Digital influencer Juhi Godambe Jain’s wedding during the pandemic looked like a dream, with beautiful outfits, personalised décor, and a whole lot of love. She describes all that went into planning this dreamy affair, despite these strange times. By Anushka Goel
T+L India: What went into planning your dream wedding during the pandemic?
Juhi Godambe Jain: Honestly, it was pretty emotional. Everything was so uncertain during the pandemic. Our wedding plans had to be changed thrice. Originally, we had planned to host the ceremonies in Udaipur, but because of COVID-19, we wanted to avoid air travel. So, we moved the wedding to Mumbai.
Then, just 20 days before the wedding, the second lockdown was announced, and I, too, contracted COVID-19. Finally, 15 days before the wedding, our families came together and decided to host the ceremonies in Alibaug.
We had the most amazing planners on board, FB Celebrations. They managed to organise the entire wedding in Alibaug in less than 15 days! In the end, it all went well.
T+L India: What are the key things one should keep in mind while planning an intimate wedding?
Juhi Godambe Jain: As you are surrounded by your dearest ones on your big day, you can add a lot of personal touches to the décor—as we did! When I walked down the aisle, Siddharth [her husband] narrated a poem he had written for me, recounting our journey together. We had pictures of the two of us displayed all over Mansion House [their wedding venue].
Pay attention to details when you have a smaller guest list. Décor, gifts, seating arrangements, etc. can be focused upon. Pick offbeat locations. You can turn your wedding into a fun holiday, where everyone stays under the same roof. Ours turned out to be a four-day long celebration with our loved ones.
T+L India: Did you face any hurdles while organising the whole affair because of the pandemic?
Juhi Godambe Jain: Many family members couldn’t be a part of the wedding because of the 50-person restriction and because some members live abroad.
Besides that, there were many restrictions. We had to procure permissions from the police for every single thing. We had to adapt to the restrictions. A lot of planning went into ensuring that everything went according to the law. Since my wedding was going to be posted on social media, we had to be very careful because the littlest of things could upset people.
T+L India: How did you zero in on your wedding destination?
Juhi Godambe Jain: Alibaug is second home for us. We have a house there; so, managing things became easier. It was a destination wedding, but at the same time, being super close to Mumbai made it a convenient choice.
T+L India: What was your favourite part about having a destination wedding?
Juhi Godambe Jain: I think it was the fact that it felt like a big family holiday to celebrate an important milestone. Everyone was stress-free for those four days and had an absolute ball.
T+L India: How did you select your bridalwear?
Juhi Godambe Jain: I have always wanted to be a Sabyasachi bride. However, because of the pandemic, this was also a very stressful choice. The Sabya workshop was shut when I had to pick my lehenga. I had to choose from the limited options available. Somehow, fortunately, I managed to find the perfect lehenga; the one that spoke to me!
T+L India: Your wedding functions had elements of sustainability, such as macramé décor and flowers. Tell us more about it.
Juhi Godambe Jain: We tried to be as mindful as possible. We used local flowers and embraced what was locally available. A lot of the furniture used in the wedding was revamped, rather than having new pieces created. We made sure to donate the leftover food at the end of the day.
T+L India: Tell us about your honeymoon.
Juhi Godambe Jain: We just got back from a magical honeymoon in Russia! I contracted COVID-19 in April, so I had to wait for three months to get my first dose. I finally managed to get my first jab, and Russia was the only country allowing people with one vaccine dose to enter. Siddharth had been to Russia before, and he knew I would love it. He took charge and planned the entire trip; it was amazing!
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