A Couple Envisioned a Traditional South Indian Wedding With Modern Touches, So They Hosted a Two-Day Garden Celebration at The Palace House in Chennai
“We wanted the warmth of our traditions, but with a setting that felt open, elegant and completely our own,” the bride shares.
Harish and Poornima first met in college, where they became close friends. Romance wasn’t on the horizon at the time. “I never thought of him as a romantic interest back then,” Poornima says. Years later, during internships in the United States—Harish in Nashville and Poornima in New York—a four-day visit changed everything. Harish realized he had fallen for his best friend, and long-distance calls soon connected them across cities and continents, turning friendship into romance.
Their first official proposal happened at Disney World in Florida, where Harish gave Poornima a handwritten letter asking her to be his girlfriend. She said yes. Later, on Phi Phi Island in Thailand, amid a tsunami alert, Harish slipped a ring onto her finger, and she accepted once again, marking the start of their next chapter together.
Harish and Poornima invited their loved ones to celebrate their wedding at The Palace House on ECR in Chennai over two days, with the first evening reserved for engagement and reception and the second day for the wedding ceremony itself. They envisioned a traditional South Indian wedding with modern touches, set in a lush outdoor garden and culminating in a sunset reception with a temple-style grand entry. “We wanted the warmth of our traditions, but with a setting that felt open, elegant, and completely our own,” the bride says.
The couple worked closely with their vendors to bring the vision to life, from photography to catering, navigating the challenges of long-distance planning between Chennai and Bengaluru. “Every vendor helped us create a celebration that felt personal and true to who we are,” they say.
On February 7, 2026, Harish and Poornima kicked off the celebrations with a playful photoshoot, capturing candid moments and laughter before the main events began. Once called to the stage, they received blessings and changed into their ceremonial attire for their , a cherished tradition symbolizing purification and good fortune. “Seeing her in that special outfit took my breath away,” Harish says. Poornima looked radiant, and his excitement was palpable.
As the reception hour approached, Poornima was fully immersed in getting ready with her makeup team. “I wanted to feel exactly how I had imagined on stage,” she recalls. When Harish finally saw her, it was a moment of pure joy and admiration — she looked stunning, and he was equally dashing in his reception attire. Together, they were ready to make their grand entrance, stepping into the evening celebrations with hearts full of excitement and love.
Harish and Poornima had always dreamed of a grand, cinematic entrance for their reception, and on February 7, 2026, that vision came to life. Walking from the temple to The Palace House, they were flanked by eight glowing floral lights, their soft radiance setting the path like a scene from a fairytale. The deep, resonant beats of the Kerala drums filled the evening air, announcing their arrival in a way that was both regal and celebratory. “From the moment we imagined this walk, we knew we wanted it to feel magical, almost like a king and queen arriving to their court,” Poornima shares.
Before stepping onto the stage, Poornima performed the traditional sambradayam, holding a beautifully adorned vilakku — a ceremonial lamp symbolizing prosperity and blessings. “It felt incredible to hold that lamp, knowing it was a part of our tradition and also our dream moment coming true,” she says. Harish recalls the thrill of seeing her at that moment: “Watching her walk towards me, glowing in every sense, with the drums echoing around us — it was everything we had imagined and more.” As they reached the stage, the celebration, cheers, and music created a breathtaking crescendo, making the couple’s grand entry a memory they and their guests would never forget. The vision was theirs, brought beautifully to life by the team at JP Grand Inn, who executed every detail seamlessly while keeping the couple’s dream at the heart of it all.
After the grandeur of their reception, Harish and Poornima had one more surprise planned for their closest circle. Later that night, the couple hosted an exclusive outdoor after-party for their friends — a celebration they personally sponsored as a way of thanking them for being part of their journey.
“We’ve celebrated every phase of our relationship with our friends, from college days to long-distance calls, so this night was for them,” Harish shares. Set under the open sky, the atmosphere shifted from regal elegance to high-energy festivity. Music filled the garden, laughter echoed across the venue, and the formalities gave way to carefree dancing and pure joy. “We wanted one part of the wedding that felt just like us — relaxed, loud, and full of fun,” Poornima adds.
It was the perfect contrast to the traditional ceremonies — a night where friendships were honored, memories were relived, and the couple’s love story was celebrated in the most vibrant way possible.
The next morning, the celebrations continued with their wedding ceremony, held outdoors at The Palace House in a beautifully transformed setting. Bathed in soft daylight and surrounded by loved ones, the atmosphere was filled with devotion, anticipation, and overwhelming joy. “We always wanted our wedding to feel open, traditional, and full of positive energy,” Poornima shares. “Having it outdoors made it even more special.”
The most emotional moment came during the thaali katra ceremony, when Harish tied the sacred mangalsutra around Poornima’s neck. “I had actually practiced at home,” he admits with a laugh. “It’s such an important moment — I didn’t want to get it wrong.” As the sacred knot was tied and the nadaswaram music rose in celebration, the couple officially began their new chapter together. Guests showered them with blessings, and the joy was visible in every smile and tear-filled eye.
The ceremony beautifully continued with traditional rituals including the metti ceremony, where the groom adorned the bride with toe rings, symbolizing their marital bond, and suthi varuthal, performed by family members to ward off any negative energy and bless the couple with prosperity. Each ritual unfolded exactly as planned, a reflection of the couple’s thoughtful preparation and deep respect for tradition.
Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a grand traditional feast curated by Sree Eshwar Catering Service, whose elaborate spread of authentic South Indian dishes delighted everyone in attendance. “Food was very important to us,” Harish says. “We wanted our guests to leave remembering not just the wedding, but the entire experience.” From the sacred rituals to the celebratory meal, the wedding morning was everything they had envisioned — heartfelt, meaningful, and filled with love.
As the final rituals came to a close, Harish and Poornima paused to take it all in — from their college friendship to years of long distance, and finally, a wedding that reflected everything they had built together.
“We were always like, ‘Let’s see… we’ll figure it out,’” Poornima says.
That simple mindset carried them through every phase of their journey.
For couples planning their big day, Harish leaves this thought: “A wedding is not a cherry on top, it’s the foundation.”
For them, this wasn’t just a celebration. It was the beginning of forever.