In Mumbai’s bustle, a temple wedding amidst the chime of bells

In the autumn of 2024, friends of Mallika and Abhishek Advani introduced them to each other. They believed Mallika, a textile designer and currently the features editor at an interiors magazine, and Abhishek, founder of menswear label Advani London Bombay, would be perfect together given their shared creative backgrounds.

The matchmaking worked. The couple married the following spring in an intimate city wedding spanning five events. Featuring a Saltburn-inspired welcome dinner, a retro 1950s sangeet, and an intimate temple ceremony, the wedding drew on the Mumbai-based couple’s shared love for design and also for the city they call home. The couple spoke to The Nod about putting together their celebrations in six weeks.

The proposal

Abhishek: The subject [of marriage] came up before there was any formal proposal. We started talking about it in January and realised we had both known for a while that this was it; we wanted to be together. We knew we wanted to get married this year, and the timeline would either be March—to align with the start of spring—or December.

Mallika: But when Abhishek proposed in February [2025], it still came as a big surprise.

Abhishek: We had already spoken to our families and gotten formally engaged, so I knew a traditional proposal wouldn’t quite fit. It had to be a surprise, and something deeply personal. So, we planned a quick escape from wedding planning to Abode in Colaba. I had flowers, including jasmine and mogra (‘mallika’ in Sanskrit) and bought her a silk robe. When she tried the robe on, her hand found the box. Inside was the ring I designed with her jeweller. I wanted something classic with an avant-garde twist, so I settled on a classic marquise diamond set with a delicate, unconventional halo. Thankfully, she loved it!

The planning

Mallika: Since we were both clear about the kind of wedding we wanted, we knew we could put it together quickly and keep it intimate. Thankfully, our families agreed and felt confident about the timeline, which was six weeks.

Abhishek: We were both very involved in the planning, guest lists, and decor. It really felt like our first creative project together. Mallika is a master list-maker, and I prefer to work more with the flow, with less structure and more spontaneity. In many ways we balanced each other out. Aesthetically, we share a strong overlap. If we had to distill it, we’d call the theme ‘classic with an avant-garde twist’, drawing from the old while innovating with the new.

The events

Abhishek: We had five events over four days, all in Mumbai and either near home or at home. Our welcome dinner at The Clearing House was part Oxford dinner, part Mumbai after-hours. We drew inspiration from the cult film Saltburn and went for dark, decadent decor: vintage silverware, tapered candles, crystal glassware filled with velvety cockscomb flowers, and mounds of cut fruit scattered with silver confetti. Lighting and music revolved around ’80s disco. The dress code echoed that—it was suits, sequins, shine.

Mallika: Instead of a traditional mehendi, we had a flower ceremony at my home, and then day three was the retro equivalent of a 1950s sangeet, with a traditional Sindhi singer and a band performing folk and old Bollywood songs hosted by Abhishek’s family at their home. The afternoon ended with a family jam session around the piano.

Abhishek: The wedding took place at Laxmi Narayan Temple, Tejpal, Gamdevi. It was also where Mallika’s grandparents married, which made it especially meaningful. A temple wedding is sacred and authentic. We had been to so many weddings in luxury hotels and venues, and it felt like it was time to come back to our roots, to something closer to tradition. As soon as we stood up for the pheras in front of our 350 guests, the temple bells rang. It was a moment of blessed synchronicity that we’ll never forget!

Mallika: We didn’t want a conventional reception, so this became dinner and dancing. The Willingdon Club is where we went on many dates, so it felt very fitting to end the celebrations on familiar ground!

The looks

Abhishek: We decided to work on our looks together for each event, which made the process collaborative and fun. We didn’t want our looks to match exactly but to feel like they’re part of the same story. My family too, who are very particular about their clothes, wanted their looks for each event to feel cohesive and thoughtful, and in harmony with mine.

Mallika: At the disco evening, I wore a custom backless, ankle-length dress by Sharnita Nandwana. It was Abhishek who suggested the silhouette. At the flower ceremony, it was a chartreuse lehenga and shirt by Payal Khandwala. I saw her work at Ensemble and was immediately drawn to the bold colours and sharp edges. My mum loved it too, so both of us, and my sister, ended up wearing looks from her.

Abhishek: Mallika suggested that I wear my bespoke Advani London Bombay shawl tuxedo for the disco night, and I wore my own brand again for the wedding day. Working with other grooms has shown me how easy it is to default to classic menswear, especially when you’re investing in something meant to feel timeless. But I wanted something completely original, something with layers. The final look was a silk mundu with a red border and a matching angavastram, my Advani London Bombay signature white shirt, and a cream chikankari bundi that had a set of gold and crystal buttons belonging to Mallika’s grandfather. I completed the look with a watch belonging to my grandfather. Each element held meaning: Kerala, where I reconnected with my spiritual and creative roots, and London, where I lived for half my life and launched my brand.

Mallika: For the wedding I wore a gold net sari by Simone Handcrafted. I wanted that lightness for a morning ceremony. Simone designs her own motifs, which meant we could custom-create something new, and her embroidery is extremely refined and delicate. I’m very, very particular, but I knew that with the time frame we had, I would have to somehow let go a little. I’ve always been drawn to the elegance of Chinoiserie leaves and florals, and, if I had more time, I would have drawn the motifs myself! (In this case, I sent Simone references, mostly pulled from de Gournay wallpaper.) Each motif was hand-beaded, with sequins added in for light sparkle.

Abhishek: My advice for grooms is to always wear something old alongside something new. Or wear a classic suit in a slightly offbeat cut or fabric. And always keep spare shirts as backup in case you need to change.