Yasmin Amin said yes to Robin Khaira at their destination wedding in Bali in November 2017. She says: “It’s funny but when Rob and I first met in 2006, we hated each other. After I began university, the hostility between us died down, and was replaced by friendship.
When I became ill a few years later - hospital visits, surgery - Rob came to visit every single day. We became official in 2013, so you could call our love a slow burn.
Rob proposed in the Four Seasons Hampshire’s Walled Garden after Afternoon Tea. He took me there under false pretences and it turned out to be magical. He’d even arranged a photographer to capture the moment. The Hotel Manager congratulated us before taking us to the bar where our closest friends and family were waiting for a surprise engagement party! It was such an incredible way to instantly celebrate our engagement with our closest friends and family.”
Planning the Big Day
“I knew I wanted my wedding abroad, but choosing a destination was always going to be tricky as my family have had so many weddings overseas! After visiting Bali for a friend’s wedding in 2015, we fell for the place; the resort, the people and the hospitality. We were constantly talking about flying out our family for a holiday, as words alone couldn’t convey how much we loved it.
Unfortunately the resort we wanted didn’t host Indian weddings, so with the assistance of Eventures Asia, we found The Conrad in Nusa Dua, Bali instead. It was authentically Indonesian and had the most stunning venues for all our events. This was important as we didn’t want to use a venue more than once over the course of our six events.
We finally confirmed the resort six months before the wedding date.”
The Civil Ceremony
“We had a civil ceremony before Bali, at The Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa, New Milton. It had the works; the white dress and a designer suit. We didn’t want to ruin Bali so had a relaxed afternoon tea with a travel theme. Each table was named after a holiday we’d been on complete with a snap of us from that place.”
Wedding Wardrobe
“I went to Mumbai on a shopping trip along with my mum, sister, aunts and cousins for our wedding outfits. Luckily I’m a confident shopper; once I like something, nothing will sway me. I didn’t want to wear traditional red, so I headed to Sabyasachi for a pink lehenga that I instantly earmarked for the Hindu ceremony. It was tricky for Rob to find matching Sabyasachi outfits, but he relishes a fashion challenge more than anyone I know!”
“We visited Sia in Santa Cruz, Mumbai for my jewels as well as Rob’s pearls and kalgi. They have an amazing collection and offered fantastic service. I would return without hesitation.”
Vivaha-homa
“The Hindu ceremony was in the Floating Garden. My mamas (maternal uncles) walked me down the ‘aisle’, which was lovely as I adore them. The only time I recall crying was afterwards, when I hugged my eldest uncle. We are really close and have a special bond. It was really emotional.
“We strolled through the beautiful grounds of the Conrad Hotel to get to each event. For the Sikh ceremony, I made my entrance with my brothers. It was a really special moment. My only regret is that the walk way wasn’t longer.”
The Photography
“We met Zohaib Ali in January 2017. We fell for his portfolio and were inspired by his passion - he truly loves his craft, and it shows. By the time we arrived in Bali, we came to think of Zohaib as a good friend, which helped us relax in front of the camera and in turn, allowed him to capture the most stunning images. Our wedding was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and now I can revisit that special time in a second whenever I look at my album full of Zohaib’s stunning photography.”
The Makeup
“I knew I wanted Dubai-based MUA Nina Ubhi for my wedding. She’s an industry leader and I only wanted the best for my Big Day. Even though I didn’t meet her until the day of my first event, I had total confidence in her talent. Nina transformed me every time; no two looks were ever the same.
I had a pretty Jasmine-from-Aladdin-style for the Vidhi, a slick Kardashian look for the white party, modern bronze for the Anand Karaj, Maharani-esque for the Hindu ceremony and Hollywood glam for the reception. She made me look and feel incredible every time - as every bride should.”
“I wanted a different, more modern feel for my Sikh ceremony outfit to match the relaxed vibe of our venue. I chose a Sabyasachi aqua floral print lehenga from the label’s Mumbai boutique, which I knew would look stunning under the Balinese sun. The hardest part was helping Rob shop for his look without revealing mine.”
The Anand Karaj
“We chose the beautiful Water Garden as the venue for the traditional Sikh ceremony as we wanted to make the most of the stunning settings around us. I had a few nerves before, but as soon as I sat down next to Rob, they went away. I could finally relax and savour the moments.”
The Speeches
“Rob’s sister and aunt made a speech on behalf of his family and my brother spoke for mine. We had a specific table of friends and family in front of the head table, who egged on the speeches. They were placed there for that precise reason, and it paid off majorly. I can’t wait to see the videos!”
The Reception
“Held in the hotel’s Kecak Ballroom, we threw the mother of all parties to end our time in Bali. Although I loved every second, it was great to finally let my hair down. Our reception theme was a theme in itself. There wasn’t a specific brief; we just wanted an elegance to it; candles, flowers and spot lighting. We gave Eventures Asia and Butterfly Events, our event planners and decorators, a lot of freedom for this event and they aced it. We loved the marble imprinted dance floor with our logo.”
“Our first dance was to Ed Sheeran’s Perfect - and it really was. It describes our journey so well and as we danced around a room filled with all the people we cherish, it really brought home the fact that we were finally Mr & Mrs. We asked all the couples join us for the last verse of the song. It was a moment of pure magic.”
“We partied until 5am, so our memories are a little... hazy, to say the least! Luckily Zohaib was there to capture the important moments. At the end of a long three days, his focus was always on us.”
The Bride: Yasmin Amin, 27
The Groom: Robin Khaira, 31
Married: 4th - 6th November 2017
The Venue: Bali, Indonesia
Photography: Zohaib Ali
www.ZohaibAli.co.uk
+44(0)7595 442 723
Instagram: @zohaibali.co.uk
As seen in Khush Wedding Spring 2018 KW18. Buy this issue here