Neha married Amit on 5th September 2015.
She says: “We met in New York where we were both on business internships. We lived in the same apartment building and quickly became part of the same friendship circle. After a few months, it became clear we liked each other as more than just friends and began dating.
The following year, we came home to London, but then worked on long projects in different countries, with Amit in Helsinki while I was in Johannesburg. The time we spent apart only drew us closer together. We both love to travel, and in 2014 we planned a trip to the Dominican Republic where we stayed in an incredible resort with our own private beach.
Amit organised a private dinner at the end of the pier on our beach, lit by candles and strewn with fresh flowers. Amit had even pre-ordered all our food to minimise interruptions from the waiters! At the end of this beautiful dinner, Amit popped the question.”
THE BIG DAY
“The second we set foot in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, we knew it was something special. The beautiful Ballroom with its golden gilding, floods of natural light, and gorgeous view of Hyde Park was utterly perfect. It’s so beautiful on its own so we didn’t want to add much decor to it.
We chose an intricate wooden mandap with a long white carpet along the aisle and fresh flowers.” 
BRIDAL OUTFIT
“For the wedding, I wanted to wear a traditional Gujarati panetar, but I also incorporated small, decorative kalire into my outfit because Amit’s family is Punjabi. I wanted to look traditional and bridal, but not OTT, which is why I chose an antique gold for the work on my outfit.
I wore my mum's wedding jewellery for the ceremony, which I absolutely adore. For the reception, I wanted something much lighter so I could dance! I loved my lengha by JADE by Monica and Karishma. It was tissue-light, but looked so unique and special. And best of all, it was so comfortable!”
PHOTOGRAPHY
“I can’t recommend Bhavna Barratt highly enough. We chose her for her reportage and down-to-earth style of photography, as well as her kind nature – we got on really well and I’d now call her a friend.
We were keen to avoid staged shots - we wanted our photographer to capture the moments, not create them! Bhavna was more than a photographer, she acted like my sister on the day. Any problems I had she fixed right away. I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without her.” 
WEDDING WHEELS
“We both love cars, and as the first car that was ever produced in India, the Ambassador was a perfect choice for the day. It was quite a task to find one in London, as there are literally only a handful in the UK! It looked beautiful and our family and friends loved it.”
THE RECEPTION
“We wanted a central London venue, and the Natural History Museum has always been our favourite building in London so it was perfect. Plus Dippy the Diplodocus doesn't need much dressing up!
Hintze Hall is a beautiful space, so we were keen to avoid anything gaudy and spent a long time choosing the right suppliers. We wanted to keep the look classic.
We worked with a great production company to create stunning architectural lighting, which brought to life the beauty of the hall. The lighting was key in transforming the space from a public museum to a wedding reception venue. We chose wild and free looking flowers, and a huge starcloth that fell from ceiling to floor, behind the DJ and dancefloor.
We were so pleased with how it turned out, and had the best night of our lives!”
THE BRIDE: Neha Lakhani, 30
THE GROOM: Amit Dhir, 30
MARRIED: 5th September 2015
THE VENUE: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and The Natural History Museum
PHOTOGRAPHY: Bhavna Barratt, www.bhavnabarratt.com, +44(0)7873 877 824