Saira and Josh, Backwater Ripples, Kumarakom
One bad date led to a beautiful love story for this couple who got married alongside Kerala’s backwaters.
Saira and Josh ticked off one bitter date and welcomed the love story of a lifetime into their lives. The duo who started their long-distance relationship while living in two different states, tied the knot in an intimate wedding that incorporated three different customs, from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Europe.
How They Met
Saira shared, “Josh and I had been dating for three years, and the whole time, we had been living in two different states. I still remember our first date. It didn’t go as expected. My first impression of him wasn’t exactly what fairy tales and story books are made of. Despite making me wait for him all alone, for three long hours, he made me taste the most terrible Biryani (my favorite food) I’d ever had. After that situation, my love for Biryani faded, but I couldn’t forget the effort he had put towards making up for this goof-up, and this was where it all began.”
Wedding Planning
“We started planning our wedding, but since our cultures were different, our parents discussed ways to conduct the wedding rituals. After brainstorming for a couple of days, we decided on having an intimate wedding with both our cultures intertwined together to make for a beautiful and eventful celebration. We decided to celebrate the sangeet the Kerala way, the wedding in European style and the reception with Tamil traditions. We meticulously chose all our vendors and made sure that we were on the same boat with the planning. First, we signed on Oaks Wedding to capture our three-day celebrations and then we booked The Hue Story as our wedding planner”, shared Saira.
Wedding Functions
Sangeet
The couple pulled out the creative card and rented a houseboat in Kumarakom for their sangeet function. Following a dress code of traditional Kerala attire, all the in-house ladies came in their Kasavu saree and the men in an authentic Kottayam achayan look, which is the mundu and jubba. Josh also wore the kasavu mundu and jubba while Saira picked a baby blue lehenga.
White Wedding
Since it was a white wedding, the couple was cautious not to incorporate elements of south Indian culture. Following a boho theme in an outdoor setting, they planned a simple and fun wedding.
Saira decided to wear a stunning gown which she bought from Germany that she paired with a sheer net veil which had white beads embroidered to it that read ‘I have found the one whom my soul loves’. Josh looked dashing in a custom-made mauve suit from Gabbana Life. The guests followed a dress code of light, pastel colors, the subtle hues added beauty to the event that was decorated with white flowers and lots of greens with the backwaters creating a surreal backdrop for the lovebirds to take their wedding vows.
Reception
The couple were keen on an intimate reception with their relatives, friends and colleagues. Since they had covered the bride’s side of the culture with a white wedding, they wanted the finale in traditional Tamil style. Saira picked a beautiful Kanjivaram saree in a mauve shade which perfectly synchronized with the theme that followed – a mauve, grey and off-white color palette. Josh looked handsome as he complimented his ladylove in a custom-made indigo blue bandhgala by Gabanna Life.
The Wedding Makers
Venues: House boat, Kumarakom (Sangeet), Backwater Ripples, Kumarakom (Wedding), The Accord Metropolitan, Chennai (Reception)
Decor: The Hue story
Groom’s Outfit: Kay – The Fashion Bay (Sangeet), Gabbana Life (Wedding, Reception)
Bride’s Outfit: Manyavar (Sangeet), Hochzeitsrausch Brautmoden (Wedding), Varamahalakshmi Silks (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Salomi Diamond
Photography: Oaks Wedding
