KARAN GULATI AND SIMRAN RATTA GULATI

Avani+ Hua Hin

#BubsLife

How did you and your husband meet?

We were introduced through Karan’s cousin with whom Simran went to high school with. After meeting the first few times and getting to know each other better we ended up staying in touch and being in constant contact and so our relationship blossomed from there and we got together in November, 2015.

The Proposal

The proposal started off with a private sunset boat ride on the chao phraya river with champagne, strawberries & chocolate which then docked at the exclusive Chakrabhongse Villas which is a former royal palace by the river built in 1908. The venue was entirely booked out for the proposal where the floors were scattered with rose petals and a private candle lit dinner table was set up on the dock by the river overlooking the beautiful Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) where Karan got on his knees and popped the question which was then followed by a 10 course dinner that was curated specially for the evening consisting of our favorite Thai dishes and champagne.

Where was your wedding held?

We chose Avani+ Hua Hin primarily because it was a new venue and one that had not hosted a local Thai-Indian wedding before and so instead of venues such as Sheraton Hua Hin or Dusit Thani which frequently hosts Indian weddings, we decided we wanted to do something different and new and hence why we chose the property. We also really liked the property and how it looked and were promised that the service will be exceptional which it was throughout the wedding.

What functions did you have during the wedding? 

Our wedding functions were spread between Bangkok and Hua-Hin. We kick started our wedding festivities with a Mehendi Lunch at Sofitel Sukhumvit called ‘Let the Mehandiness begin’. The theme that was conceptualized for this event was an English Tea Party with accents of an Indian touch in pastel color tones. To keep in touch with the afternoon flair we had a white spirit bar along with a specialty Margarita and Mojito cocktail bar, which worked out really well. A never been done before live cooking station we included was the Chocolate Energy Ball station where the pastry chef at Sofitel did an interactive demonstration of live healthy desserts that guest could enjoy at the event and take home. The lunch was then followed by high-tea where we had canapes, macaroons and other delightful foods such as lobster rolls & truffle caviar sandwiches for our guests to indulge on before heading home.

The next day was a Mehendi lunch at the bride’s house which was held at the Event hall of the bride’s gated community. The theme was again to keep it bright and colorful and the food was a mix of Thai and Indian Chowpati classics. There was a Maiya dinner at the Grooms house the same night with family and friends present for all the traditional ceremonies followed by dinner.

Our next main event, the Golden Darbar was the wedding day itself held at the Gurudwara in Bangkok. The morning started off with a baraat at the Groom’s house which kicked off the big day with up tempo music and coconut water which really rang in the celebratory mood for the family. The wedding day was a solemn affair minimally decorated in the hues of peach. As it was the Sikh temple, room for décor is limited, but there was no compromise on the food as we are such foodies. We had a selection of over 40+ items from hot plate buffets to live stations all set up in the Gurudwara for our guests to indulge in on our big day.

The post wedding celebrations were all held at Avani Hua-Hin.

Our first for this part of the celebrations started with a party we called Sunset Symphony, a sundowner cum welcome dinner, in a rustic earthy vibe keeping the vibe and feel chic and chill for all our guests. For our food this evening, we created a Food Island with all lives stations which allowed guests to interact while getting food and also set the tone of an evening well spent drinking, dining and dancing. We had our band Twin Strings all the way from Mumbai play throughout the sundowners and welcome dinner to set the mood of the evening and keep our guests entertained while they indulged on all the food that was on offer with a stage setup overlooking the beautiful and pristine Andaman Sea.

