This Couple’s “Bollywood Glam” Wedding in California Is Proof That, Sometimes, Lying on Your Dating Profile Works

Like many modern couples’ love stories, Nitasha Patel and Krishna Gaglani’s began on a dating app—but unlike other contemporary romances, their first connection happened under a few false pretenses. Nitasha was living in California at the time, but decided to change the location on her Hinge profile to London. After making the switch, she matched with Krishna—whose London-based location was actually accurate—in April 2021. Once they started chatting, though, Nitasha came clean, and while she wasn’t completely forthcoming with her true place of residence, Krishna didn’t seem to mind being subjected to a bit of deception (as evidenced by their daily FaceTime calls). 

Four months later, the duo finally met in person after Nitasha made the trek to London. They continued to explore their connection when Krishna paid a two-month visit to California. About a year after their online meeting, Krishna got down on one knee at a hotel rooftop bar in Newport Beach, as the sunset colored the sky above them.

While conceptualizing their wedding weekend, Krishna had one particular venue in mind: her childhood home in Orange, California (and her grandparents’ house next door, which she used to extend the space for the reception). The lush greenery in both yards provided the perfect blank canvas for her “Bollywood glam” vision to take shape. Through luxe draping, crystal chandeliers, lucite accents, and elaborate floral displays, they converted the grassy area into an opulent oasis for each event.

From November 2 to November 4, 2024, the bride and groom hosted numerous wedding-related festivities for their Indian nuptials. Read on to see all of the extravagant details, with planning by Roselyne & Co. Events and photography by Lisette Gatliff.

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The day after they held the customary haldi, the future spouses continued the weekend-long affair with a mehndi party in the backyard of the bride’s childhood home. For the occasion, Nitasha donned a three-piece Manish Malhotra cream ensemble, featuring a metallic-embroidered cropped shirt, floral-appliquéd palazzo pants, and a sheer, floor-length vest with an embellished border. She wore her hair in a voluminous down-style and accessorized with plenty of sequined-studded jewels, plus a henna design—which was applied during the gathering. Krishna matched his bride in a cream-colored kurta.

The couple painted their mehndi party in vibrant tones of magenta, plum, and peach. High-top tables in velvet linens, lined with floral arrangements and tea candles, and printed benches peppered the space. Throughout the evening, each female guest received intricate henna art before dancing, mingling, and noshing on Indian “street food.”

For her ceremony getup, Nitasha had her eye on Rahul Mishra, so she flew to Mumbai with her mom for a mere 24 hours to see the designer’s offerings up close. After a day of browsing, the bride went with a custom lehenga, decked out in colorful floral designs and beaded accents. To personalize her outfit, Nitasha accessorized with pieces of jewelry from Zaveri & Co. and Bhindi Jewelers, two businesses that her family friends own. A matching veil and a pair of Valentino shoes also tied her ensemble together.

In the months leading up to the big day, Nitasha received a few skin treatments, including laser genesis and microneedling, to rejuvenate her complexion for a day-of glow. With a radiant base, she accentuated her eyes with thick liner and lashes and pink eyeshadow. To top off her glam look, the bride spritzed on Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris Gentle Fluidity (a scent she and Krishna picked out specifically for their wedding) and opted for a sparkly pink-and-white ombré manicure.

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Krishna tapped the same designer for his wedding attire, which consisted of a custom-made kurta with floral designs in hues that perfectly matched those in Nitasha’s outfit. He also sported two wedding gifts from his parents, a Rolex watch and a Cartier ring.

Before exchanging vows, the couple shared an intimate first look. “All the hard work that went into designing our looks and seeing each other all glammed up and about to become husband and wife was special,” Nitasha reminisces. 

After their photographer documented the moment in real time, the bride and groom posed for photos with their wedding party. Nitasha’s bridesmaids were clad in custom Rohini Bedi pieces in a light blue shade. “We picked the blue as an accent from my outfit,” Nitasha notes. “We thought it would contrast nicely. We also added sequins to give it a shiny and glitzy effect.”

The at-home ceremony was held in the same tented space as the mehndi party. This time, though, the setting boasted an acrylic mandap with a canopy of roses and hanging floral garlands, plus a grand chandelier that floated above. As Nitasha describes it, the ceremony setup was “floral and colorful yet modern.”

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During the baraat, the groom and his wedding party danced to the beat of Dhol drums, with the rest of his guests in tow. Nitasha watched the scene unfold from her childhood bedroom window, a memory that she says she’ll never forget. Once the groom and his group arrived at the house, Nitasha and her bridesmaids challenged them to a dance off.

Then, the service commenced. While Bollywood instrumental music played around them, Krishna walked down the aisle with his mother before Nitasha made her entrance alongside her brothers, male cousins, and maternal uncle. The two had a traditional Indian ceremony—apart from tapping Odesza for their recessional tune.

While the duo’s ceremony attire was bright and cheery, their reception outfits were grand and glamourous. For the second part of the affair, Nitasha changed into a silver sequined lehenga by Falguni Shane Peacock, which she paired with a jewelry set from her grandparents, rhinestone-clad Chanel sneakers, a smokey makeup look, and a regal hairstyle. Krishna looked dapper in a Hugo Boss tuxedo, adorned with monogrammed cufflinks.

Embellished with sleek designs and metallic accents, the reception site at the grandmother of the bride’s home coordinated with the newlyweds’ lavish looks. Assortments of white multi-petal flowers—some in three-foot vases—and glowing votive candles created an elegant, romantic atmosphere, while crystal glassware and lucite chiavari chairs added a modern flair. The lustrous chargers, mirrored tabletop, and blush linens evoked luxury. Nitasha was personally blown away by the transformation. “You would have had no idea half of the reception was on top of a pool!” she exclaims.

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After dining on Indian dishes, from chicken tikka masala and tandoori salmon to kadai paneer and dal tadka, guests savored a piece of cake in delectable flavors, like chocolate cake with mocha chip filling and marble cake with Oreo cream filling, from a four-tier confection with a cascading ruffled design. The sweets didn’t stop there: A donut bar was also on-site.

Surrounded by all of their loved ones and striking décor, the couple’s multi-day celebration was a highly memorable one. They do have just one regret, though: Not eating any of the dinner. “There was no time for us to eat, and they didn’t save us food at the end, and we were looking most forward to that,” Nitasha expresses. “We had insanely good food at our wedding. The guests still rave about it!”

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