HELLO! India Exclusive: From rattan palms to mezzanine dining, the making of Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju's haldi ceremony

At what is being touted to India's "wedding of the year", HELLO! India got an exclusive look inside Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju's haldi ceremony—an intimate yet spectacular pre-wedding event held at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur. With the hotel’s iconic lily-dotted courtyards and waterfront terraces as the backdrop, the celebration unfolded like a sun-washed daydream curated by event designer Ambika Gupta, whose team transformed the heritage space into a warm landscape of rattan, marigolds, and handcrafted details.

“One standout element from the haldi ceremony this morning was an auto crafted entirely from rattan (cane),” Gupta shared with HELLO! India, as her team added the final touches before guests arrived. “For the DJ booth, we recreated a rattan suitcase, and a Tarun Tahiliani–inspired, intricately hand-embroidered fabric panel; which was designed just for Netra and Vamsi and became their couple backdrop," she added.

From the moment guests stepped into the palace courtyard, rattan palm trees with sculpted fronds and woven coconuts and roses from the turquoise pools welcomed them. Striped ivory-and-brown parasols framed the lounge areas while pastel cushions, and low tables were framed with lemons, marigolds, and artisanal candles. Bougainvillea trailed down the arched pavilions, adding soft bursts of colour against the white marble façade. 

A live violinist stationed near the jetty terrace played contemporary melodies as guests drifted through the venue. Ambika adds, "We designed a two-level seating arrangement, including a mezzanine to accommodate additional dining.

 

 

 

 

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(Also Read: These 7 palaces-turned-hotels in Rajasthan allow guests to live like royalty)

“For the mehendi, we created massive life-size hot air balloons, and an actual-size artistic carousel,” Gupta revealed. “Life-size elephants adorned with emerald pendants will also be part of the setup. Cirque du Soleil will be performing for the special event.”

As the haldi concluded and the palace terraces glowed in the late-morning sun, one thing was clear: Netra and Vamsi’s wedding weekend is all set to surprise, delight, and linger.

Interview by Dayle Pereira-Alemao

(Also Read: Inside Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju’s Udaipur wedding: Jennifer Lopez, an island palace on Lake Pichola and more)