When Dia Mirza decided to tie the knot with Mumbai-based businessman Vaibhav Rekhi, she pictured her wedding in her lush garden where she's spent most of her mornings for the last 19 years. The actor-producer, who is also the UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, wanted her favourite mango tree to be in the backdrop, and the decor to be sustainable, without the use of plastic. On February 15, 2021, Dia and Vaibhav took their wedding vows in the presence of their friends and family in an intimate ceremony in Mumbai. While we’ve seen the dreamy photos of their wedding already on social media, we take you behind the scenes on how their beautiful nuptials came to life.
Dia invited Aashna Saran, founder and creative head of Aash Studio, on board to bring her wedding to life. Says Saran, “The wedding was a simple and soulful ceremony with a guest list of 60 people. Even so, the micro wedding was highly personalised and curated, reflecting the couple’s elegant taste. We decorated her 6,000-square-feet garden in Bandra, Mumbai, for the wedding.”
The Mandap
Hindu wedding rituals are incomplete without the mandap. Dia and Vaibhav’s wedding was performed by a priestess–a way in which they broke Indian stereotypes. Reveals Saran, “The couple didn’t want a mandap that was constricted—they wanted something that was open to the sky and brought in the nature around them. The backdrop was made with mixed Indian traditional flowers that worked beautifully as a contrast to Dia's red Banarasi sari and complemented the mogra she wore in her hair. Traditionally in Indian weddings, the four pillars of the mandap are very significant because they depict the four stages of life. Thus we placed brass pots which also added a structure to the mandap.”
Flowers Galore
The dreamy decor was essentially created using flowers, and then some more. The team handpicked brands and vendors that were homegrown to support the vocal for local initiative. For the mandap frame, the team used lots of dry branches, blush pink roses, baby’s breath intertwined with mogra strings. For the backdrop, they picked hyperlocal flowers native to India like Rajnigandha strings, Sevanti strings, and created tassels with edging of Kaner, a pink Indian flower. The large mango tree was also decorated with strings of Sevanti, and tassels of tuberoses.
Table Setting
The gorgeous tables were not devoid of flowers; one could spot lilies, mogra, blush pink roses and wildflowers. Minute details were added like placing tassel-tied napkins and quotes on each table for the guests. These quotes were selected by the couple from some of their favourite books to remind their guests the important role they play in their lives. Brass plates, jute fabric, different types of candles, and diya jalis added charm to the setup.
“Dia loves everything natural, sustainable and eco-friendly. When we started designing the decor, it was extremely important to bring perfect coordination and flow within the space. We wanted to use only one kind of medium that would work through the space and something that was sustainable, hence we decided to use cut-glass candle holders which would reflect the light beautifully and create a dreamy look. We wanted to create an Indian garden vibe with an old-world rustic charm,” adds Saran.
Seating
The seating arrangement for the guests was kept simple and elegant, that was in line with the decor. Aesthetically pleasing jute divans, accent arch tables, and chairs were placed in the garden for the 60 guests. There were also bells placed on them to ring and bless the couple during their pheras.
Sanitisation Booth
With Covid-19 still looming large, hygiene, safety and sanitisation are the norm at any gathering. Keeping this in mind, the decor team created a booth by placing fun signages on vintage tables with sanitiser bottles and flowers that blended with the rest of the theme.
Dia’s Reaction
Like every bride, Dia had a vision for how her wedding would look. When she finally saw her garden transformed for her special day, she couldn’t stop smiling. “Her cheery smile revealed how happy she was seeing the preparations. I felt all our presentations, mood boards and samples had come to life. A wedding is such an emotional affair and we were happy to make it beautiful for the couple; something they will hold close to their hearts and cherish forever,” concludes Saran.
