This couple exchanged vows in Hawaii before their intimate wedding ceremony in Kerala’s backwaters

13 July 2024

Naman Verma

The duo blended their South and North Indian cultures for a scenic wedding overlooking the tranquil backwaters in Bekal

Divya Ravichandran and Rajat Khare, who first met as colleagues at their workplace in the US, describe themselves as poles apart, with few interests in common. “Here we were, two individuals from completely different worlds. I, with my South Indian heritage, having grown up in different countries, and Rajat, a North Indian from Ohio and an ardent football fan who never misses a single Cincinnati Bengals game,” shares Ravichandran. As the saying goes, love transcends barriers and in their case it took a few dates for sparks to fly, before the two realised they were meant to be.

With a destination wedding on the cards, that was a blend of both their rituals and cultures—Tamil Brahmin and North Indian—the couple decided to take a moment for themselves and first exchange their vows privately. “We were both keen on a traditional Indian wedding, but we also wanted to have an experience that was uniquely personal to us. So, we decided to exchange our vows on a beach in Maui, Hawaii, exactly a year from our proposal,” the bride reveals.

After scouting for destinations, the couple zeroed in on the picturesque backwaters of Bekal, Kerala for their nuptials. “The idea was for it to be an intimate, fun escape that really focused on giving our guests an immersive experience of Kerala. It had to be a destination wedding that still felt like home, and Taj Bekal Resort & Spa was the perfect setting,” the couple shares. They roped in Unicorn Wedding Planners and Jasmine Multani of WealHouse Co. to plan their detailed, personalised wedding, spread over several events, from a garden haldi and mehendi sundowner by the beach, to the baraat and wedding ceremony paired with classical music by the backwaters, and finally, a cocktail party under the twinkling stars.

“We were keen that our wedding be as sustainable as possible,” Ravichandran reveals. “So, we tried utilising eco-friendly elements for all the wedding stationery and favours, that could later be used as keepsakes.” Guests were welcomed with bags filled with custom scarves, candles, illustrated pouches and local snacks. “We had luggage tags printed with landscapes such as coconut trees set against the backdrop of the ocean and Kettuvalam houseboats in the backwaters.” The couple also personalised wedding favours for each guest with handwritten notes that captured a favourite shared memory. “We wanted to make sure each guest knew how much we appreciated them being a part of our celebrations.”

Guests indulged in wholesome spreads that ranged from a traditional banana leaf sadhya and multi-course meals, along with Kerala-inspired cocktails like Kasargod sangria, as well as cucumber gimlets, watermelon margaritas and desserts like Bekal crème brulee, infused with locally grown cardamom. To keep guests well-hydrated, there was plenty of fresh coconut water being passed around and a special filter coffee station.

When it came to curating her bridal looks, Ravichandran worked with Tanya Vohra, celebrity stylist and founder of CLAD to ensure everything was detailed to their liking. “Tanya styled us both virtually. I wanted each look of mine to be distinct with just the right blend of tradition and modernity,” the bride shares. For the haldi, she opted out of the classic yellow and instead donned a mint green palazzo set by Mishru, while her beau contrasted in an ivory linen kurta set by Dhruv Vaish.

The mehendi was an equally colourful affair with vibrant decor in tones of deep red and rust. The beach lawns were peppered with stalls themed along the lines of a carnival, where guests could choose from a bazaar jewellery bar, street food, or indulge in games like beer pong and Chinese checkers. The bride went the minimalist route, wearing a muted, metallic appliqué lehenga in shades of beige by Falguni Shane Peacock paired with a bespoke Anita Dogre choker, drop earrings and maang tikka for her jewellery. The groom was styled in a deconstructed Kunal Rawal sherwani set layered with a mint green jacket.

The wedding day saw a harmonious coming together of the couple’s rituals and customs, beautifully interwoven for a blended celebration. “We chose a mix of traditions such as the kasi yatra and oonjal from my Tamil-Brahmin heritage and the baraat and saath pheras to uphold Rajat’s North Indian roots,” says Ravichandran.

To pay homage to her Tamil roots, the bride chose a classic ivory and gold handwoven Kanjeevaram saree with delicate zari work and embellishments. “Tanya made my dream outfit with a very special, custom collaboration between Label Advaya and Tarun Tahiliani.” She adds that while it is not typical for Tamil brides to wear a veil, she wanted to have her own ‘North Indian-meets-American bridal’ moment and added a flowy veil and bouquet to complete her ensemble. Her bridal jewels featured a polki choker with layered necklaces, maatha patti, jhumkas and stacked bangles. She kept the glam minimal with a muted lip, dewy base and loose waves. Her beau matched with an ivory silk sherwani by Tarun Tahiliani with hand embroidered motifs.

The highlight of the day was the floating-like mandap that jutted out over the backwaters, done up in lush greens and pastel florals. Khare hopped on to an ATV to arrive at this baraat while Ravichandran made her bridal entry on a raft, as she later walked down the aisle to the strains of classical Carnatic music. The celebrations wrapped up with a cocktail party under the starry skies.