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
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The first meeting / spark (sports festival, Tanzania)
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Years apart: periods in Chicago, London, maintaining love across time zones
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The proposal: when, where, how (Musandam mountains, paragliding, private dinner)
Pre-Wedding Moments / Shoot
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Their pre-wedding shoot location (hidden turtle cave in Zanzibar)
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Why they picked that setting (love for nature, water, turtles)
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How it reflects them (adventure, intimacy)
Wedding & Festivities Overview
Break this into sub-events:
a. Sagai & Cocktail Night
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Mediterranean beach cocktail, live saxophone by the sea, intimate setting
b. Pujas & Haldi
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Marigold-purple palette, boho aesthetic, street food counters, spritzer bar
c. Sangeet Night
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Walkway with easels of advice, fairy lights, dance performances, mix of glamour + local touches
d. Wedding Ceremony / Vows
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Mandap by the shoreline with neutral floral décor
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Gujarati rituals, traditional feast
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Special moment: Dhwani receiving a handwritten letter from Vishal just before pheras
e. Reception & Afterparty
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Elegant crystal-white reception
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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
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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
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Floral décor: neutral tones, soft aesthetics
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Unique touches: handwritten advice notes, easels, sparklers, fairy lights
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Layout & planning: every detail debated — seating, centrepieces, archways, layouts
Emotional Touchpoints / Personal Moments
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The letter from Vishal before the pheras, urging her to hurry and declaring his love
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How the couple aimed to make every event reflect their love and personalities
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Guests’ experience: intimacy + spectacle, feeling each moment
Takeaways & Inspiration
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How distance strengthened their bond
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Using travel, nature, and personal stories in wedding design
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Mixing cultures (Gujarati traditions with destination flair)
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Importance of attention to detail and personalization
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