Falguni & Gareth

Every wedding brings us to a deeper understanding of how love beautifully binds two souls. Each wedding brings us to experience a new story and a lovely new beginning. Falguni & Gareth, two lovely individuals both from different cultures & countries make you believe that nothing matters when love takes center stage! We began working with Falguni & her oh! So lovely mum Parul aunty 8 months back. Two of the most kind hearted and understanding people we have ever dealt with. Most of the detailing happened over numerous emails and Skype calls. But as clear headed and organised as the mum and daughter duo were made everything seem so effortless. 27th - 29th December 2018 An amazing end to the year with Falguni & Gareth. Here's an account of all the beautiful details that went into making Falguni & Gareth's wedding in Goa one that had her guests in all praises! Falguni chose the offbeat Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, Goa located on the quaint coast of Utorda. The wedding festivities were kick-started with her Mehendi Night at Maximus.

The decor was desi pop art inspired, with oodles of color and quirky elements! Beautiful prints in bright colors, hand painted kettles, pom - pom sticks, origami birds, mini tuk - tuks, trucks sourced specially for the mehendi and tonnes of fresh flowers set the desi pop art scene perfectly. The fresh flowers were totally loved by every guest, to an extent that the guests chose to carry them back to their rooms and we couldn't be happier. Team GKWW sourced and custom painted an actual tuk - tuk donned it with fresh flowers and converted it to a quirky booth to capture all the mehendi night memories.

28th December morning began with the manglik prasang followed by the Haldi. The decor here was traditional and minimalistic in hues of yellow and white with rangoli put together with fresh flowers. The ubtan for the ceremony was sourced specially from the amazing Suparna Trikha, made with all natural ingredients, one that smells heavenly and is bound to leave you with a beautiful natural glow.

The next event lined up was the Garba Night with a live bollywood band from Goa. We recreated the feel of a temple at the banquet hall, all four sides of the venue were adorned with strings of fresh flowers.Over thousand fresh flowers were used to achieve this.

The decor drew inspiration from the tales of RadhaKrishna. The center of the Garba stage donned an idol of RadhaKrishna that was very artistically put together with fresh flowers by florists flown in all the way from Delhi. The structure was custom made by specialists from Mumbai. Right from peacock feathers, to the custom painted matkas, the entrance arch put together with a flute every detail in the decor was an ode to the lovely RadhaKrishna.
And thus dawned 29th December 2018, the day Falguni and Gareth chose to pledge their love by the beach. The wedding decor was simple and chic put together with minimalistic elements. Fresh flower strings with bells tasseled around the end and an idol of lord Ganesha decked with fresh flowers made for a simple yet beautiful Mandap. Chivari chairs for the seating and a beautiful sunset by the beach made for the most amazing backdrop.Gareth made his entry on a mare. While Falguni was led to the mandap by her uncles and brothers.

The reception was chic with a few rustic touches. Falguni requested for some pretty fairy lights so we created a magical entryway donned with pretty gold lights specially for her.

The reception party was to have the feel of a backyard party, we created a few popular games played in the backyards of homes in the US, Such as bocce ball, bean bag toss, human jenga, beer pong to keep the non dancers entertained.

Every element of this beautiful celebration was thought of and curated with a lot of love.

Right from the decor to the giveaways and the hampers that went into guest rooms. Favors included handmade bangles for the mehendi, torans for the manglik prasang & custom printed glass coasters for the reception. The cookies in the hampers were custom made in an orange zest and a special Christmas flavor to celebrate the Christmas festivity in the air.

We love planning these details and we totally enjoy the madness executing them. The smiles we receive at the end and warm hugs from Parul aunty to team GKWW had all our stress melt away. Stay tuned for an amazing 2019 as we bring you some exciting new decor, beautiful love stories & magical new beginnings! #gkww

Goa Wedding on Your Wish list? Here are some quick tips to Plan that Picture Perfect Dream Wedding!

Right from a beach wedding on the white sands of Goa, to a church affair in one of the breathtakingly beautiful churches with their Portuguese memorabilia.

