Charu and Aishwarya, Taj Mahal Lucknow
The couple always wanted a wedding with a royal touch, and their shared love for Lucknow led them to tie the knot at Taj.
Charu and Aishwarya’s love survived despite a long-distance relationship when he went abroad to study. They tied the knot in their hometown at the regal Taj Mahal Lucknow, and the special moments were captured in beautiful frames by Weddingsutra Favorite – Gautam Khullar Photography. Bride Charu shares some highlights of the festivities here.
How They Met
Charu shares, “We met eight years ago in New Delhi, and felt an instant connection. We just understood each other and soon realized that we were soulmates. About four years ago, Aishwarya moved to the US to pursue his Master’s degree, but the distance only made our love stronger. He always says he knew he wanted to marry me from the first time we met, so for us the decision to take the plunge was a happy one!”
Wedding Venue
The pair always wanted a wedding with a royal touch, and their shared love for Lucknow led them to tie the knot there. “We both hail from the city of Lucknow and we believe it was destined for us to get married there! The Taj Mahal Lucknow is one of the few properties of the Taj Group to be accredited with the ‘Mahal’ title, so it was our first choice!”
Wedding Planning
When it came to the wedding theme and planning, Charu had complete clarity about what she wanted. “For the wedding, I wanted to go with the classic crimson and gold theme, and it was executed perfectly by Shamsisons. My makeup artists, Sneha Charan and Ajay Maurya were brilliant and I would happily endorse them for all other brides. The team of Gautam Khullar Photography took beautiful pictures of our celebrations and it was a treat working with them.”
Wedding Functions
Mehndi
The mehndi was a traditional and breezy affair with Charu making happy memories with her buddies as she got henna patterns done on her hands. The decor followed a kite theme, with bold red colors serving as a backdrop. The bride looked radiant in a soft coral lehenga as she basked in the sunshine with a pair of sunglasses. Adding a pop of color to her outfit was an emerald drop necklace, dangling earrings, and hairpins on her side-swept braid. With the beats of the drums, Charu and her loved ones had a great time dancing to their heart’s content.
Sangeet
The sangeet was a glitzy occasion where all the family members of the couple, including the bride and groom, set the stage on fire. The flashing lights reflected off Charu’s peach lehenga studded with sequins as she twirled on the stage and showed off her best moves. Contrasting her look was Aishwarya in his deep blue velvet bandhgala. The decor was key to setting the mood right with its colorful lights that inspired everyone to dance.
Haldi
After the rocking sangeet, the haldi was a fairly calm affair that saw Charu sharing merry moments with her friends as they smeared her with turmeric. Staying true to tradition, she dressed in a yellow sari that complemented her complexion perfectly. Floral jewellery adorned her forehead, neck, and wrists, and she had a great time smearing turmeric paste on her friends too.
Wedding
The wedding stayed true to its ‘Royal Crimson and Gold’ theme with palatial decor and twinkling lights. The bride looked radiant in her dark red lehenga with gold and pink floral embroidery. She went fairly light on the jewellery with a statement necklace, a minimalistic nose ornament and a ‘maang tikka.’ Aishwarya followed the Rajputana tradition and walked in wearing a white and golden sherwani with a dark red shawl to match his bride. He also carried a sword for this ceremony. The antique tapestries and chandeliers added an old-world charm to the venue and enhanced the regal ambiance of the event.
Advice for Couples
“Don’t get too overwhelmed with the planning and just enjoy the process. Bask in all the attention and love! Nothing is more important than enjoying your wedding to the fullest.”
The Wedding Makers:
Venue: Taj Mahal Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Decor: Shamsisons
Groom’s Outfits: Diwan Saheb (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Asiana Couture (Wedding)
Jewellery: Lala Jugal Kishore Jewellers
Makeup: Sneha Charan, Ajay Maurya
Photography: Gautam Khullar Photography
