Khushaly Chauhan had known since she was a little girl that she wanted a beach wedding. She just wasn't sure where or with whom. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, the last place she thought her wedding would take place was on the pearly white, sandy beaches of Diani in Kenya.
However, in September 2023, her childhood dream became a reality when she married the love of her life in front of God, her family, and with the Indian Ocean waters as a witness.
“My parents are from Kenya but moved to the UK before I was born. I have lived here all my life. I also met my husband here. Interestingly, my wedding was the first time I had ever been to Kenya,” says Khushaly.
Her fairy-tale love story began in 2014 when she met her future husband at a wedding. They became good friends first, and as time went by, their friendship blossomed into something more. They officially started dating in 2016.
Khyati Rana, a makeup artist in Nairobi. She is also the founder of Kits Bridal Online Makeup and Hair Academy in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Pool | Nation
“It was so romantic of him to propose in Dubai, which is such a magical place. Both our families were very happy with the news,” she says.
Unlike many brides, Khushaly started hunting for a destination wedding venue. She had already made up her mind that her big day would happen outside the UK.
“It has always been a dream of mine to have a beach wedding. After he proposed, the idea of getting married abroad, and specifically in Kenya, became very strong. Perhaps it is because my family is familiar with the country, or maybe it is because I've never been there before,” she explains.
Planning a wedding in the same country is not easy. Now imagine planning a three-day wedding celebration while thousands of miles away.
“We looked at different hotels and settled on the Southern Palms Beach Resort. It appealed to me because most of our relatives are elderly, so I was looking for somewhere with flat ground and minimal walking. A friend recommended a local travel agency to me, and they took care of everything involving travel and accommodation for us,” she says.
The next thing she knew she had to have was a wedding planner. Since she was in the UK, she needed someone on the ground who understood what would be required.
“Wedding planners in the UK charge upwards of Sh2.6 million (£15,000). In terms of gifts for the guests, I had personalised welcome bags that had an assortment of gifts, including a magazine detailing everything about the three-day wedding celebrations. This was necessary because some of the guests were not Indian and needed more information about the festivities.”
Khushaly also prepared customised hangover kits, which contained a special hangover cure made by the couple and some aspirin for headaches, which her guests found in their hotel rooms. The travel agency offered them a good deal on flights and accommodation.
Guests were expected to pay 80 per cent of the total cost of attending the wedding in Diani, including flights and accommodation. The couple catered for the remaining 20 per cent for all their guests.
Khyati Rana, a bridal makeup and hair artist.
Photo credit: Pool | Nation
The total guest list for the wedding was 150 people. 10 were from Kenya, two from Dubai and two from Atlanta, while the rest flew in from the UK.
"Believe it or not, we didn't need to do much convincing to get people to attend our wedding, even considering the cost implications. It is at times like these that you realise how much people love you. I still remember my first confirmed guest, who paid for his ticket and hotel on Christmas Day — it was so special to me. More people followed. This made my husband and me want to go the extra mile to make sure they enjoyed the day,” she says.
On average, each guest travelling from abroad paid Sh210,000 (£1,200) to attend the wedding.
Nature's unpredictable charm
Khushaly says that having nature as the backdrop to a wedding enriched the ambience and the mood of the event.
“I got married in September. I was afraid it might rain or get too windy. In fact, the structure on the main stage collapsed. We had to say our vows without it, but it was still beautiful. The sun was shining and it was very hot. I felt like I was burning. I guess that's why the priest did things in a rush," she says, chuckling.
“I have no regrets about getting married in Diani. I encourage others to get married there. All my guests enjoyed themselves even though it was their first visit to Kenya.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially if you’re not familiar with your chosen destination. It is easy to hold back because nobody wants to look foolish, but don't be afraid to ask questions or to think outside the box.”
For Ushma Pattni and her husband, Karan Virji, their garden wedding in Arusha, Tanzania, was everything they had dreamed of.
Khyati Rana, a makeup artist in Nairobi applies bridal make-up on a client. She is also the founder of Kits Bridal Online Makeup and Hair Academy in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Pool | Nation
Ushma and Karan had been childhood friends. However, it was years before they started dating.
