Gaurav Joshi knew he had to swipe right on Franny Gustafson when he came across her profile on the dating app Bumble. He and his friend were on their way to Schnebly Hill Road for a spontaneous off-roading trip in Flagstaff, Arizona — where Franny lived. “If Gaurav had not agreed to visit Schnebly Hill that day and log on to Bumble, things may have turned out differently,” Franny said. A week later on Valentine’s Day, the two met in person for their first date. Six months after that, the couple was taking a walk in Sedona when Gaurav proposed. After her “Yes!” they strolled around Tlaquepaque, an arts community in Sedona, and celebrated with glasses of bubbly. As guests arrived at Franny’s dream wedding venue, Camrose Hill, they signed a guestbook globe to honor the couple’s family members who live all over the world. Gaurav’s family photos filled a table, because COVID unfortunately kept most of them from attending. The ceremony payed homage to Gaurav’s culture with a Varmala Ceremony, during which the bride and groom exchange flower garlands to signify union. Afterward, the dance floor came alive as the DJ played American classics and Indian songs. But for the newlyweds, a favorite part of the day was sneaking outside to just take everything in.
