Kanakavalli Bride : Sre

Sre weds Kyle

Kanakavalli Bride Sre met her husband Kyle at university through a mutual friend. The more extroverted and talkative of the two, she made the first move when he joined their group at the library one day, introducing herself. It took him a while to warm up to her, but before long they became best friends, spending nearly every day together. Three months later, he admitted that his feelings for her had grown beyond friendship. She told him he wasn’t her type – after all, he wasn’t Tamil or even South Indian – but almost immediately, she decided to give him a chance, knowing what an amazing person he was. Six years on, Sre says it was the best decision she ever made.

Three years later, when both their families began asking about marriage, they collectively decided that 2025 would be the year. Kyle still wanted to propose – despite the fact that Sre had chosen her engagement ring herself – and planned a sweet surprise when she went to visit him in New Zealand.

Detail-oriented by nature, Sre loved every aspect of planning the wedding and admits she now misses having something to plan. Their celebrations began with a traditional kuladeiva valipadu at her home in the morning, followed by a colourful mehendi in the afternoon and a neon-themed sangeet that evening – each intimate, with only close family and friends. The following night, they hosted a reception with décor in shades of pink, purple, and gold.

The next morning they had the nalangu and muhurtham ceremonies, held at a temple in Coimbatore. Sre had always dreamed of a temple wedding, just like her parents’. Though initially disappointed that her first choice of temple did not allow inter-religious weddings, she was delighted to discover a beautiful Perumal temple that felt just right. With traditional décor featuring flowers and brass elements, it became one of the most beautiful days of her life.

Kyle, though Indian by birth, grew up in New Zealand. Being part Goan Catholic and part East Indian, a South Indian wedding was entirely new for him and his family. Immersed in ritual, culture, and tradition, they found the experience unforgettable.
On the wedding day, Sre had a quiet ‘this is it’ moment  – realising she was marrying her best friend. After years of long distance and waiting for her family to accept their relationship, they were finally celebrating their dream wedding together, making the moment deeply special and memorable.

Sre spent four months searching for the perfect wedding sari, travelling across cities and visiting numerous stores. One day, she and her parents walked into Kanakavalli Coimbatore, where she found her dream kanjivaram. Wanting something traditional for a ceremony rooted in tradition, she looked for a sari that was subtle, simple, and elegant, in the perfect shade of red – neither too dark nor too bright – adorned with classic motifs. During the planning process, she grew fascinated by the stories behind sari motifs and discovered Kanakavalli’s blogs, which deepened her appreciation. When she came across a sari in just the right shade of red, woven with her favourite motifs – annams, peacocks, elephants, lions and yalis – she knew it was ‘the one’. She especially loved how buttery-soft the silk felt and says she will cherish it forever. Sre also fondly remembers the warmth of the Kanakavalli Coimbatore team, who patiently guided her through the process and even remembered her when she returned a few days later.

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