Welcome to the wedding of
Chris Hill & Astha Desai
Feb | 11-12 | 2024
Events
Join us on the 11th and 12th of February at the enchanting Gogunda Palace for a weekend filled with love and joy. For each event, we offer a loose style guide to help you choose your attire – (Indian or Western, whichever you prefer), but the most important accessory of all is your radiant smile. So, get ready and dress to impress as we celebrate this special occasion together!
Note*: Please refrain from wearing white and red as these are the bride and grooms colours
Mehndhi & Pool Party
WEDDING COUNTDOWN
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11AM | 11TH FEB
Pool party, Mehndhi and Games around the Heritage pool area
Dress Code:
Smart Casual(Indian or Western) summer pastels and florals and bring your favourite swimsuit of course!
Sangeet
6PM | 11TH FEB
Kicking off the celebrations with family performances and dancing
Dress Code: Smart Indian or Western
Haldi
11AM | 12TH FEB
Pre-wedding Haldi rituals and Games
Dress Code: Shades of Yellow(Indian or Western)
Wedding, RECEPTION & AFTER PARTY
4:30PM | 12TH FEB
The wedding ceremony will be followed directly by a cocktail hour and the reception. Then… we party the night away!
Dress Code:
Glamorous Black Tie
(Indian or Western)
Venue
All functions will be held at Gogunda Palace . Gogunda Palace is a 500-year-old fortress-palace built in the 16th century, at the height of royal rule in Mewar. Gogunda is one of the very few fortresses in India that have been restored to retain their original floorings, murals, woodwork, artworks, and external structure. It is at Gogunda that Maharana Pratap was crowned king (raaj tilak) in 1572 and it is from here that he left for the historic battle of Haldighati fought in 1576 against Akbar’s army.
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Getting there
Get on the 21B Bus to India. Bus usually departs from Kings Cross Station. Prepare to bring snacks as the drive is long, especially over the Indian Ocean.
By Flight
International
We recommend flying into either Mumbai aka Bombay (BOM) or New Delhi Airport (DEL) .
Domestic to Udaipur
From either New Delhi airport or Mumbai a domestic flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Domestic airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Vistara are common ones to get from either international airport.
Please bear in mind, the baggage allowance differs between domestic and international flights
By Train
Udaipur has its own railway station, which is well-connected to major cities in India. However, if you are coming from overseas, it's recommended to take a train from Delhi, Mumbai or Jaipur, which are well-connected to Udaipur. The train journey takes approximately 12-15 hours (you can even go via a sleeper train), depending on the train you choose.
Visa
- All overseas travellers (including children) need to apply for an Indian eVisa
- The eVisa application process can be completed entirely online, without the need for an in-person appointment at the Visa Application Centre.
- Applicants can fill out the online application form, upload their documents, and pay the fee online.
- Apply specifically for the e-tourist visa.
- The eVisa is typically processed within 1 week but please apply at least 2 weeks in advance to ensure you get it in time.
How to apply for an Indian eVisa, please visit the official website of the Indian Visa Application Centre at https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/
To the Hotel
We are happy to inform you that a minibus will be arranged from Udaipur Station and Airport on the 11th February for your convenience. If you would like to make use of this service, please let us know and we will reserve a spot for you.
Accommodation
Once we have recieved your RSVP we will message you with details of your accomodation between the 11th and 13th of Feb. Please let us know if you have any questions.
For any questions or queries regarding travel or accommodation, please contact us using the button below for further details.
FAQs
What should I wear?
Please use the wardrobe guide under each event details as a guideline. We want you to feel comfortable so please wear Indian or Western whichever you prefer. The only mandatory thing is your beautiful smiles!
Moving Around Udaipur
You can use ride-hailing apps like Ola or Uber to book a taxi in Udaipur. Simply download the app, create an account, and enter your pickup and drop-off locations to book a ride. These apps provide a convenient and reliable way to book taxis in Udaipur.
Weather
In Udaipur, February is generally considered to be a pleasant month with comfortable temperatures. The average temperature during the day is around 25°C (77°F), while the temperature drops to around 14°C (50°F) in the evening. The humidity levels are relatively low, and the chance of rainfall is minimal during this month.
Gifts
Your presence at our wedding is present enough! But if you're feeling stubborn, we have made a small registry and would appreciate any contributions to our honeymoon funds:
About us
Only took us 8 years to get married but here is a short summary of our story over those years…
Graduated Together
Graduated after 4 gruelling years with masters in Chemical Engineering, and swiftly moved into Tech. Though we don't know how to design reactors anymore we can still calculate ethanol quantities required for a good cocktail.
Made it official
Four years of friendship and a year of Chris continuously asking Astha out finally led to our first date after graduation.
Long Distance
Despite the miles between London-Melbourne and Belfast-Manchester, we managed to make it work. Thank goodness for video calls and cheap flights!
Explored the world together
From salsa parties on the streets of Havana to building epic sandcastles on a Vietnamese beach, we've been fortunate enough to have more adventures than Indiana Jones (minus the fedora and Aztec gold, of course).
Bought our first home
We've moved around more than a game of musical chairs. We finally bought a house and thanks to our impeccable DIY skills we can now call it our home.
Got engaged
It took Chris longer to propose than it takes Pluto to orbit the sun. Luckily for him, Astha has the patience of a saint and was willing to put up with his terrible jokes and questionable fashion choices.
Maui entered our lives
Our furry friend Maui waltzed into our lives like he owned the place - wagging his bushy little tail! He quickly became part of our family, bringing with him a ton of laughter and joy. Let's be real, we all know who's really in charge now - it's Maui's world, we're just living in it!
Now...
It's been a wild ride so far, and we're pretty sure we lost the map somewhere along the way. We are eagerly awaiting the next step in this journey and can't wait to celebrate with all of you! Disclaimer - we're not responsible for any spontaneous dance parties or questionable karaoke performances that may occur!"