From The Latest Issue: Stebin Ben & Nupur Sanon’s Two-Tradition Wedding

During our Christian ceremony, Nupur wrote her own vows, which made the moment incredibly emotional,” said singer Stebin Ben, recalling his wedding to actor and entrepreneur Nupur Sanon. Ben, known for playback hits across Bollywood, tied the knot with Sanon at the Raffles Udaipur hotel this January.

Sanon is Punjabi, and Ben is a Malayali Christian from Kerala, and what may seem like a small detail ultimately reflected the values at the heart of the wedding. Ben and Sanon chose to celebrate their union through two separate ceremonies—a Christian wedding and a Hindu one—held days apart, with each tradition given equal importance.

“We had decided from the beginning that we wanted to celebrate both traditions equally,” Ben said. “I truly believe that love is about embracing each other’s beliefs and cultures.”

Having performed in Udaipur several times before the wedding, Ben already felt drawn to the city. Raffles, with its lakeside setting and regal architecture, sealed the decision. “Udaipur gives you the beauty of the lakes, the grandeur of palaces, and the warmth of Rajasthani culture all in one place. The traditional hospitality, the boat arrivals, and the entire atmosphere feel magical.” He and Sanon wanted a wedding with “a timeless royal vibe while still being warm and personal,” and found it there.

The instinct to honour each tradition shaped how the two ceremonies were conducted. The Christian wedding was pared back and classic, reflecting a vision the couple had cherished for years. Sanon fulfilled her childhood dream of wearing a white wedding gown, while Ben walked down the aisle with his closest friends, inspired by the timeless aesthetic of the English films they had grown up watching. The Hindu ceremony went the other way entirely, with colour, craft, and ritual observed in full glory. “We didn't want to reinvent anything,” Ben said. “We wanted to follow the rituals sincerely and celebrate every tradition with complete respect.”

Both ceremonies carried a personal thread beyond the vows themselves. “While I repeated the vows guided by the priest, she had written and memorised her bit," Ben said. “She's someone who expresses her emotions so beautifully, and hearing her speak from the heart is something I'll never forget.”

Music added its own layer of intimacy to the day as “Sahiba” made it onto the wedding soundtrack, but the bigger surprise came from Sanon, who secretly wrote and recorded an original song, “Soona Soona,” for Ben, which was played just before the pheras.

For a wedding this closely watched, privacy was one of the couple’s biggest priorities. “We were fortunate to work with some fine professionals who understood how to capture every important moment while respecting our need for privacy."

The menu represented the couple’s Malayali and Punjabi culinary traditions, giving guests a chance to experience flavours from each culture while making everyone feel at home, no matter where they had travelled from.

Behind the scenes, the days leading up to the wedding were anything but calm. Ben had been performing shows right up to the wedding, and admits the run-up was hectic. “Mentally, I was already living those moments,” he said. Arriving in Udaipur a few days early gave the couple a chance to soak in the atmosphere. “Those quiet days together helped us slow down and truly enjoy the experience before the celebrations began.”

But while everything was planned to the last detail for the wedding, there was collective anxiety when the Christian priest’s flight got delayed due to fog at the airport. “Thankfully, everything worked out in the end. Those little moments of chaos were actually some of the funniest.”

Looking back, however, no single memory stands above the rest. However, a surprise dance performance by Kriti Sanon and Nupur’s family, where they were joined by actor Varun Sharma, stole the show. “Honestly, our wedding wasn't about one special moment—it was everything in between. The late-night celebrations, the laughter, the little bits of chaos, and everyone coming together made it unforgettable.”

The Wedding Coordinates

Pin Drop

Raffles Udaipur, Rajasthan

The Clincher

The private lake-facing venue against the palace's European-inspired façade

Destination Advantage

The couple arrived days ahead of guests, giving them quiet time to settle in before the celebrations took over

Local Touch

Traditional Rajasthani hospitality and boat arrivals on the lake

Main-Character Moment

Nupur's surprise—her original song, "Soona Soona," played just before the pheras

Take-Us-Back-For

Kriti Sanon and the family's secret dance performance, with Varun Sharma joining in

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