Subscribe
- Sanskaar 101
- Spotlight
- Wedding Diaries
- Fashion & Beauty
- Trends & Culture
- Astrology
Some love stories begin with a dramatic moment. Others begin with a simple introduction that changes everything.
For Sujana Prudhivi and Akshay Nambiar, it all started at a Saint Patrick’s Day party when two close friends decided they needed to meet. “Our story began on a Saint Patrick’s Day evening when two close friends, convinced we would get along, introduced us. What started as a casual meeting quickly turned into a conversation that lasted nearly four hours. We were completely absorbed in getting to know each other, and from that very first interaction, there was a sense that something special had begun,” the couple revealed.
Neither of them knew it then, but that four-hour conversation would become the beginning of a relationship built on honesty, emotional openness and a deep sense of connection.
While many couples remember their first fancy dinner or first trip together, one of Sujana and Akshay’s most meaningful early memories happened at home after Akshay returned from a trip to Dallas to visit his family. Sujana revealed that she had invited him over for dinner. “One of our earliest and most meaningful dates was a dinner at home after Akshay returned from a trip to Dallas. As ‘Ballerina’ by Yehezkel Raz played in the background, I read aloud passages I had written about him in my journal. It was an incredibly vulnerable and personal moment that brought us even closer together and became a defining memory in our relationship.”
As their relationship grew, so did their certainty about each other. Nearly a year after they first met, Akshay planned a proposal that beautifully tied back to one of the most important memories of their relationship. She reveals, “Akshay proposed nearly a year after we met at Jackson Park in Chicago during cherry blossom season. He arranged for a grand piano to be set up by the water and played Ballerina, a song that held special meaning in our relationship. After dedicating the piece to me, he got down on one knee. I was overwhelmed with emotion and said yes through tears. What made the moment even more meaningful was discovering that his family had been there all along, quietly witnessing the proposal.”
“Akshay thoughtfully incorporated a song that had become deeply meaningful to us. Equally memorable was the evening when I shared my journal entries about him, allowing us to connect on a profoundly personal level,” she adds.
When it came to planning their wedding, Sujana and Akshay knew what they wanted. “We envisioned a wedding that felt immersive, intentional, and deeply personal. Rather than focusing on a single day, we wanted to create a multi-day experience that honoured our roots, celebrated our cultures, and brought together the different communities and people who have shaped our lives,” they state.
The celebrations began with traditional pre-wedding ceremonies in Hyderabad and Delhi before moving to Udaipur for a multi-day destination wedding with family and friends.
Their venue choice was equally intentional. Sujana highlighted, “With guests travelling from different parts of the world, we wanted a destination that felt connected to our heritage while offering a memorable experience. Aurika, Udaipur stood out because of its elegance, breathtaking views, and ability to accommodate the immersive, multi-day celebration we envisioned.”
One of the most important aspects of the wedding was making sure both families and cultures were represented authentically as she shares: “Honouring both our cultures was incredibly important to us. We celebrated a traditional Telugu Vivaham alongside a Kerala-style Kalyanam, allowing both traditions to be represented authentically and woven together into a single celebration.”
Those ceremonies ended up becoming the most precious as she affirms: “The wedding ceremonies were especially meaningful because they brought together both of our cultures. Beginning with a traditional Telugu Vivaham and transitioning into a Kerala-style Kalyanam, the ceremonies felt like a beautiful reflection of our families and our shared future.”
Of course, pulling off a destination wedding with guests flying in from around the world wasn’t without its challenges.
“Planning a multi-day destination wedding for guests travelling from different parts of the world naturally came with logistical complexities. One of the unique aspects of our wedding was bringing together two distinct cultural traditions and ensuring that both were represented authentically throughout the celebrations. At times, this meant navigating differences in rituals, customs, and even translating certain traditions for guests and vendors who may not have been familiar with them.”
Despite the many moving parts, the couple says everything came together beautifully thanks to an incredible team of collaborators. “We were both deeply involved in shaping the overall vision of the wedding. While we worked closely with planners and vendors, every decision was guided by what felt authentic to us. Akshay also took the lead on creating a detailed wedding website that helped guests navigate and experience the celebrations. Sujana took the role of being the creative director of the wedding.”
For all the grandeur of the celebrations, the moment that stayed with them most was surprisingly quiet. “In that moment, everything around us seemed to fade away. Despite being surrounded by hundreds of loved ones, it felt incredibly quiet. As I walked toward the altar, all the months of planning, anticipation, and dreaming suddenly manifested into something real,” says Sujana.
One of their favourite memories came later during the reception when Akshay surprised Sujata with a live piano performance of Poovullo Dagunna, a song her mother had taught her during her Carnatic music training. She says, “The gesture was incredibly thoughtful and emotional, making it one of the most memorable moments of the entire celebration.”
There was also a special private moment before the festivities began. “One of the most meaningful behind-the-scenes moments happened on the morning of the wedding. Before the celebrations began, we found a few quiet moments together reflecting upon our vows as the pre-wedding photoshoot was about to begin,” says Sujana.
After the final dance, the last goodbye and the end of the celebrations, the overwhelming feeling was gratitude. They share: “We felt an overwhelming mix of happiness, gratitude, and disbelief that it had all come together so beautifully. While the celebrations were grand, what stayed with us most was the feeling of being surrounded by so much love and support.”
When asked whether they would change anything, the couple promptly stated, “Honestly, no. Looking back, the wedding felt complete and deeply meaningful. We are looking forward to the quiet, everyday moments just as much as the major milestones ahead. Recently, we purchased a home together in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and much of our excitement is centered around transforming it into a space that reflects the life we are building.”
And somehow, that feels like the perfect ending and the perfect beginning.