Steffi and Vivek, Mumbai
Following a minimalistic decor, this couple’s wedding at Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai was mesmerizing in its regal simplicity.
Having known each other as friends, a gentle nudge from their parents was all it took for Steffi Gulati and Vivek Khanna’s love story to take root. Soon after realizing the love they shared, plans for a grand wedding were immediately charted out. However, fate didn’t seem to want to comply as the pandemic spread rapidly across the country. But determined and strengthened by their love, this duo decided to host a beautiful and intimate wedding at the majestic Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai where they reveled in luxury. Capturing the precious moments of their nuptials in timeless photographs was WeddingSutra Favorite – Dreamcatchers Photography who in every frame caught the unfiltered joy of the occasion.
How They Met
Steffi shares, “Both of us knew each other as friends initially, since Vivek hails from Mumbai and I’ve been working in the city for five to six years now. But surprisingly it was our parents who kind of played cupid as they bumped into our profiles on a wedding website! That’s when we gave it a thought and somehow it all worked out!”
Wedding Venue
Since the duo had plans to execute an intimate wedding, they soon started scouting for venues in the city and came across the majestic Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. Sharing her experience at the venue, she shares, “Our wedding was an intimate affair with about 35-40 of our close family members in attendance and hence, we wanted a venue where our guests would enjoy themselves thoroughly. The moment we saw the Princess and the Gateway room at Taj Mahal Palace, we were in love! The banquet halls were beautiful and apt for our cozy wedding. The venue fit our vision perfectly!”
Wedding Planning
Since an intimate wedding was on the cards, the duo took charge of the reigns and planned the wedding by themselves. On the photography and videography front, they chose Dreamcatchers Photography who stunned them with every shot. Describing their experience of working with team Dreamcatchers Photography, the couple shares, “The entire team was thoroughly professional and amazing at their work. Throughout the two days that they were with us, we felt at ease and could easily trust them while they took our pictures. Even after the wedding, absolutely no follow-ups were required as they duly chased the timeline and delivered everything as they’d promised. We would highly recommend them!”
Weddings Functions
Shagun, Engagement and Mehendi
Steffi shares, “Keeping the pandemic in mind, we combined the Shagun, Mehendi, and the Engagement functions to be held on the same day. The event was an extremely close-knit one with only our close family in attendance. Our invitees were segregated for two days since we wanted everyone to be a part of our festivities. The decor was kept simple and we had a lot of fun as we kicked off the nuptials. We also arranged for a group of local ladies who kept us entertained with their soulful Punjabi folk tunes which they played on the dholki. ”
Wedding
Following the pre-wedding ceremonies, the wedding also was a quiet affair where a limited number of guests were in attendance. After facing their fair share of struggles while planning a wedding as the pandemic raged on, the couple finally found their silver lining and were able to execute a beautiful wedding ceremony. Recollecting her experience, Steffi shares, “The wedding was initially planned for April and we wanted it to be grand. But as the country went into lockdown, all our plans were thrown into chaos. Initially we hoped that things would be back to normal in a few months but the situation didn’t quite improve. The only alternative we had was to go ahead with the wedding and we’re so happy that we did! We prioritized safety and ensured that all protocols were followed. The decor was kept light since we didn’t want to clash or take away from the regal beauty of our surroundings.”
Advice For Couples
Steffi advises, “Go with your gut feeling and do proper research before finalizing your vendors. We spoke to all our vendors and met them personally, which made us all the more confident about our selection.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Décor: Bombay Decorators
Groom’s Outfits: Raghavendra Rathore (Shagun, Engagement, Mehendi, Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Chamee & Palak (Shagun, Engagement and Mehendi), Ekaya (Wedding)
Makeup: Ritika Vats Makeup & Hair
Entertainment: Krishna Pandey, Saaj Bhatt
Photography and Videography: Dreamcatchers Photography
