If there was one thing that Vijay was absolutely sure about, it was that he never wanted to date a New York girl. And for Pirtya, given her hectic schedule as a medical practitioner, a long distance relationship topped her list of “don’ts” in life. However, the best things in life are often unplanned, and so was the serendipitous meeting of these two at a party in Canada.

Vijay’s sister was in awe of “this pretty girl” at the party, and set out to play Cupid. Needless to say, she was more than successful at it. It was the beginning of an unexpected love story that defied obstacles, distance and time zones.

Chile based Vijay and New Yorker Pirtya decided to celebrate their international love in Barcelona, Spain, sharing their most special days with family and friends from across the globe – guests flew in from Singapore, Chile, India, Pakistan and USA for a four day extravaganza in the city of Gaudi.

The Pre-Wedding

As we set out location hunting in a city that was full of architectural masterpieces, we knew we had to strike a blend between the couple’s fondness for each other and their love for the city! The old world charm of the Barcelona Cathedral, The Gothic Quarters and the narrow streets of the old city made for the perfect backdrop for their romance, as their electric blue outfits stood out strikingly against the gorgeous golden browns of the iconic alleys.

The Welcome Holi Party

The celebrations kicked off with a fun filled Holi party that added colour to the start of the celebrations. Pirtya and Vijay entered dramatically with smoke bombs, setting off a whirlwind of colours and a riot of giggles. The lawns buzzed with electrifying energy from dance performances by the bride and her friends to an impromptu theatrical shake-a-leg by the uncles. The evening was followed by games of musical chairs and tug of war. This high energy event made for the perfect start to the jubilant festivities that followed over the next three days.

Pirtya’s Mehendi

The following morning, a small, intimate Pooja was followed by a chirpy Mehendi ceremony. Among all the beautiful elements of that day, one stood out in particular – the airplane in her mehendi design. According to Pirtya, this was one of her favourite things at the wedding – true to the international spirit of their New York-Chile connection, it was the perfect representation of their relationship and their hashtag #LoveAtFirstFlight

The Sangeet

The couple had initially narrowed down to two destinations for their wedding – Barcelona and Marrakech. Ironically, this was the same time that Spain and Morocco were competing for the Football World Cup 2018! Jokingly, they decided that they’d get married in the winning country! The match ended in a draw, and the lady got to make her choice - Spain!

At the time of planning their Sangeet, they decided to incorporate a Moroccan theme – intricately adorned Moroccan carpets, a low seating for a lounge vibe, a chandelier lit tent and a camel sculpture – all of this coupled with traditional Moroccan tea served at the entrance, lent an ethnic feel to the evening.

Pirtya looked resplendent in her Nomi Ansari outfit while Vijay donned a Deepak Ansari creation to complement her elegance. His outfit had been custom made by the designer himself, keeping in mind the colours, fabrics and embroidery of Pirtya’s ensemble.

Tel Buki and Wanwas

The big day started off with small ceremonies on each side in the morning. Family and close friends attended the intimate affair and blessed the two with love and luck for the journey of togetherness they were set to embark on.

The Bridal Dress-up

What better way to calm the wedding jitters than to spend a relaxing time with your bridesmaids? Pirtya and her gang of girls had their own little party in her bridal suite as they splashed champagne to celebrate her sparkly new beginnings. Her room brimmed with dashes of exuberant energy, playful giggles and all things happy as she dolled up for her big day.

The Baraat

Vijay opted for an off-white Sabyasachi sherwani, intricately adorned with golden embroidery. He arrived in style in a swanky red Ferrari amidst full pomp and show as an overjoyed group of family and friends danced around him.

The Wedding Ceremony

Pirtya looked like a dream as she walked down the aisle in her ivory white floral lehenga from Sabyasachi Mukherjee. The stage for the nuptial ceremony was set along the poolside in gorgeous summer hues of pinks and ivory. Pirtya was very sure that she wanted an iridescent pastel theme for her summer wedding in Barcelona, complete with dreamy, flowy décor elements. Being a flower person herself, she planned the floral arrangement for her mandap to the T – It had to be orchids for their flowy, loose look, coupled with leaf stems, spray-painted in shades of pink for that perfect fluidity in the setting.

Spanish Soiree

This was one stylish Spanish evening that just couldn’t have been given a miss! Flamenco dancers kick-started the evening with their delicate moves and feet tapping to the sound of a Cajun – accompanied by a guitar and authentic Spanish singing.

The crowd joined in to learn the moves and soon broke into a party to celebrate the coming together of the two newlyweds. With Spanish delicacies like Tapas, Paella, Iberian ham, Churros con chocolate served to the guests, the midnight soiree made for the perfect Spanish experience.

Pirtya donned a stunning red outfit by American designer Sherri Hill while Vijay complemented her in a suave red suit.

The Reception

All the events had been hosted at The Fairmont so the couple was sure that they wanted their Reception at an off-site, far off Spanish castle. The Amore team helped them spot the best location that looked every bit what they wanted – grand, royal and palatial.

Pirtya looked gorgeous in an ivory white Manish Malhotra outfit and Vijay donned a striking creation by Gaurav Gupta. Being the flower baby she was, Pirtya wanted the setting of her reception to be ornamentally candle lit, flowery and very western.

The evening was themed “International Love” – cuisines from all across the globe – complete with Chinese, Mexican, Moroccan, Italian, New York and Chilean Completo stations to name a few – took the guests on a gustatory trip around the world.

Post an evening of congratulatory speeches, performances and dances, the couple raised the toast and cut a giant cake in the balcony of the villa, overlooking magnificent fireworks. The American band “The Temptations” played into the night as people sunk into the climax of the four day roller-coaster of fun, emotions and festivities.