Sonam and Dharmil, Rwanda

Uniting forever with the love of your life as you gaze down upon the city you grew up in, could there anything be more magical than that? Sonam tied the knot with Dharmil in a beautiful, intimate wedding hosted at her family home. The priceless moments of their festivities were captured by WeddingSutra Favorite – SeventybyTwo – Wedding Stories, who flew in from India to be a part of their incredible story.

How they met
Sonam shares, “We met in 2015 through my best friend, Sneha at a party. Even though we didn’t talk that night, Dharmil got my number from Sneha and we soon started texting. After I graduated two months later, we had our first date. The rest, as they say, is history”.

The Proposal
What could be more romantic than getting proposed to on Valentine’s Day? For Valentine’s Day 2017, Dharmil decided to make it the most memorable one for Sonam, with a surprise proposal, completely involving her family who he flew in to witness the moment. To mark the occasion, he took her for a romantic photoshoot through San Francisco, starting from Presidio Park to the Palace of Fine Arts, where a surprise set up awaited her, along with their families. Needless to say, his question was met with an instant ‘YES’!

 
Wedding Venue
“We wanted an intimate affair for our wedding, where our guests would feel relaxed and at home, and so, we decided to host it at my family home in Kigali, Rwanda. Not only is it a beautiful place full of wonderful memories, it also has some of the most incredible views of the whole city.” shared the bride.

Wedding Planning
To make their dream wedding a reality, Sonam and Dharmil’s families chipped in and helped with everything. The décor for their home ceremonies were executed by Centerpiece designs, while the most tender moments of the festivities were captured in vivid frames by SeventybyTwo – Wedding Stories. The groom’s outfits were designed by the bride and custom made, while most of the bride’s outfits were sourced from various boutiques in Mumbai.

Sonam and Dharmil share their experience, “Working with Hardik, Kewal and team was an incredible experience. Planning an Indian wedding in East Africa came with its challenges, and we were over the moon when we contacted SeventybyTwo – Wedding Stories and they agreed to fly out here for a week. I knew the stars were really aligning when we were in India for wedding shopping and were able to meet with the team to discuss our ideas. The team was nothing but wonderful to work with and very flexible with our schedules. During our reception, we had the pleasure of seeing the same day edit which had everyone in tears. The team captured pictures of all the people that flew in from around the world to celebrate with us, in addition to all the pictures and video shots of us. It was great”.

Wedding Functions
Welcome Dinner
The festivities were kicked off with a vibrant African night hosted on the poolside lawns, with bold yet elegant prints and décor heavily inspired by Rwandan influences.

Pithi/Grah Shanthi and Sangeet
The Pithi and the Sangeet festivities followed, with colorful traditional décor and bright colors as backdrops. The bride wore a lime green and royal blue lehenga with floral jewelry for the Pithi, while the groom looked elegant in a Bandi jacket and kurta. The Sangeet festivities saw Karaoke music, dancing and a whole lot of fun. The bride donned a stunning, bright blue lehenga with diamond jewelry and glam evening makeup while the groom wore a shimmering lime green Pathani kurta.

Garba
“Dharmil loves garba, so there was no way we would miss out on having a garba night as one of our events,” smiles the exuberant bride. Hosted at a banquet hall, the evening saw a festival of twirling lehengas as myriad colors filled the space. The bride wore a statement pink and orange lehenga while the groom wore a coordinated Bandi jacket and kurta.

Wedding
The wedding was a breezy, floral affair hosted on the lawns of the bride’s home, with fresh blooms festooned on every surface. The bride looked resplendent in a white lehenga with multihued embellishments and embroidery, while the groom perfectly complemented her in a regal ivory and pink ensemble. Taking their pheras in a mandap overlooking the entire city was a moment of surreal beauty and love that would be etched in their memories forever.

Reception
The reception, which was originally meant to be held outdoors, was shifted indoors at the last moment due to unforeseen conditions but was nevertheless a fitting end to a spectacular wedding. The evening saw timeless décor of white and gold, aglow with warm ambient lighting and an abundance of white blooms. Lovely dances and speeches made the night memorable. Dressed in glamorous outfits of midnight blue, the couple was a sight to behold.

Advice for couples
“Wedding planning is quite exhausting, but try to make it as fun as possible, and never let the small things get in the way of what’s most important, which is, the celebration of your love. Also, we would really recommend that you indulge in an amazing photographer. Choosing to spend on a great photographer who captured all our cherish-worthy memories instead of splurging on décor or outfits was the best decision we took, hands down.”

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Bride’s Home, Rwanda
Decor: Centerpiece Designs
Bride’s Outfits: Chawla Emporium, California (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Trendy Shadow
Invites: Rolex Card
Mehndi: Shringaar Bridal Nairobi
Entertainment: DJ Juggy (Juggy Virdee – Nairobi)
Photography and Videography: SeventybyTwo – Wedding Stories

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