As a Mumbaikar, I can attest to this… The Gateway of India isn’t just a heritage monument, it’s a marker of memory. And the sea is not just scenery, it is sentiment. So when Dr Aishwarya Parulekar Pai, an obstetrician gynaecologist born and raised in the city, imagined her wedding day, there was only one address that made sense: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, with the historical landmark standing sentinel and the Arabian Sea stretching out behind her mandap. It is the kind of homecoming only this city can offer, vows exchanged where the harbour meets the horizon. “Having visited the iconic hotel for every casual and special occasion with my family ever since I was baby, its memories have been etched in my heart. It was this nostalgic bond that I wanted to carry with me for my big day,” she says.
On November 30, 2025, that childhood dream became reality as Aishwarya married Dr Arnav Pai, a friend and fellow gynaecologist, in a ceremony that was as intimate as their families’ social circles are vast. The wedding therefore became more than a celebration of two doctors, but a return to home, family and a city that had been part of Aishwarya’s story long before she met Arnav.
From Medical School to Amsterdam
Their story began in medical school in 2014. Aishwarya and Arnav, a gynaecologist who was born in the US and raised in Mumbai, studied MBBS and OB-GYN at the same university. They were close friends for several years before their bond blossomed into a relationship by 2017. Both come from a third generation of doctors, making medicine an important part of their shared worlds. Arnav is the son of leading IVF specialists Dr Hrishikesh Pai and Dr Rishma Pai. Aishwarya is the daughter of noted endoscopy and IVF expert Dr Ashish Parulekar and Pallavi Parulekar. Arnav also has a creative side, having walked the ramp for Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla as a hobbyist model. After completing their residency in 2023, the next chapter came in 2024, when Arnav proposed in Amsterdam. “Arnav’s family had arranged a beautiful boat for us to cruise along the canals, turning an already romantic setting into a personal proposal. It was a gorgeous moment,” Aishwarya recalls.
The wedding planning began almost immediately after their engagement in 2024, gathering pace towards their November 2025 celebrations. Their vision was deliberately divided into two distinct moods. “The sangeet and pre-wedding festivities could be exuberant, colourful and high-energy. In contrast, our pheras needed to feel intimate and quiet, which is very much like us,” Aishwarya explains. That philosophy shaped every decision, right down to the pastel palette. To manage the scale, style and size of the celebrations, the couple brought on Jueta Hemdev of Yolo Entertainment & Weddings on board.
A Glam Sangeet
The wedding celebrations opened with the sangeet at The St. Regis Mumbai on November 28. With both families commanding large social circles, the evening became an opportunity to bring together loved ones who would not all be present for the intimate pheras. “The property’s soaring banquet space, chandeliers and adjoining terrace was perfect for our celebrations. We also have a personal association with the hotel through the many OB-GYN conferences hosted there,” Arnav says.
Silver and red décor created a glamorous backdrop, while singer Kanika Kapoor and DJ Amit kept the dance floor busy. Aishwarya, who admits that neither she nor Arnav are particularly enthusiastic dancers, still rehearsed a two-minute performance with him. “Our friends and family flew in from around the world for rehearsals, turning preparation into an unexpected bonding exercise between the two families. It was amazing to see everyone interact and get along so well before the big day,” Arnav says.
For the occasion, Aishwarya wore a shimmering green Manish Malhotra concept sari and Arnav wore a black sherwani for the star-studded evening that welcomed names like Amisha Patel and Anu Malik. “It was perfect to dance the night away in,” she says.
The Pre-Wedding Festivities
The following day brought the haldi and mehndi at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, where the couple shifted gears from the glamorous sangeet to a vibrant celebration rooted in family heritage. Arnav’s father, Dr Hrishikesh Pai, is Maharashtrian, while his mother, renowned IVF specialist Dr Rishma Pai, hails from North India and is Sikh. Their shared heritage inspired the couple to weave elements of Punjab and Chandigarh into the pre-wedding festivities.
“Our theme was aptly titled ‘Welcome to Punjab’, complete with dhols, bhangra dancers, lassi and North Indian food. It was loud, colourful yet relaxed. Since we took the pared-down route for the big day to preserve the sanctity of the ceremony, we went all out for the pre-wedding celebrations,” Arnav says.
