Kanakavalli Bride : Swathi

Swathi weds Ramakrishnan

Swathi and Ramakrishnan had what she calls a hybrid-arranged marriage – they were introduced by their families, but eventually fell in love. Their first meeting was typical – the boy’s family came over to meet the girl’s family. Swathi says Ramakrishnan was quiet, taking on the role of an observer. On that visit, he noticed a collection of PG Wodehouse books in her home library, something he brought up in their conversation that same evening. She was immediately struck by how observant, calm and collected he was.

Swathi and Ramakrishnan took their time getting to know each other – going on long drives, coffee dates, and spending hours on the phone. They realised they had a lot in common and she was touched by how invested he was in her work as an artist; being at her side at workshops and stalls. About six months after that first meeting, they had to go a few days without speaking to each other. In that time, they realised how much they had come to rely on one another. In one of their conversations soon after, Ramakrishnan said, “Let’s get married?” and Swathi immediately said yes.

The couple thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of wedding planning and had a celebration spread over three days – an intimate meeting of the families on the first day; a Vratham, engagement and musical evening on the second; and the Muhurtham followed by lunch on the third.

A family friend who is an event planner helped Swathi and Ramakrishnan with their decor, bringing all her Pinterest inspiration to life. Swathi remembers walking to the mandapam under a gorgeous floral umbrella made of roses, lilies and jasmine, held aloft by members of her family. As she neared the stage, she and Ramakrishnan exchanged smiles; a moment that will forever be in her memory. Both of them giggled and laughed through the garland exchange and oonjal ceremonies, keeping things lighthearted and joyful through the celebrations.

Married life for Swathi and Ramakrishnan has been filled with moments of fun – impromptu drives, late night movies, and more – as they build a life together.

Swathi wanted to wear something different for her Muhurtham and had a vision of a kanjivaram sari in a shade of bright mango yellow or kanakambaram orange. When she came across Kanakavalli on Instagram, she and her mother loved the look of the saris and decided to visit the Hyderabad store.

She says they enjoyed the entire shopping experience – from the warmth of the staff to seeing the beautiful collections. Swathi shortlisted four kanjivarams and was confused until she draped each one of them, seeing how they looked in different light. She finally picked an orange kanjivaram that shone in the sun. She says the sari truly helped her feel like a bride on her special day.

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