Currently, all we can talk about or think about is this global crisis that’s upon us. News channels are only reporting that social media is filled with jokes on the pandemic and even our daily catch-ups with friends are restricted to that. But even in these terrifying times, we can find a glimmer of hope, if we really try to look.
Meet Pallabi and Francesco, who live in Italy and were all set to get married in India in the Laxmi Niwas, Bikaner on 8th March. They had guests flying in from all over the world and every detail was planned. But the universe had different plans- the pandemic hit hard and these two lovebirds rethought their D-day to a beachside ceremony in Thailand.
They had a fourteen-month engagement period so that they could plan the perfect Indo-Italian wedding- every detail had been mapped out and they were excited for the D-day. However, two weeks before the wedding, the coronavirus cases spiked in Italy and all schools and public places were being shut down. To make it to their wedding the bride and groom flew in a week earlier.
However, as many of their guests were waiting to board the flight and come to India, the government announced that no Italian passport holder would be allowed to enter the country. This meant that Francesco’s parents and brothers would not have been able to be a part of the celebrations.
With heavy hearts, they decided to go through with the wedding because the bride and groom were still there. Pallabi picked out her bridal outfit and did last-minute shopping while her groom waited patiently outside. Soon after, their hotel in Bikaner called saying that the government had given an order that no Italian passport holder would be allowed to check-in which meant there would be no groom.
Finally, they decided to call off the wedding day. Because India was still blocked off to Italians, they couldn’t really stay on here and to take their mind off everything they flew to Thailand for an impromptu holiday. It just so happened that two of their friends who weren’t allowed to board their flight to India flew to Thailand too for a month-long backpacking trip.
As Pallabi and Francesco reached their resort in Thailand, they saw a beach wedding setup and saw it as a sign. They pleaded the hotel staff to let them have a wedding on the beach the very next day. Their two friends, Luca and Livia drove down 10 hours to be with them on their special day. Luca officiated their wedding and Livia walked Pallabi down the aisle.
And just like that, their wedding was magical and beautiful and they got their happily ever after. The bride wore a gorgeous, pastel green, floral Sabyasachi saree for her wedding day which originally wasn’t intended to be for the main function but she wore it anyway. The actual saree which she had picked is still lying in her closet.
A special shoutout to To The Aisle, the original wedding planners, you guys are such troupers. The gorgeous Thailand photographs were clicked by Everti Photography and boy, did they do a fine job.
I guess the universe always has a way of working itself out. When something really has to happen, then all the stars align themselves to work in your favour. We’re showering Pallabi and Francesco with so much love, we hope the rest of your years together are filled with adventure. This truly shows that love conquers all.
