Our union was a beautiful fusion of love and culture, beginning with an intimate civil ceremony in a Philadelphia wine cellar, followed by a multi-day destination wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We honored both my Gujarati (North Indian) and my husband’s Kannadiga (South Indian) traditions through 10 events, filled with rituals, personal details, and unforgettable moments alongside family and friends.
Our wedding week in Riviera Maya, Mexico was a colorful, four-day blend of events from August 7-10, 2024.
Welcome Fiesta: The festivities kicked off with a Welcome Night Fiesta featuring a mariachi band. What started as a lively gathering quickly turned into an impromptu dance party, setting the tone for the week ahead, which was filled with high energy and endless dancing. The evening ended on a magical note as we made our exit, surrounded by guests holding sparklers, lighting up the night in celebration of the love that had brought everyone together.
Gowri Pooja, Haldi, Holi: The next morning Dhruvi performed the Gowri Pooja, to honor Vybav’s side of family customs. The importance of Gowri pooja, a sacred ritual where the bride prays to Goddess Gowri (or Parvati), is for strength, wisdom, and a harmonious married life.
This was followed by a combined Haldi surrounded by our families and friends, who joyfully covered us in turmeric paste and showered us with flowers. The afternoon ended with a Holi celebration on the beach where we danced amidst a kaleidoscope of colors, creating unforgettable memories in the sand.
Sangeet & Garba:
The Sangeet that evening showcased dazzling performances from both sides of the family from cousins, uncles & aunts, and our bridal party. We surprised everyone with a special dance of our own, performing to a mix of our favorite Bollywood songs, thoughtfully put together by us and brought to life with the beautiful choreography of our choreographer.
We also danced the night away with Garba, honoring the vibrant Gujarati tradition, as circles of family and friends filled the floor with energy and joy. We ended the night with Raas, where everyone joined in with custom dandiya sticks featuring our hashtag of the week, #DhruviCaughtaVybe, lovingly made in India just for this celebration. It was the perfect way to wrap up an evening full of love, music, and dancing.
We worked closely with the chefs at our resort to create a unique dining experience: a series of five dhaba-style food stalls, each featuring a different cuisine: Indian, Indo-Mexican, Indo-Chinese, Italian, and Mexican. And for a sweet finish, we had a sixth station dedicated entirely to fresh churros with different sauces.
Weddings:
We celebrated our love through two beautiful ceremonies on the same day: a Gujarati wedding with a lively Baraat in the morning, and a serene Kannada ceremony at sunset, each honoring our distinct heritages.
One of the most special moments of the morning was seeing Dhruvi’s beloved grandmothers walk down the aisle as flower ladies, their smiles filling the space with warmth. Every detail was meticulously planned from custom ceremony programs to charming program boxes filled with Philly pretzels, a sweet nod to the city where our story began.
In the Gujarati ceremony, Dhruvi surprised everyone, including Vybav, by walking down the aisle with a custom 10-foot veil, delicately engraved with our names and wedding date. It was a moment of quiet magic that added an ethereal elegance to the day and left our guests in awe. And before that, she also pulled off a joyful surprise, joining the groom’s side for a fun Baraat dance with her bridesmaids.
Dhruvi chose to forego the traditional red lehenga, instead opting for a stunning purple lehenga that she custom-designed with Kalki. The rich color felt like a reflection of her and their journey together. The vibrant hue blended modern touches with timeless elegance, making her bridal look truly one-of-a-kind.
For the sunset Kannada wedding, she embraced tradition with grace, wearing a classic South Indian saree from the Advya collection by the House of Angadi Heritage. She added her own modern touches through the carefully selected saree and jewelry, expressing her individuality and personal taste.
Together, the day unfolded like a love story, blending surprise, tradition, and joy celebrating not just two cultures, but the start of our forever.
Pool Party: A pool party the next day for everyone to relax and unwind after the weddings. It was a perfect opportunity for us to spend quality time with our guests, recharge, and enjoy the sun before gearing up for the elegant reception that night.
Reception: The enchanted forest
For our reception, we dreamed of creating a magical enchanted forest, and it came to life in the most beautiful way. The space was transformed with rich emerald greens, deep blacks, and shimmering golds, creating a bold yet romantic setting that perfectly matched our glam outfits for the night.
Dhruvi wore a custom sparkly lehenga designed with Chamee and Palak; a truly one-of-a-kind look, made just for her. Vybav looked equally striking in a glamorous tuxedo from Purusham, completing our modern fairytale vibe.
But what really took the night to the next level was our surprise Hora Loca, a “crazy hour” that flipped the celebration into full party mode after the first dance, bridal party performances, and heartfelt speeches. We kept this a total surprise, planned only with our vendors, and the guests were stunned.
The Hora Loca is all about letting loose and ending the night on a wild, unforgettable high. We had water drums & performers, dancers on stilts, wing dancers, a glowing conga line that turned into limbo, rave sticks, and high-energy beats that turned the dance floor into a rave party scene. The room came alive with exciting enhancements: a fog machine, cold sparks, and dramatic lighting added to the energy, while guests captured their best looks at a vogue-themed photo op.
We also had the most delicious food spread from Patravali, with carefully curated bites for cocktail hour and an incredible feast for the reception, making sure our guests were well-fed and happy as they danced the night away. To sweeten the night, a lavish dessert table from Lluvia de Azúcar matching the theme, awaited, filled with an array of decadent treats and a stunning cake. We also had custom cocktails and napkins stamped with the iconic Philly LOVE sign, bringing a personal touch from our city. It was everything we dreamed of- bold, joyful, and filled with moments of pure magic, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us.
Overall, our celebration beautifully fused culture, joy, and personalization was filled with love and an extraordinary week celebrating us.
