Kanakavalli Bride : Veena

Veena weds Neel

Kanakavalli Bride Veena’s childhood best friend had been trying to set her up with her cousin Neel for over a decade. They crossed paths several times while growing up, but it was only years later that fate stepped in and Veena matched with Neel on a dating app. Conversation felt effortless, as they sort of knew each other, and they connected instantly. In the spring of 2024, Neel proposed to Veena against the breathtaking backdrop of Banff in Canada. A photographer secretly captured the moment perfectly, but the best surprise for Veena was seeing their family and friends right after – many who had travelled long distances to make the weekend truly unforgettable.

The couple had a week of celebrations and Veena says that planning it all was both stressful and exciting – but seeing her vision come to life made it all worthwhile. They had an intimate Mehendi followed by a traditional Bengali Haldi ceremony and a Sangeet evening where everyone danced the night away. Their wedding followed Telugu traditions, with a few Bengali rituals beautifully blended in.

The ceremony took place in a garden-like setting, filled with flowers and with the mandap of Veena’s dreams – in shades of pink, purple and orange that perfectly complemented the bright sunshine. In the whirlwind of their wedding day, Veena and Neel took a quiet moment, just for themselves, where they exchanged letters – a moment that felt intimate and heartfelt. 

The couple has recently moved to a new city and both have started new jobs, so Veena says it feels as though they are building a new chapter together – an adventure they’re both loving.

Green is Veena’s favourite colour and she was determined to find a wedding sari in the shade. After searching all of Hyderabad with her aunts and cousins, however, nothing felt right to her. When she finally visited Kanakavalli, the team helped her find all the options available in green, but also encouraged her to explore kanjivarams in other colours. The moment she tried on the sari, she knew it was ‘the one’. Veena says she’s glad the team patiently guided her to find not what she thought she wanted, but what really suited her. To make everything better, her mother found a stunning lavender kanjivaram for the wedding too.

Veena says that beyond the collection of elegant and timeless weaves at the store, her experience at Kanakavalli felt so special – it was the first time during her wedding shopping that she really felt like a bride.

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