Kanakavalli Bride : Spandana

Spandana weds Gowtham

Spandana believes in love at first sight – though she laughingly calls it love at first fight! She met Gowtham nine years ago in a very Bollywood way: two competitive souls placed on opposite teams during a dodgeball game. What began as bickering, teasing, and friendly rivalry slowly turned into a deeper bond as she discovered a quieter, more thoughtful side to him. Stolen cups of coffee, missing stationery (they’re both architects), cooking dates, movie nights, and long drives followed – and an unspoken moment where both knew it was meant to be.

In 2024, a leap year, Spandana planned a proposal that was deeply personal and entirely her own. With a ring she designed herself, inspired by Gowtham’s favourite film, she organised a trip with close friends to a farmhouse near the “Little England of South India.” Against a golden sunset atop stone hills, she surprised him with the ring and recreated a much-loved cinematic moment, surrounded by their closest friends. The evening turned into a joyful celebration, complete with dancing late into the night.

For Spandana, wedding planning was a joy – especially seeing everything she and Gowtham had imagined come together. They wanted their celebrations to feel warm, intimate, and reflective of who they are. From designing the invites and outfits to planning the décor and menu, the couple was involved in every detail. The festivities included a cocktail and sangeet, followed by a Mantra Mangalya ceremony in Melkote and a reception the next day – events chosen for their meaning rather than scale.

One of the most emotional moments for Spandana was during the wedding ceremony, when vows from Gowtham’s family were read in Tamil and those from her family in Kannada. The coming together of both families to bless them made the moment deeply moving. After eight years of building their foundation together, Spandana says their wedding day marked the beginning of a beautiful new chapter.

Spandana had always known exactly what she wanted for her bridal kanjivaram as well as where she wanted to get married – in Melkote. Once the venue was confirmed, she began her search for the perfect wedding sari. After exploring hundreds of saris across stores in Chennai, she finally found “the one” at Kingsley. The yellow sari, with its zari vaira oosi stripes felt perfect the moment she draped it on, says Spandana. For her, it was a piece that felt like an heirloom with a modern sensibility – quietly radiant, meaningful, and unmistakably right.

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