A Serene Multi-Culture Wedding In The Backwaters Of Kerala

The vibe of Medha and Jules' Kerala wedding is difficult to explain. The couple calls it "magical," and it's easy to understand why! It was a multi-cultural wedding by the backwaters of Bekal, and what struck us most about it was its elegance. We cherished how the visitors, who came from all over the world, experienced India in more ways than only cuisine! The bride ensemble, an airy white Sabyasachi saree, was stunning for a daytime wedding. The couple and the surroundings were well complemented by the decor, which was simple, but spectacular. A wedding that was undoubtedly inspirational in so many ways!

Meet Medha and Jules

15 years ago, in 2007, I moved to Bangalore from California and Jules moved from France. As a 12-year-old tomboy attending Canadian International School, Bangalore never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined marrying the 13-year-old French boy from Mulhouse, France with a mohawk and straight razored designs who barely spoke! Who would have thought that the boy I ran around shopping malls, took countless pictures, escaped angry security guards, took rickshaws around Brigade road, played truth or dare, and had water fights with would be my husband!? Those two precious years we spent in India flew by in a blink of an eye and bonded us for life without either of us even knowing it.

When we reconnected in 2015, I was studying in California and Jules was studying in Paris. Somehow, one small question turned into months of talking before we were able to meet in Paris later that year. Again, somehow after one weekend together, we quickly decided that this was it and that we were going to get married one day. Against all odds, we survived 7+ years of moving between 6 different countries, time zones, school, internships, jobs, and a pandemic that kept us apart for 9 months.

Holi Haldi

Sangeet

Wedding

Reception

From The Bride:

Our wedding took place on January 29, 2023. The word that perfectly encapsulates our wedding weekend is "magical." We set out with a clear vision in mind—to create an event that authentically reflected our personalities and celebrated the things we hold dear. Our aim was to curate an experience that was not only enjoyable and unique but also embraced simplicity, sustainability, serenity, and a connection with nature. Looking back, we can proudly say that we accomplished exactly that.

Considering that a majority of our guests were visiting from abroad, many of whom had never experienced India or its culture, it was extremely important for us to share the essence of "Incredible India" through our own eyes. We wanted to offer them an experience of a lifetime. For our Indian guests, we wanted to provide them with something very unique. Also, since Jules and I come from different parts of the world and since our friends and family live all over the world, we planned interactive activities that really brought everyone together. We incorporated Holi into our Haldi ceremony, had a cricket match, had everyone participate in the choreographed dances at the Sangeet and had a saree tying competition, dance competition, and other entertaining games through out the weekend. These activities were the perfect way to bring everyone together.

Vendor Reviews

Venue: Taj Bekal Resort & Spa

We got married at Taj Bekal, which is located in a picturesque village in north Kerala in the Kasargod district. The property sits on the Kapil river, with the backwaters on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. The unspoiled surroundings provided for rustic charm and a serene and peaceful environment, which is exactly what we wanted for our wedding. Adding to the charm are the rooms which resemble Kerala’s Ketuvallams or houseboats. We picked Kerala because the state has a special place in our hearts. As kids, we went on a class trip to Kerala and had adjoining rooms which meant tons of late nights chatting and playing games.

Photography: House On The Clouds

Their work speaks for itself, but more importantly they were incredibly sweet and fun to be around.

Wedding Planning: Purple Rings

Our wedding planners were Purplerings. They did an exceptional job bringing our vision to life and handling every last detail to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Our wedding planners took care of the decor as well. For each event we had a theme. The first, our Haldi was centered around Holi. The decor involved a lot of marigolds and brass pots to give off a very earthy feel. The Sangeet was Diwali themed and the Wedding had traditional Kerala decor. Finally, the reception had a canopy of lights as its main draw.

Bridal Outfits

Like many brides, I always knew I wanted to wear Sabyasachi for my wedding. However, I wanted something that wasn’t typical but also retained a traditional essence. For the Sangeet, I wanted something super fun, so I went with a lehenga I spotted while shopping in Delhi. For the reception, I went with an open back and high neck gown from an Australian boutique, Grace Loves Lace.

Choreography: YSDC

Our choreographers were the best. We worked with YSDC, who are the absolute sweetest. They took all my ideas into account while choreographing our dances, created incredibly easy to follow tutorials, and were there with us during the Sangeet to make sure everything went smoothly.

Vendors: Venue: Taj Bekal Resort & Spa, Kerala; Photography: House On The Clouds★ 5 ; Wedding Planning: Purplerings★ 5 ; Bridal Outfits: Sabyasachi Mukherjee★ 4.9 (Wedding), Grace Loves Lace (Reception); Choreography: YSDC Wedding Choreography★ 4.4