Nakul and Niharika have shared many mutual connections over the years, since both their roots stem from Chikmagalur. Despite having common friends and mutual family connections, Nakul and Niharika's paths only crossed in 2022; and like they say, the rest is history. This is the engagement story of Nakul and Niharika; an event that was planned across continents and time-zones.

Nakul had decided to move back to India in 2022 and Niharika just happened to be visiting India in July 2022; that is when these two decided to meet for a catch-up session in Bangalore. What began as a casual first meeting quickly turned into a second date within a week. “The second date was a marathon of conversations spanning over seven hours. Despite realizing that we have very different personalities, one common thread was our love for San Francisco. We also bonded over our shared experiences of living in the Bay Area, California, which we both loved,” recalled Nakul.

“For me, realising that Nakul was 'the one' did not happen in a single moment, it happened over a variety of moments. From our very first conversation which flowed effortlessly to the way he makes me smile, from the way he genuinely shows care and concern to all his small heartfelt gestures, each and every moment made me realize that this is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with,” shared Niharika. She added, “Nakul is patient, calm and very intentional with his words which is essentially the opposite of my impulsive, expressive and talkative nature. I think it took one of those quiet moments for me to realise that Nakul is the calm to my chaos and that he always has my back!”

Of course, this brings us to the moment when Nakul decided to pop the question. “There was no elaborate proposal. On the 12th of February 2023, Nakul called me up and said let’s get married. This was not even followed up with a question! I teased him about it for months. Then, eventually, once I moved to India, he asked me for my hand in marriage; in calm and composed Nakul style, he asked me if I would marry him, in the car, while driving me back home after one of our dates. Of course, I said yes!”

It was now time for the couple to start the process of planning the engagement! Our bride-to-be Niharika was trying to find the balance between a full-time job and planning the engagement in India across different time zones while sitting in California, which was hectic indeed. “I would have calls with vendors from 10 pm to 4 am every night, and then I would wake up early for work. I literally felt like a self-appointed event planner who had mapped out every aspect of our engagement to make sure nothing was overlooked. I spent countless hours on Instagram and Pinterest looking for inspiration, going through endless feeds and mood boards to come up with unique ideas. Well, all I can say is that the late nights and early mornings certainly paid off when I saw everything come together beautifully,” shared Niharika.

Nakul and Niharika chose Tamarind Tree in Bangalore as the venue, which is a really beautiful and picturesque location. The evening started off with a couple’s portrait photoshoot where Nakul and Niharika were dressed in traditional attire. Niharika wore a beautiful orange and pink Kanchi saree while Nakul wore an ice-blue Sherwani. The venue had a beautiful pond which acted as the perfect backdrop for Nakul and Niharika’s engagement.

The couple decided to honour their traditional roots with a ring exchange ceremony followed by the Gowda rituals where five aunts from each side of the family bless the bride on stage. “Our engagement was a whirlwind of love, laughter, excitement and unforgettable moments! After the engagement ceremony, we moved to our cocktail dinner which was at a separate location at the Tamarind Tree itself,” said Niharika.

First, the couple opted for a quick outfit change, of course. Niharika adorned a beautiful mauve lehenga while Nakul looked as handsome as ever in an emerald green and black velvet tux. The atmosphere and vibe at the cocktail was totally different from the previous location. The place was adorned with lanterns and lights, creating an ambience of happiness and warmth. This was followed by another photo shoot at the new location, making the entire evening just perfect! “For me, the most special part of the night was when we exchanged our rings since that moment officially marks the beginning of our journey together,” added Niharika.

We, at Lightbucket Productions, were so happy to be a part of this wedding and to get to know this lovely couple, Nakul and Niharika. We got a message from Niharika after the engagement which filled our hearts with so much happiness. She said, “I have been following Lightbucket Productions on Instagram for many years now, so when it came down to choosing an engagement photographer it was really a no-brainer. Lightbucket Production’s style aligns perfectly with my vision; they keep things simple and candid while capturing all those precious moments and tiny expressions. Working with Manasa was absolutely great, she felt more like a friend than a vendor. She was able to grasp our vision effortlessly and made the whole process really smooth and easy for us. Also, knowing just how highly recommended Lightbucket Productions was by couples who have hired them in the past only reinforced our decision. A big thank you to the entire team that covered our engagement! Karthik and Suman, you were amazing. Thank you for capturing our special moments beautifully and for making us feel so comfortable every step of the way.”

Vendors

Venue: Tamarind Tree

Bride’s outfits:

Engagement –Kanchi saree from Avani Designs

Cocktail – Lehenga from Avani Designs

Groom’s outfits:

Engagement: Sherwani from Javed’s

Hair and MUA: Anchal Balraj

Food: Halli Mane by Niranjan