A Telugu-Punjabi wedding in Spain with its own Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara moment
Damini Chodagam and Arjun Arora hosted 150 loved ones across rooftops, a Spanish masia, a centuries-old castle
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In the first two years of dating, Damini Chodagam and Arjun Arora took spontaneous trips around the world. When it came time to plan their wedding, they wanted that same sense of adventure to shape it. “We knew we wanted our wedding to be a vibrant destination with great food and culture. After rewatching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (probably for the hundredth time) we both immediately thought Spain would be the perfect setting.”
Chodagam had never been; Arora had, and insisted she would love it. They considered Marbella, Valencia and Barcelona before flying out on short notice to walk through shortlisted venues. Days were spent touring properties with their planners from Dyana Dessar Luxury Weddings. Evenings were reserved for paella, tapas and wine. When they stepped into Castell de Sant Marçal, the decision was made. “I could already picture myself walking down the aisle,” says Chodagam.
The wedding took place across three days in and around Barcelona, beginning with a welcome dinner on the rooftop of Hotel Marina Badalona. The following morning’s haldi was held in the same open-air setting, overlooking the marina. The mood board for the event had called for soft blues with flashes of yellow, lemons and ocean references. In practice, that translated into a simple lemon installation set against the sea and a palette drawn from the sky.
Chodagam wore a light blue asymmetrical appliqué lehenga by Aisha Rao. Arora matched her in a hand-embroidered sheer kurta set. She kept her jewellery minimal, choosing diamond studs passed down from Arora’s nani and pairing them with a haath phool. “As soon as everyone had finished applying haldi on us, we were handed two bottles of champagne to pop,” Chodagam says. “Before you knew it, it turned into a rooftop dance party.”
The sangeet at Masia Can Magí drew directly from the film that inspired their destination choice. The masia itself, with mosaic mirrors, brick interiors and a deep red wooden door, required little intervention. Centrepieces incorporated vibrant florals and fruit, and menus highlighted Spanish cuisine. Guests were greeted by a sign that read, “Dance till your feet hurt, because zindagi na milegi dobara.”
Chodagam chose a gold and black metal foil lehenga by Krésha Bajaj, detailed with blue glass bead embroidery and a blouse constructed with winged architectural shoulders. Sculptural earrings and a cuff by Deepa Gurnani were designed in the same spirit as the blouse. Arora wore a beige bandhgala by Shantnu Nikhil with intricate zardozi embroidery, layered over a deep V-neck georgette kurta.
The entertainment for their wedding in Spain extended beyond a DJ set. María del Fernández, the singer of Señorita in the film was brought in from Málaga to perform. “The minute we decided on Spain for our wedding, we knew the song had to be incorporated somehow,” Chodagam says. In a moment inspired by the film, Arora, Chodagam’s brother and her best friend stepped forward as the trio while she sang. “By the end, every guest was on their feet, singing along.”
The wedding ceremony took place at Castell de Sant Marçal. The design brief was a garden party set against the castle’s structure. Satin-draped elements formed oversized floral shapes around the mandap. Calla lilies were interspersed with lilac tones, a nod to Arora’s favourite colour. After the ceremony, lunch was served directly in front of the castle, with tables dressed in purple alliums and surrounded by tall crystal chandeliers.
Chodagam wore a lilac-pink lehenga by Anushree Reddy with intricate zardozi embroidery. Her grandmother gifted her a Victorian-style kundan polki set with matching jhumkas. Arora’s ivory sherwani was embroidered in soft zardozi and finished with light piping. The sherwani carried an additional layer of meaning: his mother, who has worked in fashion for over three decades, designed it herself. “Watching her bring that dream to life was incredibly special to me,” he says.
Their ceremony integrated Punjabi and Telugu traditions. Chodagam’s mama selected and gifted her a chooda adapted to feel authentic to her. During the Jeelakarra Bellam ritual, the pandit aligned the timing precisely with the muhurat. Arora tied two mangalsutras around her neck—one custom-made by her grandmother in Hyderabad featuring traditional gold discs and black nallapusalu beads, and another designed by her mother-in-law with black beads and a diamond centre. “It felt incredibly fitting,” Chodagam says. “My family, who I will always be connected to, coming together with my new family.”
The reception was held at La Baronia, an estate designed by a collaborator of Antoni Gaudí. The interiors include historic artwork, fireplaces and grand chandeliers. The couple wanted low lighting, with tapered candles embedded into sculptural mounds of salt to cast a glow across the room.
Chodagam’s first reception look was an ivory sequinned concept sari by Manish Malhotra with a long trail and winged back detail. “My mom actually helped me find it,” she says. “She saw it on the mannequin when we were wedding shopping in Hyderabad and told me instantly, ‘that’s the one.’” Diamond studs and a tennis necklace from Raj Jewels sat alongside her two-tone Cartier Panthère watch. Later, she changed into a sequin-embellished mini dress by Nadine Merabi. Arora wore a velvet Giorgio Armani tuxedo flecked with glitter.
