Anika and Aruj, The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino

Anika and Aruj met while at Engineering College. Their early partnership as classmates and on their college project transcended into a partnership for life! Here, we share highlights from their beautiful nuptials planned by WeddingSutra Favorite The Doli Diary.

How we met
“I was a studios girl in college when we met a decade ago,” Anika says, “Aruj was the complete opposite. He was more into sports and would often bunk classes. We were in the same batch. In our first year, there was a group project assigned to all of us. We had all formed groups but apparently, Aruj wasn’t a part of even one. He never attended college, he had no friends and no one wanted to include him in the group project because of his irregular attendance. He approached me one day and requested me to include him in our group, which was quite surprising. Somehow I managed to convince the group members and he was now part of our project. Aruj surprised us all when he started willingly contributing to the project and it was so much fun to have him around. We hung out together in the library. That’s how it all started! By the end of this first year, our friendship grew into something more special and we started dating.”

Wedding Venue
“Goa is special for both of us. We have a lot of memories from our courtship. My dream was to have my pheras on the beach. Aruj and I love the beach and it was difficult to convince the parents but we managed it somehow.”

Wedding Planning
“I was very sure about The Doli Diary and I knew they would do an excellent job. To have these guys plan the most important day of our lives was a privilege. We still don’t know how they managed it but what we do know is that we consider ourselves very fortunate that The Doli Diary were there to oversee every detail of our wedding because it truly gave us that rare opportunity – as the groom and bride – to just take a back seat and enjoy our wedding.”

Wedding Functions

Mehndi
The mehndi ceremony was a colorful affair where yellow and blue accents set a festive mood. Drapes in these colors created a ceiling and fresh marigolds added a traditional flavor to the decor.

The bride looked resplendent in her pink ensemble paired with beautiful jewellery. While the vibe of the function was truly mesmerizing, the highlight of the Mehndi was the décor details that reflected the couple’s personal style.

Sangeet
The Sangeet was the liveliest function of all. It helped set the right tone and got everyone into the wedding mood instantly. The key decor colors for the night were blue and gold, and the stage with its well-lit backdrop was the highlight of the setup. For this function the bride wore a beautiful green gown and Aruj opted for a black bandhgala.

Haldi and Pool Party
The elegant and colorful haldi was hosted outdoors and the décor, customized to the couple’s personal style with a bright pink entrance that led to a traditional palette of orange and yellow florals. The bride looked radiant in a yellow ensemble paired with floral jewellery. Traditional rituals and a splash of colors set the mood for the occasion. The Haldi was followed by a pool party where the guests had the most fun!

Wedding
The setting for their wedding was breathtaking as they exchanged their vows outdoors, on the beach. The color scheme for this ceremony was pink, white and gold. The mandap was created using pink and purple drapes, and floral arrangements were a prominent part of the setup. The bride opted for a vibrant red Sabyasachi lehenga while Aruj wore an off-white sherwani.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resorts and Casino (Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Wedding), Caravela Beach Resort (Pool Party)
Wedding Planner: The Doli Diary
Bride’s Outfits: Shantanu & Nikhil (Sangeet), Pankaj & Nidhi (Mehndi), Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Groom’s Outfits: Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Makeup Artist: Kapil Bhalla & Tejas
Hair Stylist: Sagupta

Photography: Romesh Dhamija Productions

Related Articles: