This Udaipur wedding was rooted in Maharashtrian traditions

There are love stories that begin with a chance encounter, and then there are those that seem to have been written long before anyone thought to call them one. For Shivani Wadettiwar and Abhisar Agne, the latter rings true. Neighbours in Nagpur, with families who had known each other for years, their relationship grew from a familiarity that was always there. There was no grand beginning, just the gradual realisation that someone who had long felt like home could also become a life partner.

That sense of history and belonging became the thread running through their three-day wedding at Taj Aravali Resort & Spa, Udaipur, from May 12 to 14. Grand in scale yet personal at every turn, the celebrations brought the couple’s Maharashtrian roots, shared memories and individual personalities into the heart of Rajasthan.

A celebration of memories

The festivities began with a Gatsby-inspired welcome dinner, where retro glamour, warm lighting and personalised storytelling created an atmosphere that felt cinematic without losing its intimacy. It was less about showcase and more about setting the mood for a celebration built around the couple’s story.

The carnival haldi offered a playful departure, drawing on the nostalgia of millennial childhood through a palette of lavender and red. Guests found churan counters and old-school tattoo bars, while a speciality coffee experience flown in from Nagpur brought a literal taste of home to Udaipur.

For the sangeet, the setting transformed into an immersive underwater universe, complete with submarines, ocean-inspired details, reflective surfaces and sculptural installations. Yet the evening’s most memorable moments were decidedly more emotional than elaborate. Shivani’s performance for her parents became a touching tribute, before Abhisar surprised her by singing for her in return.

The wedding ceremony brought the celebrations back to their roots, remaining firmly grounded in Maharashtrian tradition. Specially invited Marathi artists performed live Mangalashtaks, creating a sense of spiritual stillness and cultural familiarity amid the resort's grandeur.

Dressed for the occasion

The wardrobe moved effortlessly between contemporary glamour and Indian couture. Shivani wore Mukul Arora of Ejaz Couture for the wedding, Neeta Lulla for the sangeet, The Little Black Bow for the carnival haldi, Baradari x Darzi for the welcome dinner and Sabyasachi for the reception. Abhisar’s looks included Nikita Gujral for the wedding, Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika for the sangeet, Amit Arora for the haldi, Sarah & Sandeep for the welcome dinner and Raghuvendra Rathore for the reception.

Ultimately, what made this Udaipur wedding memorable was not simply its scale, but its sense of self. Every ritual, song, flavour and detail carried a piece of where Shivani and Abhisar came from. Rajasthan provided the setting; Nagpur provided the soul. The result was a wedding that felt grand without ever becoming impersonal, a celebration of two people choosing to turn a lifetime of familiarity into forever.

Image credits: Knottingbells

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