If you’ve imagined a wedding with quirk and boho beach vibes, a destination wedding in Goa is all you need!

#1 Pick a Side

South & North Goa

While each district has its own charm, South of Goa witnesses fewer footfalls of visitors. This means the beaches hidden in the quaint villages of South Goa are less crowded and more peaceful. Several world renowned hotel chains operate here with direct access to the beach in most cases. On the other hand North Goa is buzzing with activity at all times, has several night clubs and pubs you could pick from if you are planning a crazy night out with your friends prior or post the wedding. North Goa also has some beautiful beaches that are popular worldwide; however owing to their popularity you could expect these hot spots to be bustling with international/ domestic travelers especially between November – January. North Goa has fewer resorts/hotels to choose from when compared to the South. You could also choose a home stay or a beautiful Portuguese casa over a stay at the resort or a hotel.

#2 When to Plan?

When to Plan your wedding depends on two important factors #1 how you picture your wedding to be #2 the amount you wish to spend on your wedding. If a dreamy wedding by the beach and a chic reception outdoors is your idea of a perfect wedding, October to February should be your pick. The evenings are way more pleasant during these months and a wedding during these months is bound to cost you more. If you still wish to have a destination wedding in Goa, without the frills and thrills of a beach wedding, that’s an option too! Plan between May – September. Monsoon weddings are now a trend in Goa and are a good way to ensure your budget is in check, as most resorts offer discounted rates over this season.

#3 How to go about the planning process?

If you want an easy breezy wedding with very little to worry about, an event planner is the answer to your prayers. Goa has extremely skilled event planners, that will help you put together a picture perfect wedding effortlessly. The professionals are familiar with how Goa functions and can help you with everything right from the hotel reservations, the wedding decor, the entertainment, food, the licenses, permissions you would require and almost everything you can imagine. Planning a church or gurudwara wedding is also possible when in Goa with prior permissions from the authorities at the church/gurudwara. In most cases the event planner can guide you and help you with this too.

Finest Resorts for a Destination Wedding in South Goa

Alila Diwa Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

No Beach Access

Number of Rooms: 153

The Leela Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 206

Beach Access

ITC Grand Goa Resort & Spa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 252

Beach Access

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 115

Beach Access

The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 265

Beach Access

The Zuri White Sands Goa, Resort & Casino

Tripadvisor Rating: 4

Number of Rooms: 154

Beach Access

Holiday Inn Resort Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 203

Beach Access

Kenilworth Resort & Spa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4

Number of Rooms: 104

Beach Access

Radisson Blu Beach Resort Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 132

Beach Access

Finest Resorts for a Destination Wedding in North Goa

Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 143

Beach Access

Grand Hyatt Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 313

Beach Access

Goa Marriott Resort & Spa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 313

Beach Access

Hard Rock Hotel Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 135

No Beach Access

Park Regis Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0

Number of Rooms: 97

No Beach Access

Le Meridien Goa, Calangute

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 146

No Beach Access

W Goa

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5

Number of Rooms: 160

Beachfront

Goa also offers some beautiful home / Wooden Chalet experiences here are a handpicked few

Aashyana Lakhanpal

Number of Rooms: 14

Pamper yourself in the elegant luxury of Aashyana Lakhanpal, the fully staffed 5 bedroom villa with private pool, or reside in style at one or more of the three self-contained two bedroom villas, each complete with an individual, private garden and shared pool. Villa Venus, the 3 bedroom self-contained independent property with private pool, offers the perfect opportunity to 'get-away-from-it-all' in a traditional Portuguese villa, lovingly restored to retain an authentic feel!

Saraya

Number of Rooms: 14

Saraya is a family owned business in the heart of Goa. This naturally diverse space includes peaceful guest accommodations, a cafe and an amazing art gallery! There are beautifully created Mud houses and Jungle Tree Houses for guests to choose from. The guest accommodations have evolved into unique structures, each a work of art. Although the materials used to build the space are natural and local, such as clay, bamboo and leaves, these homes are safe, private, and comfortable

Stonewater Eco Resort

Number of Rooms: 25

Stonewater Eco Resort is a beautiful secluded resort in the heart of Bogmalo in close proximity to the Goa International Airport. The accommodation consists of fully equipped wooden chalets. And also has a beautiful view of the beach. The outdoor venue at the property is also ideal for a nice and quaint celebration.

