As you have gathered from the previous articles, you know that one of our own Ankita is getting married. I thought that it would be great to publish this article on her wedding day. Yes, today’s her wedding. We planned to throw her a bridal shower just like we did for Mahesh and this article is going to cover what all we did to make it happen and how we pulled it off together.
The Big Reveal
One day, while chatting with Ankita about work, she casually mentioned that her wedding was fixed. I couldn’t believe it because she hadn’t given any hints before. Initially, I was a bit mad at her for not telling me earlier, but then I decided to turn it into an opportunity for some fun revenge by planning an unforgettable bridal shower for her.
When she shared that the wedding was scheduled for January, just like Mahesh’s, an idea struck me. I thought it would be even more special if we could arrange both a bridal shower for Ankita and a groom shower for Mahesh in person during our annual retreat. Excited about the plan, I quickly informed Ram, and he immediately said ‘yes’. So the planning began.
Ankita’s Bridal Shower Plan
Soon, we put together a detailed plan, outlining responsibilities for each team member and scheduling events. We had at least around 1.5 months before the retreat, to organize everything seamlessly. The plan included specific details like who would handle the Haldi and Mehandi ceremonies, a dance performance, best man/woman’s speeches, fun games, and more. We even decided to involve the fiances by asking them compatibility questions and planning a game during the retreat. The planning process went smoothly for a couple of weeks.
Plans Falling Apart
During another work conversation, Ankita mentioned that she wouldn’t be able to attend the annual retreat due to personal reasons. This changes things. So we had to change our initial plan for an in-person bridal shower. Despite our efforts to persuade her to join, luck wasn’t on our side, and we had to quickly pivot to the idea of turning the bridal shower into a virtual event. At that point, I had no clue how to execute it. Fortunately, Kumar provided me with Ankita’s emergency contact number, that helped us turn things around.
Ladys’ in shining armor
I dialed the number Kumar shared, and a voice so similar to Ankita’s, answered. For a moment, I thought I had dialed Ankita herself by mistake. However, the voice on the other end identified itself as Arpita, Ankita’s sister. I explained to her the yCrash team’s intention to throw a bridal shower for her sister and sought her help. Without hesitation, she said, ‘I’m in.’ Her words were like magic, making my job easier. I provided her with instructions on our plans, including ordering decorations through Amazon to Ankita’s home (keeping it a mystery), and deciding on a cake design. Ankita’s mother would receive the package and maintain it a secret and Arpita would order the cake that we had finalized. Then it was all the matter of fixing the date. After considering various factors, we settled on a date at the end of December. We then shared invites with the team, teasing a big surprise for Ankita, which you’ll read about in the upcoming sections.
Twists – Unexpected Challenges
Once the date was finalized, everything appeared to fall into place for the virtual bridal shower scheduled on December 27, 2023, at 9:15 AM via Zoom. We had previously done this type of virtual celebrations for Prithi & Vishnupriya before. The plan was for everyone to join the call during the morning status meeting, including Ankita. While Ankita was in the meeting, Arpita would decorate the next room and set up the cake. To add a personal touch, we invited Ankita’s fiancé, Himansu, to join the call just like we did for Mahesh (during his groom shower at Udaipur). However, an unforeseen train delay disrupted our plans. Arpita couldn’t make it on time to arrange everything, so we had to postpone it by one day.
The Awaited Moment
As the planned time approached, Arpita updated me that the cake delivery would be delayed until 9:30 AM. I promptly informed the team about the slight delay. Just five minutes before the scheduled time, another update arrived, indicating that the cake wouldn’t arrive until 10 AM. However, we decided not to wait any longer. I quickly informed Ram, assumed control of the call, and had Himansu join. Then I called out to Ankita and said that there was someone at the door. She noticed Himansu on the call, realizing that this was a surprise party for her and her surprise was quite evident.
But the biggest revelation awaited. Without the cake, we had the special guest, Himansu, deliver a heartfelt message to his soon-to-be bride. His words spoke volumes about their relationship, leaving a lasting impression. Then as a team we all sang the heartfelt ‘Congratulations Song’ for the couple, extending warm wishes.
Look at how Himansu talks about Ankita:
If I am to briefly tell about our relationship, I was not very sure about marriage. And she had also still, But then I met her. Then after a couple of days, I was sure that it was her only.
She is the light of my life. She is very supportive and she’s there for me whatever ups and downs.
Surprise, Surprise!
With the Mehandi ceremony planned offline and the cake cutting taken offline due to delays, we all exited the virtual call. Later, I checked in with Arpita for an update on the cake. To our delight, Arpita had taken the surprise to the next level. She surprised us by having Himansu go to the shop, pick up the cake, and bring it home. This unexpected twist not only made up for any hiccups but also made the day even more special for both Ankita and the yCrash team.
Special Thanks
Making this special day happen was not easy, and it wouldn’t be the same without some key people. A big thank you to Arpita, who single-handedly made everything go as smoothly as possible and for adding an unexpected surprise to the bridal shower. We also want to appreciate the bride’s mom for keeping everything a secret. Special thanks to Himansu, the fiancé, for joining our call and going the extra mile by delivering the cake to the bride.
Feedback from the Couple
Here is the feedback from the bride:
It was really a beautiful surprise bridal shower. Planning and Organising every aspect of the celebration was truly amazing.
The cake was really delicious and beautifully designed.
Thank you Annya and team for making this day so memorable.
Here’s the groom’s feedback:
I am really happy happy that Ankita has got very good colleagues and she always praised all of you
Me and Ankita and inviting all of you to join in our happiness and share a bite of laughter and prosperity
Here’s the highlights of Ankita & Himansu’s special day:
Conclusion
In the end, Ankita’s bridal shower turned out to be a day full of unexpected twists and surprises. It was a unique celebration filled with joy and heartfelt moments. We wish Ankita and Himansu a wonderful journey ahead, filled with love and happiness.
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