The bride-to-be’s mehndi look carried another layer of family history. “I wore a lehenga designed by my aunt. It was constructed from cut-outs of old saris belonging to my mother and nani. Each strip was different and transformed heirloom textiles into a one-of-a-kind bridal ensemble.”
The Mumbai Wedding
If the festivities before it were about energy and abundance, the wedding ceremony was about “our Maharashtrian heritage, family and not being loud.” Even the music was carefully considered, with Sanskrit shlokas and hymns taking precedence over Bollywood songs. The outdoor setting at The Taj Mahal Palace was the emotional centre of the wedding. Mumbai’s famously volatile weather had everyone stressing. “Nobody knew if it would rain, be too hot or too windy. But the skies had cleared for us, as if the angels from heaven knew we were going to get married. We could see the Gateway of India clearly as well as the ocean, and it felt divine,” Aishwarya says. The decor brought together soft florals in whites and purples, with a Ganpati idol welcoming guests at the entrance.
For Aishwarya, the presence of Ganpati was significant as the God of new beginnings. Her bridal entry was accompanied by Ganesh Pancharatnam, setting the tone for a sacred ceremony.
“I didn’t want a nauvari sari [a traditional Maharashtrian drape]. I wanted to be a modern bride, and I knew I wanted to go pastel with my lehenga,” she says. Her choice was a custom blush lehenga by JADE by Monica and Karishma, a soft, embellished silhouette that complemented the floral setting. The hand-embroidered, tone-on-tone ensemble was detailed with delicate mukaish baadla, intricate zardozi and French knots, creating a subtle play of texture and shimmer across the pastel canvas. From sketching to finishing, her custom masterpiece took almost 1,550 hours to complete.
The groom-to-be complemented her in an ivory and beige sherwani with intricate hand embroidery by Manish Malhotra. He accessories with a matching dupatta, turban and sarpech.
The mandap, too, drew inspiration from the Paithani sari, one of Maharashtra’s most recognisable ceremonial weaves. The reference was subtle and not literal, giving the structure a sense of regional identity and maintaining the understated aesthetic of the ceremony.
As Aishwarya walked towards Arnav, the atmosphere gave way to a memorable moment. “Arnav, being the emotional and kind man that he is, was teary-eyed when I walked down the aisle. Then seeing my parents, his parents, our grandparents, uncles, aunts, friends and cousins tearing up was an experience I will never forget. They had seen us for so many years, and they were crying tears of joy,” she says. For Arnav, the ceremony was also an opportunity to remember those who could not be there. “Another emotional moment was when we prayed to our loved ones who were no longer with us including my nani and dada-dadi and Aishwarya’s dadi. Having their photographs there made us feel that they were part of the day too,” adds Arnav.
The Star-Studded Cocktail Party
The final leg came with a sparkling cocktail party. Aishwarya changed into a shimmering Amit Aggarwal gown and Arnav chose a classic black tux for the occasion.
The evening saw Sushmita Sen, Poonam Dhillon and several other prominent names from the film, fashion and medical fraternity. It was here that the newlyweds shared their first dance as husband and wife, set to Perfect by Ed Sheeran, a fittingly understated close to a wedding that had, at every turn, chosen meaning over magnificence.
The wedding’s most treasured moments were captured by Seven Mantra Films, preserving the emotions and energy of the celebrations. “Working with Sneha Naravade was the cherry on top. We were on the same page from the very first meeting. She and her team were so enthusiastic and supportive. They wanted to click more and more pictures of us, and the pictures have come out stunning; ones we will treasure for life.”
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Dr Aishwarya Parulekar Pai
The Groom: Dr Arnav Pai
The Venue: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai and The St. Regis Mumbai
Photography & Videography: Seven Mantra Films
Wedding Planner: Yolo Entertainment & Weddings
Wedding Décor: Gurleen M Puri
Bride’s Outfits: JADE by Monica and Karishma, Amit Aggarwal and Manish Malhotra
Bride’s HMU: Lekha Shah and Ritika Kadam
Groom’s Outfits: Manish Malhotra
Entertainment: Kanika Kapoor, The Wedding Anchor Junaid Arif Currimbhoy, DJ Amit and Bosco Dsouza
