Avantika and Vikram Pune Lockdown Home Wedding

Investing in an apartment is considered to be the right move for many young people. Like they say, start early and reap benefits, right? Yeah. But little did our bride Avantika know that her wedding would take place in her own apartment, in her beautiful balcony to be more specific thanks to the lockdown!

Yes, our couple Avantika and Vikram tied the knot in their very own balcony with their parents and panditji as witness to their new life.

Avantika and Vikram were in the same school growing up but they did not really interact with each other then. They got in touch with each other years later for professional reasons as they found each other through mutual contacts. From professional contacts, their relationship blossomed into a friendship and very gradually, they decided to take the plunge together and become husband and wife!

As their relationship progressed gradually, their families had enough time to get to know each other and bond together. Therefore, when the couple decided to get married their families accepted their decision wholeheartedly. Currently, Vikram is one of the four co-founders of an Edtech startup called Pariksha while Avantika heads the online piece for the company.

Planning the Wedding

Like every couple, Avantika and Vikram had planned a grand celebration too. They had booked Hyatt Regency to celebrate their nuptials but thanks to COVID-19, the hotel couldn’t service their requirement. While this was a big issue, the couple did not lose heart. In Pune, where they both work and live, Avantika had invested in a 2BHK flat about three years ago. And now this flat was the best venue they could get in this lockdown situation!

“Who would have thought three years back, when I invested in a 2BHK apartment, I would end up getting married in the same house!” says Avantika.

Their wedding was scheduled for 27^th of June 2020 and all the bookings were done in advance. But, unfortunately, as the lockdown wasn’t lifted, the couple had to get innovative! “By mid-May, when we saw no respite, we had to decide whether to go ahead or postpone the marriage. To add to the situation, the property we had initially booked for the event refused to host us for the said dates as they were not in a position to do so. As much as we had plans of a grand royal wedding celebration, our families and friends advised us to go ahead with the decided date and a limited guest count (In our case it was 15 immediate family members),” says Avantika.

While the couple decided to go ahead with their small wedding ceremony, they continued to hunt for a venue that would accommodate their request at such short notice. Plus, they would have to ensure that all safety and hygiene protocols as mandated by the government would have to be followed by the venue as well. But after 20 days of research and venue hunting, they realised that logistics would be a nightmare for them! But instead of losing hope and heart, the couple along with their families decided to host the wedding at home. “Yes, Mera Ghar!” says Avantika.   

While this was a triumph, finding a decorator to make the flat shaadi-worthy was another task!

“I have an L shaped passage from the lift until the main door which I decided to utilize for decoration as well the size of my balcony was decent enough to accommodate about 8- 10 people at one point in time. However, the challenge was to have the decor in a way that would not cramp up the space available and yet give a Royal look and feel. I was fortunate enough to find Jalpa (NWT events) who was patient with me and my specifications regarding the decor. Together, we chalked out a plan and the pictures are proof of how beautifully all the three days (mehendi, engagement & wedding) turned out to be!” – Avantika.

Next, they had to get a Pandit replacement! Yes, the one they had booked for their grand celebrations had to leave due to the COVID situation. Luckily, they found someone last minute to solemnise their nuptials. Else, the couple were mentally prepared to look up YouTube for their pheras. 

The final leg of planning required them to get appropriate Police permissions and medical certificates of all external vendors involved. This was done to ensure the safety of all residents in their society. 

“It wasn’t easy to get the permissions at once, as the safety of the people around us was put at risk and the society was also sceptical of giving us a go-ahead. After multiple reminder emails and a lot of convincing, we finally managed to get the sanction from the managing committee,” says Avantika.

“Special mention here for the frontline support staff of my society (guards & housekeeping staff) who were on their toes all throughout to make the event smooth for me keeping in mind the guidelines issued to them.”

The YouTube Live Wedding

The wedding festivities kicked off with the mehendi ceremony. Avantika looked gorgeous in a mango yellow ensemble. She completed her look with a contemporary braid and white-orange floral jewellery.

They created a hashtag by combining their names #VIKAWedding. The décor was simple yet beautifully done. A wall was decorated with green foliage as the backdrop with pink and white flower trails. In the balcony, the setting was stunning – decked with trailing fairy lights, a floral frame and a royal chaise.  

The engagement ceremony also took place in their flat. Avantika wore a mint green lehenga with floral embroidery and peach accents. She kept her makeup simple, highlighting her beautiful eyes and wore pearl jewellery.

For the wedding ceremony, Avantika wore a beautiful red tradition Poshak staying true to her roots. This beauty was picked up by her inlaws from Rajasthan. The groom’s outfit was sourced from a local store as they did not have many choices in the current situation. Avantika completed her look with a floral bun hairstyle and traditional Rajasthani jewellery.

In all 15 people attended the wedding. Fortunately, the bride’s mother was with her since the lockdown began. Her father joined them seven days before all the ceremonies began.

“For all our relatives and well-wishers who were not in a position to attend physically, we set up a YouTube Live. My best friend, sister in law and many other relatives who couldn’t make it watched us Live until 4 am in the morning and made us feel so loved and special. Their participation overwhelmed us and we will be forever grateful that they blessed us virtually,” says Avantika.

Avantika adds, “This transition from an outsourced wedding to taking us back in time when weddings involved every family member and making it work, little did we know our DIY wedding would be such a delight to bring together. A huge thank you to both our families for being the pillar of our strength. No extravagant banquet hall, no elaborate decoration, no speciality chef, no royal entry, no coordinated trousseau. Just us surrounded by our loved ones, our wedding was perfect for us in every way. We kept it small and simple but ensured we carried out all rituals as planned and enjoyed them with all our heart. This intimate celebration of our little story (#VIKAwedding) will now stand the testimony of time.”

About the Vendors

A big shout out to these lovely people who joined at the last minute to help us expedite the preparations and the results were fantastic. We were as good as the team that backed us. Kudos!

For all our relatives and well-wishers who were not in a position to attend physically, we set up a YouTube Live. My best friend, sister in law and many other relatives who couldn’t make it watched us Live until 4 am in the morning and made us feel so loved and special. Their participation overwhelmed us and we will be forever grateful that they blessed us virtually.

This transition from an outsourced wedding to taking us back in time when weddings involved every family member and making it work, little did we know our DIY wedding would be such a delight to bring together. A huge thank you to both our families for being the pillar of our strength. No extravagant banquet hall, no elaborate decoration, no speciality chef, no royal entry, no coordinated trousseau. Just us surrounded by our loved ones, our wedding was perfect for us in every way. We kept it small and simple but ensured we carried out all rituals as planned and enjoyed them with all our heart. This intimate celebration of our little story (#VIKAwedding) will now stand the testimony of time.

PS: A big shout out to these lovely people who joined at the last minute to help us expedite the preparations and the results were fantastic. We were as good as the team that backed us. Kudos!

Decor: NWT events

H&MUA: Vandanapaney Makeovers

Photography:  Davinder Arora (Eye Media Consultancy)