Wedding
autical nuptuals When COVID changed their plans, this couple didn’t let that get in the way of having a memorable wedding. STORY COMPILED BY CHARIS PATIRES PHOTOS BY JESSICA LAUREN PHOTOGRAPHY
Rishi and Rima Gandhi had planned on getting married in Chicago with a traditional ceremony among 300 guests. Due to COVID they were forced to downsize but didn’t want to postpone their wedding. They decided to move it to their “happy place” and exchanged vows at Lake of the Ozarks. On July 4, 2020, in front of immediate family, the couple held a ceremony onboard their tritoon at the exact same spot where Rishi proposed. “This is where we got engaged and spent a lot of weekends during the summer. It is special to us,” Rima said. The couple met in 2015 at Ballpark Village in St. Louis after meeting up with mutual friends. Rishi proposed on October 13, 2018 while out on the family’s boat at Lake of the Ozarks. “The crazy thing about our wedding was because of the pandemic, our families came together to help with all the details,” Rima said. “These were all special touches to our big day.” Rima’s mother-in-law built a floral back-drop for the boat that included the colors that were going to be a part of their original wedding (lavender and ivory/champagne). Rima’s sister did her hair and makeup, and her sister-in-law made the cake. “We are perfect for each other because we balance on another out! We motivate and support each other and have the same values as well,” Rima says. Both their sisters performed the ceremony, while Rima’s sister was the officiant. “The most memorable part of the day was the actual ceremony itself,” Rima said. “The ceremony was short and sweet but full of emotions!”
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LAKE LIFESTYLES // JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
