Destination weddings are a popular choice for contemporary couples. However, the hassle of travelling, high budgets and keeping a limited guest list often compels couples to think twice about hosting their dream wedding at far-off destinations. The restrictions on travelling during the pandemic introduced wanderlust to the convenient concept of staycation. Similarly, following the pandemic, a domestic destination wedding is the trend of the times and an ideal way to carry out the dream wedding by avoiding all hassles involved in doing it at a distant location. An ideal venue of this kind is the country club turned resort, Ibiza — The Fern Resort and Spa on Diamond Harbour Road. A pleasant hour-and-a-half drive from central Calcutta, it was our chosen location to explore a monsoon wedding lookbook.
A comfortable distance away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ibiza, standing in the lap of nature and spread across 20 acres of lush greenery, has an amalgamation of modern and regal aesthetics in its architecture and is alluring with its serene set-up amidst nature. Apart from the exquisite spots inside the property apt for various wedding rituals, its 110 spacious rooms with all modern amenities give couples the opportunity for accommodating both the bride and groom’s sides of the family.
“From large traditional weddings and extravagant parties to more intimate events, the resort is ideal. Close to nature and set amidst a celebration of greenery, Ibiza serves as an ideal place for all the wedding functions of a big fat Indian wedding. It is a well-equipped venue with a specially trained professional team. Replete with greenery, Ibiza — The Fern Resort & Spa is a property where one can relax and rejuvenate and celebrate their special events with their near and dear ones. Our resort has a unique melange of nature and modernity that makes it a preferred venue for couples staying abroad too. For people of the city, it is ideal for experiencing the thrill of a destination wedding while not having to travel far away from home. Developed as a Merlin Greens property with a Spanish theme, the resort marries natural landscape with a host of indoor and outdoor activities, allowing guests to indulge in fun moments together,” said general manager Subhadip Basu.
While banquet halls, a swimming pool and landscaped lawns look like ideal spots for creating set-ups for diverse wedding programmes, a relaxing and rejuvenating spa, cottages, villas and other styles of guest rooms, multicuisine restaurant, a sports-themed bar, a discotheque with bar and an indoor gaming section enrich the overall experience. Spots like Epocha ballroom, Spanish Bar with lawn, Esperanza Lawn, Reflection Pool and Island Deck on the lake are picture-perfect for a dreamlike wedding experience and bridal photoshoot frames. The discotheque is an apt spot for letting one’s hair down with friends at a bachelorette party ahead of the wedding celebrations.
The Telegraph’s monsoon domestic destination wedding lookbook, a mix of elegant traditional outfits and easy-breezy occasionwear and glam resortwear ensembles, was further spruced up and made pretty with the rain-drenched nature backdrop and the various wedding rituals decor set-up in the resort.
(L-R) Wouldn’t a monsoon wedding be incomplete without some fun in the rain? The poolside was the perfect place to get drenched in the rain and have some outdoor fun after the Haldi and soak in a unique experience specific to the season. For the rain fun, artificial floral accessorisation on the hair and fingers by make-up artist Bhaskar Biswas enhanced the pretty looks.
The Haldi-Mehndi set-up on the rain-drenched South Lawn was a vibrant frame with a fun vibe. On Kutubuddin, a beige asymmetric kurta set from Surbhi Pansari with floral motifs in complementing French rose and marmalade colours. On Imtiaj, a turquoise kurta printed with off-white dots and floral patterns from Surbhi Pansari, paired with an off-white churidar. On Mohor, a plain off-white kurta set from Floraisonn, with multicoloured embroidery on the sleeves, teamed with an ombre dupatta. On Sushmita, a bright yellowish green one-piece cut-out outfit from Floraisonn, designed with an embroidered shoulder. Embroidered jewellery from Kanyaadhan adds to the vibrant looks.
For the cocktail night, Ibiza decked out the banquet with a glistening party set-up. Shades of wine on Imtiaj and Mohor from label Arjun Agarwal complemented the metallic hues of the set-up. The tiger motif on one side is the highlight of Imitiaj’s classic-cut jacket, paired with a black shirt and matching bows. Mohor’s lehnga is designed with metallic embroidery and embellishment along with two exquisite pre-stitched trail dupattas for the perfect dreamy look.
Styling: Isha Thakkar
Hair and make-up: Bhaskar Biswas
Models: Kutubuddin Sheikh, Sushmita Roy, Imtiaj Haque and Mohor Datta
Jewellery: Crisanto Jewels and Kanyaadhan
Contact Ibiza at: 9836801455/033-66 555 555