For Jasmine Patel Raj and Siddharth Raj, it all began at a New Year’s Eve party. Little did the friends of the bride and the groom who witnessed this meet-cute know that it would turn into a beautiful love story. The couple instantly hit it off over shared interests and life goals. It wasn’t long before the texts and chats turned into a solid relationship. But the couple chose to keep their growing love private, before the groom made it official with a ring. “Siddharth planned the proposal months in advance without me knowing. He set up a ‘photo shoot’ that was planned by him and his best friends who are photographers at Hugo Film Co. Together they made it seem to me that it was a photoshoot for content creation. I was very surprised and extremely happy when it turned into a romantic proposal of my dreams. Following this, our families had a small intimate dinner to celebrate our new chapter,” shared the bride about the proposal that seems as if straight out of a movie.
The Planning
After months of planning and ideating, the California based couple decided to give their friends and family from across the world a taste of their Indian heritage through their celebrations. They settled on a vibrant destination wedding in Jaipur, India. The preps began with getting the best team on board to transform their dream wedding into reality. “Our planner was KYC Events. And we commissioned Nischay Gandhi for décor and design. We spent many meetings translating our dreams and ideas into how we can make it into a reality. We explained our ideas for each event and little ideas that we wanted to include to make each event more special and unique to us and our personalities.”
The Vision
The couple wanted to have an intimate ceremony, but a celebration where they could enjoy with each other and every one of their guests. Their vision was to keep it curated and detailed to reflect their personalities and style. “We wanted the guest list to include family and close friends, so we could plan the most personalised experiences.”
The Snapshots
“Our photographers Movie’ing Moments captured our special moments beautifully. We could recall our exact feelings behind each photo which is such a blessing and something we will appreciate our whole lives when looking back at these photos. They were always ready to take shots and embraced the importance of capturing each moment,” revealed Jasmine.
“My approach has always centred around storytelling through emotions and aesthetics. The couple wanted their wedding to feel deeply rooted in tradition, while maintaining a visually stunning and timeless appeal. We focused on creating this narrative by capturing intimate moments, stolen glances, and heartfelt exchanges with an artistic composition. This meant a balanced mix of portraits, candid moments, and fun, lively shots. Since the wedding was at a palace hotel, Jasmine and Siddharth wanted a royal feel without it being overly staged, so we blended graceful, well-composed portraits with organic, unfiltered moments. Whether it was the warm glow of the palace lights, the majestic arches, or the opulent interiors, every setting added a layer of grandeur to the couple’s portraits while still keeping the emotions at the forefront. Our signature editing style further enhanced the timelessness of the images while staying true to the grandeur of Fairmont,” shared Vaibhav Singvi the founder of Movie’ing Moments.
The Venue
Fairmont Jaipur made for the perfect backdrop for the couple’s royal wedding celebrations. A modern palace hotel with an old-school heart, the 255-room extravaganza rises with all its splendour. It overlooks the rugged Aravalli Hills and sits on colossal geometric courtyard inspired by Agra’s Char Bagh and dotted with frangipani trees. The luxe property seamlessly blends the splendour of Rajputana and Mughal architecture with contemporary comforts. “We picked this location as we wanted to have our wedding in a unique place as well as fulfil our dream of getting married in India. This venue was beautiful and had everything we wanted. The hospitality and staff were amazing” shared the bride.
The Welcome Lunch
No stone was left unturned for the memorable wedding, which kicked off with a Welcome Lunch. What was meant to be an ice-breaker for the bride and groom’s families, turned out to be a riot of fun and laughter. Beats of Live dhol kept everyone on their toes for hours. To be able to dance away, Jasmine kept things effortless in a powder blue skirt and an embroidered blouse, while Siddharth twinned with the bride-to-be in a fuss-free power blue blazer.
The Haldi
Next up was a vibrant Haldi ceremony. As the day peaked, the energy soared with a joyous occasion dedicated to music, dance, and exuberance. It was filled with lots of playful moments as family and friends smeared turmeric on the couple and showered them with petals to bless them for their new start together.
The bride slipped into a modest white sari for the occasion. She accessorised with a gold choker and jhumkas, with her hair tied in a braid with gajras. The groom went the modest route, too, with a white kurta set. The setting was brimming with blue and orange flowers.
The Arabian Nights-Themed Sangeet
Choosing Aladdin and Scheherazade Jasmine’s timeless tale of love as inspiration was a no-brainer for Jasmine and Siddarth for the Sangeet night. “The Arabian Nights-themed occasion narrated the story with traditional Moroccan drapes, tinted glass lanterns, colourful jaali screens, handwoven rugs, soft cushions, Arabesque patterns, and bejewelled Ottomans. “Drawing inspiration from the vibrant bazaars of Marrakesh, we crafted an atmosphere where no detail was spared. Majestic Arabic arches framed the space, while ornate Turkish lamps cast a warm, inviting glow, casting shadows that danced like whispers of the past. A stunning pathway, adorned with vibrant fruits and vegetables—each element later donated to the underprivileged—guided guests through the enchanting bazaar-inspired setting. Rich brocades and plush velvets added depth and texture, while a captivating fire pit provided a touch of warmth and mystique. The colourr palette was a lavish mix of jewel tones and floral hues, echoing the vibrancy of a Moroccan souk, where every piece, every hue, and every texture worked in harmony to transport guests into an unforgettable, exotic world of splendour,” shared Nischay.
