When nearly 50,000 white roses were flown into Udaipur to blanket the reflecting pool forecourt of The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, they weren’t arranged just for a floating artwork. They were arranged for one couple in one moment that had been a decade in the making. That is the throughline of Elizabeth and Nikhil Vazirani’s wedding. Their union was not built on the grand gestures, though there were many, but the precision with which every detail was curated around sentiment and style. Spread around four days and five events, their destination wedding rewrote what a modern multicultural celebration can look like.
Two Cities, One Dinner Table
Elizabeth and Nikhil’s lives first overlapped in London long before they actually met. Several of Elizabeth’s closest friends lived in the same building as Nikhil, and she visited them frequently. Yet despite being in the same place countless times, the two never crossed paths. Years later, both found themselves in Dubai. Elizabeth had been living there for nearly eight years when she returned to the city for a conference. A mutual friend invited both of them to dinner.
The connection was immediate. Professionally, they didn’t have much in common (she runs Insignia, her own consultancy, alongside data-centre investment work and he carries forward his family’s legacy at TransAsia, one of India’s most respected diagnostic companies). But soon they discovered shared passions for sailing, skiing, spontaneous travel and adventure. Nikhil asked her out that same day and booked himself onto the same flight back to London.
By Valentine’s Day, they were skiing together in St. Moritz. Months later, he proposed on the upper deck of a rose-dressed yacht, to the soundtrack of ‘The Parent Trap’, with the Dubai skyline as witness.
The Vision: Intimate in Feeling, Grand in Execution
The couple made things legal with court marriage on November 3 in Abu Dhabi, exactly one year from the proposal. The full celebrations followed in Udaipur from the 15 – 18 November across five events, with The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur as the venue. The couple booked the entire property and reserved around 30 additional rooms at The Leela Palace Udaipur.
Planning began a year out, with a vision that was clear from day one. “We didn’t want it to feel like a huge spectacle or a circus. For us, it was important that it remained intimate and relaxed, where everyone felt comfortable with each other and could genuinely enjoy the celebrations together,” says Elizabeth. “Our vision was really about blending both of our backgrounds in a way that felt natural and authentic. We wanted to honour Nikhil’s Indian heritage with all the colour, joy and energy that comes with it, while also keeping a sense of classical English elegance that reflects my roots.”
KKings Weddings & Events founder Monil Shah translated that brief across every event. “Working closely with this well-travelled power couple allowed us to design a wedding that was intimate in emotion yet grand in execution,” he says. The venue was chosen with equal conviction. “The venue chosen wasn’t built for weddings at all, which came with challenges, but dealing with logistics seemed simpler rather than compromising on authenticity. Udaipur just felt right.” To The Aisle was enlisted for the exquisite décor. “For me, the design of this wedding was never about decoration, it was about building emotion into form. Each space was imagined as its own universe, but shaped with intention, craft, and a deep reverence for culture,” reveals Prerika Puri, founder and creative head.
Welcome Lunch: Where Rajasthan Begins
The celebrations opened with a welcome lunch that established the tone immediately. Transparent acrylic structures, soft pastels, handcrafted silverware, bangle makers, camel motifs and Elizabeth’s signature pink floral elephants made the space feel extremely personal. The bride-to-be wore a tangerine Arpita Mehta skirt set for the occasion and Nikhil chose Jatin Malik.
Sangeet: Jewel Tones & Digital Peacocks
The sangeet arrived in full filmy force. A towering glass backdrop anchored the space and 3D mapping sent digital peacocks sweeping across the palace walls in arcs of jewel-toned light. Elizabeth wore Falguni Shane Peacock for the glamorous evening and Nikhil chose a tailored piece from Ricco in New Delhi.
Behind the scenes, weeks of dance rehearsals had become their own event. “For many of my friends and family it was something completely new, but everyone embraced it wholeheartedly and got so into it. I was particularly impressed with my mum and dad, they absolutely threw themselves into it. The rehearsals became such a fun bonding experience and added a whole new layer of excitement to the celebrations, and lots of funny moments,” she says of her core memories.
Haldi: Turmeric & Sunshine
The haldi was joyful, sunlit and with marigolds everywhere. Elizabeth kept things fuss-free in a Payal Singhal look; Nikhil kept it simple from Pernia’s Pop Up Shop. The wedding party applied turmeric on the couple to extend their blessings. “We also had some really lovely family moments behind the scenes with both sides, those quieter moments with family laughing, chatting, and taking everything in were incredibly meaningful,” reveals Nikhil.
The Hindu Ceremony: A Mandap on the Lake
The al fresco Indian ceremony unfolded on the sprawling lawns, where no structure had ever previously been built. The décor team constructed a giant lotus mandap appearing to rise from the lake itself, framed by a green-lined ramp and the last of the evening light.
Elizabeth wore a fully bespoke lehenga by Sabby, her family’s designer. Crafted over nine months in Mumbai, the bridal look was hand-embroidered in gold threads. Nikhil wore a Nitika Gujral champagne sherwani and cream safa. The ceremony closed with fireworks.
“The Indian ceremony actually took me by surprise in the most wonderful way. Growing up I had always imagined the traditional Western ceremony, but the Indian rituals were so beautiful and meaningful, it was incredibly special to experience.”
The White Wedding: 50,000 Roses & English Elegance
One rule governed the English wedding: only white roses. Nearly 50,000 fresh blooms were arranged across the reflecting pool forecourt, turning the space into something between a garden and a floating installation.
Elizabeth wore her custom Galia Lahav gown, which was “a ten-month collaboration with the house. My veil carried Nikhil and my initials and our wedding date.” Nikhil wore a bespoke white tuxedo from Suit Sartoria, Dubai.
“Walking down the aisle and having my dad give me away was, of course, a moment I’ll never forget. It felt very emotional and surreal all at once. Our vows were also incredibly special to us, such a personal and grounding moment in the middle of all the celebrations.”
There was something about the scale of the florals against the intimacy of the vows that made the contrast feel emotional. Guests who had danced through three days of celebrations went quietly still. By the time the couple walked back down the aisle together, confetti falling over Rajasthan’s pale sandstone, there was not a dry eye in the forecourt.
The Personal Touches
Every ceremony outfit was bespoke, coordinated across a unified palette for the couple and their bridal party. “I was involved in the progress of each ceremony piece up to the point of my bridesmaids actually placing the appliqués on my Galia Lahav dress. It was a beautiful and special moment.” All jewellery, across both ceremonies, was made by Nikhil’s family jeweller. On the morning of the wedding, Elizabeth’s mother gifted her a gold cross belonging to her paternal grandmother, unworn until that day. Something old, and something that made everything feel, as Elizabeth put it, “even more intimate.”
Personalisation ran through every corner of the weekend. Food stalls serving bhel puri, pani puri and vada pav introduced many international guests to Indian street food. Bands from the UK and Dubai performed across the events. The dance floor held until the early hours. “We really wanted everyone to have the best time, and seeing all our friends and family celebrating together on the dance floor until the early hours was just the perfect way to enjoy it all,” concludes Nikhil.
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Elizabeth Vazirani
The Groom: Nikhil Vazirani
The Venue: The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
The Photography: House On The Clouds
Wedding Planner: KKings Weddings & Events
Wedding Decor: To The Aisle
The Bride’s Outfits: Arpita Mehta, Falguni Shane Peacock, Payal Singhal, Clio Peppiatt, Galia Lahav and Sabby (family designer)
Makeup Artist: Amori Makeup
The Groom’s Outfits: Suit Sartoria Dubai, Nitika Gujral, Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, Ricco India and Jatin Malik Couture
