A mother walked her daughter down the aisle at this beautiful Kerala wedding

Shruti Iyengar and Raman Aravind met at a close friend’s wedding in Mexico in 2024, and while Iyengar assumed it would remain a holiday romance, Aravind had other plans. He convinced her to extend her stay, and what began over a few days in Mexico continued across Chicago and London.

Aravind was based in Chicago and Iyengar in London, but frequent visits slowly turned the distance into something manageable. By May 2025, they had moved in together. A cinematic sunset proposal in Tenerife followed, and soon they were planning not one wedding, but two.

Their celebrations began in Kumarakom, Kerala, on February 22 with a houseboat brunch, outdoor mehendi, and an open dance floor. The following day, they hosted an intimate wedding for around 50 of their closest friends at Gokulam Grand Resort and Spa, overlooking the backwaters.

The ceremony was centred around a Muhurtham, but it was deliberately free of a pandit and a conventional script. Instead, Iyengar's cousin, who had been part of their relationship from the beginning, guided the ceremony.

A mother at the centre of the Muhurtham

One of the most meaningful moments was Iyengar's mother walking her down the aisle. Raised by a single mother, the bride wanted her mother to have a central place in the ceremony. For her, this felt more meaningful than following a convention simply because it was expected.

The Muhurtham retained its sense of auspiciousness while giving the couple the freedom to shape the ceremony around their own relationship. It was followed by a traditional Kerala sadhya and an evening cocktail reception filled with toasts, conversations and dancing. 

The details throughout the celebrations carried the same sense of personal history. A wedding saree belonging to Aravind’s mother became Iyengar's Nishchyathartham dhawani, while her own mother’s necklace was worn at the Muhurtham. Kanakambaram flowers, Kalamkari textiles, and Kanjeevaram silks brought in familiar South Indian touches.

Iyengar was involved in the process from the start, designing the invitations and stationery, sketching her outfits, sourcing fabrics, and even bringing several of her looks to life herself.

A second wedding for family, rooted in tradition

On March 6, the couple celebrated again at Chamara Vajra in Bangalore’s Palace Grounds, this time with their wider families. The Bangalore wedding honoured the bride's heritage and included several traditional rituals, including Kashi Yatra, Oonjal, Kanyadhanam, and Sapthapadi, followed by Gruha Pravesham.

The two celebrations were different, but they were never meant to compete with each other. The Kerala wedding gave Iyengar and Aravind the space to create a ceremony that reflected their relationship and the people closest to them, while Bangalore brought their families and cultural traditions into the story.

For Iyengar and Aravind, the point was never to move away from tradition. Rather, it was to decide which traditions felt meaningful and make space for their own story within them. 

All images: Shutterbug Film Company 

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