Tariq and Zaara’s Grand Bengaluru Wedding Was A 6-Day Extravaganza

Entrepreneur Tariq Sheriff and artist Zaara Syed met for the first time when their match was arranged. However, it became clear quickly upon meeting each other that it felt as if they had known each other forever. “We ended up talking for hours, and it was just so easy. I knew I had to introduce him to my family on our second date. It felt right, like he just clicked with us,” recalls Zaara, “That night, we had this huge plate of biryani, laughed a ton, and honestly, that was the start of it all.”

What ultimately sealed the deal for her was the simple fact that he made her laugh. “He could make me laugh in even the most serious moments, and at the end of the day, that’s exactly the kind of person I wanted to be with.”

A once-in-a-lifetime connection like theirs deserved a proposal that seemed straight out of a movie, and Tariq’s meticulously planned proposal did exactly that. “Both of us felt strongly that an arranged match should have its own moment. Tariq picked up on this early on, and In September 2024, he planned a surprise weekend getaway to Al Maha, a stunning desert resort in Dubai. He convinced me it was just a simple dinner, but as we drove deep into the desert, I quickly realized this was something entirely different,” she says, “The drive was long and dark, and I remember feeling a little nervous as we were in the middle of nowhere. But when I saw the setup—an intimate majlis-like dinner in the heart of the dunes, just the two of us—I was completely taken aback and immediately thought that this guy had outdone himself! No photographers, no family, just us in the desert. Tariq worked closely with the Al Maha team, and they played a huge role in making it all come together. In fact, our guide secretly slipped the ring into Tariq’s pocket when I wasn’t looking, ensuring the whole thing remained a surprise.”

The dreamy proposal set the tone for the wedding extravaganza that was to follow. Both Tariq and Zaara were in agreement that their wedding should happen at Aura by Area83, a luxury wedding venue in Bengaluru that was founded by Tariq and his brother Shariq.

“For me, planning our wedding at Aura was an incredibly emotional experience. It’s not just a resort; it’s a space that I poured my heart and soul into. Seeing it come to life, seeing our family and friends gather in that space, filled me with so much joy and pride,” says Tariq.

“Every inch of the property holds memories from long nights of brainstorming, discussions, and endless hard work. To witness the resort not only as a creation but as a backdrop for one of the most important days of our lives was a full-circle moment. We’d seen weddings hosted there before, but having our own wedding in the very place that had witnessed so many beautiful celebrations felt different. It was a unique experience and it brought us closer as partners in both life and in this project.”

The venue played the perfect background for the couple’s multi-day extravaganza, featuring six distinct events. There was the Moroccan souk-themed mehndi with performances by illusionists and coconut bars, a poolside haldi, a sangeet with dramatic red-themed decor, a black-tie gala dinner, a traditional reception with all white decor, and a glasshouse after party.

“We didn’t really have a ‘dream wedding’ in the traditional sense,” says Zaara. “Our vision was simple. We wanted a celebration that felt true to us. I was very specific about the aesthetic of each event, how everything would look and feel. Tariq, on the other hand, was focused on making sure the guest experience was perfect.” Tariq chimes in after agreeing with Zaara, “For us, it wasn’t about trying to meet a certain ‘dream’ standard, it was about

creating something real and enjoyable for everyone. We wanted our guests to have an

incredible time, and that was our ultimate goal.”

“In the end, the combination of both our priorities resulted in a celebration that was fun, memorable, and meaningful. We didn’t aim for perfection, but for an experience we could cherish, and I think we succeeded,” says Zaara.

Pulling off a wedding this elaborate can be a task for even the most organised of couples, often leading to couples learning new things about each other. This, says Tariq, was the favourite part about the whole wedding planning process. “I had no idea she was so detail-oriented when it came to planning every little element of the wedding. Her attention to detail is remarkable and really helped shape the overall vision. I also discovered that I had tons of creative ideas, especially when it came to the decor. It was a process of learning and growing together.”

Zaara agrees, “Tariq is so incredibly calm under pressure, which helped keep me grounded when things got overwhelming. We spent so much time with our vendors, and the whole process revealed new facets of each other that we hadn’t seen before.”

In between managing the logistics of planning in India (a shocker for Zaara, who had been living in Dubai for a while) and growing closer as a couple, the two managed to find moments of levity amidst some hilarious misunderstandings.

“Normally, I need about 20 alarms to wake up, but during the wedding planning, the stress had the opposite effect,” recalls Zaara, “One morning, I woke up dazed, thinking our dance choreographer was waiting at our house to start practice. Tariq was absolutely amused and confused. He couldn’t understand how my mind had jumped to that conclusion, but I was so in the thick of it that it felt completely normal!”

All the stress and meticulous planning led to a wedding that was a fun celebration of their love, and Tariq’s hard work with the venue. Now the two are looking forward to kicking back and relaxing amidst everyday moments with each other.

“We love to travel, so we’re excited to explore new places, experience different cultures, and just be present without any agenda. It’s the little, relaxed moments that we’re most excited for.”

Here’s wishing Tariq and Zaara a lifetime of happiness.