Dhruvi and Dhruven, Goa

From taking her to dinner after work to blurting out his intentions in an auto-rickshaw, Dhruvi and Dhruven’s love story had many charming moments. All of it led to their lavish wedding in Goa that was planned by WeddingSutra Favorite – Weddings By Ekta Saigal Lulla. All the candid emotions and actions were captured in evocative frames by WeddingSutra Favorite – Knotting Bells. Groom Dhruven shares all the spectacular highlights of the celebrations here.

How They Met
“I met Dhruvi through a common friend and knew she would be very special to me from the start. Three months later, I asked her out. At the time, she used to work till late, so I’d often use that opportunity to take her out to dinner. Our turning point one day came during a late-night auto-rickshaw ride when I blurted out, ‘I am going to marry you!’ I felt rather stupid on my way back home as I hadn’t even asked her the question and just said it out loud. Surprisingly a few days later, I got a call from her dad who invited me for a drink and asked me if I had any serious intentions, and if he could meet my parents! Eventually, I introduced Dhruvi to my parents too and with their blessings, we moved forward to start a new chapter in our lives.”

The Proposal
“Dhruvi had always wanted a grand wedding proposal, and even though our marriage date was set, I went about planning a surprise proposal. I told Dhruvi that since my parents’ plan to go to Lonavala had been canceled at the last minute and the money was non-refundable, we should head there instead. Additionally, I also told her to carry a nice dress since I had a special date planned for us, and she agreed to do so.

Having discussed my plans with the hotel management beforehand, the proposal consisted of ‘Will you marry me?’ created out of tea-cut LED candles that would shine brightly near the bonfire in one of the hotel’s private areas. When we reached the destination, I waited till sunset and led Dhruvi blindfolded to our ‘special date.’ Once I took off the blindfold, Dhruvi was so overwhelmed by everything, and surprisingly, it had the same effect on me. My practiced speech was quickly discarded as we just reveled in the moment and Dhruvi answered with a happy ‘Yes!’”

Wedding Venue
“Owing to Dhruvi’s dream of having a sunset beach wedding, we zeroed in on Goa since we knew that all our guests would love it too. However, the toughest part was finding a venue that would accommodate up to 400 guests. But, we were in luck, as we found the perfect option in the Caravela Beach Resort, in South Goa, which impressed us with its spacious lawns, well-designed rooms, scenic beach views, delicious food and impeccable hospitality.”

Wedding Planning
To make sure their dream destination wedding was everything they’d envisioned, the duo relied on expert vendors. On the planning front, Weddings by Ekta Saigal Lulla ensured that each function went ahead smoothly, and for the wedding photography, they chose Knotting Bells. Dhruven shares, “Weddings by Ekta Saigal Lulla made the mammoth task of planning a wedding look like a cakewalk with their superior skills. The Knotting Bells team captured each emotion and made us look amazing in every frame! Both teams understood our vision and were extremely efficient during the functions.”

Artists Dev Negi and DJ Caesar entertained everyone with their musical talent, while anchor Tilak Shah kept spirits high with his wit.

Weddings Functions

Mehndi
Following a ‘Colorful Bohemia’ theme, the mehndi was a casual, sunlit affair decorated with bright pink bougainvilleas and multihued canopies that the guests could shelter under while getting henna patterns applied on their palms. Held on one of the venue’s sprawling lush lawns, this function saw the couple being welcomed with colorful smoke bombs. Glowing in a pistachio green lehenga, Dhruvi was the showstopper of the occasion as she walked hand in hand with Dhruven, who wore an off-white bandhgala set with floral motifs.

Sangeet
The duo’s sangeet followed a ‘Whimsical Cirque’ theme, and featured mesmerizing aerial acts and thrilling fire dancers that awed the guests. However, there were also special dance performances by the couple’s family and friends.

Reflecting the theme, Dhruvi chose an extravagant ruby red gown for this function that she paired with diamond-encrusted jewelry. Dhruven, on the other hand, looked sleek in a black bandhgala suit.

After Party
Showing off their affinity for bling, the couple hosted a dazzling ‘Disco’ themed afterparty where everyone turned up in their best party outfits. To up the fun factor, the couple also hired some stand-up comedians to entertain the gathering.

Brunch
“Keeping things easy and light, we organized a relaxed pool party and brunch where our guests could chill to their heart’s content by playing life-sized games and indulge in some foot massages.” With pop art standees and multicolored canopies, this brunch not only satisfied the guests’ appetites but also rounded off the Goan experience. Dhruvi opted for comfort and chose a printed jumpsuit for this relaxed event, while Dhruven donned a beige blazer that he paired with casual white sneakers.

Wedding
“Since our story began in a rickshaw, I chose to enter in an auto-rickshaw to honor the fateful moment. However, our mandap took the cake as it was the most spectacular thing I’d ever seen. Decorated with crystals and constructed with transparent pillars, it looked stunning against the sunset as Dhruvi made her way towards me.”

Staying true to tradition, the bride chose a floral red lehenga for the big day, while her groom contrasted her in his white sherwani.

Celebration Dinner
“Our celebration dinner was a proper black-tie event where everyone wore their best suits and gowns, and it followed a ‘Love is in the Air’ theme. After a round of emotional toasts from our closest family and friends, everyone had plenty of fun as we played some ‘Get to Know the Couple’ games,” shares the groom. For this event, Dhruvi opted for a grey gown with sequins, while Dhruven kept it classic in a sleek tuxedo.

Pajama Party
“We ended the celebrations on a high note with a boisterous pajama party that had everyone dancing into the wee hours of the morning. Many people even missed their flights!”

Advice For Couples
“Pay as much attention to the details during your wedding planning as these can really make your event stand apart. However, during the wedding, just let go and live in the moment. Don’t stress about anything and make happy memories that you’ll cherish forever!”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Caravela Beach Resort, Goa
Wedding Planner: Weddings By Ekta Saigal Lulla
Makeup: Aanchal Bahl Thakker, Mallika Bhattacharjee
Hair: Anitashil (Bride), Ritika (Bride), Debbie Dsouza from Savio John Pereira (Groom)
Entertainment: Dev Negi (Sangeet)
Entertainment Provider: Slingshot Entertainment by Sanjukta G, DJ Caeser
Emcee: Tilak Shah
Wedding Invitations: Malaga by Mars Arts
Wedding Stationery: Dhruvi Doshi Designs
Bartenders: Drinq

Photography & Videography: Knotting Bells

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