How Nidhi Sunil's Wedding Was A Prototype For All Eco-Friendly Weddings To Come

On the serene backwaters of Kerala, where coconut palms meet temple bells and the air carries the scent of jasmine and rain-soaked earth, supermodel Nidhi Sunil and her beau Noah Katz-Appel crafted a wedding that felt less like an event and more like an ecosystem. Rooted in sustainability and shaped by intention, their multi-day celebration in Kumarakom reimagined modern luxury through continuity, craft, and cultural respect. From plant-dyed textiles and heirloom jewellery to temple flowers repurposed into natural dyes and a traditional sadhya served on banana leaves, every detail was designed to live beyond the moment. This ceremony was conscious, woven thoughtfully into the landscape and legacy of Kerala itself.

In an intimate conversation with Manifest, the model shares how every detail—from the nuptials to wardrobe—was thoughtfully imagined.

Manifest: How did you decide to take a conscious route for your wedding?

Nidhi Sunil: Noah and I wanted the wedding to reflect the same values that shape our lives—continuity, cultural respect, and longevity. Instead of creating something spectacular for one weekend, we asked how each element could live beyond the celebration: garments that could be re-dyed or reworn, textiles repurposed into gifts, temple flowers transformed into dyes, and decor rooted in local craft traditions. Sustainability wasn’t an aesthetic decision; it was simply the most meaningful way for us to celebrate.

M: How did you balance luxury with responsibility while planning your nuptials?

NS: For us, luxury is about depth of craftsmanship rather than excess. We worked with designers and artisans who specialise in handwork, plant dyes, and heritage textiles. And we focused on experiences—live classical performances, community meals, and cultural storytelling—rather than disposable decor. That allowed the wedding to feel rich and layered without unnecessary waste.

M: Was there a particular moment or memory that defined the ethos of your wedding?

NS: The ceremony itself captured the essence of what we were trying to create. We had both a Jewish cantor and a Hindu priest officiating, allowing our traditions to meet in a way that felt organic rather than staged. The larger ethos of the wedding was really about emergent creativity—the alchemy that happens when different cultural and spiritual influences come together to create something entirely new. We were also very conscious of not wanting a ‘picture-perfect’ wedding where guests stayed within familiar circles. At one point, a close friend guided everyone through a simple connection exercise where guests spoke with strangers and answered thoughtful, vulnerable prompts. That moment completely shifted the atmosphere—from separate social groups into a shared sense of one community—and it became one of the most meaningful memories of the celebration.

M: What’s the most romantic thing you've done for each other?

NS: Designing the engagement ring together was a meaningful moment—it reflected partnership rather than surprise.

M: What was going through your mind when you saw each other at the altar?

NS: We were very calm and also extremely emotional—I’m sure a lot of people say this about their celebrations, but truly there wasn’t a dry eye at that ceremony. We were both weeping. Maybe it was the traditions coming together, maybe it was being seen by everyone that loves us, maybe it was our friends singing ‘Fools Rush In’ accompanied by a Harp as I walked down the aisle…honestly who knows?

M: Tell us more about the clothes and jewellery you both wore for different functions…

NS: I have to give our stylist Akshay Tyagi a lot of the credit. We approached each look with the question: ‘Will this live beyond the wedding?’. Every outfit was designed with a second life in mind. The haldi sari and veshti were intentionally created as a blank canvas to be re-dyed later, while several garments were constructed in modular ways so they could be restyled after the wedding. Even Noah’s looks incorporated repurposed textiles, including a Kanjivaram sari transformed into a jacket lining. Many pieces were designed to be reworn, restyled, or archived as heirlooms rather than preserved as one-time garments. And working with designers who prioritise craft and longevity made that possible.

Even with jewellery, we leaned heavily into heirloom pieces and jewels that could be reset or redesigned over time. The idea was to build a trousseau that evolves—pieces that can be worn in different ways across life stages rather than remaining locked away after the wedding.

M: Were there any traditional or regional elements you consciously revived for the wedding?

NS: Yes, we leaned deeply into regional craftsmanship—plant-dyed textiles using temple flowers, traditional Kerala jewellery forms, local musicians, and classical performance traditions like having the local Kathakali school perform Narakasurvadam, serving a Kerala sadhya on banana leaves. These practices are inherently sustainable because they come from systems built on continuity rather than consumption.

M: Do you hope your wedding sets a new benchmark for modern Indian luxury weddings?

NS: I would be very happy if it encourages couples to see sustainability not as a restriction but as a creative opportunity. Conscious celebrations can be incredibly beautiful—sometimes even more so because every element carries intention. One of the things that is hard to put into words, was creating a place that was beautiful enough but not so extravagant that it fostered people being able to let down their guard and make new friends.

M: What advice would you give couples who want a meaningful, eco-conscious wedding without compromising on style?

NS: Start with values, not Pinterest boards. When you define what matters—craft, community, family, sustainability, regional culture—aesthetic decisions become much easier, and the celebration naturally feels both luxurious and meaningful.

Vendors Behind The Scenes

Purple Rings Weddings
Kumarakom Lake Resort
Akshay Tyagi

Ateev at Re-ceremonial, Divya at Bodements, Monica at Jade Bymk, Divani Couture, our producer, local Kerala producerAkhil