The next day was a ‘Holi and rain dance’ haldi. “We had rain machines and a water tanker. It was like a monsoon sequence straight out of a movie, to bring in a touch of my Bollywood past,” says Punjabi, who previously worked with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, and even shot the popular wedding sequences in Deepika Padukone-Ranbir Kapoor starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013).
Once in Jaipur, the celebrations blended the couple’s Sindhi and Punjabi heritage into a spiritual celebration. The sangeet and jaggo ceremony were hosted by the pool, and transitioned into an unplugged jam session by the fire, where the groom serenaded his bride, aided by his musician friends. The couple were dressed in The Delhi Vintage Co, with the bride’s outfit made from handwoven tribal fabric from Kutch.
The next day started with a chooda ceremony, following which the couple exchanged vows in the hotel courtyard. “We did not want a mandap or elaborate structure, just an open sky for blessings to rain down on us,” smiles the groom.
The duo chose Manish Malhotra for this picture-perfect moment—him in a white achkan with chikankari trousers, and her in a Banarasi brocade lehenga with a Sanskrit shloka embroidered on the veil. Hari & Sukhmani took over the stage at the after-party, for which the couple switched gears to edgier ensembles by Arjun Saluja.
Having been in the business of weddings for 15 years, Punjabi knew exactly who he wanted to work with to make this dream celebration come to life. From his planner to his performers, the groom shared a personal connection with everyone. Punjabi’s friends, Tina Tharwani and Saurabh Malhotra from Shaadi Squad, planned the wedding. “Soon after I met Nikki, I remember calling Tina and telling her, ‘I am going to marry this girl. And when I do, you will have to plan it,” recalls Punjabi. “And this was truly a full circle moment because I filmed Tina’s wedding only a few months ago.” Ditto with designer Akanksha Gajria, and Krishan’s make-up artist Riddhima Sharma, whose weddings Punjabi filmed himself. Most of Krishan’s jewellery was by Renu Oberoi, who is not only married to Punjabi’s close friend, but also designed Krishan’s engagement ring.