“I think I was the first to say ‘I love you’. When I was younger, I had a crush on him, and the fact that our families are friends and we would all go on holiday together made everything even more special for us,” says Ushma.
The couple got married on May 10 this year. Unlike other couples who would have wanted a honeymoon in Zanzibar, they wanted to get married there. “I wanted a wedding in Zanzibar, but after much consideration, we decided it would be better to have a garden wedding in Arusha, as most of our elderly relatives live there and we wanted them to attend the celebrations,” she says.
It took them eight months to plan the wedding of her dreams, which cost Sh2m (TSh40m). The Holy Family Garden in Njiro, Arusha, provided the best natural backdrop.
“I didn’t use a wedding planner. I’m grateful to my family for helping with all the wedding preparations, including getting the best deals for people coming in from abroad with a travel agency, as well as hotel accommodation,” she says.
“I love nature. We didn't put anything behind the wedding stage, we wanted it bare. I also held a garden-themed party and it was magical. It was a dream come true,” says Ushma.
A destination wedding on the beach, in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, or in the Masaai Mara or Serengeti might appeal to any couple. But how practical is it, especially when the venue is susceptible to natural elements that are difficult to control, unlike a ballroom where the weather and temperature can be easily managed?
Behind the scenes, this beautiful masterpiece was shot in the Maasai Mara. Brushes, beauty and a touch of the wild bring glamour to nature's runway.
Photo credit: Pool | Nation
Strong winds can be disastrous at a beach wedding, and the hot sun in the Sahara Desert in Morocco can also be problematic. The number one worry for most brides is how to maintain a flawless look, with their makeup, throughout the day.
"I've seen many foreigners choose to have their weddings here in Kenya. People from the US and the UK come here because they want to get married in Diani or Amboseli, with the mountains or Kilimanjaro in the background. I have also learned what makeup best suits a bride in such a setting,” says Khyati.
She says that makeup products have been enhanced to meet this need. For instance, airbrush make-up, which is silicone-based, is sprayed onto the face. Other silicone-based products, such as waterproof foundations, allow a bride's make-up to remain intact for 16 hours, even in humid conditions such as in Diani.
In areas where it is not humid, high-definition make-up is used, which guarantees eight to 12 hours of flawlessness.
"I personally like to do a trial with the bride before the wedding day, asking her to leave the make-up on all day to see how her skin reacts to it, because every skin is different.
"I have done a lot of destination weddings, and my favourite was in Morocco in 2019. The bride is originally from Zimbabwe, but moved to America, where she met her fiancé. She came across my page somehow and got in touch with me. We held several Zoom meetings and drew up contracts.
The couple pay for her flights and accommodation, and sign a contract requiring a deposit to be made via bank transfer before she travels.
“When I arrived in Morocco, I was surprised by how cold it was in January. We started with the welcome party, which was my first opportunity to meet the bride, and we hadn't done any makeup trials. We had to take it slow because I wanted to understand her skin type first. Everything went well, and my favourite part was the dance party in the Sahara Desert in Marrakech,” she says.
Since then, she has travelled to different parts of the world as a bridal makeup artist, including the USA, the UK, Dubai and Zanzibar.
Most brides opt for minimalist makeup, which is currently on trend. This has also been adopted in wedding décor, with fewer embellishments used to create a more natural look. Khyati also uses different techniques when applying make-up to darker and lighter skin tones.
"The contouring technique I use for fairer skin is different to the one I use for darker skin. For eye makeup, I start with the fairer skin and finish with the darker skin. Everything is reversed. Don't get me wrong — skin is skin — but when it comes to makeup, it is not just about applying foundation, it is about enhancing the features.
"Then there's oxidation. This is when the foundation mixes with the skin's oxygen and changes colour and becomes either brighter or darker. Because of this, I recommend using brands that do not oxidise. This means the colour you choose will remain the same, even after contact with your skin.
She emphasises the importance of a good skincare routine, as this will allow you to show off your skin rather than your makeup.
