When it comes to lasting love, is it really all sparks and stolen glances? In movies, maybe. In real life? Not always. Love doesn’t always arrive with a bang—it often blossoms slowly, quietly, and deeply. The steady conversations, the shared silences, the showing up—again and again, just like New Delhi-based fashion designers Priya Mittal and Siddhant Yadav did for each other. Priya, the founder of clothing label Yam and Siddhant Yadav of the brand Oziss were set up on a blind date in December 2022. “Our mutual friends believed that we are very similar, so they set us up. They gave us a date and surprise location to meet,” Priya reveals.
“The first three dates didn’t feel like ‘complete sparks flew’. But we came from common mutual cultural backgrounds, being born and raised in Delhi and studying in NIFT. Above all, there was an inherent comfort, shared values, and common hometown and industry between us, which set a great foundation for our relationship,” confesses Siddhant, proving that the best kind of love isn’t measured by how it begins, but by how beautifully it unfolds over time. “Both of us being designers also meant exchanging new creative ideas and mood boards for our upcoming collections. We also relied on each other for business strategies and expansion plans,” says Priya, whose label Yam has garnered much traction for its vibrant prints and elevated classics, while Siddhant’s brand offers sustainable pieces with meticulous construction.
With time, their bond strengthened. Two years into the relationship, Priya and Siddhant decided to tie the knot. There was no grand proposal, no cinematic moment. Just an honest conversation—about dreams, fears, and building a life side by side. “We both knew that this relationship is not only working but it’s bringing us both peace, security and calmness. We wanted it to be a long term partnership, so getting married was the natural next step. When our parents found out, they were thrilled,” they chime in.
The Vision
For the big day, the duo decided to give the ostentatious wedding a rain check that is often predictable with weddings in Delhi. “We were both on the same page that if the wedding would be in Delhi, we’d land up inviting over 1,000 people. It didn’t resonate with us. We wanted a wedding, where we and our guests could thoroughly enjoy every moment and also have some downtime for recreational activities. We also wanted each and every loved one to be a part of the ceremony in some way or other,” shares Siddhant. After an intimate ring ceremony in May 4, 2024, they planned a destination wedding in Kochi. “It seems like an unusual choice, but we decided to finalise Kochi because it was the destination where we took our first holiday together as a couple,” reveals Priya.
“We scoured several properties. Gokulam Grand Resort and Spa Kumarakom checked all our boxes. It was easily accessible, extremely elegant and extended gorgeous views of the backwaters,” shares Priya. The couple has everything mapped out, quite literally. “As we do for our collections, we made mood boards for the décor, design, florals and the works for every single event. We got access to the layout and interior scheme of all spaces to jot down placements and markers for furniture, fabrics and everything in between. It was so handy for us and our planner,” shares Siddhant. “We enlisted Eventers Planners for on-site co-ordination and execution.”
The Wedding Wardrobe Of Dreams
As designers, Priya and Siddhant spent years crafting stories through fabric and form—so naturally, for their wedding wardrobe, the canvas became deeply personal. Every drape and detail of their wedding wardrobe was a reflection of who they are—individually and together. From sketchbooks to fittings, they poured their hearts into creating pieces that were just beautiful and meaningful. “We both had a similar vision on how we would want our looks to be. We wanted the outfits to complement each, without going too matchy-matchy,” says Siddhant, who designed all of his own outfits. The bride’s trousseau features outfits from her own label as well as pieces from her favourite designers.
“I wore a handwoven tissue look from Delhi Vintage Co for my mehndi because I really like their artisanal work. It was an anarkali style kurta set, but I wore it as a dress. I wanted it to be very free and not wear something cumbersom. I styled with a parandi. Siddhant made a long jacket with a skirt using mettalic tissue fabric from one of Yam’s recent collection. It was fun but also regal.”
“For the haldi, I made a skirt set using lightweight Chanderi fabric that was lying in my factory at Yam for a couple of months. The yellow fabric had some minor albeit unnoticeable defects, so I knew it would never comply with our quality checks for our collections at Yam, but I am a huge proponent of sustainability and ensure that almost nothing goes to waste. I couldn’t think of a better opportunity and occasion than my haldi. I landed up creating a lehenga with it. I designed a simple blouse and a kalidaar skirt with 80 kalis,” shares Priya.
Priya opted for a skirt set from Anita Dongre for the sangeet—a stunning black creation highlighting the couturier’s signature gota patti work and Pichwai detailing. The groom wore a sharp bandhgala with flared trousers.
