Tarini Gupta and Abhishek Dhawan, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur

Three cities. Two countries. One love story.
Sixteen months of planning culminated in 487 days, nearly 11,700 hours of collaboration. More than 1,500 professionals across four cities came together to host over 2,000 guests from India and around the world, supported by 200+ teams handling operations, hospitality, and logistics.
The wedding of Tarini Gupta, entrepreneur behind The Spotted Cow Fromagerie and from the family behind the Clarks Group of Hotels, and Abhishek Dhawan was a remarkable feature of design, coordination, and storytelling. Directed, Conceptualised, Designed and Executed by Kanika Sethi Events & Weddings, the celebration unfolded across multiple locations transforming historic venues into immersive experiences.

Wedding Planning
Reflecting on the journey, planner and designer Kanika Sethi from Kanika Sethi Events & Weddings shares, “From the very beginning, we knew this wedding would push the boundaries of scale and storytelling. Our goal was to craft not just events but a narrative that unfolded across cities, landscapes and cultures, while keeping the couple’s story at the heart of it all.”

Tarini and Abhishek’s celebrations were envisioned as a celebration of India itself. Designed as a 100 per cent ‘Make in India’ wedding, the festivities aligned closely with the spirit of the ‘Wed in India’ initiative while simultaneously placing lesser-explored heritage venues on the global wedding map. From the iconic Clarks Shiraz in Agra to the regal Raj Niwas Palace in Dholpur and the magnificent Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur, each destination was carefully chosen to highlight the architectural and cultural richness of northern India. Along the way, Prayagraj was added as a fourth city – and the journey concluded with a reception at the Groom’s ancestral home in Prayagraj, adding a deeply personal layer to the grand celebrations.

“Each city offered a different chapter of the story,” shares Kanika Sethi. “Our vision was to showcase India’s heritage destinations in a different light while creating a seamless flow for guests travelling across cities. This mega operation required immense planning and invested partners and vendors. The result was an experience that felt both expansive and intimate.” As the principal planners and creative directors, Kanika Sethi Events & Weddings led every facet of the production. From wedding planning and décor conceptualisation to technical mapping, production design, artist management, and hospitality strategy, the team served as the sutradhar, weaving together every moving part of this complex celebration. The undertaking involved coordinating nearly a fleet of 2,600+ people across multiple verticals, transforming historic venues into immersive celebration spaces while maintaining precision in logistics and guest experience.

“Leadership becomes the backbone of an event of this scale,” Kanika explains. “Our team worked across cities, timelines and disciplines, but what remained constant was the commitment to crafting an experience that felt effortless to the families and to every guest.”

Wedding Functions
The Exquisite Arrival Experience
The story of Tarini and Abhishek’s journey unfolded through a thoughtfully curated art gallery. Moments from their lives were interwoven with family wedding photographs and treasured memories from years gone by. Designed as an intimate and nostalgic prelude to the celebrations, the space invited guests from across the world to pause, connect and reminisce, setting the tone for the festivities ahead.
At its heart, stood an elegantly styled Spotted Cow Fromagerie cheese counter, offering a refined culinary highlight to the experience. Champagne flutes and wine goblets accompanied an exquisite selection of hors d’oeuvres, served by impeccably turned-out butlers who lent a sense of effortless sophistication to the arrival and check-in. Enhancing the ambience, a gifted violinist from Agra filled the afternoon with soft, melodic notes, creating a warm and immersive welcome.

Bride Mehndi & Sagan
The celebrations began with an intimate bridal mehndi by the poolside, where a soft, earthy aesthetic set the tone for the festivities ahead. Pampas grass, foliage, and textured natural elements framed the serene setting, hence creating a relaxed evening for the bride and her closest loved ones.
The family took center stage and homely entertainment involving the talented singers from amongst the guests made for a rather warm kick off.

Mehendi – Shaam Gulabi
The following day, the larger mehndi celebrations unfolded against the Agra skyline in a vibrant jewelled toned color palette. Emerald green and rani pink were the two hero shades of this function. Vintage-inspired décor elements and thoughtfully curated corners added layers of charm to the function. Playful favors like @typsybeauty and the very famous Moin Chooriwala with a 50 year old legacy of crafting bangles & bindis, brought generations of traditional artistry and kept guests delightfully engaged. The evening transitioned into a lively sunset celebration featuring music and dance, bringing infectious energy to the lawns as guests soaked up the atmosphere.
The electrifying Chizai Band kept everyone grooving to their music throughout the evening. DJ Bhavuk took the entire gathering to a whole new level, keeping the energy soaring as the night unfolded. Keeping all the guests entertained and on their toes was the very charming saxophonist Rudy from Goa.

Bride Haldi – Kesari
The bride’s haldi ceremony unfolded as a sunlit celebration wrapped in the warmth of marigolds. Cane baskets, earthen pots, and clusters of fresh blooms created a charming rustic setting that felt both festive and rooted in tradition. Accents of soft pink introduced a gentle contrast against the golden marigold palette, lending the décor a delicate vibrancy while maintaining the ceremony’s intimate spirit. Kanishka Negi added a very traditional touch with her beautiful voice as the haldi function came alive with soulful melody.

