Content Creator Arissa Khan's Nikkah Was A Lesson In Maximalism

Steeped in old-world romance, cultural throwback, and quiet opulence, model-turned-content creator Arissa Khan and Luqman Ebrahim's Nikkah unfolded like a cinematic ode to heritage and intimacy. From an heirloom necklace dating back to the 1800s and mirror-worked Mehendi looks to soulful performances by the Sabri Brothers and carefully revived Afghani and Awadhi traditions, every detail carried emotional and generational significance. In conversation with Manifest, Arissa reflects on creating a wedding rooted not in trends, but in memory, craftsmanship, ritual, and the enduring beauty of culture.

Manifest: How was the wedding planning process, and how did you decide on the theme, overall vibe, venue, music, and food?

Arissa Khan: For us, the wedding was never about spectacle alone; it was about identity. We wanted every function to feel like stepping into a different chapter of a larger story rooted in culture, memory, and old-world romance. The Mehendi was imagined as The Garden of Becoming— playful, feminine, and alive with colour. Olive greens, salmon pink drapes, mirrors, floral fountains, and carved watermelons created a surreal dreamscape that felt both whimsical and deeply nostalgic. My custom mirror-worked topi by ITRH, styled alongside Mohit Rai and Ridhi, became one of the defining pieces of the celebration.

The Nikkah was the emotional heart of the wedding. Luqman and I consciously returned to our roots - an Afghani bride and an Awadhi groom. At a time when weddings often lean into trends, we wanted ours to feel archival and timeless. We worked closely with Rimple & Harpreet to create looks that felt inherited rather than designed. The music, the Sufi dancers, the Sabri Brothers performing live, everything was chosen to create an atmosphere of spiritual beauty and cultural depth.

The Walima became our final love letter - midnight blue, stars, candlelight, and silence softened by music. It was regal but intimate, almost celestial in feeling.

Even the food across functions reflected heritage slow-cooked Awadhi influences, Mahal-recipes for the dessert by my mother-in-law, old-school Muslim hospitality, and dishes that carried emotional familiarity for our families. Every detail was deeply intentional.

M: Tell us more about the clothes, make-up, and jewellery you wore for different functions.

AK: Every look carried emotion before fashion. For the Mehendi, I wanted movement, mirrors, and joy while wearing my mother’s bridal jewellery as an homage. The look felt youthful but still rooted in craftsmanship. The olive tones against the salmon decor created this beautiful old-subcontinent palette that felt cinematic.

The Nikkah look was deeply personal. Alongside the custom archival ensemble by Rimple & Harpreet, I wore an heirloom necklace dating back to the 1800s, a piece rich in history and sentiment. Wearing something that was passed on to the next generation completely changed the emotional weight of dressing as a bride. It no longer felt like styling; it felt like carrying memory. Beauty-wise, I wanted skin, softness, and restraint. Nothing overly constructed. Sonam Chandna Sagar helped me achieve the look.  Just timeless glamour that still felt human in photographs and in person.

For the Walima, we leaned fully into drama - midnight blue, crystals scattered like constellations, and jewellery that felt almost celestial. It was about ending the wedding not in excess, but in quiet grandeur.

M: Was there a particular moment or memory that defined the ethos of your wedding?

AK: Yes - the moment we realised we didn’t want to perform modernity for the sake of it. Somewhere in the planning process, we both kept returning to the same feeling: legacy matters. Culture matters. Ritual matters. That became the soul of the wedding. The Sabri Brothers singing live during the Nikkah while Sufi dancers moved through the space felt almost transcendent. It no longer felt like an event; it felt like history, prayer, and love existing together in one room.

M: How was the proposal?

AK: The proposal was incredibly intimate. It wasn’t loud or performative; it was deeply us. What made it unforgettable wasn’t extravagance, but certainty. There was a calmness in that moment that felt bigger than romance. It felt like coming home to each other.

M: What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done for each other?

AK: I think the most romantic thing we’ve done for each other is choosing patience, honesty and intentionality in a generation that moves very quickly. 

M: What was going through your mind when you saw each other at the altar?

AK: Stillness. Everything else disappeared for a moment - the guests, the music, the scale of the celebration. It felt strangely private despite how grand everything around us was. There was also immense gratitude. Not just for each other, but for the families, histories, and journeys that led us to that exact moment.

M: Were there any traditional or regional elements you consciously revived for the wedding?

Absolutely. That was one of the most important parts of the wedding for us. We consciously revived Afghani and Awadhi influences across clothing, music, hospitality, jewellery, and styling. We wanted to move away from generic luxury and return to specificity because culture becomes beautiful when it is personal. The use of archival textiles, heirloom jewellery, Sufi music traditions, old-school Muslim aesthetics, and handcrafted detailing all became central to the celebration. Even the atmosphere was designed around tehzeeb — softness, grace, poetry, and emotional warmth.

M: Do you hope your wedding sets a new benchmark for modern Indian luxury weddings?

AK: If it inspires anything, I hope it inspires people to return to themselves. Luxury today can sometimes become visually excessive but emotionally empty. For us, true luxury was intention, history, craftsmanship, and emotional depth. I think modern Indian weddings are entering a phase where people want meaning again, not just scale. If our wedding contributes to that conversation in any way, that would be beautiful.

M: Every wedding has its own fun surprises that couples often cherish later in marriage. Were there any?

AK: So many. Tiny things went hilariously wrong behind the scenes, missing accessories, schedule chaos, emotional relatives disappearing at the wrong time, but those moments strangely became the most memorable. One of our favourite moments was hearing guests spontaneously begin singing along during the Sufi performances. It created a feeling of collective emotion that none of us could have planned.

M: Was there something you wished that could have been done differently?

AK: Not a thing. If any imperfections, it only made it human. Every creative partner involved understood that this wedding wasn’t about trends, it was about building a living memory rooted in Muslim culture, old-world elegance, and legacy.

Vendors

Photographer: Eshantraju Photography

Outfits: ITRH, Rimple & Harpreet, Rahul Mishra and Dolly J

Jewellery: Rah Jewels

Wedding planner: Mpire Weddings

Makeup: Sonam Chandna Sagar

Hair: Nida Khan