Emma and Anup, Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
Anup and Emma's intimate wedding at Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur included classically beautiful styling which wowed their guests.
It takes skill to organize a wedding according to different cultural norms when sitting in a country far away from the wedding destination. But Emma, the savvy and enterprising bride, managed to do just that in just three months. Here, she shares some highlights of the regal celebrations.
How We Met
Born in England, Anup moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he met Emma for the first time on a dating website seven years ago. She was working as a professional branding expert and he was a professional project director. “We hit if off instantly and it has been magical ever since,” shares Emma.
Proposal
“Both of us had a sense of where our relationship was heading, so to seal the deal, Anup organized a secret weekend in Singapore. He planned the most romantic evening, where after a sumptuous dinner and a moonlit stroll by the waters, he finally proposed. I was ecstatic and said yes in a heartbeat!”
Wedding Venue
“Anup’s Gujarati heritage and my love for everything Indian meant that the obvious destination choice for our wedding would be India. The lead up to our wedding started with a party in Kachhiawadi which was hosted by the Anup’s parents for the entire village to celebrate the marriage. It was so heartwarming to see this kind of hospitality and the bond that his family had maintained with their roots despite being away from their homeland. The rest of the ceremonies were held at Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The hotel’s links to its glorious past, arresting views and the beguiling architecture made it our number one destination to get married at. We wanted to have the ceremonies in a picturesque setting. Many guests said that it felt like they were attending a royal wedding.”
Wedding Planning
“I planned the entire wedding from Australia within a span of three months. I used to be a professional photographer because of which I had developed a good eye for detail and styling. We knew exactly what we wanted, and with the assistance of the wonderful team at Taj Lake Palace, it was all made possible.”
Wedding Functions
“A lot of times themes can be rather fleeting. We wanted our wedding to have a timeless appeal, therefore, we didn’t bring in thematic elements. Instead, we focused on maintaining classically beautiful styling throughout. This also worked in synergy with the palatial design of the hotel. Our guest list for the reception was capped at 40 which meant there was a very personalized and tailored experience for the family member and close friend.”
Mehndi
“The mehndi function was held a day prior to the wedding by the poolside under the coolness of the trees and cabanas. Since the surrounding view and colors were so soothing, I knew I could play up the color factor and decided to wear a bright pink Western-style dress.”
Wedding
“The sunset pheras were held on the rooftop overlooking the serene Lake Pichola. The mandap was vibrant with garlands of marigold blooms which looked lovely against the white marble of the environs. The story of what we wore for our wedding is a rather interesting one. We bought our outfits only two days before our wedding in Mumbai en route to Kachhiawadi. After creating a mood board on Pinterest, we went out on a hunt and source mission. We found a fantastic local taxi driver who took us them to all the best boutiques. My sari was a nod to the traditional Western white gown with some sparkling details which we purchased from Basuree. Anup donned an off-white sherwani by the fantastic team at Telon which matched the color of my outfit.”
Reception
“The reception was a stunning candle-lit dinner with traditional Rajasthani entertainers and a deliciously designed menu by the head chef of the hotel.”
Any tips for couples getting married
“Weddings are meant to be fun, full of laughter and lots of love – they don’t need years of torturous planning. If you know what you want, do it your way and don’t worry about pleasing others. The only people that matter is you and your partner. Make your day as magical as you can, and it will be!”
Wedding Makers
Venue: Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
Bride’s Outfit: Basuree, Mumbai
Groom’s Outfit: Telon, Mumbai
Photographer: Katia Peshakova
