December 11, 2017, Anushka Sharma married cricket hero Virat Kohli. Our reaction to this secret wedding in Italy was ‘Wow,’ ‘So dreamy,’ ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi,’ as we watched videos of Anushka entering the mandap to ‘Din Shagna Da’ ON REPEAT. Wedding ceremonies in Tuscany, receptions in Delhi and Mumbai. That’s how long the fervour continues, right? WRONG! Come 2018, and it rained weddings and how!!
It’s just a few hours till 2018 comes to an end and while we pray nobody announces their secretly held nuptials, ek flashback toh banta hai boss! Instagram pe scroll kar kar ke haathon me dard ho raha hai ab, FOMO toh pucho hi mat. But while we hunt for the pandits who advised a bunch of tinsel town stars to tie the knot this year, you sit back and enjoy a recap of the glamorous ones who finally settled down! For, love is love. And as we witnessed all over again, it is very much alive!
Presenting: Wedding Season 2018!
Mohit Marwah and Antara Motiwala
Mohit Marwah, elder son of Sandeep Marwah (founder of Noida Film City), and Reena Marwah, sister of Boney-Anil-Sanjay Kapoor, set the ball rolling. The star of Fugly and Raag Desh got hitched to Antara Motiwala, niece of Tina and Anil Ambani in an elaborate wedding, at Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
While it was all pomp and show, the celebrations met with a rather fateful climax. Veteran actress Sridevi, remained in Dubai after the festivities to spend time with her sister. However, the icon died of accidental drowning in the bathtub of her hotel room on the night of February 24, 2018.
Sridevi lives on, through AntuMoh’s solid relationship and many more…
Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar
Growing up in the ‘90s, we all crooned with Alisha Chinai, ‘Made In India…Ek pyaara soniya, ek dil chahiye bas Made In India…’ But only air-hostess-cum-athlete Ankita Konwar ended up living the dream! She first met the Greek god and eternal man crush Milind Soman in Chennai. Eyes met, love blossomed and romance was born.
After dating for four years, the lovebirds tied the knot in a close-knit Maharashtrian wedding ceremony in Alibaug on World Earth Day, April 22, 2018. The bride was dressed in jewellery and ensemble of Assamese design, as she exchanged vows with Milind in the presence of family and friends.
We have been playing ‘Chann Se Toote Koi Sapna’…on loop ever since!
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja
If there is one actress who has never hesitated to speak her mind, Sonam Kapoor wins hands down. Guarding her personal life as closely as she keeps her Prada and Gucci (perhaps even more), Sonam didn’t let the world in on the news of her marriage until it was time. A few days before the big day, papa Anil Kapoor shared the special development rather emotionally.
Sonam tied the knot with her London-based business beau Anand Ahuja, in a typical taam-jaam wedding in May. The traditional Anand Karaj ceremony was preceded by two days of mehendi and sangeet revelry, giving fashion a marital moment of its own. From the Anuradha Vakil couture to the regal jewellery to videos of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh burning the dance floor with the father of the bride…fans had enough food on their plates to swoon over for days!
The wedding was followed by a grand reception for close family, friends and Bollywood's glitterati in attendance. The highlight of the event, however, remains the cool AF newlyweds who chose to go easy with their outfits but all out with the moves!
Speak of modern brides and sneaker weddings.
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi
We were still under the SoNand hangover when actress and former beauty queen Neha Dhupia surprised fans and industry friends with the news of her hush-hush wedding. She married actor and ‘best friend’ Angad Bedi, son of former Indian cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi, in New Delhi in May.
Their Anand Karaj ceremony was painted with a bucket full of pastels, with family and close friends in attendance at the Gurudwara. An announcement via social media soon engulfed us all in surprise!
Neha looked resplendent in a blush pink ensemble by designer Anita Dongre. The groom wore a cream sherwani with a saafa that matched Neha's ensemble, and he carried magenta accents for a dash of colour. In November, the couple was blessed with a baby girl whom they named Mehr Dhupia-Bedi.
All is well that ends well. Sab Rab Di Mehr!
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone
Little did we know that Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone were out to re-define weddings with their month-long extravaganza, when we received the invitation! Fine, it was a public declaration. Living up to our expectations, DeepVeer ki shaadi was all things showshaa, band-baaja-baarat and a fashion parade of its own!
The wedding happened over two days in mid-November, against a dreamy Lake Como setting in Italy, amidst a tight circle of family and friends, culminating a six-year-long love story in a ‘happily ever after’. The lovebirds first tied the knot as per Konkan rites, followed by a North Indian wedding.
Fans were left pining for pictures but the galas that followed, compensated for more than just a glimpse! Soon after landing in Mumbai, a reception was laid out in Bengaluru for Deepika’s side of the dearies.
Mumbai ke celebrations kuch iss prakar the:
Ranveer’s sister welcoming bhabhi with a Gothic-themed party.
Reception #2 was especially picked to host the media fraternity. In elaborate Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla creations, the newly-weds had a jaw-dropping effect.
Reception #3 saw the crème de la crème of the industry in attendance, letting their hair down like there was no tomorrow. Leading the pack were Deepika and Ranveer of course, jinki energy levels dekh ke hamare hosh hi udd gaye. Kya khaate ho bhaiya-bhabhi?
