Real Wedding – Prachi & Mihar, Yarra Valley VIC
A sumptuous event stretching over four days was the captivating celebration of Prachi and Mihar, culminating in a ravishing reception. The couple chose to dial up the style for their party, choosing modern glam alongside stunning inclusions from the cultural traditions of their Indian heritage.
A tablescape of intense elegance grounds the overall effect with deep indigo linens, soft gold cutlery and accents of tawny blush. Tones of deep crimson, smokey fawn and creamy vanilla make up a floral wilderness that contrast beautifully against the contemporary architectural lines of Levantine Hill Estate.
Photographer Chloe May is an Ivory Tribe favourite for so many reasons, and sneaking a peek at the stunning sunset portraits of Prachi and Mihar just reminds us why. These blissed-out newlyweds are smouldering, looking every bit movie star glam. Prachi’s modern take on the traditional lehenga is perfection, and we especially love her joy-filled dance floor moment! Scroll on to witness this shimmering soiree in full.
The meeting.
We met in Adelaide eight and a half years ago when our eyes fell upon each other across the room during the first night of a dental student’s convention. We lived in different states and attended separate uni’s, but the spark between us was undeniable. After that initial week together, we didn’t allow the long distance to limit our relationship from growing.
The ‘one’.
Our love stemmed from our mutual trust, affection, and a sense of ease in each other’s company. The threads of our connection were realised during those small, transcendent moments where we felt deeply seen and known by one another.
The proposal.
Mihar surprised me by proposing during our first overseas trip together to Japan in 2019. The month prior to flying, I had a bike accident and had to have two surgeries for my broken arm, and my physio was hesitant about me going overseas and travelling. Unbeknownst to me, Mihar had spent five months preparing for the proposal, and he had to confide in the physio about his intentions in the hope that I could still go so he could pull it off. Luckily, we made it onto that plane, and it was on a beautiful morning while overlooking Mount Fuji that Mihar asked me to marry him. The funniest moment was when he opened the ring box upside down while down on one knee!
Style inspiration.
I wanted our wedding to reflect the rich cultural traditions of our Indian heritage in an elegant, modern, and refined way. Our events were separated over four days, with the reception the icing on the cake on our final day of celebrations. I drew my inspiration for our reception from florals in my favourite colours, my love of luscious greenery and nature, and the moody and romantic vibe of flickering candlelight.
I found perusing the previous work of my stylists, photographers, and videographers was my greatest inspiration and cemented my desire to engage with them to help me bring my own wedding vision to life.
The outfit.
Wedding shopping during and in between lockdowns was interesting. Initially, the mums and I were on daily WhatsApp video calls to various boutiques from India, trying to choose outfits via a pixelated rectangular screen – with no luck. I knew I wanted to wear a traditional lehenga in ivory for the evening and eventually came across a heavy mirror work lehenga instore at a Melbourne boutique that caught my attention. I customised the colour and design of the blouse from the original piece, and seven months later, on the night of my reception, I felt like a glowing Bollywood disco ball when the light caught the skirt just right.
Favourite moments.
There was so much to be grateful for that it’s hard to choose just one moment. To name a few: being with our puppy Baloo while we got ready, driving to the reception venue together in our beloved car, spying on our guests from the hidden bridal suite upstairs as they first entered the reception space, our first dance, quiet kisses at sunset as we stepped outside during dinner, dancing the night away with our favourite people sharing the same room.
Meaning of marriage.
Making a spiritual commitment to another soul to nurture and cultivate love through the experience of living a life together.
Wedding soundtrack.
Reception entry: The Next Episode by Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg
Cake cutting: Adorn by Miguel
First dance: You & I (Nobody in the World) by John Legend
Funny stories or near disasters.
Just as we were about to depart for the reception venue after getting ready, Mihar realised we had left all the bottles of spirits for the night at home, which was over an hour’s drive away. Luckily, we have amazing friends who detoured on their way to the event and picked up spirits to save the day!
Planning surprises.
A big lesson my wedding planning affirmed for me was that you can have plans A/B/C/D etc., in place, but there will always be factors outside of our control and unexpected moments that will arise to throw even the best thought out plans. The sooner you become comfortable with uncertainty and let go of what cannot be controlled, the more organically and peacefully the day unfolds.
Words of wisdom.
Every single time you think of a task or something that needs to be done – no matter how big or small – write it down. Written to-do lists saved room in my head and cleared my mind, easing the stress that I’d forget something important later.
Your wedding photographer is such an important part of your dream day. Not only do they capture your memories with aesthetic style, they are with you as each epic moment unfolds. To help you find the perfect person for your day, we’ve gathered some of the best in the biz on our directory, here.
PRACHI & MIHAR’S VENDORS
Ceremony venue: Coombe Yarra Valley
Reception venue: Levantine Hill Estate
Photography: Chloe May
Videography: Moon & Back Co
Styling: Lettuce & Co
Hair & make-up: Danielle Hendricks
Shoes: Charles & Keith
Suits: Hugo Boss
Entertainment: DJ Masters
