This Jaipur palace wedding was filled with custom block prints, grandmother's recipes and handcrafted details
From custom block prints and family recipes to handcrafted décor, every detail reflected Sharmiela Mandre and Sudhan Sundaram's love-story across three special days.
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From custom block prints and family recipes to handcrafted décor, every detail reflected Sharmiela Mandre and Sudhan Sundaram's love-story across three special days.
South Indian actor-producer Sharmiela Mandre and Tamil film producer Sudhan Sundaram chose Jaipur as the destination for their wedding, as it offered something they were looking for beyond beautiful palaces.
Over three days at Samode Palace and Samode Bagh, Mandre and Sundaram created a celebration that brought together their South Indian roots with Rajasthan's rich craft traditions. Every event carried its own personality, yet each one felt connected through thoughtful details that celebrated family, culture, and handmade artistry.
The entire wedding was designed around the idea of storytelling through craft. Each celebration took inspiration from a different traditional art form from Jaipur, while weaving in familiar South Indian motifs including Mysore Palace architecture, temple carvings, Bharatanatyam dancers, veenas, peacocks, temple elephants, and Channapatna toys.
What made it even more remarkable was that every block print, custom rug, pottery piece, installation, and handcrafted décor element was created exclusively for the couple in just three days.
The celebrations began with an intimate mehendi, where Mandre embraced her heritage in a traditional half saree. The ceremony set the tone for the weekend, balancing family traditions with understated elegance before the festivities moved into the welcome sundowner.
By evening, the mosaic pool had transformed into a lively celebration inspired by Jaipur's famous bandhani textiles and blue pottery. Shades of powder blue and bright orange filled the venue, while custom bandhani style rugs, hand-painted pottery, and bespoke installations brought colour to every corner. As the sun set behind the palace, candles lit up the steps and a live DJ kept guests dancing well into the night.
For the wedding ceremony, the mood shifted completely. Soft colours replaced the bright palette of the previous evening.. Mandre chose a timeless gold saree paired with a veil, walking down the aisle to a personalised composition created especially for the occasion by acclaimed Kannada composer Poornachandra Tejaswi.
The couple hosted a special lunch the following day where south Indian flavours met warm Rajasthani hospitality as guests were served one of Mandre's grandmother's treasured recipes on traditional Rajasthani thalis. The gesture reflected the importance of family and memory far more than any grand display could.
The final evening celebrated another of Rajasthan's iconic crafts, Gota work, but in an unexpected way. Instead of appearing on clothing, the shimmering craft became part of the decor through bespoke installations spread across the venue. Handcrafted ten foot chillies floated above the bar, giving guests a playful surprise while reimagining a familiar craft tradition.
The celebrations concluded with a reception featuring live band Curry On My Mind, whose mix of Tamil, Kannada and Hindi music brought both families together on the dance floor.
For Mandre and Sundaram, Jaipur became much more than a destination wedding backdrop. It became the place where two cultures met naturally through craft, food and family traditions.
Long after the celebrations ended, it was these thoughtful, personal touches that stayed with guests, proving that the most memorable weddings are often the ones that feel closest to home.
All images: 1Plus1 Studio
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