Kanakavalli Bride : Nandana

Nandana weds Sai

Kanakavalli Bride Nandana and Sai first met almost ten years ago when he was a senior in college. At the time, she says, he didn’t seem like someone she would end up being close to, never mind spending her life with! They are very different – he is an extrovert and very outgoing, while she is quiet and reserved. They became friends first, constantly bickering and pulling each other’s leg, before their relationship turned into something more. Eventually, much of their relationship was long-distance, with him moving across different parts of the US while she completed her PhD. This was often difficult but strengthened the foundation they built together.

Before Sai proposed to Nandana, he visited her family and convinced them to agree to a proposal in Annecy, France. She was in Geneva for a conference, so he planned the tickets and visas, in addition to the ring! While Nandana had a sense that the big question was coming, she was still overwhelmed with emotion. The proposal felt like such a meaningful culmination of everything the couple had been through together.

The couple always knew their wedding would take place in Guruvayur, a long-standing tradition in Nandana’s family. They chose décor that was minimal and simple, nothing that would overpower the essence of the ceremony. Nandana is Malayalee and Sai is Tamil, so their wedding beautifully blended both their families’ traditions. Her side of the family was fascinated by the upanayanam and kashi yatra ceremonies, which were followed by the thaali kettu at the temple, an intimate and unforgettable moment.

Despite the differences in culture and language, Nandana loved seeing both their families come together so seamlessly on the wedding day. Watching everyone embrace each other’s traditions so whole-heartedly was very special. Married life, says Nandana, feels very much the same in the best way possible. They’ve always known they would be there for each other, no matter what. She’s amused by the fact that he is now officially a part of her family WhatsApp group! They have the usual little disagreements about whose turn it is to cook or do the dishes, but all of this feels like part of everyday life – and minor compared to everything they have navigated as a couple.

Nandana’s family first came across Kanakavalli almost ten years ago when they visited the store in Chennai. Her mum felt it was a place they should return to for a special occasion. Sure enough, at the time of Nandana and Sai’s engagement, when she barely had a week to choose her sari, Kanakavalli Kochi was the first store she and her family visited. Struck by the collection and the aesthetic, Nandana says that going back there to shop for her wedding sari just felt natural.

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