Wedding Diaries A long-distance love story came full circle in a wedding in Dar es Salaam with vows by the ocean Vishal Vithlani and Dhwani Rajani’s journey across continents came full circle in a celebration of love at home “What begins with youthful glances at a sports festival in Dar es Salaam evolves into a cross-continent romance, culminating in vows by the Indian Ocean. Vishal Vithlani and Dhwani Rajani’s wedding wasn’t just a ceremony — it was the full circle of destiny.” Their Story: The Journey Before the Wedding The first meeting / spark (sports festival, Tanzania) Years apart: periods in Chicago, London, maintaining love across time zones The proposal: when, where, how (Musandam mountains, paragliding, private dinner) Pre-Wedding Moments / Shoot Their pre-wedding shoot location (hidden turtle cave in Zanzibar) Why they picked that setting (love for nature, water, turtles) How it reflects them (adventure, intimacy) Wedding & Festivities Overview Break this into sub-events: a. Sagai & Cocktail Night Mediterranean beach cocktail, live saxophone by the sea, intimate setting b. Pujas & Haldi Marigold-purple palette, boho aesthetic, street food counters, spritzer bar c. Sangeet Night Walkway with easels of advice, fairy lights, dance performances, mix of glamour + local touches d. Wedding Ceremony / Vows Mandap by the shoreline with neutral floral décor Gujarati rituals, traditional feast Special moment: Dhwani receiving a handwritten letter from Vishal just before pheras e. Reception & Afterparty Elegant crystal-white reception Morning-after “iced coffee station” as a fun detail Throughout, sprinkle keywords: “beach wedding”, “oceanfront mandap”, “Gujarati wedding feast”, “destination wedding in Tanzania”, “romantic reception ideas”. Fashion & Styling Highlights Outfits across events: • Sagai: Dhwani in lime-green lehenga by Vvani Vats, Vishal in ivory jodhpuri with elephant embroidery • Cocktail: pastel co-ords (Cedar & Pine) and cream linen suit • Haldi: purple-yellow lehenga (Gazal Gupta) + shell jewellery, Vishal in sunshine kurta-bundi • Sangeet: red lehenga (Mahima Mahajan), Vishal in black bandhgala • Wedding: Dhwani in an ivory ensemble by Pallavi Poddar and Vishal in sherwani • Reception: Dhwani in navy gown (Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna), Vishal in white tuxedo Hair, makeup, jewellery details (custom bow, kundan, rubies, diamonds) Design & Decor Details Floral décor: neutral tones, soft aesthetics Unique touches: handwritten advice notes, easels, sparklers, fairy lights Layout & planning: every detail debated — seating, centrepieces, archways, layouts Emotional Touchpoints / Personal Moments The letter from Vishal before the pheras, urging her to hurry and declaring his love How the couple aimed to make every event reflect their love and personalities Guests’ experience: intimacy + spectacle, feeling each moment Takeaways & Inspiration How distance strengthened their bond Using travel, nature, and personal stories in wedding design Mixing cultures (Gujarati traditions with destination flair) Importance of attention to detail and personalization .
