Together with their families

Maya & Arjun

are getting married in Goa, and we would love you there for all three days of it: colour, music, sea air and far too much food.

117

days to go

Fri12 Sat13 Sun14

February 2027, North Goa

Reply by 1 December See the weekend

A couple standing together at the edge of the sea

Ashvem Beach, Goa

MehendiSangeetHaldiPherasReception

Our story

A Toronto girl, a London boy, and a song they still cannot agree on.

Two people walking hand in hand along a bright beach

2019

Someone else's wedding

Maya flew in from Toronto for her university roommate's wedding in Candolim. Arjun came from London as the groom's cousin, and somehow ended up in charge of the playlist. He played a song she hated, she told him so, and they argued about it on the beach until the fairy lights went off.

A couple walking away down a wet street on a grey evening

2020

5,700 kilometres apart

Four years of a five hour time difference. Sunday morning calls that were Sunday afternoon for one of them, a shared watchlist, eleven transatlantic flights and one very patient grandmother in each city asking when.

2025

The question

On a drizzly November evening on Primrose Hill, Arjun took out a ring and pressed play on that song. Maya said yes before the first chorus, then made him turn it off. It will not be on the playlist in Goa. Probably.

12 to 14 February 2027

The weekend

Five gatherings across two venues in North Goa: Casa Saudade, a 19th century Portuguese family home in Assagao, and Mareia Beach Resort on Ashvem. Shuttles run between the two before and after every event.

Friday

12 February

4pmto 7pm

Mehendi

The courtyard, Casa Saudade, Assagao

Henna artists from Mumbai, chai, fresh lime soda and a long afternoon in the shade of the mango trees. Come early if you want a full hand; the queue for Maya's aunts' table moves slowly.

DressBright and easy. Greens, pinks and yellows, light cottons, sandals.

8pmuntil late

Sangeet

The lawn, Casa Saudade, Assagao

Both families have been rehearsing over video calls since June, and it shows, mostly. Performances, a live dhol, dinner under the stars and then the dance floor is yours.

DressFestive. Lehengas, kurtas, sequins, cocktail wear. Shoes you can dance in.

Saturday

13 February

11amto 3pm

Haldi & pool party

Main pool, Mareia Beach Resort, Ashvem

Turmeric paste for the couple, then for anyone standing too close. Once everyone is suitably yellow we jump in the pool. Lunch, cold coconuts and a DJ until three.

DressYellow, white or anything you don't mind staining. Swimwear underneath.

4:30pmpheras at 5:45pm

The wedding ceremony

The beach lawn, Mareia Beach Resort, Ashvem

Arjun's baraat sets off from the resort gate at 4:30pm, with drums. The mandap faces the sea, and the seven pheras begin as the sun goes down. A short guide to the ceremony will be on every chair.

DressIndian formal or summer formal. Please leave red to the bride.

Sunday

14 February

7pmto midnight

Reception

The banyan terrace, Casa Saudade, Assagao

Yes, it is Valentine's Day, and yes, that was Arjun's idea. A Goan seafood feast, speeches kept to three minutes each (we will be timing), a band from Panjim and our first dance.

DressEvening wear. Black tie optional, saris and sherwanis very welcome.

A palm tree in silhouette against the sea at sunset

Saturday, 5:45pm. The pheras begin just as the sun meets the Arabian Sea.

Travel & stay

Most of you are coming from London or Toronto, so here is everything we wish someone had told us on our first trip.

A swimming pool surrounded by tropical trees at dusk

Our hotel block

Mareia Beach Resort, Ashvem

Forty garden and sea view rooms held for our guests from 11 to 15 February, at ₹14,500 a night with breakfast (about £130 or C$240). The haldi and the wedding are here, so you can walk to both.

Booking code

MAYAARJUN27

Book by 15 November 2026 at reservations@mareia.example or +91 832 555 0142.

Flying in

Land at Manohar International (GOX) in Mopa, 35 minutes from Assagao and Ashvem. Dabolim (GOI) works too but is 90 minutes south.

