Bride and the fashion blogger behind London Ki Ladki, Victoria Das gave us the ultimate #WeddingGoals when it came to planning the wedding of her dreams with partner Benoy Soman. For this couple in love, it was the little things they shared together that made for the big happy picture. The bride fondly reminisced about the beginning of their romance with a mix of nostalgia and excitement. She described how she knew from early on that she wanted to spend her life with Benoy. “When Benoy and I started dating, there was this instant connection that I hadn’t felt before. He has this incredible kindness and selflessness that just drew me to him,” she revealed. Victoria shared, “As cliché as it sounds, when we started dating, I just had a sense that Benoy was the one. It felt so surreal to meet someone who was genuinely so kind, selfless and supportive for the first time in my life.”
The dreamy proposal was a testament to their shared interests and the thoughtfulness he poured into their relationship. The groom shared, “I took Victoria back to our first date location to propose to her. There was a singer who was also playing the guitar with new renditions of Bollywood songs. I then surprised her by presenting a promise ring from a Poké Ball as we’re both Pokémon fans!”
Their journey to marriage was a beautiful blend of traditions and personal touches that reflected their unique love story. Their wedding festivities reflected their diverse backgrounds and deep respect for each other’s heritage. The celebrations spanned multiple events, each meticulously planned to honour both Victoria and Benoy’s families and cultural traditions. From a vibrant mehndi ceremony to an elegant civil service, every occasion was a harmonious blend of customs, music and delicious cuisine. Their love story resonated deeply with their guests, who witnessed first-hand the joy and sincerity that filled each moment of their wedding. “It was important for us to make everyone feel included and appreciated,” Victoria shared. “We wanted our wedding to reflect not just our love, but also our gratitude for the support and blessings of our families and friends.” Benoy echoed her sentiments, adding, “Celebrating our union in such a colourful and meaningful way was a dream come true. Seeing our loved ones come together to celebrate with us was the greatest gift.”
The Civil & Mehndi Ceremony
When it came to the venue, the couple opted for an intimate civil ceremony at Langtons House in Essex. The ceremony was hosted inside the gorgeous Orangery flooded with natural light. The bride wore a stunning off-shoulder satin gown by David’s Bridal styled with jewellery from Red Dot Jewels and Beaverbrooks. Her choice of minimalist pearl accessories was complimented with a white flowers bouquet. Victoria opted to have her hair down topped with a beautiful short veil. The groom made heads turn in a tailored suit by BOSS.
A couple of weeks later, the celebrations continued with the bride-to-be’s mehndi ceremony. This joyous event took place at her home, where near and dear ones joined in for the celebrations. Mehndi artist Sa’sha Designs by Tejal brought Victoria’s vision to life with intricate henna designs. Her mehndi featured personalised motifs like the skyline of London and text saying, ‘Assam Chai + Kerela Dosa.’ The UK-based eco-friendly paper decoration artist Prakruti Creations created traditional mehndi décor featuring lanterns, 3D flowers and garlands.
The Wedding Looks
The couple held two ceremonies to honour both their Bengali and Malayali customs and rituals. The bride chose to go traditional with a gorgeous Kanchipuram sari from Ranya Sarees and temple jewellery for their South Indian ceremony. For the Bengali ceremony, she opted for a contemporary lehenga by Seema Gujral from Nikaza Asian Couture and enamel jewellery by Red Dot Jewels. A special addition to her jewellery trousseau was traditional Bengali Shakha Pola bangles gifted to the bride by her mother. The groom wore a regal custom sherwani piece from Bhai-Bhai Clothing. His look was completed with a regal-style drape and traditional footwear.
The Wedding Décor
“Our decorators, 1SW Events created quirky floral arrangements with vivid colours and foliage. The team was so flexible throughout the process and made our vision come true,” the bride revealed. The couple opted for a quirky touch by adding a rickshaw as a prop to the wedding setup.
The Hindu Ceremony
The couple wanted to embrace both of their cultures and honour their heritage. “One of the most significant parts of our wedding journey was imbibing the South Indian customs from Benoy’s side. We chose to have an intimate ceremony with a limited number of guests and streamed this out to our friends who could not join us,” Victoria shared.
“A huge heart-warming moment was when Victoria walked up to the ceremony area and saw her mum getting emotional. It immediately made her tear up,” Benoy added.
The Reception
Looking back at their reception, the bride and the groom picked out their most favourite moments shared with loved ones. “We invited everyone on the stage for our first dance, which was the first time we had ever done a choreographed Bollywood dance together. We served North Indian cuisine and intertwined speeches with the gaps in between meals,” shared the couple in love. Adding a twist to the usual style of sit-down dinners “to make the desserts more interactive, we set out a dessert table with delicious miniature fusion style desserts from Sugar Box London,” shared the bride.
Word of Advice
“Highly recommend having a wedding planner! We hired SW Events, who made a huge difference to our wedding day, as they really helped the cogs keep running behind the scenes. Also, book your preferred makeup artist as early as possible once you know your wedding date” shared Victoria.
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Victoria Das
The Groom: Benoy Soman
Venue: Braxted Park Estate, Essex and London Sri Murugan Temple, London
Photography: Bhavesh Chauhan Photography, Apurva Gondalia Photography and Samsara Studio
Wedding Planner: SW Events
Wedding Décor: 1SW Events, Prakruti Creations
Mehndi Artist: Sa’sha Designs by Tejal
Desserts: Sugar Box London