Following the sundowners and welcome dinner was our Kickin’it like a G after party. A party themed to focus on Streetwear and stylish Sneakers as both of us are true hip hop heads. Everyone was asked to come dressed in their best sneaks and street gear to party to old school, new school and desi tunes till the early hours of the morning. The décor for this event felt like an underground club. We converted half the ballroom into a raging club for the night all fit with a long LED display bar, a graffiti dance floor an adidas shoebox DJ booth, and of course lots of premium alcohol. It was an urban wonder. We also had a separate after party for our adult guests which was held at the hotel’s Jazz bar called Blue Biscuit and the theme for this party was Everyday I’m Ghazzalin’, where all the adults were sat in an auditorium setup watching our band Twin Strings play acoustically to all the Indian classics that brought back fond memories for our parents and all their friends. Ofcourse we also had a separate bar and food set up for them at the venue.

Wat’er you waiting for was the perfect morning after party by the pool. It was a black white and rose gold luxe décor setup by the pool with cocktail tables and bar stools in the water itself accompanied with giant rose gold swan tubes for people to enjoy an afternoon in the water and sun. Again, for an afternoon bar setup we went with a list of favorite cocktails, white spirits and a specialized Gin bar with a wide selection gins, tonics and garnishes for our guests to customize drinks to their own choice. The entertainment for the afternoon was a sax player and a percussionist that gave the party a very beach club vibe. The food once again was all live stations of over 30+ varieties varying from Thai, Indian & Italian cuisines. For our non-alcoholic guests, we also had set up a Tea Bar so they were not left out. We also had a Thai Massage area for our guests recovering from the first night of partying as well as Spin the Board and a few other drinking games for the people who were ready to keep the party going till the night.

Our last event was our Reception party which also acted like a Sangeet where our friends and family performed and gave speeches. It was appropriately titled You Color my World and the décor for this evening was an enchanted garden filled with loads of beautiful flowers and hints of romance and classic chic feels with acrylic chairs, chandeliers, square, LED Backdrops and round seating accompanied with an entire lounge area in the middle of the ballroom to give the setup a formal yet relaxed feel. The highlight of our reception was our especially curated Whiskey Bar offering over 7 different types and labels and the first time ever done by our caterers a Grazing table serving an assortment of cheeses, cold cuts, live shucked oysters, lobsters, fondues and flambés. This along with our mixologists doing bar tricks and the over 30+ live stations kept the party on till the early hours of the morning with entertainment from our Dj, percussionist and violinist setting the mood and keeping the dance floor packed throughout the night.

Our wedding was truly a reflection of our families and us as a couple. We wanted a chilled, out of the box vibe for all events and our key focus was the F&B and entertainment at each event which we believe is the most critical part of any event. Over the course of 5 days and 6 events we served our guests a variety of food that did not repeat and all our food was prepared fresh and on order with the use of only live stations. A concept which had never been done before and something we really wanted to do ensure our guests get the best of what we were trying to offer. The bar was purely a reflection of what we all enjoy drinking personally. At every event we had a specialized bar and we had specialty food items which is something we wanted to do to differentiate our wedding from ones that have been done in the past. A lot of emphasis was given to details that were important to us such as the food, alcohol and other services such as a 24 hours grab & go counter – where our guests could pick up soft drinks, water, snacks, chocolates, hangover kits etc at their convenience and which I am sure left a great impression on all our guests. It makes it so much easier to host friends and family when you know you will enjoy and have thought of all details for each and every moment of your own wedding. 

Wedding Makers

Wedding Planner: Mantra Events (@mantra_events)

Decorator: Design by Peerapach (@dp_designbypa) and malaflore for Bride’s house Mhendi and Gurdwara

Photographer: Black Tie Project (@blacktieproject)

Invitation Designer: Pixie Dust Mumbai  (@pixiedustdesign)

 Bartender Team: Bangkok Bar (@bangkokbarmixologist)

Welcome Dinner Band: Twin Strings (@twinstringsofficial)

Percussionist: Vency Coutinho Mumbai (@vencypercussionist)

 Violinist: Madina (@madinaviolinist)

Saxophonist: Antonio (@antoniosax)

Catering: Red (@redcateringbkk)

 Additional Catering: Palayana Hua Hin (@thepalayana)

DJ: Jeff from Dubai (@djjeffdxb)