Ananya & Karthik

Ananya is Tamil, Karthik is Telugu, and they wanted both their traditions whole, not blended into something neither family recognised. We found them a heritage tharavadu near Kochi and let the green of Kerala do most of the work.

A muhurtam at dawn under what felt like a kilometre of jasmine; a sadhya served on banana leaf to two hundred and fifty guests sitting cross-legged on the floor; a nadaswaram that needed no microphone. Both grandmothers' kanjeevarams made an appearance, and so did a great deal of filter coffee.

It was the most unhurried big wedding we've ever made — and proof that 250 guests can still feel like one large, slightly emotional family.