Sangeet – Majestic Night
The sangeet elevated the glamour quotient with a dramatic palette of gold and red. Pillared candles and cascades of lush red florals created a warm, luxurious ambience that balanced intimacy with grandeur. A sweeping stage framed by an expansive LED screen ensured every performance was enjoyed by guests across the venue. The evening reached a spectacular high point with a specially curated drone show that narrated the couple’s love story across the night sky, followed by high-energy musical performances and an afterparty that kept the celebrations going late into the night.
Statement tablescapes along with carefully crafted lavish menus over a long period of time added so much character to the overall decor. From personalised printed menus to embroidered napkins, napkin holders, and all crockery cutlery was thematically designed and showcased for the sangeet. This was a culinary extravaganza that brought to light extremely well versed and skilled caterers from the Region. Walia caterers exhibited their magic at every level of this food fiesta.
The Copy Cats band added glitter, panache and an appetite for revelry to the evening. DJ Ganesh converted the entire Palace into one roaring dance floor – carrying the after party till the morning after.
The dramatic, intimate ‘cold pyro’ cake was a show-stopping moment. The artistry exhibited by @loveiscakes through the pastry cake added sparkle and deliciousness to the festivities.

Groom’s Haldi
The groom’s haldi took place by the poolside at hotel Grand Mercure, Agra and carried a playful energy. Upturned umbrellas floating in the water were filled with bright marigolds, adding a whimsical touch to the setting. Colorful backdrops adorned with mandala patterns framed the space, creating striking photo op moments that perfectly matched the cheerful mood of the ceremony.

Wedding – Tulsi Aangan
The wedding had an extremely pious energy floating through. The creative direction followed here was to bring alive a Tulsi Aangan. The statement mandap was a one of a kind ensemble highlighting the blend of lotus and shivling with the sacred Nandi perched as the protector.. The celebrations culminated in a breathtaking sundowner wedding at the Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur. For the ceremony, the décor embraced timeless elegance with a classic palette of ivory, blush pink, and soft green that complemented the palace’s regal architecture. Brass accents added a layer of traditional grandeur, while floral arrangements that framed the mandap with understated sophistication. Musical Pheras soulfully sung by the very esteemed @ameyadabli ji, added a huge sense of spirituality and serenity to this beautiful union of Tarini with Abhishek. As the evening approached, the palace façade came alive through projection mapping that depicted the story of the mystical union of Shiva and Parvati, creating a deeply symbolic backdrop for the couple’s vows. The pandits, rooted in tradition, exclusively from the ghats of Banaras for the ceremony, added a deeply sacred and authentic touch to the rituals.

The Bridal Entry
This was the most special. Tarini, the bride’s nani, the youngest 74 year old Diva, added so much emotion by singing the entire bridal entry song herself. Mrs. Mona Maliah ( Nani) told us “these compositions were originally sung by Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan of the Kasur Patiala Gharana and taught to me by his son, my guru, Ustad Munawar Ali Khan. I blended the two pieces — the first for the bride and the second for the groom”
Nani glorious ensemble can be best described as a vintage soul with present day grace. “I wore this at my wedding in 1970, 56 years ago. The outfit is crafted with pure gold zari by artisans in Jaipur and was designed by Tarini’s great grandmother. The antique gold necklace is a Mor Haar (peacock necklace), gifted to me at the time of my wedding. It was made by artisans in Bengal, once renowned for its exquisite gold craftsmanship”. Mrs. Maliah’s entire presence and look had nostalgia, heritage and timeless style in one story!
As the night fell, the celebrations transitioned into a lively musical finale, where percussionist Vaibhav Verma and DJ Ajay Nautiyal’s beats came together in a high energy jugalbandi that brought the festivities to an electrifying close. “Against the backdrop of such magnificent architecture, we chose a palette that felt graceful and enduring,” reflects Kanika Sethi. “The idea was to let the setting, the rituals, and the couple’s story take centre stage.”

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra (Mehndi); Raj Niwas Palace – Dholpur (Sangeet); Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur (Wedding)
Photography: Reels and Frames
Wedding Planned Conceptualized, Directed & Executed: Kanika Sethi Events & Weddings
Experiential Hospitality, Guest Management & Logistics: Kanika Sethi Events & Weddings
Decor Design: Co designed by Kanika Sethi Events & Weddings AND Sumanglam Weddings & Events
Decor Production: Sumanglam Weddings & Events
Experience Design: Nishkarsh Events
Choreography: Aastha Wedding Choreography
Cake: Love Is Cakes
Wedding Stationary & Design: Mubaarak Studio
Family Entertainment Management: Fiona Goradia Productions
Entertainment: Chizai (Mehndi), SFX (Sangeet), The CopyCats (Sangeet), Ameya Dabli (Wedding), Vaiibhav Verma (Wedding), Rudy (Bride Mehndi & Sagan)
DJ: DJ Ganesh (Sangeet After Party), DJ Ajay Nautiyal (Wedding), DJ Bhavuk (Bride Mehndi & Sagan)
Bridal Ensembles & Look
Haldi: Ankur Jodhpur
Mehndi & Wedding: Anamika Khanna
Sangeet: Falguni Shane Peacock
Jewellery: Thakore Lal Hiralal
Floral Jewellery: Floral Art by Srishti
Caterers: Hotel Clarks Shiraz Agra, Manna Caterers, Walia Caterers
Makeup: Rounica Maron
Mehndi: Sona Mistry

Related Articles: