Throughout their relationship, the couple kept returning to the coast, building memories on the sandy stretches of Santa Cruz and the long curve of California’s shoreline. It felt natural, then, that their wedding destination would reflect their love for the sun, sand and sea. They narrowed it down to three places that brought together the tropics and practical travel routes for their guests: Bali, Thailand and Italy. “I remember the first time I visited Bali; I instantly fell in love. The cliffside views, the food, the resemblance to Indian culture, just the overall vibe,” says Gahoonia. “It was also perfectly located for our relatives who are travelling from all around the world,” adds Bhatia.
AYANA Resort Bali, set against clear waters and rugged cliffs, became home to their four-day celebration with 150 guests. The festivities opened with a tropical green and white welcome dinner at the AYANA Rock Bar. Gahoonia wore a red floral embroidered lehenga by Mahima Mahajan paired with oversized emerald and kundan earrings, while Bhatia chose a black open jacket and kurta set from Varun Chakkilam. “We wanted the welcome dinner to feel relaxed and easy, especially since many of our extended families were meeting for the first time,” says Bhatia.
Day two unfolded with the Haldi and Maiyan ceremony in the morning and the Sangeet in the evening. Dressed in breezy Payal Singhal outfits, the couple leaned into an all-yellow palette for the morning rituals. “We wanted the space to feel like an Indian bazaar, so we added stalls with traditional crafts like bangles, jewellery and candle making,” says Gahoonia. The celebrations shifted into a floral Sangeet and ladies’ Mehendi, filled with music and dancing. Gahoonia twirled through the evening in a multicoloured flower-garden lehenga by Gazal Gupta, while Bhatia wore a red sherwani by Kalki.