Shaadi 2.0: When a Silver Anniversary Becomes a Destination Wedding
By Rema Deo
Growing up in Mumbai, weddings were many things – loud, loving, elaborate – but they were never flown to. After moving to Florida, I was fortunate to attend my first destination wedding. Destination weddings, after all, are extremely popular among young couples these days. But a destination wedding anniversary? The only one I could recall was from the Bollywood film Dil Dhadakne Do, where a couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary by inviting friends and family on a Mediterranean cruise. Other than that, every anniversary celebration I had attended was a party – usually close to home.
That is, until this past December.
Shaadi 2.0 – Same Couple, Renewing the Relationship
And what a celebration it was! This was no ordinary anniversary – It was a grand, traditional renewal of vows (as they would say in the US). It felt so much like a wedding (Shaadi) that Radhika and Krishan fondly referred to it as Shaadi 2.0. For that reason, we’ll happily refer to them as the bride and groom throughout this article.
Destination – the City of Lakes
I had the privilege of attending the 25th wedding anniversary celebrations of my close friends, Radhika Agarwal and Krishan Garg. Though they live near us in South Florida, they chose to celebrate their silver anniversary with a destination event in the beautiful city of Udaipur, India. As Radhika explained, “Our wedding was nothing like today’s marriages in India, so we had an opportunity to do it all over again, and both of us being Marwadis, what better location than Udaipur to have a typical Marwadi-style anniversary, since there are so many heritage/palace hotels there!”
Five Events, Four Outfit Changes, Zero Regret
The events began on Saturday morning with the arrival of guests. Five main events were planned over the weekend, starting Saturday afternoon: Mehndi (henna application), Sangeet (musical night), Haldi (turmeric purification ceremony), and Sajjan Goth (a lavish Rajasthani feast), culminating on Sunday night with a baraat (wedding procession), varmala (garland exchange), and reception. Each event had its own dress code – green for mehndi, bling for sangeet, yellow/blue/pink for haldi and Sajjan Goth, and ivory/red for the baraat and reception. All events were held at Sayaji Resorts and Spa Udaipur, a luxurious five-star resort with stunning views of the Aravalli hills.
As we drove into the resort entrance around 11 a.m. on Saturday, we were greeted by an enthusiastic dhol player and his team – along with the groom himself! The dhol leader narrated humorous verses while photographers and videographers jumped straight into action. So, we entered the lobby dancing to the rhythmic beats of the dhol (barrel-shaped drum). After the formalities of checking-in were completed, we were taken by golf cart to our building. The resort’s multiple heritage-style structures, complete with Rajasthani architectural details, immediately set the tone.
Mehndi Mania (Filled with Dancing and Henna)
The mehndi ceremony officially kicked off the weekend, with the bride and groom making a lively dancing entrance to the beat of the dhol. The emcee kept the energy high with games and audience interaction. Soon after, the bride’s mehndi application began. At the back, there was a team of henna artists whose job was to apply mehndi to any of the guests who desired it – and yes, many of us, myself included, took advantage and got the henna tattoos on our palms. During this time, the games continued, and some of the younger kids also entertained us with adorable dance performances.
It’s All about Family
One of the most striking aspects of the weekend was the involvement and dedication of both families. They were deeply engaged in every detail, supporting the couple at every step. As friends, we felt welcomed and cared for throughout. The level of hospitality was humbling and truly incomparable.
A Gastronomic Journey – Iconic Dishes and Regional Delicacies
No Indian celebration is complete without abundant food, and this one delivered in every sense. Each meal featured an extensive spread of Indian, Continental, and Oriental dishes. The variety was astounding – trying everything was impossible – but everything I tasted was delicious and clearly prepared with care. Krishan and Radhika had personally supervised the menu planning. As Krishan shared, “The hotel chef was extremely accommodating and ready to serve our highly personalized menu.” Their thoughtfulness showed in every detail – from varying spice levels to accommodate different palates, to ensure that gluten-free bread was available at every meal to suit my dietary needs. I was truly grateful.
