Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur on Why Marital Bliss Does Begin at Home

As Indian weddings grow bigger by the day, Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur took the road less travelled—one that led straight to their living room.

Three months into marriage, things have quietly settled for the couple. The wedding celebrations have been done with, and what remains are moments that feel more personal than performative.

The couple always knew that a big do was not on their list. “We wanted a small, meaningful wedding with just our closest people,” Kritika says. “Something relaxed, at home, where we could actually enjoy the day,” she continues. For them, the focus was clear from the start. “The wedding was never the end goal. Starting our life together was,” she adds.

That thought shaped everything about their much-loved wedding in March. Set inside their Mumbai home, the celebration stayed intimate on purpose. “We wanted it to be private, with people who genuinely matter to us,” Gaurav shares, adding, “Having it at home automatically sets that boundary.”

It wasn’t about scale, but about ease. There were no tight timelines or expectations to meet. Instead, the day unfolded naturally, moving between rooms, conversations, and people who have been part of their journey.

Now, a few months later, what stays with them is not one big highlight and bills to clear but the feeling of it all. Late-night conversations, waking up without an agenda, and the sense that the wedding didn’t need to be anything more than what it was. They got candid with us about it.

Manifest: Intimate weddings often go against the grain in India. What made you both so sure that this was the way you wanted to get married?

Kritika Kamra: We were quite certain from the beginning that we wanted a small, meaningful wedding with just our closest people. We wanted it to feel relaxed, to be at home, and to actually enjoy the day instead of just hosting it. For us, the wedding was never the end goal. Starting our life together was.

Gaurav Kapur: We were very clear that we wanted it to be private and intimate, with people who genuinely matter to us. Having it at home automatically sets that boundary. In a city like Mumbai, that also means you can’t go very big, and that worked perfectly for us.

M: Was there ever a moment where you felt the pressure to scale it up or make it bigger?

KK: Honestly, no. Our families and friends were completely aligned with what we wanted, so there wasn’t any external pressure. We stayed true to our vision by not getting influenced by what we see around us or on social media.

GK: The only pressure came from me. I kept wondering if it was too small, if we should expand it or move to a bigger venue. But Kritika was the grounding force. She kept us anchored to what we had originally envisioned.

M: A terrace wedding is deeply personal, but also logistically challenging. What drew you to that setting?

KK: We’re very lucky to have a terrace that could hold all our people, which in itself is a luxury in Mumbai. It felt instinctive to use it. We signed the papers in the living room and then moved upstairs for the celebration. Because it was our home, people felt completely at ease. They stayed late, they danced, they really settled into the space.

GK: The terrace wasn’t designed for events, so we had to build everything from scratch. Catering, decor, even basic infrastructure. It was challenging, but it allowed us to create something completely our own. That personal touch made the effort worth it.

M: What were some unexpected challenges of planning a wedding in an intimate, unconventional space?

KK: There honestly weren’t too many because everyone stepped in. Our families and friends carried us through it. Tasks were naturally divided. Someone was arranging mithai, someone ensuring the registrar arrived on time. It felt collaborative rather than stressful.

GK: At home, you have to think about everything. Seating, air-conditioning, access, even hand towels. At a venue, those things are taken care of. But doing it yourself makes you more involved, more aware, and ultimately more connected to the experience.

M: Did the intentionality of your relationship reflect in how you approached wedding planning?

KK: Completely. We were both very hands-on. I was involved in everything from decor to the menu. We had a fantastic team, but we wanted every decision to feel like us.

GK: We kept it simple. Too many opinions can complicate things, so it was mostly the two of us. Kritika led the design and aesthetics, and I focused more on logistics. We both trusted each other’s instincts.

M: How did you choose your planners and vendors? What should couples prioritise?

KK: You need people who understand you, not just your brief. When we met our team, there was an immediate alignment in philosophy. Everyone was excited to do something smaller and more meaningful. That made a huge difference.

I would always recommend meeting your entire team, not just individually but together. They should feel like collaborators, not separate units. You need people who prioritise your priorities.

GK: For me, it comes down to trust and instinct. Kritika is more detail-oriented, I tend to go by gut, and that balance helped. We were also lucky to have friends in the industry who guided us towards the right people.

M: What were some personal touches that felt uniquely “you”?

KK: There were so many. I wanted delicate single-flower strings in the decor, and for the second day, we wanted the space to feel like an art gallery. Even the smallest things were personal. The way people moved through the space, the way the party unfolded. Nothing felt overly structured.

Some moments weren’t planned at all. I ended up walking in with my father, and seeing Gaurav tear up completely took me by surprise. That moment shifted everything in the room.

GK: We also renovated parts of the house before the wedding, which made it feel even more personal. Every small detail reflected us in some way.

M: Let’s talk about the menu. How important was food?

KK: Very. We curated everything carefully. We chose a flying buffet because we didn’t want to interrupt the energy of the evening. Food kept coming out fresh and beautifully plated.

We also made sure everyone was taken care of. Sugar-free, keto, different dietary needs; that level of detail was only possible because of the smaller guest list.

GK: Food is probably the most important thing after the couple. It’s what people remember. We spent a lot of time on it, balancing innovation with familiarity. The process of building the menu was something I really enjoyed.

M: Did your approach to wedding fashion change because of the setting?

KK: I always knew I wanted to be comfortable. I wanted to enjoy my wedding, and I really did. On day one, I wore a Chanderi sari from my mother’s label. It meant a lot to me and was incredibly easy to be in. On day two, I wore an archival John Galliano-era Dior gown that we sourced from Los Angeles. It felt like a dream.

Everything worked because my team made sure I could just be present. No constant touch-ups, no discomfort. I could just move, dance, and be.

GK: Both my looks were custom-made, and I felt completely myself in them. I even had a surprise performance planned, so comfort mattered.

M: Did the intimacy make the emotions feel more heightened?

KK: Absolutely. It felt incredibly personal. When I walked out and saw Gaurav getting emotional, it was something I hadn’t expected. That vulnerability changed the atmosphere.

There was so much love in the room. It felt safe, warm, and deeply held.

GK: When you can see every face in front of you, it becomes very real. No one feels disconnected. That intimacy validated everything we had planned.

M: If you could strip weddings down to just three elements, what would you keep?

KK: For me, it’s the people, the food, and leaving space for things to unfold naturally. You can’t plan every moment, and honestly, those unplanned ones are what you remember the most.

GK: Family, friends, and food. And making sure it doesn’t become so big that you stop enjoying it yourself.

Credits

Wedding Planner: Nimittesh Malpekar of Spectrum Entertainment

Decor: Devika Narain of Devika Narain and Company

Photography: Joseph Radhik of Stories by Joseph Radhik

Wedding Film: Sushanth Bhat Films

Catering for Wedding Day: Sage & Saffron

Venue and Catering of “Party After”: IF.BE

Outfits

Wedding Day

Kritika’s outfit: Cinnabar

Kritika’s jewellery: The House of Rambhajos

Makeup: Mahima Motwani

Hair: Arvind Kumar

Styling: Devki Bhatt

Gaurav’s Outfit: Raghavendra Rathore

Hair: Rohan S

Party

Kritika’s outfit: Archival Dior by John Galliano 2004

Jewellery: Kamyen Jewellery

Shoes: Rene Caovilla

Styling: Devki Bhatt

Makeup: Mahima Motwani

Hair: Swapnil Kashid

Gaurav’s outfit: Osman Abdul Razak

Hair: Rohan S