A Multiday Wedding Celebration Blending Indian Traditions and Modern Elegance

February 9, 2025

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Tell us a little about yourselves.

We’re Madhav and Kunal, a couple who’s been making the most of life together for over eight years now. We’re different from each other in a lot of ways, but that’s probably what makes us work well. I (Madhav) tend to be more spontaneous and outgoing—often diving into things without overthinking, while Kunal is the calm, measured one. It balances out. I push Kunal to be a bit more adventurous, while he makes sure I stay grounded when I start getting too dreamy.

We went to the same university at the same time in 2014, but our paths never crossed. A couple of years later, we both swiped right on Tinder on the same day—July 24th. We went on our first date a week later, and the rest is history.

Tell us about the proposal.

Madhav- It happened while we were on holiday in Kerala in December 2019. I carried the ring from Sydney.

We arrived in Kerala feeling pretty sick with the flu. We’d landed in India just the night before, so the jet lag and the cold definitely weren’t on our side! But even with the flu, the backwaters of Kerala were too beautiful a backdrop to miss out on the chance to propose.

One morning, with the mist rising over the water and the gentle sounds of nature all around, I asked Kunal to marry me. And thankfully, he said yes—flu and all!

How long was your engagement?

Our engagement lasted quite a while—almost 5 years! We got engaged in December 2019, but thanks to a combination of the pandemic and a fair amount of laziness, we didn’t actually tie the knot until May 2024.

What led you to the venue?

When it came to choosing our wedding venues, Sydney was always going to play a big part. Both of us migrated here from New Delhi as young adults, and over the years, Sydney has become home in so many ways.

For our Sangeet, we chose Paddington Town Hall. It’s a beautiful historic building right in the heart of the area where we live and where we bought our first home.

For the reception, we went with the Art Gallery of NSW. The gallery is such a beautiful space, and we loved the idea of celebrating our love there—surrounded by art, culture, and the city we’ve come to cherish so much.

What was the inspiration behind the vibe of your wedding and why did you go with that?

When it came to the theme and vibe of our wedding, we wanted to find a balance between reflecting our personal style and staying true to the traditional elements of a wedding celebration.

For the ceremony, we kept it intimate—exchanging vows in front of a small group of our closest friends and family, followed by a relaxed lunch at one of our favourite spots, Totti’s in Bondi.

For the Sangeet, we embraced our Indian heritage. We wore custom sherwanis that we bought in India and encouraged our guests to wear traditional Indian outfits to match the vibe. We followed the same theme with décor.

For the reception, we went with a black-tie theme to bring a bit of classic elegance. But we didn’t want it to feel too formal or impersonal, so we made sure it was still “us” with moody chandeliers, bold floral arrangements, food and drinks hand-picked by us, and a band that kept everyone dancing all night.

Talk to us about your experience finding the perfect outfits.

Finding the perfect outfits for our wedding celebrations was such a fun part of the process, but it definitely took some time and a bit of a journey!

For the Sangeet, we bought sherwanis in New Delhi. For my sherwani, I went for something a bit more understated—plain white with delicate silver brocade work. I wanted something a little muted to start the evening, and it felt just right. I paired it with a floral shawl that matched Kunal’s sherwani, which was much more colorful and featured bold flowers. Kunal’s was a real showstopper, and I loved how we balanced each other’s styles.

Halfway through the night, I had an outfit change for the dancing portion of the evening. I swapped into a silver Kurta, which was a gift from a close friend who had worn it at his own wedding celebrations. It was a special touch that made the night feel even more personal.

For the reception, we left the tuxedos until a bit later—just a month before the wedding—so we could get the perfect fit. I went for a classic black tux, while Kunal opted for a navy blue tuxedo, which was a nice twist.

Talk to us about the big day! We want all the details.

Madhav- Our wedding involved three days of celebrations! It felt like a whole week of festivities, and honestly, we could’ve stayed in that magical bubble forever.

There was so much going on, but we were just so happy to be surrounded by the people we love. We had a great team behind us to make sure everything went smoothly.

The Sangeet was a total highlight. It was such a fun, energetic night—and seeing everyone in their beautiful traditional outfits added to the magic.

For the reception, we were lucky enough to have the Art Gallery of NSW as our backdrop. Being photographed amid the incredible artwork and installations was a dream.

One of the most special moments of the day was getting ready for the reception. We got ready separately—Kunal was with his family and close friends at a suite in the Crown Hotel, while I was at home with my mum and best person by my side. The moment we saw each other for the first time on the day, it felt so emotional and surreal. It was just a perfect, perfect moment to kick off the evening.

Do you have a standout vendor?

It’s hard to pick just one standout vendor because we were surrounded by incredible talent throughout the whole process. Our caterers at both events were fantastic. The event coordinators at the Sangeet and the reception were also top-notch—they were so helpful in making sure everything was perfect. And, of course, everyone loved the band! They really brought the energy and made sure no one was sitting down!

If we had to pick one person who truly went above and beyond, it would be our photographer, Samantha Heather. She was absolutely amazing. Not only did she capture so many beautiful moments from the week, but she also made us feel so at ease. She encouraged us to let our hair down, have fun, and just enjoy the day, and the photos speak for themselves.

What does marriage mean to you?

Marriage means a mix of a few things for us. First, it’s about picking the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with—and having that officially recognized. Then there’s the profound privilege of being able to celebrate our love in our own way, surrounded by our closest friends and family.

Of course, it’s also the next (traditionally approved) step in our relationship—nothing like a little tradition to keep things interesting. And, let’s be honest, there’s a tiny bit of “if everyone else can do it, why not us?” in there too. We wanted to make it official, but we also wanted to have a hell of a time doing it.

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Make spreadsheets and timelines to stay on top of everything! Seriously, it was a game-changer for us.

It made everything feel more manageable and helped keep the stress at bay. So, get organized early, keep track of everything, and most importantly, make sure you’re enjoying the process as much as possible.