By the time DeepVeer’s party was over, PeeCee went from single to suhagan IRL.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
When the girl who has the world dialled in met the most stylish man on the planet a fairy tale wedding was inevitable. Actress and former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra, and American singer Nick Jonas, entered into holy matrimony at the majestic venue of Umaid Bhawan Palace atop a hill in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.
Three days of wedding celebrations included a colourful mehendi ceremony, a friendly cricket match and a power-packed desi musical evening. Custom-made Ralph Lauren ensembles were donned for the Christian wedding, while the Indian ceremony saw them in Sabyasachi Mukherjee creations.
Similar to DeepVeer, Nickyanka too went with a three-receptions-in-two-cities package. Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked his presence at the New Delhi do, while friends, fam-jam and media was treated to opulence and grandeur during the Mumbai celebrations.
An intercontinental (make that world tour, please!) marriage of hope and faith, reassuring us of the existence of true love.
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal
We have journeyed far enough in life to associate anything close to lavish and of the utmost luxury, with the Ambanis. While the Kapoors and Marwahs may have rolled the wedding season around, the Ambanis and Piramals ended it with the loudest bang. Going full-speed ahead with the celebrations, there were four functions preceding Isha Ambani’s engagement to Anand Piramal, at Lake Como, Italy.
The party then moved to Udaipur’s grand venue for a four-day long revelry; inclusive of the sangeet and mehendi functions. The most over-the-top, notable wedding of the year saw no shortage of celebrities and attending guests from literally every sector of the world (Hilary Clinton included).
Beyonce ke twerks aur Maison Valentino ke exclusive couture ko saakshi maan ke, Isha ab parayi (read Piramal) hui…
Kit Harington and Rose Leslie
Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and Rose Leslie, who played on-screen lovers in the popular international show, married in Scotland this June. The celebrity couple exchanged vows at a church in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
Leslie made for a gorgeous bride in a flowing ivory gown and veil for the ceremony, while Harington was dressed in a morning suit. The lovers, both aged 31, met in 2012 while playing - Ygritte and Jon Snow - in the TV drama.
Looks like winter came early with their new beginnings!
Prince Henry of Wales and Meghan Markle
The 15-year-old Meghan Markle once posed in front of Buckingham Palace; little did the American girl know then, that at 36, she would marry a prince and become a Duchess! Prince Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding ceremony proves that fairy tales do exist and that dreams do come true!
We’d like to steal a moment to appreciate the 16-foot-long veil Markle wore, which was held in place by a diamond bandeau tiara lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II. Harry, flanked by his brother and best man, Prince William, was dressed in the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals.
In a departure from tradition, Meghan walked much of the way up the aisle unchaperoned. Markle did not promise to ‘obey’ her husband, while Harry broke royal tradition by choosing to wear a wedding ring!
But above all of the English nobility, splendid decor, A-list guests, and love-filled air, it was the way these lovebirds, awaiting their union, kept stealing glances at each other! They restored our faith in true love…
A union of change…much needed indeed.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
In a set of pictures recently shared on Instagram, singer Miley Cyrus and Australian actor (her long-standing partner) Liam Hemsworth are now officially man and wife. After doling out #CoupleGoals for a decade, the lovebirds finally got hitched and sealed their romance for eternity with holy nuptials.
Reportedly, the wedding was initially scheduled to take place at Miley’s Malibu residence. However, after the house didn’t make the California fire, the couple moved to the artiste’s Tennessee home.
Dressed in a simplistic bridal gown with Liam all suited up, Cyrus surely made our hearts skip a beat with her minimalistic wedding. Sometimes, it’s all you need!
Himesh Reshammiya and Sonia Kapoor
The 44-year-old singer-composer-actor Himesh Reshammiya married his long-time girlfriend, actress Sonia Kapoor, in a traditional Hindu ceremony at his residence in the wee hours of a Saturday morning. The wedding was an intimate affair with family and close family in attendance. Himesh’s son, Swaym, from his previous marriage, along with the singer’s parents, were also present at the function.
Since the wedding muhurta was for 1.30 a.m on Saturday, May 12, 2018, the couple did not invite any of their friends to the ceremony. A reception, however, was later hosted for friends and family.
Guess who will be listening to Tera tera tera…suroorrrrrrrr all day and all night now? Hint: not us!
Shiv Pandit AND aMEIRA pUNVANI
FIR fame Shiv Pandit was riding the shaadi wali railgaadi this year too. Not missing the bus, the actor married girlfriend Ameira Punvani in a hush-hush ceremony in May this year. Shiv, who made his Bollywood debut with Shaitan in 2011, had been in a relationship with Ameira, a costume designer and stylist for a long time.
Ditching the media glare and attention, Pandit welcomed Punvani as his wife in the presence of dear ones. The news of his wedding was broken by filmmaker Zoya Akhtar who congratulated the newly-weds with an Instagram post!
Jab miyan biwi raazi, toh kya karega kaazi?
The tour ends here. Dudho nahao, falo fulo to all the jodas but can 2019 beat this feat???
(We still have Varun Dhawan, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, and Salman Khan to strike off the list… just a thought!)
