EXCLUSIVE: Prajakta Koli and Vrishank Khanal’s wedding ceremony was a nature-inspired affair in Karjat

The Dream Team ™ was roped in to make the process seamless. In an endearing role reversal, the groom-to-be stepped up for the wedding duties to dream up their big day. “I was away most of the time due to prior work commitments, so Vrishank handled a lot more than we had originally kept as our departments. He went for several recces and food tastings with our parents,” shares Koli.

The two-day destination affair kicked off with a welcome lunch and poolside mehendi. The mood board for the mehandi mirrored the bride-to-be’s personality—unfiltered and unflappable. The earthy palette served as the perfect organic canvas to highlight the orange marigold flowers, custom Ikat prints, clay pots and ghungroos on the table arrangements. The wooden pillars with jharokas made it feel like a backyard celebration.

When it came to her wedding wardrobe, life truly came full circle for Koli, who dressed the part in a top-to-toe Anita Dongre look. Comprising an ankle-length skirt and a waistcoat-style top in a rich emerald hue, her ensemble was intricately hand-embroidered by women artisans of SEWA foundation. “My bridal trousseau was the first thing I had ‘planned’ way before we started planning the wedding. A few years ago, I did a campaign with Anita and told her: ‘Whenever I get married, I want to wear this lehenga’. And about a month into my engagement in November 2023, I went to the Anita Dongre Rewild fundraiser at the City Palace in Jaipur and we spoke about it. Anita was most gracious she made a custom piece for me.” Khanal kept up with Koli in an olive custom embroidered Nehru jacket set from the couturier.

Next in line was the sunset haldi ceremony, overlooking the lake. Hand embroidered gold zari arches welcomed guests to the setting swathed in a yellow and gold colour story. The al fresco area was dotted with rattan furniture with block printed linens and brass urlis with fresh petals. At the bride-to-be’s behest, the tablescape was adorned with lots of sunflowers. “It was vibrant and colourful, exactly how I wanted it,” shares Koli, who wore an ivory sharara with gota patti work by Roze for the occasion, while Khanal complemented her in a matching kurta set.

The golden hour pheras, on February 25, 2025, were hosted at the lush lawns under the shadow of a tree to symbolise life and growth. “We went with a white and sage palette for the big day.” The serene space was amplified with hundreds of floral strings with chandeliers, ferns and foliage, which matched the motifs on Koli’s bridal lehenga. “When it came to my look, the only thing I told Anita [Dongre] is that I don’t want to wear red. The first lehenga that I tried on became my wedding lehenga. What stood out the most for me is that the sample piece showcased Parijat patterns, and my name Prajakta is another word for Parijat flower. It also has features Pichwai paintings and pockets. It was rounded off with two dupattas and Anita Dongre jewellery,” reveals Koli. The groom opted for an ivory look to go with her gold lehenga.

In contrast, for the reception, she wore “a stunning red Benarasi silk sari that’s gifted to me by Vrishank’s family along with a traditional nath to honour my Maharashtrian roots. Vrishank wore a classic Nepali Daura-Suruwal.”