Shaadi by Marriott Bonvoy at The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat in association with t2 embodied the dream of a couple about to embark on a new journey. The evening offered an alluring display of wedding trousseau for the bride and groom by Nikhil Jain’s Rangoli and Ranjh. The three segments — cocktail party, sangeet and wedding — showcased Indian and contemporary wear that exuded fine craftsmanship, beautiful designs and a mood that envelops all with joy. Adding sophistication to the fourth edition was Soha Ali Khan who paved the way for the audience to party with Sanam band.
The show kick-started with the cocktail party collection and models walked the ramp in contemporary ensembles that included ready-to-wear saris with trendy blouses. The male models showcased some relaxed Indian wear that matched the celebratory mood.
(From left) Prantika Das in a dreamy lilac ensemble that’s perfect for the sangeet
The sangeet collection was a mix of pastel saris and light lehngas
Nikhil Jain and Sauraseni Maitra were the showstoppers for the last segment of the show. While Sauraseni looked ethereal in a dark red lehnga with intense embroidery on the skirt, Nikhil looked spiffy in an off-white sherwani paired with a red necklace. “Lot of people associate Rangoli with the age-old brand that sells saris but we have reinvented and challenged ourselves in today’s time because we have to be on our toes as fashion keeps on changing. So keeping the tradition alive we introduced modern trends and silhouettes with Youve which was launched last year. And the collection was a mix of Rangoli and Youve, it showcased everything that a bride and her friends and family members would need for sangeet, engagement, cocktail party and the wedding,” said Nikhil Jain, owner, Rangoli and Youve.
On the sidelines of the show, t2 caught up for a quick chat with Soha Ali Khan...
How does it feel coming to Calcutta and being all dressed up for an event like Shaadi by Marriott?
The city is very close to my heart and I feel very happy to come here. It’s always nice when you get the opportunity to wear new clothes and be part of such a festive event like Shaadi by Marriott Bonvoy.
Are you a jewellery person?
I think you have to dress for the occasion. I have a child at home so I realised that wearing long earrings is not practical, which is why I don’t wear a lot of jewellery. However, I do like getting dressed up.
Any timeless jewellery that you have in your collection?
There are some that are very close to my heart that have been passed down through generations. I wore some of them during my wedding.
Your wedding set-up was intimate. If you were to get married now how would you want it to be?
We wanted to get married at home with just immediate family members and a few friends but we did dress up and did the whole safa, lehnga, jhoomar and maangtika... I liked that but now that the trend has changed with destination weddings and no make-up look that takes hours to achieve. I would like to do an outdoor wedding with a natural light setting.
Your social media post is full of gym and fitness videos. What is fitness for you and what keeps you motivated?
It’s about being strong and enjoying the future with a strong body
The last segment showcased wedding attire of different regions of India — South India, Rajasthan and Bengal.
Beat Buster kept the mood and momentum going with their dance performances.
Sanam band made the after-party, which spilled past midnight, a hit with their signature romantic numbers.
Tollywood actor Mishmee Das walked in a glitzy pastel lehnga
“Shaadi by Marriot is a concept which showcases our prowess in culinary arts, event management, entertainment options and more. Different brands will adapt Shaadi by Marriott differently and we have taken it to another level as Westin is known to create events which is large scale. We had Soha Ali Khan as the showstopper and Sanam band, the best in the league. Our 14,000sq ft banquet hall and 21,000sq ft lawns aid in making dreams come true,” said Subhash Sinha, general manager, The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat.
The F&B spread was a gastronome’s dream with the dessert counters winning hearts fair and square.