Inside Alanna Panday and Ivor McCray’s dreamy Mumbai wedding

“Didn’t realise it was possible to love another human this much until I met you. Thank you for making me smile every day and loving me unconditionally. You truly make me the happiest human on this planet and I can’t wait to have a family with you,” model and digital creator, Alanna Panday wrote on an Instagram post to announce her engagement  back in November 2021. The photo, set against pristine blue waters and the golden hues of the Maldivian sun and sand—is just a glimpse of the couple’s love for travel, nature and each other. US-based film director and photographer, Ivor McCray, proposed to Panday and the duo tied the knot earlier this week in an intimate wedding surrounded by close family and friends.  

Panday, who is the daughter of fitness enthusiast Deanne Panday and Chikki Pandey (brother of actor Chunky Panday), along with Ivor, travelled to India a few months ago, where they hosted an official engagement party attended by their nearest and dearest ones. And now, after months of meticulous planning and looking into every small detail to ensure a picture-perfect wedding, the two tied the knot at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai—in what can only be described as a dreamy affair.

But let’s start at the beginning. From the wedding invitation hampers to individual bridesmaid letters, each gift and note had been carefully curated by Alanna, in keeping with her aesthetic for everything understated, classic and pretty. A few weeks ago, the model took to Instagram to pen a note about the invitation hampers. Each brand we chose for the hampers are sustainable and/or tied up with a foundation that’s giving back to society.” Panday’s attention to detail also reflected in the décor, food, her ensembles and ambience of the wedding ceremonies that took place earlier this week. 

The bridal brunch

The celebrations kickstarted with a gorgeous bridal brunch. Pastels and florals made up the stunning table setting, created by Do It Up Today, using hues of pinks, purples and whites. There were tables brimming with sweet treats like cupcakes, chocolate bars and cookies—all iced in pastel hues. Panday wore a sequin embellished, off-white mini dress by Kim Kassas.  

Tropical mehendi and Italian-inspired haldi

The mehendi ceremony, which was a stark contrast to the brunch, was hosted at actor Sohail Khan’s house. The décor was tropical-themed, with hues of green and salmon pink and the two were dressed in Rahul Mishra ensembles—Panday, wore a stunning mermaid-green lehenga with a sleeveless blouse, while Ivor wore a bandi in a similar colour with intricate embroidery. 

Known for posting gorgeous photos of their travels around the world, the couple’s haldi ceremony which took place at the Panday residence, was inspired by a rustic Italian market. Shades of yellow, orange, and sage green made up the colour palette. Alongside, there were several installations such as a vintage truck with overflowing produce, an adorable little mule for guests to feed and a flower shop, that added to the rustic charm of the ceremony. Since it was a haldi brunch, the food included a spread of artisanal breads, charcuterie boards, chilli and tomato preserves  and more . Panday ditched the traditional yellow and instead opted for a pastel-hued boho-inspired outfit by designer Payal Singhal. 

Ambika Gupta, founder of the A-Cube project which curated the décor for this event says, “"Alanna is a dream bride because she really thinks things through, from the food to the backdrops to the smallest of decor details." The couple’s vision was to create an immersive experience for all the guests, to transport them to sun-kissed Italy, and feel nothing but warmth, love, and joy.

The all-white wedding 

The celebrations culminated with the wedding, themed ‘White Whisper,’ which was inspired by the couple’s love for everything earthy and natural. The décor—which included birds in flight, a soothing water element, forest sounds and a fragrance, customised to smell earthy—was curated to reflect the resilience of nature. The duo visualised a cosy and intimate setting for their wedding day, and the décor (by the A-Cube Project) also included bell jars, pearl motifs, snow globes and chandeliers—all set amidst hues of gold, white and green. The venue was brimming with an abundance of flowers, twinkling  lights and acrylic detailing that added a rich splendour.  

All in all, the wedding celebrations spelt understated glamour and a contemporary approach to the traditional, big fat Indian wedding.