Soulful Destination Wedding In French Quarter, Pondicherry

Love it when a couple goes the extra mile in ensuring their wedding reflects who they are beyond clothes and jewellery. Here is a couple who chose to have their destination wedding in a rather unique wedding location- the picturesque French Quarter in Pondicherry. The wedding was a reflection of their roots and culture for guests from all over the world, and everything about the wedding was well thought-out and planned. Real Bride Jyotsna dishes out the details that went into planning this gorgeous wedding- which was quite contemporary, but in a way still rooted firmly to tradition. 

Meet Jyotsna and Han

Our journey began as students in the United Kingdom, where fate brought us together at an event commemorating the visit of Prime Minister Modi to London in 2018. We bonded over discussing international politics and security- so romantic! Fast forward to the post-COVID era when my now husband, aware of my lifelong fascination with the enchanting history of Egypt, planned a surprise trip to the land of the pharaohs. Little did I know he was planning a magical sunset proposal, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Pyramids- a moment of pure wonder. The proposal was planned at the historic @marriottmenahousecairo overlooking the pyramids.

Wedding

From The Bride:

Our wedding took place on 16th February 2023. We had quite a story to tell- we wanted our wedding to be a deeply personal experience. We got married in a heritage building overlooking the Bay of Bengal in the picturesque French Quarter of Pondicherry. Some of the ceremonies before the wedding had taken place in the enchanting Kariappa House, a meticulously restored Franco-Tamil heritage home nestled in a quaint fishing village. Coming from different regions of India and with friends traveling from around the world to join us, our wedding became a beautiful amalgamation of cultures, showcasing the richness of India's culture. To pay homage to India's heritage, we incorporated elements that honored its traditions and customs.

For the wedding, I wanted an outfit that was lightweight and apt for a coastal wedding. But I also wanted it to outlive trend cycles and be timeless. The stunning ivory and gold lehenga from Seema Gujral Design, together with the magnificent jewelry from Sabyasachi and TBZ was a result of careful curation.

In a departure from the "phoolon ki chadar," I decided to walk beneath a resplendent Phulkari chadar as a tribute to my hometown, Amritsar. Adorned with kaliras sewn by my family, the chadar was not only a symbol of my roots but also carried the love of my cherished ones. As I took those steps, I was accompanied by a loving army of brothers and friends from around the world. Throughout the ceremony, the pandit ji skillfully engaged our guests, translating the sacred Sanskrit shlokas into Hindi and English, often adding a touch of humor to the rituals, and leaving us all in fits of laughter. As a tribute to the vibrant culture of Southern India, the ceremony culminated in an electrifying chenda melam and kathakali performance, before the night got positively blurry.

About The WedMeGood App

WedMeGood was an absolute lifesaver for someone like me planning the wedding from another part of the country! From the start, it guided me through the entire wedding journey seamlessly. I found it incredibly user-friendly, making it effortless to organize and manage all aspects of our big day. The app's vendor-finding feature was a game-changer, connecting me with top-notch professionals who skillfully captured every cherished moment of our wedding events. With my brain sifting through thousands of things in the lead up to the wedding, I found the to-do checklist particularly helpful.

Vendor Reviews

Venue: The Spot by Villa Shanti Pondicherry (Wedding)

Breathtaking venue at the Promenade in the French quarter, overlooking the captivating Coromandel coast. It was just the sort of venue we were looking for- a place with character and history, big enough to house us all, and cozy enough to make our guests feel involved. The manager and his team coordinated with us remotely through the planning stage with patience and with a commitment to give us their best. The culinary experience at The Spot was a delightful fusion of South, North, and Franco-Tamil flavors, carefully curated by their talented chef. Our guests were treated to an unforgettable gastronomic adventure, and the unique blend of tastes added a memorable touch to the celebration. Not only did The Spot provide a beautiful backdrop for our wedding, but it also exceeded our expectations in every aspect.

Kariappa House Pondicherry (Bridal portraits & Pre-wedding events): We wanted our guests to get an authentic taste of Pondicherry- and this meticulously restored heritage property in the charming fishing village of Vaithikuppam provided just that. Every door, every room, every artefact here has a story to tell. The staff and the manager became friends. by the end of it all ensuring an elevated experience for our guests.

Makeup Artist: Makeup by Ridhima Dhiman

Absolutely stunning work! Ridhima brought out the best version of me on my special day. From flawless application to an exquisite eye for detail, I felt beautiful and confident throughout. Before the wedding, she patiently worked with me in planning my looks, and sat me through a detailed trial.

Wedding Planning & Decor: The Hue Story

I found The Hue Story here on WedMeGood and connected with them later via Instagram. I got talking to Roshni almost right after that. We sought decor and planning services from them. We were particularly impressed with their minimalistic, clean and elegant take on decor. The wedding was to take place in a charming French building by the promenade in Pondicherry, with a capacity of just about 200 people. Since both the families and the Hue Story were based out of different cities/countries, most of the decor was planned over a range of virtual meetings with The Hue Story team. The Hue Story ran us through the decor and event flow in detail. I must add that the Hue Story Team was very resourceful and innovative in planning the decor for our wedding, considering they had to plan the decor for a relatively confined event space. We also engaged their services for guest management and for arranging the welcome hampers for the guests. Fast forward to the wedding day, I was truly awe struck by what I saw. The decor simply exceeded all of our expectations. Magical-and yet meticulously, painstakingly executed. We are talking strings of warm hanging lights, tropical blooms and hints of traditional brassware against the white washing walls of the sea side heritage building. The team also perfectly coordinated the event flow. My family felt at ease and could enjoy the event, with the Hue Story team taking care of all the logistics. I am thankful to Roshni, Suman and team for executing everything to perfection. Simply magnificent

Our guests were staying at several French villas in Pondicherry. Coordinating logistics across several hotels and venues was one of the most challenging aspect of our wedding, one which The Hue Story team handled impeccably- from coordinating the delivery of welcome hampers to all guests to supervising access to taxis and other services for guests.

Photography (Wedding): Anvar Zayan Photography

They captured every moment with such artistry and precision, creating timeless memories we'll cherish forever. Their friendly and unobtrusive approach made us feel comfortable and allowed for natural, candid shots. Anvar and team had a great sense of aesthetics.

You and Me Mediaz: They skilfully captured every cherished moment throughout all our wedding events. Their attention to detail and ability to blend into the background made for candid and natural shots that we'll treasure forever. We're grateful for their talent and dedication in ensuring our memories are preserved so perfectly.

Mehendi Artist: Anil Mehandi Arts (Chennai)

We were lucky to come across Anil and his team on Wedmegood. We were concerned about finding the right artist in Chennai where mehndi is not as widely celebrated a wedding festivity as it is in Punjab, where I am from. But Anil and his team understood what the guests and I wanted and met all expectations.

Invitations: Cardkhana

Was lucky to find Cardkhana via WedmeGood. Shubhangi was very accommodating of all requests for changes and captured the essence of events skilfully. 

Vendors: Venue: The Spot by Villa Shanti Pondicherry (Wedding), Kariappa House Pondicherry (Bridal portraits & Pre-wedding events); Makeup Artist: Makeup by Ridhima Dhiman; Wedding Planning & Decor: The Hue Story★ 4.9 ; Photography: Anvar Zayan Photography★ 5 (Wedding) and You and Me Mediaz★ 5 ; Mehendi Artist: Anil Mehandi Arts★ 4.9 (Chennai); Invitations: Cardkhana★ 4.9