Poonam and Yogesh, Caravela Beach Resort Goa, Goa
Poonam and Yogesh got married in South Goa and they lit up their lush wedding destination with stunning decor, sea-facing pheras and fun themes.
On their first coffee date, Poonam spoke so much that Yogesh could barely get a word in. But the words that did not escape his lips during their meeting made a way into her heart through a text that he sent to her after that first date. Here, bride Poonam shares the journey from that fateful date to their wedding celebrations held in Goa.
How We Met
“Our siblings had found their partners through matrimonial websites, so when it was our time to tie the knot, Yogesh and I followed the trend. Our simple profiles attracted us to each other and we connected on Whatsapp. In no time it was clear that the two of us were rather dissimilar when it came to our personalities, attributes, interests, hobbies – everything! However, there was still something about the way we clicked that kept the exchange of messages between us going. On our first date, I asked a lot of questions – and the date ended within an hour! As weird as it sounds, I had made up my mind in less than 15 mins of meeting Yogesh! That’s how I am – impulsive. Yogesh, on the other hand, was calm, cautious and steady. He sat there patiently listening to everything I had to say and answering all the questions that I shot at him. I was a tad disappointed by his restrained participation in our conversation. But the feeling was dismissed as soon as I received a text from him that read ‘Poonam, it was really nice meeting you in person. I was a bit nervous before we met, but you made the conversation flow quite easily. You have a good smile and hope that remains with you forever!’ On our third coffee together, he said, ‘I have met you and now I don’t want to meet anyone else. I am ready. Let me know when you are.’ It has been eleven months since we have known each other and we could not have asked for anything better.”
Wedding Venue
“As soon we zeroed in on Goa as the destination for our nuptials, we knew that the wedding had to be by the beach. Caravela Beach Resort Goa on Varca Beach in South Goa offered us lush surroundings, a sandy beach, sparkling sea and azure skies. The resort won my heart in one shot, and the warm hospitality that the team extended has made it a venue that I never tire from recommending to people.’
Wedding Functions
“We wanted to make sure that everybody could relate to the concepts and activities that we had planned for the wedding. The resort’s Portuguese styled property with suave interiors and enthralling outdoors gave us enough room to explore and experiment with our themes. For the functions, we chose two indoor and two outdoor locations.”
Mehndi
“Our mehndi was an outdoor function and was hosted on the property’s lawn. Dotted with coconut trees, the venue was ideal for an ‘Urban Mela’ theme. Shamianas, floral strings, kites and decorative paper lanterns fused effortlessly with marigold blooms that were used in unconventional ways. The favorite photo op spot was definitely the large yellow sunglasses structure that was created using these evergreen yellow and orange flowers. As the DJ played catchy beats, the event was filled with a lively vibe and lots of fun. We had henna and nail art for the ladies, a foot spa and a caricature artist to keep the men entertained, games and activities like bubble blowing, X&0, and Ring The Bottle for the little ones, and takeaways wrapped in potlis (round ethnic bags) for the youngsters. My mehndi outfit was a bright floral skirt with a shimmering sequin crop top from Mini Shangle in Shahpur Jat, New Delhi. My accessories were made to order from Rimayu, Mumbai. Yogesh wore a floral bandh gala Pathani suit with a beige salwar. He paired this with footwear that was customized to match the outfit.”
Sangeet
“Iranian lamps and party lights illuminated our sangeet function. The most interesting detail at this function was definitely the ‘Bride & Groom Fact Sheet’ that was placed on each table. It revealed our lesser-known personality traits. It was an interesting concept and I knew we had to have this at our wedding the minute I heard of it. Our emcee MC La Cozy did a phenomenal job at keeping the energy levels in the ballroom at its peak at all times. In fact, I don’t remember seeing anyone from the crowd away from the dance floor for long. My sangeet lehenga comprised an emerald green skirt that featured intricate golden needlework. It was paired with a golden blouse that was embellished with dazzling Swarovski crystals. This was truly my dream outfit. Yogesh looked suave in a black bandi suit whose jacket featured a cosmic print in gold and white.”
Wedding
“We wanted a chic and invigorating setup for our pheras. Our mandap was set up against the backdrop of the expansive ocean and the pristine beach. It was decorated using flowers in myriad shades of pink and white. We took our vows in the golden twilight as our guests enjoyed the cinematic view with popcorn and coconut water. I was set on exploring fuchsia pink instead of the traditional red for this ceremony, and Frontier Raas managed to create the exact tone of pink that I was looking for. Yogesh wore a peach sherwani and turban as well as pearls around his neck. His entire look complemented my outfit and the decor perfectly.”
After-Party
“Our after-party was a red carpet affair from the 90s. Needless to say, the dress code was gowns for the ladies and suits for the men. We had a live band playing popular numbers and a scooter as a decor element for a quirky touch. I wore a champagne gown for this glamorous event which had caught my eye when I went shopping in Shahpur Jat. Yogesh wore a well-tailored royal blue Western suit.”
Advice for Couples
1. “Focus on the bigger picture. Don’t be put off if a few finer details are not working out the way you would have liked them too.”
2. “Participate in the planning process as it will get you closer to your spouse. Not only do you get to learn so much about each other, you also end up spending lots of quality time together.”
3. “Ensure that you are comfortable with the people working with you towards making your big day possible. Get people whose ideas match yours and let the teams interact with each other so that the flow of events is not hampered because of miscommunication.”
4. “On the days of your wedding, trust your closest ones to manage everything for you just the way you wanted and focus on enjoying yourself.”
The Wedding Makers
Locations: Caravela Beach Resort, Goa
Wedding Planner and Decor: KV Decor by Karen and Ivan (Goa)
Bride’s Outfits: Mini Shangle (Mehndi), Frontier Raas (Pheras)
Groom’s Outfits: Shobhit & Amit, New Delhi (Mehndi, Sangeet, Pheras and After-party)
Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist: Gen Reilly
Emcee: MC La Cozy
DJ / Lights & Sound: KV Decor by Karen and Ivan (Goa)
Photographer: Seventy by Two