When it came to the main wedding outfit, Priya always knew she would be a Sabyasachi bride. “I didn’t even see collections from other designers. Ever since college when pursuing a degree in design, Sabyasachi’s work was my biggest inspiration. I went straight to his store. As with most brides, I did try a few red lehengas, but realised it didn’t resonate with me. Instead, I spotted this ice blue flora sari and instantly fell in love with it. And the tropical floral prints felt like an extension of my label Yam. It felt like a couture version of the contemporary pieces I design at my brand,” she shares. She styled it with a blue tulle veil. “My parents and I went to Jaipur for the jewellery. We got the pieces customised from our jewellery.”
The groom designed his own contemporary take on the dhoti-kurta set in a similar shade of grey-blue, emblazoned with intricate tonal embroidery. “The favourite part of my look was the Maison Margiela shoes.”
“It wouldn’t be my big day without a touch of Yam in it,” shares Priya, who got matching white Yam saris featuring pretty poppy prints from a new launch from her label. “I had this picture-perfect vision of my best girls dressed in my label, and my wedding was the best occasion. When I asked them, they were just as thrilled. I let them customise their blouses to make the look their own,” she adds.
The bride had her red lehenga moment for the wedding reception. She opted for a crimson creation made using rich brocade, while the groom went with a classic black ensemble.
The Al Fresco Mehndi
The celebrations kicked off with a sundowner mehndi ceremony. “It was in the open amphitheatre at the property, which features circular staircases. We wanted a casual yet upbeat ambience, so we ditched formal chairs and instead had gaddas,” reveals Priya. The space with decked up with all-white fresh flowers and lots of candles. Installations made with banana leaves and bunches of raw bananas further elevated the tropical appeal of the venue, which is flanked by hundreds of palm trees. Some 20,000 small michi lights were put up in the entire hotel to give that “ghar ki shaadi vibe,” she adds.
As guests arrived, the atmosphere was already amped up with excitement. The celebrations began with a series of pre-wedding rituals, each filled with soulful music and heartfelt blessings. Women then got henna applied at the function, before the transitioned into a dance party. “Our friends and family had planned several surprise dance performances for us. And we planned a surprise for them too, with a stellar performance by a native folk dance troupe. We wanted our guests to get a slice of the local culture with our wedding.”
The Haldi-Holi party
Eschewing a conventional haldi, the couple planned a delightful a Haldi-Holi party. Imagine guests applying auspicious haldi to the couple, then breaking into a Holi party with actual colours and water guns. “We didn’t want people to just apply haldi on us and leave. We wanted the ceremony to be very interactive. So, we thoroughly thought this through and brought proper colours and pichkaris from New Delhi. We also planned several games like musical chairs and tug of war,” shares Siddhant.
It was a celebration of fun, laughter and playfulness. The lake made for a stunning backdrop. “We didn’t go over-the-top with the décor. But the 12-foot floral installation in the middle made with tonnes genda flowers, made for a masterpiece. We also custom cushions made with custom printed fabrics from Yam,” Priya adds.
The Sadya
After the haldi, guests were welcomed with a traditional Sadya feast served on banana leaves, surrounded by a beautifully curated Kerala-inspired setup—think coconut leaf canopies, brass lamps, and marigold garlands.
“We got Kerala’s traditional Kasavu weaves for the women and mundus for the men, which added to the immersive charm. It wasn’t just a meal—it was a celebration of culture, colour, and community,” Priya says.
The Blockbuster Sangeet
The night before the big day was the sangeet. Inspired by contemporary aesthetics, the evening dazzled with all-red décor including blooms, furniture and accent pieces. “This was a night we went all glam.” The high-energy celebration was filled with lots of perfectly synchronised dance performances by families and friends from both sides.
The Sundowner Pheras
The pheras on January 18, 2025 were serene and sacred. The mandap was a masterclass in minimalism. Wooden pillars that are traditional to homes in Kerala served as the four corners of the mandap. Banana leaves, brass candle stands, urlis and flowers adorned the space.
“It was quite simple in terms of decor, and that’s what we wanted. We kept the look traditional and infused several South Indian elements to add to the vibe. We also kept bells for the guests to ring during our ceremony,” the couple reveal.
With the beautiful backwaters as the backdrop, the couple exchanged vows in a ceremony that was beautiful, personalised and emotional. “We both felt was quite calm. It was an experience that we will never forget,” says Priya. “I would want to do it again,” adds Siddhant. The celebrations culminated with a small reception. “It rained unexpectedly, and we knew it was blessings from the heavens.”
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Priya Mittal
The Groom: Siddhant Yadav
The Venue: Gokulam Grand Resort and Spa Kumarakom
Wedding Planning & Coordination: Eventers Planners
Bride’s Outfits: Yam, Anita Dongre, Sabyasachi, Delhi Vintage Co.
Groom’s Outfits: Self-designed
Groom’s Shoes: Maison Margiela
Photography: Team – Jackson James
