Nithya and Akshay, Hyatt Regency Chennai

College friends brought together by their shared heritage, Nithya Subramanian and Akshay Ramachandran honored their roots with a colorful Chennai wedding imbibed with stunning decor, memorable fashion and warm traditions.

Watch their festivities unfold below.

How they met
Nithya shares, “Akshay and I went to the same Undergraduate college in Chennai. So we were familiar with each other by virtue of him being my college senior. While we did not date back then, the familiarity certainly worked in our favor when we got re-acquainted in the Bay Area after bumping into each other at a Tamil movie, and he made the first move by asking me out. While I was reluctant in the beginning owing to other priorities, the familiarity was very compelling and I eventually agreed to date. We bonded over movies, long drives and our love for travel. Fast forward three years, and we decided to take our relationship to the next stage.”

The Proposal
She continues, “While our parents were introduced to each other and had begun the wedding discussions, Akshay proposed to me in the middle of a bridge over a Japanese water pond at Hakone Japanese Gardens in Saratoga, California in January 2021 amidst our friends. The proposal was a surprise and completely dreamy. He blindfolded me throughout the car journey while playing all my favorite songs, and then he slowly walked me to the top of a bridge where he removed the blindfold. It was all a blur initially, but just as I slowly started to identify all our friends assembled amongst the onlookers he popped the question!”

Wedding Planning
The couple tied the knot in their hometown of Chennai with functions spread across their homes at the grand venues of Hyatt Regency Chennai and AVM Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam Chennai. They enlisted the help of Marriage Colors to plan and execute their celebrations which were captured in glorious detail by Vivek Krishnan Photography and Shot Stories by Varun Suresh.

Nithya shares, “From the day our wedding date got fixed, my husband and I were completely hands-on with the preparations. We researched wedding websites such as WeddingSutra for inspiration, designed Pinterest boards, shortlisted outfits, themes, fabric choice, flowers and everything else in between! We had a total of 6 functions, as well as photoshoots before and after the wedding.”

Wedding Functions

Mehendi
After an at-home Mehndi for the bride and close relatives, the couple kicked off the celebrations with a vibrant soiree at Hyatt Regency Chennai. Hosted poolside, the function saw multicolored decor of flowing drapes and bright structures with a mix of quirky and traditional props such as mirror work parasols, regional crafts, flowers and more. The bride looked radiant in a fun palette of yellow and pink, which the groom matched in muted tones of the same colors.

Sangeet
The ballroom Sangeet function was high on glamour with stunning decor, peppy music and lots of dancing. The glitzy cocktail soiree saw a shimmering canopy of tinsel and Edison bulbs over the dance stage with gold structural props, electric candles, red flowers, neon signs and more. The groom wowed all in an embellished black kurta set to complement the bride’s dazzling red gown.

Pre-Wedding Rituals (Vratham) and Engagement
The Pre-wedding rituals or ‘Vratham’ along with the Engagement ceremony kicked off the traditional celebrations at AVM Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam. The rituals were hosted with bright floral-themed decor and set the note for the nuptials.

Wedding
The couple tied the knot in traditional Tamil Brahmin style with gorgeous bright floral decor adorning everything from the walkway to the wedding hall. The bride was the picture of happiness as she danced down the aisle under a floral canopy carried by her loved ones. The couple was then lifted up by their families amidst great cheers and laughter for the garland exchange. The day was replete with warm family moments, a number of exciting wedding games, cheerful festivities and lots of revelry!

Reception
A grand reception at the same venue brought the festivities to a close. The elegant evening soiree was set with plush garden decor that included red and white flowers with tons of green foliage, while elements like vases, chandeliers and more, added to the luxury. The bride wore a delicate peach lehenga for the occasion while the groom chose a classic suit.

Advice for couples
“Do not allow the ego to come between the bond with your partner and undermine the beautiful relationship you have built”.

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Hyatt Regency Chennai (Mehndi, Sangeet), AVM Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam Chennai (Vratham, Engagement, Wedding, Reception)
Wedding Planners: Marriage Colours
Outfits: Akanksha Gajria (Mehndi), Sulakshana Monga (Sangeet), Manyavar (Sangeet), Kanakavalli (Wedding), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Reception)
Makeup: Chiselle Makeup and Hair
Photography and Videography: Vivek Krishnan Photography, Shot Stories by Varun Suresh, Studio 31 Weddings (Bridal Mehendi)

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