Dance Practice in the Hotel Hallway
As in any traditional Indian wedding, there were choreographed dance performances by family members and friends. So, of course, all of us who traveled from the US to Udaipur for the anniversary learned a choreographed dance to perform at the sangeet. Planning and practicing were fun, even though we did not practice very much. We enlisted the help of one of our talented friends in Florida, an acclaimed dance teacher, to choreograph a simple routine.
Our children (now all adults), also performed a choreographed dance, which was especially impressive considering that they practiced for just two hours between the mehndi and sangeet on Saturday.
Sangeet Filled with Bling – High Energy, High Decibel
Once the bride and groom made their entrance, the sangeet began with a bang – literally – with light fireworks inside the banquet hall! Only in India! Our kids performed first, followed by our group, and then lively couple dances by some of the family members. The grand finale was when Krishan and Radhika took the stage for their romantic dance number. The sangeet night continued after that with a regional sufi singer entertaining the audience for hours. Sufi music is a devotional, mystical style of singing designed to connect the soul with the divine.
Haldi – Sunshine in Fabric and Flowers
Sunday morning began with breakfast, followed by the haldi ceremony. Before describing the ceremony itself, it’s worth mentioning the stunning décor throughout the weekend. Each event reflected its color theme – green fabrics for mehndi, vibrant florals for sangeet, and for haldi, a breathtaking open-air venue draped in yellow fabric panels and filled with yellow and orange flowers.
While the haldi ceremony traditionally involves turmeric purification, it has evolved into showers of yellow flowers. Before that, the emcee organized games to increase audience participation with Krishan’s team pitted against Radhika’s team to earn the maximum points. More dance performances from multiple family members and friends added to the cheer.
The enthusiastic participation of the couple’s relatives and friends underscored how respected they both were and showed how they have maintained their relationships over the years. Both Radhika and Krishan’s childhood, school and college friends came in full strength to attend, and many of them even practiced and performed group dances. How wonderful it was to see these friendships that have sustained across continents, over decades!
Royal Treatment, Literally
After haldi, lunch was served – but this was no ordinary meal. The Sajjan Goth featured rows of thrones, each guest seated with a table and silver platter. The bride’s family then came around and served us multiple courses of traditional Rajasthani food.
We were not guests. We were royalty.
After that sumptuous feast, there was no way that we could have gotten through the rest of that Sunday without an afternoon siesta. Refreshed, we got ready for the evening’s final celebrations. Before the baraat (wedding procession), male guests were fitted with safas (traditional Rajasthani turbans). Seeing the young men in suits and turbans really made me pleased that my sons were getting to participate in such a traditional wedding ceremony. The emcee and the DJ led the dancing procession through the resort grounds and eventually to the reception venue. The bride and groom exchanged garlands during the varmala amidst spectacular lights and fireworks.
Honoring the Miles Already Traveled
The evening continued with a moving slideshow of photographs from the couple’s life, with guests sharing memories and stories. Many spoke about their relationships with Radhika and Krishan, and the couple responded with heartfelt gratitude. A highlight of the evening was when their daughters Riya and Rashi took to the microphone to express their thoughts for the anniversary and most of all, their gratitude to their parents.
This celebration wasn’t about beginning a journey – It was about honoring the miles already traveled. After taking the customary group photos, we said our goodbyes and retired for the night.
As we continued our travels within India and during and after our return to Florida, we remained in a high after this hectic and thoroughly enjoyable and unforgettable wedding anniversary weekend. If my younger Mumbai self could see me now – flying across the world for a silver anniversary Shaadi – she would probably just ask one question: “What’s the dress code?”
About the Author
Rema Deo is the Managing Director at 24By7Security, a Cybersecurity and Compliance Consulting firm. She lives in South Florida with her husband. A proud mother of twin boys, she is also an active member of the local Indian community.
In addition to the professional responsibilities of her function, Rema enjoys the multi-cultural aspect of the job especially as it involves learning different languages, traveling to different countries and meeting and working with people of different backgrounds and cultures. Rema is actively involved in the South Florida community and serves as a Board Member of the Indian Regional and Cultural Center, and has also served on the Board of Trustees of the North Broward Preparatory School.
