The Vibrant Vows

How we met
Living in the digital era comes with some pluses and perils. But Gopalika Virmani is grateful to social media for introducing her to her husband Dhruv Gurwara, creative director, Bridal Asia. “Dhruv and I met each other on Instagram,” the fashion director and stylist at MMC World reveals. “To my pleasant surprise, he also turned out to be my senior in school. We then met at a meeting. The emotions were warm and nice, so we began talking. When I suggested ‘I’d like to introduce you to my friend’, Dhruv asked me why I wasn’t going on a date with him instead.” Fast forward to November 2020, the duo tied the knot in the most beautiful destination wedding.


The haldi

November 29 and 30 were chosen for the pair’s destination wedding at The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra. The celebrations kicked off with a haldi ceremony that had it all—lots of playful moments of slathering turmeric paste, good food and even a flower shower. The bride an ivory outfit by Sukriti and Aakriti.


The mehndi and sangeet

The sprawling baghs was the venue for mehndi and sangeet. The bride opted for a gorgeous lehenga by Sabyasachi for the occasion. The embellished skirt, which showcased multi-hued chevron patterns, was paired with a V-neck blouse completely enhanced with floral embroidery. She accessorised with an uncut diamond necklace with matching earrings and a maang tikka by Jewels Of Jaipur. “The best part about my mehndi was that my mom, Dhruv and my sister put it for me.”


The vision

“A very dear friend of the couple captured the images along with wedding photographer Ronicka Kandhari. Vishal Punjabi, the founder of The Wedding Filmer, did the cinematography for the big day.”


The planning 
Virmani and Gurwara originally planned their nuptials in April 2020. “We had even locked a hotel and all locations in Lake Como, Italy for the celebrations. But then then the pandemic struck, which made it impossible to go ahead with the plan,” the bride recalls. But instead of being deterred by the unfortunate outbreak, the couple used the change in plans as an opportunity to host “the most magical three days of our lives with our loved ones.”


The decor
The couple got RashiNidhi Events onboard to execute the decor and design. “We did all coordination via phone and video calls,” the bridal recalls. The decor was personalised with elements that reflected the moment where Virmani knew Gurwara was the one, her love for frills that was turned into custom umbrellas and favourite colours.  


The pheras

Safety was top priority for Virmani and Gurwara, so the guest list was limited to just 50 people. “We even made a rule book with a focus on sanitization and hygiene that our lovely family and friends were cooperative in adhering to the T.” The daytime pheras took place amidst the main courtyard’s multiple fountains. The groom arrived on a golf cart for the baraat. “I walked down the aisle with my father and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” she says. “Each of these three days my laughter never stopped for a second, except when I saw my dadu and I cried but that’s because he is the most special in my life.”


The wedding wardrobe

The bride went the traditional route for the wedding with a strking red lehenga by designer Sahil Kochhar and ornate jewels. The groom opted for a sherwani by couturier Rohit Bal.


Wise words

“An intimate wedding is also about spending time with all guests so take it as a blessing. Dhruv and I got the chance to welcome and say goodbye to almost everyone, which was a very special part about our wedding along with all other memories we made. It’s challenging when you can’t step out and physically see what you need, but trust me, it’s all worth it in the end!”


The sit-down dinner

The couple did bring a slice of Lake Como with a cocktail. “It was the perfect sit-down dinner with all thing vintage.” Details like pastel flowers, silverware and candelabras brighten up the space. The evening saw heartfelt speeches and a performance by folktronica duo Hari & Sukhmani. Virmani and Gurwara made sure to thank their loved ones with personal notes.  


Bride: Gopalika Virmani
Groom: Dhruv Gurdwara
Venue: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

As seen in Khush Wedding 30. Download this FREE issue here