In March 2020, just days before the world shut down, college sweethearts Priya Trivedi and Guru Lugani took a trip to New York City. “It’s a city where we’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and many other special moments,” Priya says. “My parents also met in New York, and they are my favorite love story.” Guru proposed in Central Park, near the Bethesda Fountain, after a long, peaceful walk. “It was the perfect spot, nothing extravagant, just the two of us in a quiet corner. It was a moment that felt like it had been long in the making.”
They flew home to San Francisco on a sleepy flight and soon after went straight into lockdown. “We felt incredibly happy and blessed to have shared this special moment and to finally be engaged,” Priya remembers. “Reflecting on it now, we see that we were truly each other’s greatest source of strength to overcome the challenges of the next couple of years.”
But there would certainly be celebrations again. Chief among them: their much-anticipated wedding two-and-a-half years later. “Getting married in Florence, Italy, was always our dream,” Priya says. “Travel has been at the core of our relationship, with countless adventures shared exploring the world together. Florence was a highlight of our first European trip as a couple, back when our relationship was just beginning. The city is filled with cherished memories, and we wanted to share the same feelings and memories with our closest friends and family.”
They decided to keep it intimate, hosting just 24 loved ones for multiple days of events at Il Salviatino. “Every detail and decision regarding our wedding was meticulously planned by the two of us, a true labor of love,” Priya says. “Our goal was to create something profoundly beautiful that felt very natural and resonated perfectly with our personalities.”
Her fashion choices were meticulous, too. “I took time to discover designers and styles that truly resonated with me, prioritizing styles that made me feel confident and comfortable,” Priya says. When she discovered Natasha Dalal, it felt like kismet, and the two worked closely together to create Priya’s dream look. “I aimed for elegance, soft colors, minimalism, and comfort,” Priya says. “I wanted a palette of creamy Champagne colors in a tone-on-tone aesthetic. Natasha made the process remarkably smooth, resulting in a final bridal look that surpassed my expectations and felt so beautiful and unique; I couldn’t have dreamed of more.”
The jewelry brought it all together. Priya wore a custom diamond set with a pop of color in an emerald ring that Guru gifted her for the wedding. “My personal favorites were the bangle set and personalized kaliras,” she says. “Working with Mrinalini Chandra was a delightful experience. Her bespoke kaliras and bangles are truly exquisite, featuring completely customized engraved motifs that tell our love story. I particularly loved the tiny pearly white elephants she added to the bottom of my kaliras, reflecting my love for elephants and adding a unique touch to my bridal look.”
Guru’s look was just as important, and the groom worked with Kunal Rawal to craft a look that reflected his personal style and complemented Priya’s attire. “Once again, we embraced minimalism and elegance as the guiding theme,” Priya says. “His outfit [was finished] with a beautiful soft-toned multicolor pastel silk stole.”
On October 23, 2022, before the ceremony and baraat began, Priya and Guru had an unexpected lunch together, just the two of them. “It was an unplanned but joyful moment,” Priya says. “Being able to share that quiet, reflective time together, contemplating the events to come, was incredibly special. It’s a memory we often revisit as one of the most treasured moments of the day.”
The ceremony that followed blended the couple’s familial traditions with deep emotional moments, all beneath a lush canopy of flowers by I Fiori Di Nadia. “The experience was beyond what I had envisioned—raw and brimming with emotion,” Priya remembers. “I could genuinely see tears in both Guru’s and my eyes as we looked at each other, overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of getting married and witnessing everything we had meticulously planned coming together so beautifully.”
For the reception, Priya changed into a lehnga by Shivan & Naresh. The dinner menu was one of the elements the couple cared most about in wedding planning; it included seven courses of Indian and Italian cuisine. “Each menu for each event was specially crafted with all of our favorite dishes and local delicacies,” Priya explains.
There were no first dances—or dance floor at all—but an abundance of sweet moments. “Given the intimate size of our group, we had heartfelt toasts and everyone was able to share little snippets,” Priya says. “Guru and I also had a moment to toast to each other and share our first few feelings as a married couple. It was an incredibly special moment, and we felt deeply humbled and blessed to be surrounded by such kindness and love.”
The evening came to a pinnacle with dessert. “In Italy, it’s tradition to have a millefoglie cake made from scratch; it’s an interactive experience, with the chef assembling it on-site,” Priya says. “Given our passion for food, Guru and I had the opportunity to participate by adding the finishing touches to the cake before indulging in it with everyone. It was the perfect way to conclude the evening, and now millefoglie holds a special place in our hearts as a beloved treat that we enjoy sharing together.” Guests lingered in the garden long past the official event end time, savoring every moment of love. “It was the best feeling having everyone celebrate with us, and we cherished all the moments of togetherness.”
