Krupa and Vishwa, Ahmedabad

Fate can be hard to understand but the inexplicable ways in which it surprises often are some of the most welcoming moments in our lives. Krupa tells us how she met Vishwa and how cupid finally struck.

How We Met
We were both born in Illinois in the 80’s. Although we now know our paths crossed many times and we had numerous opportunities to meet over the years it never actually happened until the summer of 2016. After I read his dorky email I knew I needed to meet him and the rest is history. Fast forward through many dinner dates, beer festivals, concerts, fantasy football, meeting families, holidays, and road trips, he popped the question in April of 2017 and since that day our worlds have been spinning nonstop.

Wedding Venue
We thought we’d get married in Illinois, our hometown but when we realized Vishwa’s maternal grandmother couldn’t travel to the US we decided to go to India instead. And just like that, our summer 2018 US wedding became a winter of 2017 India wedding.

For the groom and his parents, it was going back home to be with their family. However, for my family, it was going to be like a destination wedding. It was complicated – we didn’t immediately know if everyone would get time off work and school but it all worked out.

Wedding Planning
Little did I know how tough it would be to manifest my very specific vision of my wedding in the hustle and bustle of India. However, my dad was introduced to Shana and Namrata and they were a godsend! We connected from word go and though I was halfway across the world I trusted that the most important day of my life was in the right hands. When I finally met them in August I didn’t think it was possible to be any more excited about my big day but every time I spoke to them or met with them they found a way to hype me up more and more.

Shana – Namrata Events managed to outdo even my own dreams of my wedding. Not only was the décor spectacular at each event, they assisted my entire family. I’m the oldest in the family and the first ones in our generation to marry. We don’t know all the traditions and rituals and they helped us prepare.

With their help, we found some of the best vendors. I had been following Ravi Maulik (StudioBeUnique) on Instagram and Vimeo for some time so when we were able to get a hold of him to do the cinematography I was ecstatic. Namrata told us about Ravi Mistry and his candid style is second to none. He captures the events in your eyes and it’s incredible. The teams were incredible through everything and so much fun to work with.

I used social media and other internet resources to book the other vendors. Rutu Dalal did my makeup and hair for my mehndi function and La Femme’s Satish and Anal did makeup and hair for my sangeet. The amazing Niyati of Expressions by Niyati Shah got me ready for the wedding. Jayshree Panchal has the steadiest hands I have ever seen and she even made my mehndi look amazing despite the fact that it was almost impossible to get me to sit still.

Wedding Functions

BBQ Party
We had almost 100 people flying in from the US and I wanted our events to have a western feel to them; free, casual, people able to walk around, socialize, dance, drink, eat and just have fun without the pressure of playing games or getting on stage for something. So we decided to kick start our functions with a BBQ garden party with lots of music.

I got my mehndi done this night and I wore Masaba Gupta. I am so obsessed with that outfit that I actually created this event so I can wear it!

Mehndi
I’d envisioned this as a fun event with vibrant colors and a garden feel. We told Shana and Namrata about our mutual obsession for elephants. My husband used to call them ‘hathiphants’ as a child and we call them that till date. So we had this amazing elephant structure decked out in vibrant colors! It took 30 people to carry it into the garden!

I was fortunate to meet Purva of Purva Bridal Couture back in August. Her boutique is incredible and when I said I had a specific vision of what I wanted to wear, Purva hit her sketchbook. I spoke a million words a minute and she drew faster than I was talking. She came up with two sketches; one for my mehndi and the other for my sangeet. To the mehndi, I wore a dhoti saree in bright orange and pink. The fusion outfit was traditional and yet managed to look so contemporary. I absolutely loved it!

Sangeet
For the sangeet, we had blue and gold decor and the highlight was definitely our light up entrance. Arches lined with bulbs along with several other elements made this function very glamorous.

Keeping in line with the colors of the night, I wore a blue lehenga with a one-sleeved blouse and a white dupatta. Purva had sketched the outfit for me but I could only see it when I came to India. She did not disappoint. My outfit was phenomenal.

Wedding
We wanted a classic, royal wedding and we created this using a palette of gold and red. My entrance was a big factor in how things needed to be set up. I had this vision of walking down a ramp with pyros going off around me. And we managed it!

I had almost given up on finding the perfect lehenga until Neil from Pia Ka Ghar in California linked me up with his partners at Sabyasachi, Calcutta. As I was face timing them late at night I noticed a panel in the back and asked them to show it to me. It was the one! I wore that maroon lehenga with its gorgeous gold embroidery and even though it was heavy I swear I did not want to take it off. The wedding dress has to be the “one” and mine definitely was for me.

Wedding Makers
Venues: Gokul Dham Garden (BBQ Party and Mehndi), Chanchal Party Plot (Sangeet), Baleshwar Party Plot (Wedding)
Wedding Planner and Decor: Shana and Namrata Events, Ahmedabad
Bride’s Outfits: Masaba (BBQ Party), Purva Bridal Couture (Mehndi and Sangeet), Sabyasachi (Wedding)
Jewellery: K.B. Zaveri and Purrumaa
Makeup Artist: Rutu Dalal (Mehndi), La Femme (Sangeet), Expressions by Niyati Shah (Wedding)
Mehndi: Jayshree Panchal
Entertainment: Darshan Raval (Sangeet), Divine Flutes (Wedding)

Photography: Ravi Mistry
Videography: Studio Beunique

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