The bride dressed the part in a lehenga by couturier Tarun Tahiliani that was an explosion of colours and crafts. Her wavy, voluminous hair was accented with a statement hear gear. The dewy glam makeup was completed with a wash of caramel and copper on the lids and lips, exuding confidence and charm. The groom wore a berry-hued bandhgala.
The night was nothing short of a blockbuster, which culminated with speeches and scrumptious food. The couple, their families, and friends set the stage on fire with a number of choreographed performances. The revelry went on till wee hours with everyone dancing to their favourite Bollywood beats, making it a night to remember.
The Wedding
The couple stuck to time-honoured traditions for the pheras in January 2024, but also made the Big Day their own with personalised rituals. The morning started was a bridal and couple portrait session, where Jasmine and Siddharth had their first look ceremony. Siddharth’s heart was full when he first saw his bride in a red lehenga. Elaborating on her look, Jasmine said, “I had always dreamed of wearing red on her wedding day, and set my heart on a classic red Sabyasachi lehenga.” Her classic piece, crafted using plush velvet, was adorned with artisanal crafts. She tied the look together with a traditional dupatta and ornate polki and ruby encrusted jewellery pieces.
“We went to different cities in India months prior the wedding and chose out outfits from various designers. And a lot of our jewellery was local and made by our dear friend,” Jasmine added. The groom wore an ivory sherwani with a dupatta featuring paisley patterns and pagdi to match.
What made these moments picture perfect were the shots with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, who had flown from across the world to celebrate the union of the happy couple. The bride’s tribe was dressed in pastel lehengas, while the groom’s squad cut a dapper figure in jade green kurta sets with bundi jackets.
It would be a while before the ceremony would begin. The festivities began with a fun-filled baraat. The groom made his way to his bride in style, first in a vintage car then on a motorcycle. Friends and family followed, dancing to the tunes of dhol and DJ. The wedding party was accompanied by decorated elephants as they do at true royal Rajasthani weddings.
The pheras were a visual and emotional extravaganza. It was held al fresco at Fairmont Jaipur, where an all-white mandap, with lots of roses, baby’s breath and carnations, was custom created over the pool. The couple made a lifelong commitment to each other in a heartfelt ceremony that was both spiritual and serene. “Our favourite moment during the wedding ceremony was when we looked at each other and a sense of peace came over.”
The Galactic Reception
The setting for the reception was truly out of this world. The space was transformed into an astral wonderland that felt otherworldly and romantic. “Sid, a true Star Wars aficionado, wanted to celebrate his love for the iconic saga in a way that would transport guests to a galaxy far, far away. We took inspiration from the vastness of space and created a stunning, celestial-themed ambiance that was both immersive and awe-inspiring. The ceiling, a true spectacle in itself, was transformed into a breathtaking galaxy, with intricate mesh structures glowing softly from within, mimicking distant stars and nebulae. Midnight blue served as the perfect backdrop, setting the stage for an otherworldly experience,” revealed Nischay. This was translated into an aesthetic that was as dreamy as it is modern, blending deep navy tones with shimmering accents across the space. “The tablescape was a masterful tribute to the Star Wars universe, with each table thoughtfully adorned with miniature planets, the formidable Death Star, the iconic Millennium Falcon, and meticulously placed rocks and pebbles, all carefully arranged to evoke the sense of a cosmic battlefield.”
Embracing the spirit of the event and their love for the epic space opera media franchise, the couple chose a dance performance that started with Lightsabers.
Jasmine was a vision in a dazzling Shantnu & Nikhil ball gown for her reception, featuring a corset bodice with intricate embellishments and a voluminous skirt. She rounded it off with diamond jewellery and soft glam makeup. Siddharth opted to wear a navy velvet tuxedo.
From the meticulously curated themes to the personalised rituals, the couple’s destination affair was a nod to their journey, their roots, and their love for each other.
Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Jasmine Patel Raj
The Groom: Siddharth Raj
The Venue: Fairmount Jaipur
Wedding Planner & Execution: KYC events
Wedding Designer: Nischay Gandhi
Photography: Movie’ing Moments
Entertainment: DJ Alex, Raja Dholis
The Outfits: Sabyasachi, Shantnu & Nikhil and Tarun Tahiliani
Makeup: Shilpa Jodhani
Choreography: Yash Pandya
Anchor: Anchor JK