You said yes & you have the ring! Well it’s now time to plan a fling

You said yes & you have the ring! Well it’s now time to plan a fling with your girls, before turning the page to the happily married chapter of your life!

With all the wedding expenses doing the rounds, a bachelorette in some exotic location seems off the radar? Then you definitely got to hear Goa Calling!! Here are quick tips straight from the land of sun and sea!

When to travel? 

Goa is humid all year round however; the monsoons from June to October and winters from November to February are a slight respite during the day, the evenings are however pleasant and cool! If you choose the latter option then you may want to make your reservations ahead of time, as that happens to be the peak season for travelers heading to Goa.

Where to stay & how to get around? 

If you want to be in close proximity to the party scenes in Goa, then north Goa is the place to be. The most popular clubs are nestled along the Candolim – Calangute stretch with SinQ, Cohiba, and Titos being most popular among the party crowd. If a quaint bachelorette is on your agenda then you might want to make your reservation at some of the amazing hotels or private villas along the South Goa coastline. The beaches on this end of Goa such as Utorda, Benaulim, Varca are less crowded and more ideal for water sports or to go skinny dipping with your girls! Or you could have best of both worlds by staying in the south and heading up north for a girls night out!

The public transport in Goa is basically government/privately run and is far from being the most comfortable means of getting around and is pretty time consuming too. Taxis in Goa are operated by Local taxi drivers and are a better option to get up and about (Ola & Uber does not operate in Goa). The management of your villa/hotel can get one arranged for you. You could also hop on a two wheeler (most popular) or a four wheeler and explore the lush green villages, the colorful local markets, hit the beautiful beaches and so much more. The locals are pretty well versed with their English and most also speak good Hindi (thanks to the multiple daily soaps that are a hit around here) and are always happy to guide with directions.

If at all you find yourself at a dead end, there’s always a Google map to the rescue! 

Some offbeat Goa things!

Take the entire Goa experience a notch higher by spending the day on a private yatch/ catamaran. The prices are pretty reasonable and won’t have you end up with a hole in your pocket. You could also set the dice rolling with night out at the casino. Goa has multiple options you could choose from. Some hotels can help you get through both the options with either a disount or an upgrade. Check with your front office team before making a reservation.

Where and what to eat?

Goa is a paradise for sea food lover’s right from the butter garlic shrimp to fresh seafood cooked in goan spices or the humble Goan thali.  Restaurants in Goa also do an amazing job at Continental, Indo Chinese, Thai, Greek, Italian North/South Indian cuisine etc.

 Fret not vegetarians we’ve got you covered too! Zomato & reviews from local people in Goa can help you make the right choices depending on the cuisine your taste buds crave.

Shopping on your mind?

Shopping in Goa fits every budget category and is pretty well equipped with designer stores, local markets and the most popular night markets and flea markets.

The Panjim, Margao, Mapusa local markets can help you stock up on some nuts, dry fruits, spices, liquor, wines etc. While the flea markets are a vibrant display of clothes, souvenirs, home décor, foot wear, silver/junk jewellery, colourful bags and everything boho. The flea market in Anjuna is set up every Wednesday and the night markets are up every Saturday from around October to April. You might want to hone your bargaining skills as a little bargaining can go a long way in cracking some amazing deals with the vendors. Well, these markets do a lot more than pleasing the shopaholic in you, by being a happy place for foodies and music lovers. Treat yourself amazing global food and live performances by musicians of all genres! Most of these markets are also close to the clubs/party places up north so you can go from shopaholic to dancing diva in a single night.

Pack those bags with some sun tan lotion, comfy attire for hopping around, pretty party wear for the night and head to the land of sun, sand, surf, seafood and a truckload of fun 

Oh! And don’t forget your favorite girls!