This Hindu-Sikh wedding in Bali featured live painters, a fire paan station and a Maybach getaway
Harman Dev and Nikhil Sabharwal built a wedding shaped by long friendships, family jokes and a fondness for theatrical details that still felt distinctly their own
While travelling through Jaipur, Nikhil Sabharwal planned what Harman Dev thought was a simple photoshoot across the city’s forts and palaces. “I had no idea it was setting the stage for something bigger,” she laughs. That evening, she walked into a dreamy, Bollywood-inspired scene with dimly-lit candles, flowers and her favourite song playing softly. “When Nikhil got down on one knee and held out the ring, it felt straight out of a film,” she says. “It was everything I had imagined and more.” The couple, based in Perth, Australia, met during medical school in Queensland, where what started as a friendship slowly turned into something more.
For their wedding, the couple chose Bali, with all events, except the Sikh ceremony, held at the Hilton Resort in Nusa Dua. The celebrations began with a combined haldi and mehendi, where a floral shower moment and a rangoli created by cousins added personal touches. “By the end of it, most of our friends were in the pool,” Dev recalls. “It set the mood for the days ahead.”
She opted for a sharara by Gopi Vaid paired with jewellery from Kanyaadhan by Dhirajaayushi, while Sabharwal wore a yellow Twamev kurta with soft pink and blue detailing. Later, for her mehendi, Dev changed into an aquamarine corset lehenga by Mahima Mahajan with an organza skirt and heavily embellished dupatta, styled with jewellery from Vintage Snob. Sabharwal complemented the look in a pink and ivory linen satin printed kurta set, also by Mahima Mahajan.
The next day was the sangeet, centred around a bright dance floor framed by string lights and whimsical hanging florals and umbrellas. Dev had her choora and kaleera ceremonies before the jaago, which began on the beach and turned into a lively poolside celebration. The entertainment for the night included fire dancers and a menu filled with fun additions like a fire paan station. It ended on a high note when Sabharwal was thrown into the pool by his friends, who promptly jumped in after him. For this function, Dev wore a custom chanderi lehenga by Abhinav Mishra, rich with mirror and zardozi work, paired with Amama Jewels. Sabharwal chose a custom navy raw silk indowestern jacket by Sammohan, intricately hand-embroidered with palm trees, peacocks and birds, layered over a tussar kurta and pants.
The next morning, their Sikh wedding took place at Puri Bhagawan, a serene clifftop venue in Nusa Dua with sweeping ocean views. The Anand Karaj featured soft pastel décor, ombré cushions and sheer drapes that created a light, airy feel. The laavan were performed in a pergola overflowing with fresh florals. Dev wore a sage green Frontier Raas lehenga from the Taraasa collection, styled with two dupattas and jewellery by Raabta by Rahul, while Sabharwal donned a richly hand-embroidered Diwan Sahib sherwani with a pink turban adorned with jewels and a kalgi. “One of my favourite moments was our getaway,” Dev shares. “It was a Maybach, pushed by my brothers.”
That evening, the couple transitioned into their Hindu wedding at the Hilton’s Lower Cascade. Set against the ocean, the ceremony was decorated with white florals, greenery, chandeliers and candlelight, which created a soft, romantic glow. Dev walked in with a red veil to a custom song, while Sabharwal made a regal entrance of his own. “The varmala felt magical,” she says, “with flower blasters and colour fireworks behind us.” Dev wore a red ROQA lehenga detailed with palm trees, palaces and birds, paired with Raabta by Rahul jewellery. Sabharwal wore an ivory Matsya sherwani inspired by the Tree of Life, finished with a matching safaa.
The celebrations concluded with a reception that featured a playful “ring-the-bell” cocktail—ring once, and a gloved hand appeared through the wall, offering a drink. Live painters also created personalised portraits for guests to take home. Dev wore an ivory and gold hand-embellished lehenga by Swish by Dolcy & Simran, paired with Paisley Pop jewellery, while Sabharwal chose a black tuxedo by Seema Gujral with tonal bead embroidery.
Throughout the festivities, Dev wore a different pair of Punjabi juttis for each event, carefully chosen to match the colours and detailing of her outfits. “It was my way of keeping things traditional but personal,” she says. Some moments stood out above all else—walking back down the aisle as guests showered them with flowers, the dance performances at the sangeet. “After ten years together,” Dev shares, “finally experiencing our dream wedding with the people we love was a feeling beyond anything we could have imagined.”
Raabta By Shrey Bhagat1/21
Raabta By Shrey Bhagat2/21
Raabta By Shrey Bhagat3/21
Raabta By Shrey Bhagat4/21
