba and Kelvin Kistnen, Alila Fort Bishangarh, Jaipur

Courtesy By – Wedding Sutra

A colorful Punjabi-Tamil wedding hosted in Rajasthan, this wedding was a melting pot of Indian cultures.

In a quaint amalgamation of their Punjabi and Tamil traditions, Sanjeevani Lamba and Kelvin Kistnen’s beguiling wedding at Alila Fort Bishangarh was set against the picturesque beauty and rich heritage of Rajasthan. The vibrant multicultural celebration was attended by guests from all over the world and included unforgettable moments of love and beauty. Watch it all unfold below.

How they met
Born in India and raised in the Netherlands, Sanjeevani Lamba, a Business Operations Manager in a Pharmaceutical company, and Chartered Accountant Kelvin Kistnen, who was born in Mauritius and raised in London, were two completely different people on paper, with different backgrounds, professions, and interests. They were brought together by the Asian community at Cardiff University while studying for their undergraduate degrees, and somewhere over countless conversations about food, music, family, films, their hopes, and dreams, they fell in love. As their lives took them down different paths to pursue their careers, they kept their bond alive supporting each other’s pursuits, traveling the world together, and making special memories with their families. After a few years of long-distance, the two decided to tie the knot and start the next chapter of their lives.

Wedding Venue
With a wide range of venues, unparalleled services, and a team of wedding planning experts at your disposal, Hyatt Hotels promise an unforgettable wedding journey that is  Perfectly Yours, and Sanjeevani and Kelvin discovered theirs at Alila Fort Bishangarh – A Hyatt Brand.

The new wedding initiative for India, PerfectlyYours is a bespoke offering for India that celebrates your individuality and preferences to put the “you” in your wedding. With a belief that magic lies in the details, they thoughtfully address the little things that make your big day special. From offering the perfect spaces to orchestrating the menu, managing the day, taking care of the family, and bringing your choices to life, they are committed to giving you the wedding of your dreams.

Sharing a love for simplicity, intimacy, and tranquility, the couple was won over by the property’s heritage beauty and soothing ambiance. They share, “Along with the beauty of the fort, the serenity created with the flora and fauna surrounding the property is absolutely unreal. The ambient, instrumental music added magic to every moment spent there, as did the amazing food and their signature “chai” that every one of our guests loved. Our guest list included friends and family from all over the world, and Alila’s stunning rooms, service, and incredible hospitality gave them and us a wonderful taste of Rajasthan’s royalty and local culture. We will definitely be going back to Alila next time to thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the fort without the rush of getting married.”

They add, “While we both come from large families with sprawling social networks, we personally are all about intimate family gatherings and were adamant about keeping the ceremony small and meaningful with all the people we love. Alila beautifully understood our needs and vision and was a delight to work with. Saji, Sunil, and the full team were very accommodating and ensured we had everything we needed. We got treated like family and not guests, which made all our events just so special and warm.”

Wedding Planning
Hosting a global guestlist with people from over 5 countries, the wedding was designed to incorporate the couple’s tastes along while honoring their different cultural roots to give their guests an immersive Indian wedding experience. The various details of the wedding were seamlessly integrated and handled by the team of Alila Fort Bishangarh.

Sonam from Wedding Darzi, a close friend of the bride, perfectly executed the simple yet elegant vision for their decor for all the events, while Ramit Batra and his team of photographers captured their special moments. DJ Sukhbir and Emcee Karan Mehta ensured the guests enjoyed every moment of the celebrations.

The bride’s sister Sameepta Lamba, who is studying the art of dance, coordinated with their friends and families coming in from around the world to orchestrate incredible Sangeet performances and managed them without a hitch. The bride’s father spearheaded the entire celebration to ensure the couple got their dream wedding.

Wedding Functions
Haldi
Kicking off the festivities, the Haldi soiree was a memorable blend of the couple’s distinct cultural heritage. Framed by a joyful decor palette of yellow and orange hues with tons of flowers, drapes, and more, the occasion incorporated fun family customs from both sides and made for some memorable moments. The groom sported a lemon kurta for the occasion, while the bride wore a yellow co-ord set with floral jewelry, a printed yellow jacket, and her late grandmothers’ earrings for a special touch.

Sangeet
Imagined with a Moroccan theme with bohemian elements, warm lights, and a breezy ambiance, the Sangeet was a fun, laidback evening of dance, drinks, and merriment. Having already done their civil ceremony and ring exchange previously, the couple wanted to just have a memorable party with their loved ones. Matching the mood of the decor, they opted for matching peach outfits that were custom-made for the evening.

The night started with drinks, delicious food, and the mingling of the guests before moving on to incredible performances that were choreographed to perfection by the bride’s sister. Hosted by Emcee Karan Mehta, the evening continued with music from DJ Sukhbir and was followed by a rousing after-party.

Wedding
The wedding ceremony was a beautiful fusion of the bride’s Punjabi and the groom’s Tamil cultures, with everything from the decor to customs, and outfits honoring both their roots. In keeping with tradition, the groom wore a lungi and pure linen kurta, while the bride paired her quintessential red lehenga with her mother’s jewelry.

Their nuptials included phere, a pooja with a Tamilian priest, kanyadaan, sindoordaan, and a traditional vidaai, making for some beautiful moments of family love and emotions. An elegant, earthy palette of cream, gold, and soft pastels framed their festivities, and perfectly accentuated the stone backdrop of the fort and the surrounding natural beauty.

Reception
Hosted under a night full of stars and sparkling fairy lights, the Reception evening saw glamorous yet elegant decor in jewel tones. The bride wore a navy blue saree and the groom sported a dapper blue suit. The newlyweds arrived in great spirits with their siblings and parents, kicking off a night filled with beautiful speeches, dancing, toasts, and more!

Advice for couples
“The planning takes months, but the days go by in a flash! Investing in a good photographer and videographer will allow you to relive the moments forever and capture the magic of the day. Pick someone who matches your vibe to make the experience effortless, and prioritize candid clicks as it will allow you to enjoy your wedding stress-free. The pictures come out much more beautiful when you’re naturally interacting with loved ones.

Also, while it is the biggest celebration of your life, plan the wedding within your means. It isn’t worth putting yourself in long-term financial difficulty just for a few days of festivities, because you also have a marriage to build afterward!

And finally, the decision-making process starts and ends with you both, so choose what makes you both happy regardless of the millions of opinions you’ll receive. Having said the above, pick your battles because your wedding is just as special to your parents as it is to you. At the end of the day, cherish the love of all the people who have come to share in your joy, and enjoy every moment”.

Honeymoon
Entrenched in the warmth and serenity of the Alila hotel experience after their destination wedding at Bishangarh, the couple stole away a few days of tranquility at Alila Diwa Goa. Unwinding after the hectic celebrations of their wedding, they spent 4 days relaxing by the pool, strolling the beaches, and relishing delicious Goan food.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Alila Fort Bishangarh (Perfectly Yours by Hyatt)
Decor: Wedding Darzi
Groom’s Outfits: Mohanlal Sons (Haldi), Seema X (Sangeet), FabIndia (Wedding), Massimo Dutti (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Pataka Designs (Sangeet, Wedding, Reception)
Makeup: Sanjeevani Lamba
Invites: Avinash Chandan
Choreographer: Sameepta Lamba
DJ: DJ Sukhbir
Emcee: Karan Mehta
Photography and Videography: Ramit Batra