Naveen & Sanaaya’s Cocktail Wedding

Naveen is shy until he’s had a drink and Sanaaya doesn’t need one to be the life of the party. A love that flew down to Hyderabad, prepared to take life on. From workdays to dinner dates to their much awaited wedding, this couple grew closer together every step of the way. Dazzling like the sunset, Naveen & Sanaaya are dressed their best, and prepared for the rest.

Set in the Brown Town Resorts in Hyderabad, the wedding festivities took off with turmeric gold at everyone’s fingertips. With the haldi marking the beginning of a wedding, Naveen & Sanaaya’s started with a bang. A yellow and white draped canopy set the scene, with a stage dressed in jasmine and chrysanthemums. Fresh games were set up around the venue, taking the fun up a notch. There was fun for everyone, in any way they liked to have it. With the couple at the center, the whole celebration bloomed a bright yellow. 

After a picturesque moment in matching pink and white outfits, the couple stepped into simple white to start the turmeric tradition. They started with loving caresses of haldi across the couple’s faces, and ended in haldi smeared faces, and drenched clothes.

When night fell, pretty florals gave way to a serious party. Naveen & Sanaaya’s cocktail party was all about shots, dancing, and outfits that went as hard as the guests. 

The golden woven lights and green of the entrance set the tone, and a live band set the pace for this unforgettable night. The band’s Bollywood bangers kept this lively crowd on their feet all night. Families danced and cheered together, celebrating the couple who held the ceiling up for the celebration of this wedding weekend.

Decorated in baby pink and vibrant green, with luxurious diwans laid out for the guests, the Naveen & Sanaaya’s mehendi started with a respectful Ganesh Puja, with families coming together to honor those who came before them. Working with the beautiful greens and pinks of the décor, the couple was dressed in stunning colors to match. Sanaaya in an embellished, designer green and white lehenga was complemented by Naveen’s green kurta and contrasting paisley print sadri. 

Once the traditions were complete, the couple went back to their classic party lustre. The DJ took over, and the venue came with a jhumka bar, a bangle station and a mini lounge of little gifts for guests.  Sanaaya & Naveen, free from mehendi responsibilities, were butterflies around the event, talking to everyone and having the time of their lives, as always.

At Fort Grand, Hyderabad, the mandapam took inspiration from Kudmayi, the song from the visually captivating film “Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani”. It was built around a glowing tree, a space for promises, vows and a new life. 

Naveen arrived in a barāt, keeping with Sanaaya’s North Indian roots, Sanaaya was radiant in bridal red, with Naveen looking content and absolutely happy in regal ivory. They exchanged varmalas on stage and then the ceremony turned South Indian, for Naveen’s Telugu roots. The auspicious jilakkarra bellam was placed on each other’s heads, and Naveen finally tied the three knots of a mangalsutra to mark them married. Then began the playful talambralu, with the couple pouring the ritual akshintalu (rice colored with turmeric to signal abundance) and pearls over each other. The whole event was a joyful, satisfying moment. The post-wedding rituals were punctuated by Sanaaya’s sister nudging aside her new brother-in-law to plant a kiss on her sister, just a reminder of who was there first. 

From start to finish, this ceremony was a true fusion of cultures, customs and all things families hold dear. Each tradition was held with the same love, and given the same honor. A new tradition, born from the coming together of two equally beautiful cultures.

Weddings and vows, done and dusted. The couple and their entourage hit the pool like the wedding and cocktail party had been a warm-up. Cool water, flowing drinks, zero schedules. A perfect stress-buster after the wedding hub, Naveen, Sanaaya and their guests shot off with a pool party. 

The afternoon was all dancing, energy, and full-grown adults turning back into children. Nobody was safe from the water. The crowd headed for the pool. Guests were pushed, pulled and dragged in, and the dramatic splashdowns left hardly a dry outfit in sight.

The weekend saved its finest for last. Decked out in a gold lehenga and a navy tux, the couple made this the most dazzling night all by themselves. Every party that weekend had been leading up to this one. 

It was another night of dancing, music, and outfits befitting a MET Gala, right here in Hyderabad. A classy party, with conversation flowing like their drinks, and a fantastic dinner to match. It was also a night filled with speeches that touched the heart, from best friends, and loved family members. Heartfelt speeches turned into hearty cocktails.

The pride of this party however, was Sanaaya’s powerhouse father, an old-fashioned party man, happy to be the life of the party, the style of the room, and the cigar-holding icon. No event was complete without his electric presence, so we know exactly whose daughter Sanaaya is.

From their personalities to where they each come from, they’re proof that opposites attract. When it comes to throwing a party though, they’re perfectly in sync. Their wedding weekend was a party marathon, and we couldn’t get enough of this high-voltage family.  

Six events, two venues and one very full camera roll later, this wedding exuded the full force of popped champagne and sunshine on a bright blue pool, with a few evenings that some guests are still piecing together. But the real joy was the coming together of two cultures and two families, because at the end of the day, that’s what a wedding is about.

Six events across two venues is a fairly normal weekend for us here. If yours is shaping up the same way, this is how we shoot a Hyderabad wedding, and this is the rest of our work.