When fate brought two doctors together across continents, their love story blossomed into an elegant three-day celebration in the heart of London. Tejal and Samir’s wedding merged Indian traditions with modern sophistication across London’s most iconic venues, from the historic Rosewood London to the majestic Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, creating a multicultural celebration that honored their heritage and contemporary style.
Location: London, UK
Style: Modern Indian, chic, elegant
Time of planning: 6 months
Number of guests: 160
Setting: Ballroom
Season: Spring
Love knows no boundaries—a truth that became evident when fate brought together two doctors from opposite sides of the Atlantic. Despite working in the same Philadelphia hospital, it took a mutual friend and a New Year’s Eve introduction for their paths to cross. What followed was a beautiful testament to long-distance love, with regular flights between London and Philadelphia nurturing their growing connection.
Their proposal story perfectly captures their relationship’s spontaneous spirit. While a carefully planned Venice gondola proposal was foiled by a misplaced wallet (and a prematurely discovered ring), the actual moment came unexpectedly in London as she sipped her morning coffee – proving that sometimes the perfect moments are unplanned.
Location & Planning
Rosewood London‘s historic courtyard became the stage for centuries-old traditions reimagined through a modern lens. Rohita Pabla Events transformed the space into a seamless blend of cultural richness and contemporary sophistication, where every detail honored heritage and personal style.
The wedding ceremony at Rosewood London showcased the perfect balance of tradition and elegance. The courtyard’s historic facade created a magnificent setting for the baraat, while inside, the mandap became a focal point with its delicate ivory flowers and baby’s breath arrangements. For the reception, the ballroom transformed into a scene of timeless glamour. Candlelit tables featured sophisticated floral centerpieces, while suspended dove ornaments added a whimsical touch overhead. A mirror ballerina welcomed guests into the space, setting the tone for an evening that merged classical refinement with contemporary style.
Welcome Day
The day unfolded at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, where the Haldi ceremony took place in the sun-drenched terrace room overlooking the park’s lush greenery. Sandy D Makeup styled the bride’s hair in loose curls, intertwining fresh baby’s breath flowers that complemented her pastel Mahima Mahajan outfit and pink Manolo Blahnik shoes. As guests applied turmeric paste to bless the couple, they enjoyed a creative fusion of afternoon tea, where traditional English service met Indian flavors through Bombay sandwiches and masala chai.
The day culminated in a dazzling Sangeet, where the ballroom became a canvas of pastel hues and gold accents. The bride embodied modern elegance in a custom Seema Gujral ensemble – an antique silver two-piece with a striking bow-tie halter neck and emerald jewelry that caught the light as she danced. The groom matched her glamour in an embroidered black and silver sherwani by Frontier Raas. Family and friends took turns performing while live musicians kept the energy high and celebrations flowing into the night.
Bridal Look
For the ceremony, tradition met elegance in a Sabyasachi lehenga that told its own story in red, gold, and ivory shades. Sandy D Makeup created a minimalist look using the Sabyasachi by Estée Lauder collection, while intricate head jewelry and a gold veil crowned her simple bun. Amina Muaddi’s glass slipper heels added a touch of modern fairy tale to her ensemble. The groom cut a regal figure in an ivory Frontier Raas sherwani, his hand-tied turban completing the traditional look.
Ceremony
The wedding procession began as a traditional baraat, with the groom entering on a white horse accompanied by the energetic beats of Baja Beats‘s dhol players and trumpets. What happened next perfectly captured the couple’s playful spirit—the bride surprised everyone by joining the procession midway, creating an unexpected moment of joy that became the day’s most talked-about memory.
Throughout the three-day celebration, Yazmine May masterfully captured both the grandeur and intimate moments of Tejal and Samir’s multicultural wedding. Her lens found the perfect balance between documenting traditional Indian ceremonies and modern London glamour, from the intricate details of Tejal’s mehndi to the surprise baraat entrance. Her signature style brought out the warmth in every moment while maintaining the sophisticated elegance of the prestigious venues.
The ceremony space centered around an intimate mandap, where ivory florals and baby’s breath created an ethereal atmosphere. They exchanged vows, surrounded by their closest loved ones, bridging cultures and continents.
Decor & Setting
For the Sangeet, Rohita Pabla Events adorned the ballroom with pastel florals and gold leaf accents that complemented the room’s original architectural details, creating an ethereal atmosphere for the evening’s performances.
Moment Alone
Between ceremonies, the couple found quiet moments in Rosewood London’s hidden corners, where Yazmine May captured their joy against centuries-old architecture. These peaceful interludes allowed them to absorb the magic of their union while the city hummed beyond the hotel’s historic walls.
Reception
The evening unfolded like a symphony of elegance and joy. As guests entered the transformed ballroom, Abbie James, who played violin and piano by Nikul, created a sophisticated atmosphere for cocktail hour. Chakra served meticulously crafted hors d’oeuvres while champagne flowed and guests mingled beneath the softly glowing chandeliers.
The couple entered as newlyweds to thunderous applause, the bride now stunning in a custom rose gold one-shoulder gown by Seema Gujral that seemed to catch every shimmer of light.
As evening deepened into night, the celebration became an energetic party honoring both cultures. DJ Kabir and Kudos masterfully mixed contemporary hits with traditional Indian music, while Otis Lawrence added dimension with live saxophone and drums.
Advice from the couple:
• Trust your vendors to bring their expertise to your vision – they understand both heritage and modern style in ways you might never imagine.
• Your cultural traditions can be honored while still making room for spontaneous moments that feel true to who you are as a couple.
• Some of our most treasured memories came from breaking tradition, like joining the baraat – these unexpected choices become the stories you’ll tell for years to come.
PHOTOGRAPHER Yazmine May | PLANNER Rohita Pabla Events | VENUE Rosewood London, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park | VIDEOGRAPHER P.S. Visuals | FLORALS | MUAH Sandy D Makeup | DRESS Seema Gujral | SHOES Manolo Blahnik | CATERING Chakra | MUSIC DJ Kabir, Kudos, Baja Beats, Abbie James, Piano by Nikul, Otis Lawrence
