From a 'Bridgerton'-inspired carnival to an island wedding, this couple created six worlds in Bahrain
Khushi and Devansh brought together Indian wedding traditions, international influences, and the beauty of Bahrain for a six-part celebration.
Khushi Kothari and Devansh Pokarna wanted their wedding to be more than a series of celebrations at a destination. Having met four years ago at a mutual friend’s party, the couple built their relationship through shared conversations, interests and experiences. When Pokarna proposed in Italy, the couple began planning a wedding that would bring their personal tastes and cultural traditions together.
On January 26, 2026, the couple celebrated their wedding at Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain, following three days of festivities. They had six distinct celebrations, each with its own atmosphere, from a Bridgerton-inspired carnival to an island wedding surrounded by the Gulf.
The festivities began with a mehendi designed to feel colourful, relaxed, and all things Indian. Music, conversations, and laughter set the tone, with the focus on bringing loved ones together rather than creating an elaborate visual spectacle.
It was followed by the vows ceremony which offered a more intimate change of pace. Friends and family shared toasts and memories of the couple, leading to several emotional moments.
The mood shifted again for the European carnival-inspired event, which took its cue from Bridgerton. Rather than relying on the series as a decorative reference, the celebration was designed as an immersive experience. Kothari and Pokarna made a dramatic boat entrance as friends and family cheered from the shoreline.
For the wedding ceremony, the couple wanted the destination to speak for itself. Instead of elaborate installations, they decided to work with the island’s natural surroundings. Dressed in a Sabyasachi lehenga, Kothari walked across a bridge towards the ceremony, with the Gulf and the open horizon surrounding her. The pheras took place against the ocean, bringing together Indian wedding traditions and Bahrain’s coastal setting.
The celebration was followed by an Arabian Night finale, which drew inspiration from the destination. Warm lighting and illuminated pathways brought the festivities to a close after several days of changing settings and moods.
What set the wedding apart was the way each event offered a different experience without losing sight of the couple’s overall vision. The mehendi brought colour and familiarity, the vows created space for personal memories, the carnival introduced a theatrical element, and the sangeet brought everyone together through music and performances. The island wedding ceremony allowed the landscape to take centre stage, while the afterparty closed the celebrations with a sense of place.
The six-part celebration thus brought together different influences, settings, and moods, creating a wedding that felt varied without losing its personal connection to the couple.
Lead image: SeventyByTwo Wedding Stories
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