When Vikram Baid sailed into the Taj Lake Palace on a historical Gangaur boat at 8am, his groomsmen dancing around him, sunlight sparkling on Lake Pichola, it was the kind of baraat that becomes viral. On the ghats, beneath a floral chaadar held by her sister and cousins, Sarah D’Souza was waiting for her groom-to-be. “I suddenly felt the tears falling and seeing Vikram waiting for me at the Lily Pond was an indescribable feeling,” the bride recalls.
These were two people who had met nine years ago at UC Berkeley, survived a pandemic together and said “yes” to a forever on a cliff in Positano. That they were now being married across three Udaipur palaces in two religious ceremonies felt less like a destination wedding and more like the culmination of an extraordinary journey.
The Love Story
Sarah grew up across Southeast Asia, born in Mumbai and raised through India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Vikram is from Rajasthan, shaped by Calcutta and California in equal measure. Their first date in 2017 already said everything. “Vikram showed up with flowers, a charcuterie board, and Malibu. He took me on a walk around campus, showing her his favourite hidden spots, including the forbidden roof of Doe Library. What was supposed to be a one-hour date turned into five hours of getting to know each other. My love for reality TV shows, his love for food, our life-long dreams, and everything in between. We both left the date knowing that this was something special,” she shares.
When the pandemic hit and Sarah could not return to her parents in Mumbai, Vikram’s family took her in. Over months of Taboo games and long drives, she became family. “When travel restrictions were lifted, we visited Mumbai. There, Vikram spent mornings catching up with my dad over work and politics, and dedicated late nights to competitive Catan battles with her mom and sister. He fit right in.” After years of navigating career pivots and new cities, they moved to New York in 2022, then Chicago. In July 2024, on the cliffs of Positano, Vikram got down on one knee. Sarah describes what followed as “a brief adrenaline blackout, before the easiest yes I had ever said.”
The Wedding Vision
The couple had 1.5 years of planning and a clear conviction that the wedding venue would be in India. “We knew that we wanted to get married in India because of our roots. We also wanted a Taj property in Rajasthan. We viewed properties in Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Jodhpur. The moment we stepped foot in Udaipur, and specifically in the Taj Lake Palace and Taj Fateh Prakash Palace together with Jagmandir Island Palace, we knew that we wanted to tie the knot in the city of lakes.”
The three-venue canvas for four events across two days. Planning was entrusted to Two by Two, led by Anisha Kumar and Shruti Jajoo, with décor by Atelier by Prerna Joshi. “Every moment felt thoughtful, effortless, and genuinely ‘us’. They anticipated our needs, handled the chaos we never even saw, and brought our ideas to life with a passion that made this experience unforgettable,” shares Vikram.
The Haldi & Roce
The weekend opened on November 28, 2025 with a common Haldi and Roce at the Taj Fateh Prakash Palace poolside. Potlis of turmeric and coconut milk were placed side by side, guests applying both simultaneously, a single gesture that articulated the wedding’s entire philosophy.
Themed the ‘Sunkissed Soiree’ décor brought pastel hues, sequinned cushions, and floral clouds to the lakeside setting. “We made our first entrance as a couple during this event, and it felt surreal. Our loved ones showered us with flower petals and set the fun yet emotional tone for the rest of the weekend.”
The Sangeet
That evening, the Sangeet transformed the Durbar Hall Sabhagaar into ‘A Night at the Darbar’, with velvet curtains, gilded arches and a voice-over narrator introducing each act like a court herald. The bride dressed the part in a glam sequined navy Shyamal & Bhumika lehenga. “A special memory was when Vikram surprised me with a dance with my closest girlfriends and sister, having each of them hand me a rose to my favourite ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ song before he joined them on stage for an electric performance.”
The Hindu Wedding
November 29 began before dawn with the Baraat. The Hindu ceremony unfolded under the theme ‘Tale as Old as Time’, featuring vibrant red roses, stained glass-inspired motifs, and nine years of couple photographs woven into the décor under the heading “Our Story in Frames, from the day we met to the day we wed.” The bride made her way to the al fresco mandap in a classic red Anita Dongre lehenga.
The Christian ceremony
Hours later, the wedding party crossed the lake to Jagmandir Island Palace for the Christian ceremony. Styled as ‘Serenade by the Lake’, the decor was one of understated luxury with delicate florals and fabric. The ceremony’s standout moment arrived with Vikram’s four-year-old nephew, the ring bearer, who walked the long aisle carefully before spotting his chachu at the altar and running the final stretch with a smile that made the room exhale.
“One of my favourite memories from this event was my first look with my bridesmaids. They all looked so beautiful, and it was such a happy moment that I got to share with them. During this first look, Vikram also surprised me with a gift in a blue box and the sweetest note about how excited he was to call me his wife,” reveals Sarah who wore a Mira Zwillinger gown for the wedding, sourced from New York. Their wedding bands, like her engagement ring, were both from Tiffany and Co.
The Reception & After-Party
“After the ceremony, we moved into a cocktail hour and reception, where we surprised our 200+ guests with handwritten, personalised notes for each of them placed on their assigned seats. This was a highlight for our loved ones, especially Vikram’s side who witnessed a Christian ceremony and reception for the first time.” The seating chart required guests to peel their names, revealing a large photograph of the couple beneath once everyone had found their place. Sarah dedicated her bouquet to her mother; guests welcomed the couple’s re-entrance by swirling napkins, a nod to the Italian tradition honouring the city where they got engaged. The weekend closed with a Coachella-themed after party, complete with concert wristbands, an Oski mascot cutout and a midnight Maggi station. “We wanted to bring this festival vibe to life during the after party, where our friends showed up with the best energy and we danced the night away.”
The Photography
The entire weekend was documented by Harsh Ajay Mehta and Devansh Rangani of The Photo Lab, who shot across all four events. “From the very first moment during our pre-wedding photoshoot, they made us feel comfortable, natural, and completely ourselves in front of the camera. We know the photos and videos will help us relive this weekend for the rest of our lives, and we’re so glad it was their team behind the lens.”
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Sarah D’Souza
The Groom: Vikram Baid
Photographer & Videographer: The Photo Lab
Wedding Venues: Taj Lake Palace, Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, Jagmandir Island Palace
Wedding Planner: Two by Two
Wedding Décor: Atelier by Prerna Joshi
Bride’s Outfits: Anita Dongre, Shyamal & Bhumika and Mira Zwillinger
Groom’s Outfits: Adani, Telon, Anushree Reddy and Suit Supply
Bride’s Jewellery: Tiffany & Co, Tanishq
Bride’s Accessories: Floral Art by Srishti
Mehndi Artist: Udaipur Mehendi Club
Makeup & Hair: Tanvi Marathe
Entertainment/DJ: Jay Weather and emcee Vishaal Rasquinha
Invitation: Limoncello Tales by Kritika & Akshay
Wedding Social Media: The Insta Shaadi
