This wedding in Istanbul brought Indian rituals to the edge of the Bosphorus

It began in the autumn of 2021, at a dinner in Manhattan that was meant to be an ordinary evening among friends and family. By the end of it, Ankur Patel was certain this was the start of something lasting. Sagiri Gidwani, thoughtful and measured, took a little longer. What followed were evenings at her favourite restaurants, long walks through Central Park and puppy playdates with Patel’s dog. The rhythm between them built steadily. In the summer of 2022, at a small Italian restaurant in the West Village, they made their relationship official.

Two years later, Patel proposed on the Côte d’Azur. Gidwani had flown directly from a work trip in Milan and wasn’t expecting anything more than a holiday. On a terrace at Château de La Chèvre d’Or in Èze–the sea stretched across the horizon, a brief shower passing through–Patel went down on one knee.

When they began planning their wedding, they knew they wanted a celebration rooted in Indian tradition yet shaped by the life they had built in New York. Istanbul emerged as the place where all of it could coexist. Once they saw Çırağan Palace Kempinski, with its Bosphorus views and blend of heritage and modernity, the decision to have their wedding in Istanbul was made.

They took on the planning themselves. Gidwani shaped the design and visual language with an instinct sharpened by years in luxury communications. Patel built the musical structure of the weekend, curating playlists that blended afrohouse, alternative RnB, garba and Punjabi drill. Their families shaped the menus, and their event designer, Sebnem Mardini, translated every detail on-ground.

Before Istanbul, they each had their own haldi ceremonies. The wedding in Istanbul opened with an intimate mehndi. Guests received Jaipur block-print totes filled with Turkish snacks and small travel essentials. For the welcome dinner the next evening at Madhu’s Istanbul, they kept the tone warm and familiar. There was a live pani puri station, a Darbuka performance, a belly dancer and a room full of people ready to start the weekend. Gidwani wore a mint-green Tamanna Punjabi Kapoor cape sharara with heirloom jewellery. Patel’s Tarun Tahiliani bandi set picked up the same palette.

The Sangeet took place the following night at the Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus. Guests arrived by boat after a slow sail along the water. The terrace had been transformed with draped fabrics, lanterns, terracotta details and canopied lounges. The dress code, “Colours of Istanbul”, filled the night with saturated tones. The menu drew from Turkish and Mediterranean flavours with Asian touches. Gidwani wore an ivory Anushree Reddy organza lehenga with pearl work. Patel chose a midnight-navy velvet Varun Bahl bandhgala with embroidered detailing. Bollywood music moved the evening along, with performances from family and friends.