From a surprise proposal to a marriage blending the best of two cultures, influencer and activist Diipa Büller Khosla and her Dutch beau Oleg Büller’s multi-day destination wedding in Udaipur was a page straight out of a fairy tale. The million- follower strong star recounts those dreamy days and unveils all that went into planning the picture-perfect “I do.” By Bayar Jain
Photography: Zohaib Ali
Hair: Aamir Naveed
Make-Up: Nisha Spence
Jewellery: Amrapali Jewels
On Diipa:
For haldi: Ritu Kumar
For wedding: Sabyasachi
For sangeet: Anamika Khanna
On Oleg: Varun Bahl
On Bridesmaids: Ritu Kumar
How did you fuse your multicultural background for your wedding?
We had both types of ceremonies—a three-day celebration of Indian ceremonies followed by European at the end. However, we had our own twists in both celebrations and updated many traditions along the way. For instance, after the wedding ceremony, we touched each other’s feet to show mutual respect, as opposed to just me touching his.
Being a destination wedding, how different was the wedding planning process?
It was very hard! My main concern was that we couldn’t go to the venue as often as we’d liked. In such cases, my number one tip is to have a good wedding planner on the ground and keep close contact with them.
Wedding planning can be stressful and is preceded by months of hard work. How did you ensure you remained relatively stress-free during this phase?
I had a great team around me. However, I really like taking matters into my own hands and being involved in the process. It was hard to let go, and there were times I simply had to remind myself that we’ve got professionals on board who could take care of some things better than I could.
How did the two of you narrow down on your wedding outfits?
I worked closely with each designer, right from the beginning to the end. I could see my vision come to life with them. I took most of the decisions on what Oleg was wearing as well.
Photographers and videographers play an important role in keeping the memories alive post the wedding. How did you choose the same for yours?
I researched multiple people online. I paid attention to how they could capture emotions and storytelling. Of course, I wanted beautiful pictures too, but the way these photographers and videographers could tell a story through their visuals was more important to me.
How did you steal moments of privacy with your partner during your four- day wedding, especially with the many ceremonies lined up?
On the day before our European wedding—the last day of our ceremonies—Oleg planned a little surprise for me. He asked me to meet before the ceremonies where we took a moment to talk to each other and cherish our time together. Then, he gifted me a beautiful pearl necklace given to him by his grandmother. Whenever I wear it, it always reminds me of our beautiful moment together.
A lavish wedding such as yours could result in excessive wastage, be it in the form of food or decorations. How did you handle this?
I loaned all my dresses and returned them to the designers post the wedding, hopefully for other brides to wear someday. Since the event planning and the venue was completely taken care of by the hotel, all the food and decorations were based on a circular model. All the leftover food was eaten by staff and the decorations were reused throughout multiple celebrations.
Post the wedding, you had an intimate gathering with your closest friends and family in Goa. What was that like?
We went on a buddymoon with our friends, which gave us so much bliss as we were able to relive moments of the wedding with our closest friends and family. During the wedding, it was often very rushed, so we didn’t get a chance to spend time with them. The buddymoon was the perfect way to re-enjoy everything and unwind.
Two years into your marriage, how has life changed for you since?
It feels like we’ve grown so much as a couple and have matured together. As a married couple, we understand that communication is key and that we can tackle everything together as a team. A challenge like COVID-19 so early on in our relationship showed us how well we work as a couple. Recently, we bought our first house together, and I cannot wait for the upcoming years too.
Related: Our Cover Girl Diipa Khosla Tells Us Why Road Trips Are Her Absolute Favourite!
