From Pinterest to Phuket: How a Minimalist Bride’s Dream Wedding Came to Life
A tale of vows, seaside revelry, and natural diamonds that moved beyond brilliance to eternalise Shaleen Khergamwala’s wedding story.
They say every great love story leaves you in awe, but some are written with the kind of serendipity that also makes you believe in fate. Shaleen Chhapkhanawala’s forever began in Norway where her now-husband, Rishad Khergamwala, a real-estate developer, orchestrated a proposal straight out of a dream. The moment? Perfect. The ring? A stunning 2.2-carat cushion-cut natural diamond solitaire designed by Renu Oberoi that would become Shaleen’s priceless keepsake.
But let’s rewind a bit, to where it all began. Shaleen and Rishad’s families had been acquainted for years, but it wasn’t until a family event in Phuket that their paths crossed with a purpose. “We hit it off really well as friends,” she shares, describing a connection that unfolded slowly but meaningfully over the years. “Whenever we’d be in the same town, we’d meet for hours. Over time, we realised we had something real,” she says. And by 2023, they were ready to embark on forever.
When You Know, You Know
It wasn’t a single moment but a culmination of experiences that confirmed to Shaleen that Rishad was ‘the one’. “If you meet Rishad, you’ll understand—he’s just the nicest person,” she says. “He takes care of me like it’s his job and treats everyone around him with such kindness and respect. I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t adore him.” Her certainty was so strong that even in 2018, during a pivotal moment in her life, she sent a text to her best friend stating: “I just know Rishad is the one for me.” By the time he proposed, it wasn’t a question of if—it was a matter of when.
The Pinterest Prelude: Crafting the Dream Wedding
Like every bride-to-be, Shaleen had spent countless hours curating a digital scrapbook. “I’ve always been someone who collects thoughts, emotions, and inspiration from places and moments,” she shares, recounting what her wedding mood board entailed. It was less a rigid checklist and more a visual diary, capturing the essence of what she envisioned for her big day. There was an undeniable vintage allure, paired with soft tones that spoke to her love for the understated. “It was a mix of subtle glamour and modern romance,” she explains.
“I always knew I wanted a beach wedding,” Shaleen shared, her eyes lighting up. “But it had to be more than just a picturesque location; it needed to hold meaning for us.” Phuket, with its crystal-clear waters and serene sands, was the obvious choice. It wasn’t just a place; it was a repository of shared memories and one of their favorite destinations as a couple. But Shaleen didn’t want a typical beachfront affair. She dreamed of a minimalist, fun-fuelled celebration where every detail, no matter how small, felt intentional and personal. “I always knew I wanted something minimal. Something that was elegant, but still had a sense of ease. The idea of a beachside wedding in Phuket felt like it was meant to be—it’s where we’d had some of our best memories together.”
At the core of it all was to have natural beauty coming through—whether in the destination, the diamonds, or the décor. The idea was to have a wedding that was elegant, but not extravagant, something grounded in meaning, but with a contemporary twist. The aesthetic was carefully thought out—from ethereal oceanic elements to timeless whites, and, of course, her carefully curated diamond trousseau. “I wanted to be surrounded by pieces that had meaning. I chose natural diamonds because I love how they symbolise something eternal, something real.” And while some brides prefer going all out on their jewellery, Shaleen wanted to go for pieces that would hold significance. “It was a non-negotiable for my jewellery to not be just an accessory, but a part of my story. And this was possible only through natural diamonds,” she shares.
The Wedding Wardrobe
When it came to the wedding wardrobe, Shaleen wanted every detail to resonate with her unique vision—no element too over the top, but everything impeccably in sync, crafted by people closest to her. “I wanted my trousseau to be a reflection of my personality—classic, with a little edge,” she says. “I even made bikinis for my bridesmaids from my brand, Flawed by Shaleen. Each outfit held a special story.” This balance between weaving together the story with the sparkle became a defining aspect of her bridal look, brought to life in all glory with her natural diamond jewellery.
Her journey of selecting the perfect diamond pieces was one of thoughtfulness and intent. Shaleen worked closely with a jewellery designer to handpick pieces that were not only exquisite, but also resonated with her aesthetic. “Diamonds have this rare quality; they’re classic, but can still be personalised to suit your unique style. For me, it was important to find pieces that felt like me and not something that could be worn by anyone.”
From Vision Board to Phuket Shores
The big day arrived, and what once lived as a collection of images and ideas on a Pinterest board came alive beautifully in the beach setting, with its soft sands and the vast ocean in the background. It was the kind of wedding that felt like a dream you never want to wake up from, where every detail was carefully chosen, and every moment captured in its purest form.
Shaleen’s wedding wasn’t just a ceremony—it was a full-fledged soirée that included a party to remember. First day was a picture-perfect event that saw Shaleen and Rishad exchange vows with the ocean as their witness, and day 2? A beachside affair where the Swiss band, Knights Club, had everyone on their feet, guests indulged in seaside activities, and the celebrations spilled over into a high-energy after-party. Think sun, sea, and endless revelry—a wedding that doubled up as a holiday for everyone. “We didn’t want the wedding to feel rushed or overly formal. It was all about taking it slow, enjoying every moment with our closest friends and family, and curating a celebration that was distinctively us.”
Coming to Shaleen’s natural diamond trousseau, the earrings, delicate yet striking, were a nod to her love of understated elegance. But it was her transformative necklace-turned-bracelet that truly stole the show—a testament to both elegance and versatility. “It’s a necklace that seamlessly transforms into a bracelet, and that duality is something I absolutely love,” Shaleen shares. For her Parsi wedding in Bombay, the piece adorned her neck. Later, for the vow ceremony in Phuket, it reappeared as a delicate bracelet, complementing her custom white gown beautifully. “It’s not just about the brilliance of the natural diamonds,” she reflects. “It’s about having a piece of my wedding day that I can carry with me always.”
As the wedding came to a close, the bride slipped into her after-party outfit, designed exclusively for her by Zara Umrigar. What continued to gleam were the natural diamonds she wore, not just as a symbol of her commitment, but as a beautiful reminder of how diamonds can be both timeless and uniquely yours.
In the end, Shaleen and Rishad’s story is a reminder that soulmates do exist, and sometimes, all you have to do is leave it up to fate and let the universe define the right time for you. And as for the future? “Diamonds are eternal, and that’s how I see our relationship,” she concludes with a smile.
