Legal professionals Jaikanth Shankar and Shivani Retnam had known each other for 17 years before they tied the knot earlier this year. They had first crossed paths back in 1997 when they were just teenagers in junior college. Sparks only began to fly in 2003 and it was another 10 years before Jaikanth popped the question. The proposal couldn’t have been more romantic. In June 2013, while staying at a luxurious villa in Capella Singapore amidst the island charm of Sentosa, Jaikanth presented Shivani with a brilliant sapphire engagement ring.

The Theme & Concept
According to wedding planner and stylist Lini Lingam of The Perfect Host, it is important for the wedding decor to reflect a couple’s unique personality. “Shivani and Jaikanth are full of heart, hence the Rustic theme; in touch with their culture, hence the Eclectic theme; and have refined taste, hence the Forest Glam theme,” she says.

Kicking off the couple’s elaborate five-part celebration was an outdoor solemnisation ceremony at the Lawn at Alkaff Mansion. The bride was radiant in a saree-inspired bespoke white gown created by Ted Wu as she greeted family and friends. All around were elements of the rustic charm theme: wooden birdcages, hand-lettered chalkboards, tiffany chairs, and even vine-ball baskets for flower girls. The dominant colours were burnt orange, brown and white with hints of green. Orange Mokara orchids, sweet ivy and various other flowers in stunning hues decked pillars, hung from planters and lined the aisles, offering the perfect backdrop as guests mingled over champagne and moscato from wine barrel cocktail tables and garden benches around the gazebo.

They then adjourned to the Marquee where they were transported into a scene right of Bollywood. The newly pronounced man and wife marched in to the pulsating sounds from dhol drummers accompanied by Bhangra dancers. Inside the tent, there were strings of fairy lights, thick strands of marigold, a mango-leaf rangoli, elephant statues, lotus shaped tea holders, and an Indian-inspired motif projected on the ceiling of the marquee.

The festivities continued over the next few days with a henna party at the bride’s home, pre-wedding prayers at the groom’s home and the temple wedding at Vinayagar temple on February 12. For the finale, the couple hosted a Forest Glam wedding lunch at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia. Explaining how the event theme came about, Lini says, “We wanted to bring the outdoors in, and to complement the majestic feel of the Ritz Ballroom, we added the glam factor.”

The Highlights
The couple and their planner put the most effort into orchestrating the dinner celebration at Alkaff Mansion. To really bring out the Bollywood vibe, they encouraged their friends to come in Indian outfits. Even those who went straight from work slipped into the theme easily thanks to the brilliant bangles, bright shawls and bindis provided at the venue. The excitement heightened as the evening advanced, with Bollywood-style performances by family and friends and plenty of dancing, making the colourful occasion most memorable for everyone.

Gold and jewellery have a special place in Indian weddings. To complement her different outfits, Shivani wore gold jewellery from significant female family members: her late mother-in-law, her maternal and paternal grandmothers, and her mother. For the temple ceremony, she wore a ruby necklace set, a gift from her parents. Jewellery was also worn in her hair, as pretty hairpieces she had custom-made by Noaki Jewelry on Etsy. The jewellery designer also created the bride’s bouquet. A brooch wedding bouquet with a cascading tail of rhinestones and teardrop pieces, it certainly wasn’t something made for a bouquet toss, but rather, was fashioned as a beautiful work of art for the bride to pass on to her daughter one day.

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