Three Couples Share the Vows That Define Their Marriages

Ananya Bhandare and Jahan Tahiliani

Ananya Bhandare, Founder of Jungly Delights

“We got married about three-and-a-half years ago—Jahan was the one who proposed. We had a gathering of 65 people in my parents’ backyard—it was intimate and enjoyable. We were able to enjoy to the fullest…laughing, dancing, and really living in the moment!

We didn’t write any vows, but we made promises to each other. Some communicated, some unspoken. My top advice would be to trust your instincts and lead with your heart. After all these years in, I have been able to fulfil many of my vows. One of them has always been to be there for each other. There will be ups and downs in a marriage, but I am most proud of the fact that we’ve stuck by each other through it all.

What makes a marriage special isn’t the grand gestures, but the little moments from every day. The mornings together, reading the newspaper, and having breakfast. And the evenings, unwinding and catching up on each other’s day. It’s these seemingly mundane moments that add up and matter the most.”

Jahan Tahiliani, Founder of Tahiliani Homes

“When it comes to vows, I’d say always let the other person know how special they are to you. Also, you have to nurture this bond and never take it for granted. The one vow I am most proud of having lived up to is being supportive in everything that Ananya does. I want to enable her and make her feel confident in whatever she wants to do. She is amazing at everything she sets out to do—sometimes you just need one person to believe in you, and that goes a long way. I always ensure I encourage and cheer her on.

If I could add something to the promises I made to her, I’d just remind us to enjoy every day—it is a gift! Time is flying, we have already been together for more than six years and married for more than three. Yet, it feels like just yesterday when we went on our first date. We are really lucky to meet soulmates—and to have that special relationship with someone is something to be celebrated every single day.

The Vows

Jahan: "I vow to love you without condition, to laugh with you in moments of joy, and to lift you up in times of sorrow. I promise to support your dreams, even the wild ones, and to walk beside you through every season of life. I will be your partner, your teammate, and your home. I’ll celebrate your victories and help carry your burdens. I promise to listen with compassion, speak with honesty, and love with all my heart—for all my days. This is my promise to you: now, always, and forever.”

Ananya: “I promise to be by Jahan’s side no matter what. To love him through thick and thin. And that even if we may disagree on something, I promise that we'll always be on the same team. And to never take each other too seriously; to always be playful with each other.”

Surbhi Gupta and Gaurav Jai Gupta

Surbhi Gupta, Founder of [Label] Surbhi Gupta

“It was Gaurav who took the first step and proposed marriage. We entered our marriage with traditional Hindu marriage vows— promising a lifetime of shared duty, prosperity, love, and mutual respect—and we completed four years in July this year.

I truly believe these ancient promises are deeply binding, and, to date, we turn to them to guide us through our journey together. What I am most proud of is how seamlessly we’ve managed to be together, 24/7, from work to home. We had promised to be friends first, and over the years, Gaurav has become more of a companion and confidant than just my husband. This dynamic, built on a foundation of genuine friendship and trust, has been our key to happiness.

To anyone writing their vows, I’d say make promises with honesty and commitment—and be ready to give them your best, wholeheartedly.”

Gaurav Jai Gupta, Founder of Akaaro

“The pheras—the traditional Hindu vows we took—are, without a doubt, the most special part of our wedding for me. They were beautiful—and truly encompass everything important in a marriage. That moment, when we were making those commitments, felt profoundly significant.

We didn’t write any vows—we wanted to focus on the traditional Hindu vows. Our dos and don’ts revolved more around the broader principles of a successful marriage: shared responsibilities, mutual respect, lifelong companionship, and a bond of love and loyalty. I think we have managed to understand the essence of those vows and follow them. We genuinely embody all those principles in our daily lives.

While I wouldn’t add or change the traditional vows, as they were so comprehensive—and beautifully summed up the commitment we made to each other—if I were to articulate something more personal, it would be a vow to continuously nurture our friendship. Beyond love, our friendship is the cornerstone of our relationship.”

The Vows

Gaurav: "I promise I will provide happiness to you, nourish you, and take care of all your necessities. I promise to support you in all ups and downs that life puts us through, and to protect our house, family, and children. Thank you for making my life full of happiness. I wish us this happiness for a lifetime, and I hope you will be there for me, too. I promise I am yours and you’re mine for eternity. I promise we will both be a single entity, and I will be faithful and devoted to you.”

Surbhi: “I promise I will be a source of strength and support to you. I promise we will always be companions and friends. I promise ours will be a bond of love and loyalty, forever.”

Vidhi Gupta And Raghav Bajoria

Vidhi Gupta, Co-Founder of Zariin

“It’s been 10 years since we walked down the aisle. The first one to mention marriage (not quite propose!) was Raghav. I never got a classic down-on-one-knee proposal—no story for the books—but we made sure our marriage became one.

I always knew I wanted to write my vows. Not for him, but for me. I wanted something to remind myself, especially on the harder days, of why this mattered, why this man was worth choosing over and over again. It was like writing a guidebook to our marriage—something heartfelt and real.

When you’re working on your vows, remember, this is your relationship. What works for others might not work for you. And make promises that give your relationship room to grow. The one vow I am happy to have fulfilled is to not take each other for granted. We’ve created a marriage we are truly proud of. I think we value each other even more than we did when we first got together. That’s a big one for me.”

Raghav Bajoria, Founder of Vark Food

“I still remember the moment when Vidhi walked up to the podium, just before the varmala ceremony—with two of our favourite songs playing in the background, Kuch Toh Hai Tujhse Raabta and Aaoge Jab Tum O Saajna. It will always be the most special part of the wedding for me. It’s been 10 years, and somehow, it feels like both a blink and a lifetime.

The only thought going through my mind when I was writing my vows was: how do I promise something that actually has meaning and is not just words that are said once and then forgotten? I wanted to be honest, not overly poetic. I’d say don’t borrow too many lines from the Internet—they might sound nice, but they won’t sound like you. Also, talk about the everyday things and how you’ll show up even on tough days. Most importantly, don’t worry about sounding ‘perfect’. This is love, not a speech competition!”

The Vows

Raghav: "I vow to love you mostest—always and forever. I vow to share my mind, thoughts, feelings, troubles, joy, struggles, victories, misfortunes and fortune with you. I vow to be absolutely honest, committed, dedicated and loyal to you, always. You are and will always be my one and only.

I promise to support and stand by your side always, but will correct you if required. I vow to encourage and support your work. I love your passion and commitment towards Zariin. Seeing you achieve one milestone after another makes me very happy.”

Vidhi: “I promise to be your best friend, to make you mine. I promise to respect, admire and appreciate you for the person you are and for the person you wish to become. I promise not to let our relationship fall into a rut. I promise to be your 'haven'. I promise to never keep score but rather do more.”