Joseph Radhik

II don't often put the groom's name first in a wedding title, because the bride is the star of every wedding, and hey tradition states that her name comes first. So why the exception? To be honest, it's only because Gopal has become a part of the Stories world this past year. From the first time he got in touch with us nearly a year ago, we've chatted about venues, wedding 'consultants', wedding apps, technology and really everything under the sun. I owe this connection to Vanisha who smartly deployed Gopal to this wedding project. I'd say, as bosses go, Vanisha makes an awesome one from the way she's managed to make Gopal her executive assistant!

If you want a ring-side view of all that went into the wedding planning, you MUST read this awesome blogpost by Gopal.

And if you're interested in more details of the wedding itself, do read WedMeGood's full-to-the-brim-with-information blog post here.

TThis wedding is more than special in a lot of ways to me: the fact that there were less than 60 guests(!), the fact that it was set in the dreamy isle of Koh Samui, the brilliant wedding planning by Devika Narain, my first tryst with a medium format film camera (the Pentax 67!), working with old friends and new at The Wedding Filmer, and above all, the super cheerful bride. From injuring herself a day before the celebrations in one of her many adorably clumsy mishaps to taking the stormy weather in her stride, Vanisha was a rockstar and dare I say it - totally eclipsed Gopal at her own wedding! The least I can do for Gopal is to put his name first in this blogpost. :D

Before we head to the photos, there's a parallel story here which you'll see in the images: the torrential downpour which has now become a trademark in weddings that are designed by Devika Narain and shot by me (3rd one in a row!). The wedding ceremony was planned to be on this beautiful pier jutting into the ocean which as you can see was submerged entirely! Plan B, then, was the floating mandap at the lobby at the Meridien - a venue that required us to roll up our pants or change into shorts. :D Props to the couple, the family and all the guests who partied in the rain and made these awesome images happen!