Kanakavalli Bride : Dhanyasri

Dhanyasri weds Ram

Kanakavalli Bride Dhanyasri and Ram grew up as playmates – his grandparents were her neighbours, and the two of them spent most of their childhood summers together. As they outgrew their tantrums and got older, they grew fonder of each other. When they finished school and had to think about their further studies, they also began to think of each other as more than friends. Ram went to Chennai to become a doctor while Dhanyasri went to Bangalore to become a Chartered Accountant, and thus began an eight-year long distance relationship as the two faced all the challenges that come with these demanding courses. The idea of marriage was always implied in their relationship – but they waited until they had both qualified and as professionals before announcing this to their parents. Before the wedding, Ram got Dhanyasri a beautiful vintage ring and created a sweet set-up at home to officially pop the question.

Dhanyasri had many, many dreams and ideas for her wedding, so she brought this enthusiasm and a knack for design to planning her big day. She loves traditions and customs: a starting point for all the décor, outfits and ceremonies. For her ‘Pen Azhaipu,’ she drew inspiration from the ‘Something Borrowed’ tradition of Western weddings, finding a way to honour all the women who made her who she is today. She wore her mother’s thirty-five-year-old wedding sari, restored by Kanakavalli, paired with heirloom pieces of jewellery from her mum, aunts and grandmother. Everything held meaning and memory for Dhanyasri.

For the Muhurtham, the wedding hall transformed into a temple, with lotus garlands, beloved idols and traditional décor. Dhanyasri’s bridal dreams came true as she draped herself in her kanjivaram, an exquisitely embellished blouse and fine jewellery. Wedding planning was a rollercoaster, says Dhanyasri, but as she and Ram held hands at the ceremony, all the chaos and noise melted away – they were finally getting married after eleven years, and that felt surreal.

Describing herself as a “traditional paati living inside a modern woman,” Dhanyasri wanted a truly classic kanjivaram for her wedding day. Having grown up fawning over her mother’s and grandmother’s sari collections, she began following Kanakavalli several years ago. When she began sari shopping, she says she didn’t find her dream kanjivaram anywhere, not even on a trip to Kanchipuram with their families. After deciding to postpone sari shopping, Ram happened to visit Kanakavalli’s store at Kingsley in Chennai and he was sure Dhanyasri would find something she loved.

And so, the family planned a visit to Chennai and Dhanyasri was struck by how every Kanakavalli sari seemed liked a story in itself. She loved the detailing, the colours, as well as the touch and feel of the fabric. Not only did they buy Dhanyasri’s wedding kanjivaram, but also an angavastram set for Ram. Dhanyasri says they enjoyed the experience of luxury at Kingsley, from the ambience of the store to the people and the collections. “We were made to feel at home and given the space to explore,” she adds, saying they left feeling fulfilled and grateful.

A big thank you to Dhanyasri for being a beautiful Kanakavalli Bride and sharing the story of her wedding with us. We wish her and Ram a lifetime of love and laughter.