Kanakavalli Bride : Nandhana

Nandhana weds Altamish

Kanakavalli Bride Nandhana does not believe in love at first sight or the idea that couples are "meant to be”. Instead, she says, when you meet the right person, you have to really want to make it work. And that’s when something special happens. In fact, when Nandhana first met Altamish, he didn’t leave much of an impression on her. They soon became friends, though, and she realised how much fun he was to be around. As they spent more time together, their relationship grew organically. One day, when Nandhana and Altamish were at home together, he proposed to her with a ring. It was simple, private and meaningful, just the way Nandhana had imagined.

When they were planning their wedding, Nandhana and Altamish decided they wanted a single, intimate event – the actual ceremony. They didn’t have a theme or a specific plan for décor, but wanted to have a sannadhi ceremony with nature and the temple as the backdrop to their union. The idea was to keep it simple and stress-free, so everyone in attendance could be at ease and happy.

Certain traditions and rituals felt very patriarchal to Nandhana, so the couple chose to have a simple ring exchange ceremony. They were grateful to find a temple that respected their beliefs and their mixed cultural backgrounds, agreeing to host this unconventional ceremony. 

For Nandhana, the best part of wedding planning was the shopping – curating and styling what they were going to wear, and choosing things that made everyone happy and comfortable rather than focusing on themes or colour palettes. The most cherished moment was exchanging rings with Altamish while their friends and family showered them with blessings.

After seven years together, Nandhana says that their friendship – which forms the foundation of their marriage – helps them grow and build a life together. She believes that people change, because change is inevitable, but the commitment to choosing your partner at every single crossroad is what makes a marriage work.

Having followed Kanakavalli on Instagram for years, Nandhana had come to love both the simplicity and grandeur of our kanjivarams. She says the team at Kanakavalli’s Adyar store understood her style and taste immediately, providing the most exquisite service. Now, every time Nandhana visits Chennai, she makes sure to drop by the store.

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