Mekhala and Subodh at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Experience true love with Mekhala and Subodh’s Maharashtrian wedding which was magical, traditional and oh-so-stylish!
Love leads to marriage but in this case, it was a wedding that created this love story. The #MeSu wedding was dreamy and glitzy and everything you’d expect from a celebration at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai.
How we met
We were planning a mutual friend’s wedding and from the moment we met we hit it off! We had so much in common and our phone conversations and date nights brought us closer. It didn’t take us very long to decide to tie the knot.
Wedding Proposal and Planning
The fairytale continued. We’d been friends and dated for a few years and on Valentine’s Day last year, Subodh popped the question on a private yacht. He put a solitaire on my finger and we were officially engaged two months after, in May. We decided to get married in November.
Wedding Functions
Engagement
We decided on an indo-western theme for the engagement and I wore a sea green gown with golden sheer by Fiza. We celebrated with champagne, cake cutting and then let our hair down to the latest Bollywood hits. It was an intimate, close-family-only event since we’d only had a month to prepare.
Sangeet and Cocktail
Our sangeet and cocktail parties were held on the same day at the beautiful lawns of the County Inn hotel in Navi Mumbai. We decided on a floral theme for both ceremonies and so I wore a flowery, traditional lehenga in pink with intricate shimmer details by Fiza the sangeet.
To keep up with the groovy beats of the cocktail party, I put on a ravishing blue silk gown also by Fiza. I accessorized with a beautiful diamond set from TBZ that Subodh had gifted me. The celebrations continued until the wee hours of the morning with our guests enjoying unlimited cocktails and lip smacking food at the event.
Mehndi and Haldi
The mehndi and haldi ceremonies were intimate. We hosted our guests at the Pranaam Banquet Halls in Khargar. I wanted to spend the evening not worrying about whether I was going to smudge my mehndi so I chose a beautiful light lehenga with a sleeveless blouse. I experimented with statement earrings and a passa for a Mughal-inspired look.
Wedding
I’d always wanted a palace wedding and when a destination as ruled out by the family thanks to our enormous guest list, we decided to celebrate at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in historic Colaba, South Mumbai. Subodh had always imagined we’d be married there too.
Because it was a wedding that followed Maharashtrian traditions, the ceremonies began with a kanyadaan for which I wore the emerald green Paithani saree my own mother had worn on her wedding day 26 years ago. Later, I wore a gorgeous turmeric yellow saree from Kala Niketan and then changed into a pink saree that I accessorized with a Peshwa Nath and a kamar bandh from TBZ.
D Karmali and Co handled the décor and it was beautiful – the banquet halls decorated like vintage floral gardens, done entirely in pink, red and white roses.
Reception
The reception was so elegant – the entire hall decorated with candles and white roses. I wore a deep maroon and ivory A-line lehenga by Kalki Fashion and kept my look natural, with my hair down and subtle, barely-there makeup. The bridal glow did all the work!
Advice to couples
It’s never too early to start planning and this way you’ll avoid any last minute panic. Don’t experiment with beauty and hair regimens before your wedding – it’s a recipe for disaster. In fact, have a hair and make up trial for each and every look at the wedding so you’re sure .Don’t show your outfits to friends and family before the events. The varied feedback will stress you out. Be confident about your choice and keep it a surprise for everyone.
The Wedding Makers
Wedding venues – The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Wedding decor- D Karmali and Co
Outfits
Cocktail gown and Sangeet – Fiza
Wedding- Kala Niketan
Reception- Kalki Fashion
Makeup Artist : Rajesh Patil
Jewellery- TBZ-The Original
Choreographers- ARN studio
Photographer- Photosynthesis by Aditi
