A Celebration of Culture and Colors: Rittika & Dhruva
For Dhruva and Rittika, Memorial Day Weekend unveiled itself in bursts of bright colors along the shoreline of Turks and Caicos where the two chose to say “I do.” With 75 guests touching down on the island from all over the globe – Los Angeles, London, Chicago, and beyond – an event of this size made Beaches® Turks & Caicos the perfect location to accommodate everyone.
Known for having five villages (Italian, French, Key West, Caribbean, and Seaside), 21 unique dining options, and activities for all ages, Beaches Turks & Caicos gave the wedding party plenty of room to explore, celebrate, and unwind.
In the months and weeks leading up to their big day, Rittika and Dhruva worked closely with their personal Beaches Wedding team to discuss all details over the phone, share inspiration boards, and choose decor elements. Since the wedding was a weekend-long affair, rich in celebration and tradition, the team at Beaches went the extra mile to bring the couple’s vision to life and incorporate meaningful cultural touches.
A celebration of new beginnings
To kick off the wedding weekend, Friday morning called for a Haldi ceremony at the Turtles Bar gazebo. The patio was beaming in bright yellow, magenta, and orange decor in this special celebration meant to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity to the happy couple.
Forming an aisle to the center of the patio, ribbons of marigolds cascaded from golden urns set atop white pedestals. With the couple seated in the center of the space, surrounded by delicate fabrics, hanging umbrellas, and bowls of turmeric paste (known as Haldi), family and friends gathered around to spread the haldi onto the faces of the bride and groom.
All in the details
The morning of the ceremony saw blue skies stretching out over the calm Caribbean Sea. While getting ready, Rittika’s mother joined her in the privacy of the bridal suite for some quality one-on-one time. The two were all smiles as Rittika outfitted herself in stunning gold and emerald green jewelry. Emerald, being a symbol of fertility and growth, was yet another piece of tradition that wove its way into the wedding weekend. Red is worn as a symbol of new beginnings and feminine strength.
A weekend rooted in tradition
Keeping with customary tradition, Dhruva arrived at the tented ceremony first, and did so in ultimate style. The team at Beaches Turks & Caicos accommodated his request for a Baraat-style entrance by adorning a golf cart in lush florals and using a speaker to play upbeat music.
As Dhruva made his way down the sand, family members and friends surrounded the golf cart, smiling and cheering the whole way. Every so often, the golf cart would pause, allowing him to disembark, join the procession, and dance.
Once the initial excitement settled, it was time for the bride’s debut. Making her own opulent entrance, male family members carried Rittika down the beach toward the mandap canopy in a custom-made, red and gold Palki — a nod to her stunning ruby red dress lined in gold embroidery.
Once united with Dhruva, the couple engaged in traditional Hindu wedding customs, including the wearing of mala (floral garlands) around their necks and tossing rice into a ceremonial fire pit.
Sailing into forever after
Having one final surprise left for those in attendance, the couple worked with their Beaches Wedding team to incorporate a grand exit. With a little help from the water sports crew, a dive boat was turned into the ultimate getaway vessel for the newlyweds. As Rittika and Dhruva sailed along Grace Bay, their family and friends assembled along the shoreline to enjoy more of the Caribbean's breathtaking views.
In love & wanderlust
After officially tying the knot, guests had an afternoon to themselves and came together again in the early evening for cocktail hour and the reception. Guests were greeted by a champagne bubbly bar and glimmering bistro lights as they entered a grand, whimsical tent set on the sand. The bride and groom opted for a simple look with white, pearl and silver decor, as well as soft touches of cream, blue, and green hydrangeas.
A couple with a passion for seeing the world, Rittika wanted to incorporate some of her favorite travel memories with Dhruva into their celebrations — more specifically, her reception outfit. Known as a love story or fairytale lehenga, Rittika sent a handful of photos to fashion designer Krésha Bajaj who turned each still image into embroidered magic. Lace depictions of the couple’s adventures together encircled the bottom of Rittika’s aqua blue reception lehenga — a traditional ankle-length skirt — and featured scenes of the couple riding elephants and scuba diving, among other adventures.
Heading into the reception, the newlyweds agreed that their top priority would be to enjoy the company of guests who had traveled near and far to be with them.
When you wish upon the stars
As the clock neared midnight and the sounds of the island quieted down, the wedding party made their way to the far end of Treasure Beach for a s’mores afterparty and lantern release. A symbol of good luck, wisdom, and prosperity for the newlyweds, guests lit small flames within the paper lanterns before releasing them.
Floating gracefully into the star-studded night sky, dozens of glowing lanterns created a picture-perfect finale alongside Grace Bay.