From London: about 11 hours via Mumbai or Delhi
From Toronto: about 20 hours via Delhi or the Gulf

Visas

UK and Canadian passport holders need a visa for India. The online e-Visa is the easy route: apply at least four weeks before you fly and keep a printed copy of the approval.

Getting around

We run shuttles from the resort to every event and back. For days off, use the prepaid taxi desk at the airport and app taxis in town. Scooters are fun, but not after the Sangeet.

Weather

February is perfect: dry, 31°C by day and 21°C at night, with the sea at 27°C. Pack sunscreen, a hat and a light shawl for the evenings.

Things to do in Goa

If you can, come a few days early or stay on. These are the places we keep going back to.

A narrow street of yellow Portuguese houses with blue windows

01

Fontainhas, Panjim

The old Latin quarter: ochre and indigo houses, azulejo tiles and tiny bakeries. Go in the morning, on foot.
02

The churches of Old Goa

Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral, 25 minutes from Panjim and a world heritage site. Shoulders covered inside.
03

Chapora Fort at sunset

A short scramble up from Vagator for the best view of the coast. Bring water and leave by dark.
04

A spice farm lunch

Walk the plantations near Ponda, then eat a Goan thali on a banana leaf. Arjun's favourite day out.
05

Arpora Saturday night market

Street food, live music, block prints and silver. Perfect if you arrive on Thursday and fly out the next week.
06

Quiet beaches up north

Ashvem, Mandrem and Querim are calm, clean and lined with beach shacks. Maya's choice for the morning after.
07

A river cruise on the Mandovi

An hour on the water at dusk, with Goan folk dancers on deck. Gloriously cheesy, and the kids love it.
08

Cooking class in Assagao

Learn xacuti, cafreal and bebinca in a village kitchen. We can book a group class on Thursday 11 February.

Questions

Anything else, ask Priya, Maya's sister and our very organised wedding planner.

Are children invited?

Yes, to everything. There is a supervised kids' room with films and crafts during the Sangeet and the reception for ages 3 to 10. Let us know names and ages in your RSVP.

What about gifts?

You are flying halfway round the world for us, and that is plenty. Please don't carry anything in your suitcase. If you would really like to, there will be a small box at the reception for our honeymoon in Kerala.

Can you cater for my diet?

Every meal has plenty of vegetarian dishes, and our caterers will happily cook vegan, Jain, gluten free and nut free. Most food is mildly spiced; the fiery stuff is clearly labelled. Tell us about allergies in the RSVP.

I don't own Indian clothes. Help?

Not a problem at all, and summer formal is always fine. If you would like to dress up, we have arranged a tailor at the resort on Thursday and Friday morning who can fit a kurta or a saree in a day.

When do you need our RSVP?

By 1 December 2026, please, so we can confirm numbers with the venues and the shuttle drivers.

Kindly reply by 1 December 2026

Will you join us?

One reply per household is perfect. Tick every event you can make, and tell us the song that will get you on the dance floor.

Garlands of orange marigolds and white jasmine

RSVP

Your name(s)

Number of guests

Which events will you attend?

Mehendi, Friday afternoon

Sangeet, Friday night

Haldi & pool party

Wedding ceremony

Reception, Sunday

Dietary needs or allergies

A song that gets you dancing

Maya & Arjun

Our story

Someone else's wedding

5,700 kilometres apart

The question

The weekend

Friday

Mehendi

Sangeet

Saturday

Haldi & pool party

The wedding ceremony

Sunday

Reception

Travel & stay

Mareia Beach Resort, Ashvem

Flying in

Visas

Getting around

Weather

Things to do in Goa

Fontainhas, Panjim

The churches of Old Goa

Chapora Fort at sunset

A spice farm lunch

Arpora Saturday night market

Quiet beaches up north

A river cruise on the Mandovi

Cooking class in Assagao

Questions

Will you join us?

Maya & Arjun · Wedding