Heirloom gold to rain-kissed vows, Kinjal and Herit’s Bumble to Balbiano wedding was pure magic

Some weddings feel like destiny written in the stars—Kinjal Patel and Herit Vachhani’s celebration at Villa Balbiano, Lake Como, was one of them. On June 3, 2025, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony surrounded by just nine guests, under the dusky Italian sky, with the majestic lake and mountains as witnesses.

But what made this wedding truly special was that Patel planned it entirely herself—from decor to vendors—pouring her heart into every detail to create an event that reflected their love story.

A match made by chance, and perfect timing

Patel and Vachhani's journey began on Bumble, thanks to a moment of serendipity. While visiting his sister in Philadelphia, Vachhani appeared in Patel's 99-mile dating radius for just a day—right before she reset it back to 25 miles. Within that brief window, they matched. Their first date was all about pizza and gelato, and soon after, a planned New York outing sealed their connection.

What followed was nearly three years of long-distance love between Enola, Pennsylvania and Paramus, New Jersey—sustained through calls, weekend trips, and vacations across the US and Europe.

The wedding of her dreams

For Patel, Villa Balbiano wasn’t just a venue—it was a dream. She first visited it in 2021 on a family trip to Lake Como, where her mother had joked, “You’ll get married here one day.” Five years later, that prediction came true.

Vachhani had also promised her during one of their first international trips together that he’d marry her in Como someday. “It felt like our story had come full circle,” Patel says.

Rain, blessings, and a moment to remember

On the wedding day, as Vachhani arrived at the mandap, it unexpectedly began drizzling. When Patel walked down the aisle, the rain intensified, but instead of worrying, she embraced the moment. “I felt an incredible sense of peace,” she recalls. And just as the varmala ceremony ended, the rain stopped and the sun peeked through—a poetic sign of blessings and calm.

The bride who planned it all

Patel decided to take full creative control and plan her own wedding after four planners turned down the idea of hosting a Villa Balbiano celebration. Unfazed, she contacted the villa directly—and they said yes. “I wanted to make it personal, not transactional,” she says. Her efforts paid off—every element, from decor to flow of events, reflected her and Vachhani's personalities.

Rejecting the usual white-and-pastel palette, Patel chose bold, exotic florals that complemented the lake’s natural beauty. “I wanted it to look like a painting—vibrant, joyful, and full of life,” she says. The colours popped against the historic villa’s grand architecture, creating an unforgettable visual story.

Timeless fashion and heirloom gold

For the vows, Patel wore an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla corset saree, while Vachhani looked dapper in a Reiss London suit. The wedding and reception saw her in Tarun Tahiliani ensembles, styled with timeless grace. She worked closely with Rohan at Tarun Tahiliani’s Mumbai atelier to choose her Rani pink saree, the same hue her mother wore at her wedding.

But the most sentimental detail? The 22k gold patli bangles that belonged to Patel's great-grandmother. Passed down through generations—from her grandmother to her mother, and now to her—these heirlooms symbolised continuity, blessings, and the strength of generations of women before her.

In January 2025, Patel travelled across India to design jewellery for each look—working with Vinay Gupta of Shri Paramani Jewels for her wedding set and Shobha Shringar for her reception. “Each piece tells a story,” she shares, “And one day, I hope to pass them down too.”

From their chance Bumble match to a rain-kissed wedding in Lake Como, Patel and Vachhani's love story is proof that timing, destiny, and a little courage can create magic that lasts a lifetime.

All images: House On The Clouds

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