This couple got married by the Ganges after war disrupted their wedding plans

Rahul and Renessa had planned to celebrate their wedding in Jaipur in March 2026, surrounded by family and friends. However, as tensions in West Asia escalated, travel plans became uncertain. Flights were cancelled, travel advisories raised concerns, and their guest list began to shrink. With the celebrations in doubt, the couple decided to make the journey to India anyway, even if it meant rethinking the wedding they had originally imagined.

Their plans took an unexpected turn when they travelled to Rishikesh instead of Jaipur. On March 10, Rahul and Renessa exchanged vows at Summit by the Ganges Beach Resort & Spa, choosing an intimate celebration beside the river. What had begun as a destination wedding plan shaped by grand festivities became a quieter occasion centred on family, faith, and the start of their life together. Their larger celebrations in Jaipur are set to take place in November, giving loved ones another opportunity to come together.

A riverside wedding in Rishikesh

Set along the Ganges and framed by green mountain slopes, the resort provided a scenic backdrop for the ceremony. The afternoon began with a Ganesh Pooja in the indoor banquet hall, followed by Renessa’s bridal entry at 4 pm. She walked towards an open-air mandap overlooking the river, with the misty hills adding to the setting.

The couple exchanged garlands made of white roses and baby’s breath before proceeding with the pheras. The ceremony incorporated Gujarati marriage traditions, keeping their cultural heritage central to the occasion. As dusk fell, the celebrations concluded with a Ganga Aarti along the riverbank, allowing the couple and their family to offer prayers and seek blessings for their new chapter.

Renessa wore a blush-pink lehenga detailed with pearl, mirror, and zardozi embroidery. She completed the look with wavy hair, a delicate maang tikka, and floral wrist garlands. Rahul wore an embellished ivory sherwani with a matching saafa, finished with a white feather kalgi and a golden-bordered drape.

Gujarati traditions and sacred rituals

The ceremony featured several customs that reflected the couple’s Gujarati heritage. During the Saptapadi, Renessa touched seven decorated betel nuts with her right foot, with each representing one of the seven sacred vows of marriage.

Another distinctive detail was the illustrated silk cloth used during Hastamelap, the ritual in which the couple’s hands are joined. The golden fabric featured illustrations of Radha and Krishna, lotus blossoms, and henna-decorated hands, bringing a devotional element to the ceremony.

The couple also performed Laja Hom, offering puffed rice into the sacred fire with the help of family members. Traditional Gujarati attire, including the red-and-gold Gharchola and Panetar, added to the cultural significance of the occasion.

For Rahul and Renessa, Rishikesh became the setting for a wedding they had not originally planned but could make their own. The riverside ceremony allowed them to begin married life with sacred rituals, family blessings, and the tranquillity of the Ganges around them.

Their Jaipur celebrations, planned for November, will bring back the larger gathering they had initially envisioned, with haldi, mehendi, and festivities among their loved ones. For now, their story is one of adapting to circumstances and finding meaning in an unexpected beginning, with another chapter of celebrations still to come.

Lead image: The White Box

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