This Pretty Wedding Had View Of The Taj, A 15 Ft Veil, & A Lehenga With Pockets!

When your wedding has the Taj Mahal as a literal backdrop, a lehenga with pockets and a love story that started at Stanford—how could it be anything but iconic? Meet Abhilasha, the bride who broke the "traditional" mold in the sassiest way possible. She first locked eyes with Patrick during their master’s induction in 2019, had her heart set on Hotel Taj Khema since she was 18, and chose a red Ridhi Mehra lehenga that gave regal meets Gen-Z main character energy (yes, complete with pockets!). From a Diwali chat that turned into a dance floor proposal to planning a cross-cultural celebration with international guests, this is one wedding where every detail was steeped in meaning—and a whole lot of love!

Meet Abhilasha and Patrick

"We met while pursuing our masters‘ degree at Stanford University in the US in 2019. During induction programme, we sat next to each other. Three months later - Diwali - Patrick showed up to the festive celebration at the university and we talked at length for the first time. Flash forward to 1 February 2020 - during a dance party - Patrick finally asked me out on a date. I was initially a bit unsure because of our cultural differences, but a few days later, I decided to get to know him better. But the pandemic had other plans. After 3 years of distance, several Schengen and Indian visas, thousands of miles, and innumerable precious moments of togetherness, I can say that dancing with him on that night of February 2020 was the best decision of my life!", the bride tells us.

Mehendi & Haldi

Sangeet

Wedding

About The Wedding

Our wedding took place on January 5, 2024. We had a wedding that I had dreamt of since I was 18 - a ceremony with the Taj Mahal in the backdrop. As a young girl, when I visited Hotel Taj Khema (a government property next to the Taj Mahal) for an event, I decided that I would like to get married there if I married for love. Four years ago, I met Patrick while pursuing my Masters at Stanford University. He brought immense happiness and peace to my life, and I knew soon that he was the one. A year ago, when we decided to get married, I took him to see the Taj Mahal and Hotel Taj Khema. He approved of my choice immediately! I always wanted to have a red wedding lehenga for my pheras, however, I did not want to be a traditional bride. I wanted to be a fun and sassy bride. After scouring through several designer stores in Delhi, I came across my wedding dress at Ridhi Mehra’s Mehrauli store. Again, it was love at first sight. The pockets in the skirt were a cherry on top. As soon as I tried on the dress, it made me feel sassy yet graceful - exactly how I wanted to feel. I added a 15-foot long veil to add a bit of drama to my bridal entry. My amazing bridesmaids held my veil and walked by my side as I walked towards the love of my life. Our wedding, like all weddings, was a lot of work. However, an additional ounce of work involved in our cross-border wedding was receiving all our international guests. Patrick and I planned each event with all our love and enthusiasm, and the result was dreamy.

About The WedMeGood App

I did use the WedMeGood App! I searched the WMG app for the photographers, makeup artists and also, priest! I found great options on the app and it was really helpful!

Vendor Reviews

Venues: Hotel Taj Khema (Wedding)

As I said, the biggest selling point of Taj Khema is the view of the Taj Mahal. It is mesmerising. However, I would say that the venue limits you in many ways due to many restrictions, such as no cars allowed, no drones allowed, etc. But the view is totally worth it!

Makeup Artist: Divya Luthra

My makeup artist was Divya Luthra from Agra. I cannot recommend her enough! She was understanding, calm and accommodating. She met with me before the wedding and we discussed the looks for different events. She had great ideas, and the final look was amazing. I couldn’t believe that I felt so beautiful and confident, and that with such minimal makeup! 

Photography: Joint Production★ 4.8

They were mind blowing. They were so accommodating, and they made sure that we got our beautiful couple shoots in all the chaos. Shitij was especially amazing with the bridal shoot - he understood my vision and captured some beautiful candids before and during the ceremony. 

Vendors: Venues: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Agra (Haldi and Accomodation), KNCC (Kunjamal Nationwide Convention Center) (Cocktail), Hotel Taj Khema (Wedding) | Makeup Artist: Divya Luthra | Photography: Joint Production★ 4.8 | Bridal Outfits: Ridhi Mehra★ 4.6 (Wedding) and Shantanu Nikhil★ 4.7 (Cocktail)