2010s Big Fat Indian Wedding-Bollywood's Vivek Oberoi Weds Bangalore's Priyanka Alva (Exclusive Pics and Videos)

At 10.30 PM last night, October 29, 2010, Bollywood's famous actor, Vivek Oberoi broke a million hearts when he tied the knot with Bangalore's Priyanka Alva. Arguably, the wedding of the year as this was an arranged marriage between two famous families.

Priyanka Alva is the first born of the late Jeevaraj Alva, an ex-minister of Karnataka state and Nandhini Alva, a Bharatnatyam dancer from Bangalore. The 28-year old Priyanka is a Business graduate from London. She has learnt dance from her mother and is currently working for an NGO. Social service is her mission in life and this served the meeting ground for Vivek Oberoi who also is into social service. He is known to have given of his time and money and services to the children of Tsunami victims in India. His mother also runs an NGO and Priyanka is expected to help in its functioning. Aditya Alva is her brother.

Nandhini is a Punjabi and Jeevaraj Alva, a Mangalorean. Theirs was a love story that ended in marriage 3 decades ago. Keeping this in view, the wedding and the ceremonies were held according to both Punjabi and Mangalorean traditions. Karnataka Art and culture has a special significance in the wedding as Jeevaraj Alva was a patron of the arts.

34-year old Vivek Oberoi known for his charm and boyish good looks, is a famous Bollywood actor earlier was to marry Aishwarya Rai, the famous Bollywood actress and former Miss World. Vivek Oberoi is also a Punjabi with mother Yashodara from Chennai and his father, Suresh Oberoi is also an actor from Bollywood. Meghna is Vivek's sister.

Vivek is currently basking in the success of his latest film, Rakth Charitra.

How The Marriage Was Arranged

Padmini Ravi a close friend, dancer and co-organiser of Bangalore Habba along with Nandini Alva, is a classmate and friend of Vivek's aunt. Nandini made the first move and proposed through Padmini and the meeting was arranged. The common ground being social service, Vivek fell for Priyanka immediately and the wedding was finalized.

The Wedding

The wedding itself was arranged on the sprawling 6 acres farmhouse belonging to the Alvas in Nagavara, Bangalore. A special mantapam, being adorned with 25,000 Swarovski crystals, was erected for the rituals according to the fusion of Punjabi and Karnataka style marriage. But predominantly, South Indian! Later, the festivities moved on to the five star ambience of the Chancery. The 4-day festivities, included the Sangeet, mehendi ceremony, and lots of varieties of food, a fusion of Punjabi and coastal Karnataka. The Oberois and their friends occupied 40 rooms booked for them at the Chancery Pavilion by Nandini Alva, where some of the rituals were held.

The wedding invite designed by Aditya Alva showcases the Mughal Ganeef painting patronised by the former Mysore Maharajas. Made from eco-friendly herbs and totally handmade, the wedding invite resembles a jewelry box, complete with a map to the Alva Residence from all Five star hotels of Bangalore, a box of chocolates and important information for outstation guests on whom to contact on alighting in Bangalore, phone numbers, car details, accommodation details,etc. Each wedding invite cost about 7000 Indian rupees and distributed among 2000 guests.

Important politicians of Karnataka attended the wedding ceremony with the Chief Minister, B S Yediyurappa being the Chief Guest. Noted artistes were among the guests. Sushmita Sen and Diya Mirza were among the Bollywood stars present.

A grand wedding reception, hosted by the Oberoi's is being held in Mumbai's ITC Grand Maratha on October 31, when all Bollywood stars will be in full attendance.

The wedding began with a Mehendi Brunch on Thursday afternoon at the Alva residence. Priyanka Alva's palatial bungalow was the venue for the mehendi and sangeet ceremony. Vivek's Mehendi specialist, Usha Shah, was flown in from Mumbai. Being very traditional, Priyanka had her mehendi designs ready. Consisting of peacocks and leaves, her legs and hands took four hours to apply. Usha then designed Vivek’s name on Priyanka’s right hand, and Priyanka’s name on Vivek’s left palm.

Designer outfits were worn for each ceremony, with jewelry sets to match the theme. Priyanka wore an uncut diamond navratna (9 Gems) set in ancient gold and adorned with traditional meenakari work. This is antique jewellery of her family that has been handed down through generations.

Only close friends and relatives of the couple had been invited for the wedding. Vivek Oberoi, the bridegroom, wearing a maroon-gold mix greatly embellished sherwani and turban, climbed the mare and took rounds of the venue. All the baaraatis were seen dancing to the beats of the dhol to celebrate the time.