Rising together in love
Alanna Panday and Ivor McCray sealed the deal in a dream wedding, surrounded by their loved ones. Here is their beautiful tale of love.
Model and digital creator, Alanna Panday married her beau, US-based filmmaker Ivor McCray, in a dreamy Mumbai wedding that was nothing short of a spectacle. Brides Today spoke to the duo about their journey and finding love.
How We Met
Thanks to Alanna and Ivor’s friends, the couple met at a Halloween party in Los Angeles. Ivor shares, “When I first saw Alanna, I thought she was absolutely beautiful.” Ivor introduced himself and they hit it off. “I made her laugh all night with my bad dance moves,” the groom adds.
The Next Step
Last year in November, Ivor proposed to Alanna at Soneva Jani in the Maldives. “I specifically chose 3rd November as the date because that was the day of our first date. There was a massive storm that had hit the island. It almost felt impossible, but things slowly fell into place. The sky started getting clearer and I made it all happen,” Ivor shares his story of going down on one knee.
Leading Up to the Big Day
Since the couple enjoys travelling, they ensured every function’s theme was reminiscent of the places they love. “We wanted to personalise each event as much as possible,” shares Alanna, and reveals that they began planning the wedding a year in advance. “We came up with ideas that were in sync with special moments in our lives. For the Mehendi function, we went with a tropical, jungle theme since Tulum, Mexico, was one of my favorite trips. As for the Haldi ceremony, we opted for an Italian marketplace theme called the Piazza Del Mercato,” the bride explains. “It was memorable to have our loved ones experience a little bit of an Italian sojourn because we enjoyed shopping in the charming and chaotic Italian mercatos.”
As for the main wedding ceremony at Taj Colaba [Mumbai], the theme depicted the beauty of nature. “The décor featured birds in flight, soothing water elements, along with forest sounds, and customised fragrances to evoke the smell of the earth,” Alanna shares. “After the pandemic, all of us will need to have a closer connection with Mother Earth, and we hope that the sensory experience will continue to stay with the guests forever,” Alanna adds.
Memories That Will Last a Lifetime
Alanna says there are far too many memories that are close to her, but shares her favourite, “When Ivor, along with the groomsmen and my family, surprised me with their dance performances! It was so much fun that I was crying with love and happiness.”
My Advice
Alanna says, “Make sure you hire the best wedding planner! You’ll need their expertise to ensure everything goes smoothly and you are stress-free.”
The Details - Bride and Groom Outfits: Rahul Mishra, Manish Malhotra, Kim Kassas Couture, Falguni Shane Peacock, Payal Singhal, Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika. Wedding Decor & Planning: Motwane, The A-Cube Project Make-up Artist: Shradha Luthra Styled by: Ami Patel. All images: House On The Clouds.