Various kinds of love stories culminate in the union of two individuals, becoming life partners. Some are smooth, some tumultuous; some begin as childhood friends, others as enemies. Then, there are those whose tale is remarkably offbeat. I, Pallavi Singh, take great pleasure in sharing the story of Abhishek’s and mine relationship—a journey that transitioned from Reel Love to Real Love, ultimately binding us together forever.
Nothing is Gonna Stop Us: Ditching The Covid Curbs
Our unique and wild love story unfolded fascinatingly. It was nothing short of a roller coaster ride involving friends, social media, and lockdown, adding plenty of twists and turns before we realized the depth of our connection. During the COVID lockdown, with restrictions on in-person meetings, social media became the saving grace that kept the flame between us alive. Chatting, discussing our passions and fears, and virtual dates that were filled with lots of humorous and light-hearted moments, that is what our love story looked like. The never-ending chit-chat sessions were fuel for our relationship and that brought us closer and made our bond stronger.
Boundless Love
And finally, after a long wait when the restrictions were lifted, we got the opportunity to meet each other. Although the thought of meeting him gave me goosebumps, meeting him in person felt as though I’d known him for ages. I was already captivated by his charisma on the screen, but his warmth and soothing nature took my heart away. Together, we explored our city, stumbled upon hidden gems, and made wonderful memories. At that moment, I was sure that this relationship wasn’t just an ordinary relationship that was born in lockdown and was fostered through social media for no reason. I was dead sure that this relationship was for keeps and that he was my chosen one, my true love, and together we had a long, long way to go.
Exchanging Vows Amidst Grandeur And Panache
We wanted to infuse a touch of tradition and culture into our wedding theme and that is why we chose the historic Fort Jadhavgadh in Pune, my hometown as the wedding venue. We wished to make our special day extra memorable by having an intimate affair with close family and friends while retaining the opulence and traditions that are a quintessential part of Indian dream weddings. It seemed as though the Universe had read our minds and was working towards fulfilling all that our hearts desired. The venue provided a diverse range of settings for each of our functions, creating an exciting and captivating experience for all. From the vibrant mehendi ceremony by the serene poolside to the high-octane sangeet festivity with majestic fort walls as the backdrop, and finally, the sacred wedding ceremony in the holy ambience of a 300-year-old Ganesh temple nestled amidst lush green gardens, the entire affair became a truly euphoric experience. I was so fascinated by the enchanting venue that I chose my Indian traditional bridal dress keeping in mind that the celebrations were to take place in the open expanse.
Hunt For “The One”
Unlike many other brides-to-be, I didn’t have anything particular in mind as my wedding outfit, but one thing that I was sure about was that I didn’t want to go for the regular red, pink, gold, or pastel colours. Despite the North Indian tradition of donning a red Banarasi saree during the pheras, I aimed to make a statement by opting for a unique and offbeat colour. And so, with this goal in mind, my gang comprising my mom, friends, and aunt embarked on a hunting spree across various parts of Mumbai to find ‘The One’.
A Versatile Master Piece
We explored a lot of gorgeous-looking options of traditional Indian wedding clothing across various stores and designers, but nothing could match the exquisiteness and grandeur of the eye-catching lehenga at KALKI that left me smitten. My decision was solidified as I observed the expressions of my entourage and onlookers in the store. Upon realizing how the earthy shade of green complemented my skin tone, I was confident that choosing this lehenga was the best decision I could ever make. The cherry on top was a stunning embellished light pink dupatta, that was customised to match my husband’s sherwani and for adding a personalised touch to the magnificent ensemble. The bridal outfit looked ravishing on D-day, leaving all the wedding guests head over heels for it. An additional advantage of my mesmerizing bridal lehenga is its versatility, making it suitable to be worn at various occasions and events without appearing over dramatic. All in all, it was a win-win situation for me, perfectly encapsulating the essence of my dream wedding.
Beyond The Reds And Golds: The Enchanting Moss Green Lehenga Choli
Green is an attractive colour and can enhance your look manifold and that is why I opted for the enchanting moss green velvet lehenga choli with multi-coloured hand-embroidered floral buttis leaving the traditional reds, golds, and pinks behind. The hand embroidery using two tons of zardozi, multicoloured sequins, and gold-toned cutdana in floral motifs gave the traditional Indian bridal lehenga a dazzling effect.
The lehenga choli was paired with two embellished net dupattas one in pink and the other in green which enhanced my look tremendously. My bridal jewellery which comprised of a kundan choker, a long necklace, the evergreen jhumkis, matha patti, maang tikka, and gold and kundan kadas completed my look and made me feel very regal. The makeup and hairstyle were on point and gave me a glamorous look without going over the top. I surely couldn’t have visualised a better version of myself on my special day. Abhishek looked dapper in a light pink sherwani with mirror work. The multilayered necklace, golden turban, kalgi, along with pink juttis made him look like a prince. We were so grateful to God for this much-awaited union of ours.
Diving Into The Precious Moments
There were numerous memorable moments throughout the wedding that will forever hold a special place in my heart. However, the most cherished among them was my bridal entry. As I walked towards Abhishek, covered with a sheet of flowers held by my sisters, butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and my heart pounded with a mix of excitement and anticipation. When I saw him waiting for me with his priceless smile that could also outshine the stars, I felt like a princess out of a real-life fairy tale. The love and faith that reflected from his gaze transported me to another world where everything except the two of us and our magical moment, the one I had dreamed of my entire life, were blurry. That very moment made me realise that this was the beginning of my happily ever after.
Meethi Yaadein
There were a few more treasured moments that were perfectly captured by the photographer and looking at them makes me feel elated. We have pictures of Abhishek hugging me from the back signifying he will never let me go, of us walking hand in hand, and of me flaunting my eye-catching jewellery. All these pictures are very valuable and dear to me.
A Fulfilling Journey At KALKI, Mumbai
My experience at the KALKI flagship store in Santacruz, Mumbai, was exceptionally good. The extra courteous and dedicated nature of the two store associates assigned to us proved to be of great help. KALKI’s varied collection of stunning bridal dresses including haldi outfit for bride, saree for reception, mehendi function dress, reception indo western lehenga, traditional Indian wedding dress etc is so diverse that it has the power to fulfil every bride’s dream. It was no surprise that despite exploring numerous options across Mumbai and browsing endless Instagram posts, I found the lehenga of my dreams at KALKI. The fulfilling experience at KALKI has left me in awe of this magical place.
If you wish to elevate your fashion game on your wedding day, log into Kalkifashion.com and explore the myriad options of bridal dresses available. From a yellow dress for haldi, a reception dress for groom, to mehendi ceremony dress, and reception party dress, you can find a variety of bridal outfits in alluring colours, fabrics, cuts, silhouettes, etc. So, look no further and get ready to shop.
Also Read: Beyond Roses: Creative and Memorable Valentine’s Day Gift Inspirations
