A Decades-Long Journey Culminates in a Cross-Cultural Wedding in Provence
In an extraordinary twist of fate, Kesu and Isaac, two individuals brought into the world within a few hours of each other in a London hospital three decades ago, eventually united in marriage. Their remarkable journey, which began with an unexpected encounter at Exeter University, blossomed into a love story spanning 12 years. Their recent nuptials in Provence were a beautiful fusion of heritage and personal touches, celebrating not just their union but also the profound connections that have shaped their lives.
The couple's path to matrimony was anything but conventional. Kesu's initial plans to study in the United States were derailed by a Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis at 17, leading her to remain in the UK for university. This unforeseen change led her to Exeter, where she met Isaac through a mutual acquaintance. Despite not overtly believing in destiny, Kesu reflects on the serendipitous nature of their intertwined lives, acknowledging the numerous points where their paths could have diverged. After a decade together, Isaac orchestrated a deeply personal proposal, sourcing the ring's stones from Kesu's family jeweler in India, with the help of her mother and aunt, before having it meticulously designed in London.
Their wedding destination, Provence, held significant sentimental value, having been their home for a year during their studies abroad. This connection made the 17th-century Château de Beauregard in Vaucluse the perfect backdrop for their two-day celebration. In early June, approximately 130 guests, representing their large, extended families, gathered for the festivities. The wedding planner, Chloé Dibon from Nona Events, helped them bring their vision to life.
The celebrations commenced with a vibrant Mehndi party on Friday evening in the château’s picturesque courtyard. This pre-wedding ritual, filled with Dhol drummers and vocalists, allowed guests to partake in the traditional application of intricate henna designs, believed to herald a joyous marriage. This was followed by a Haldi ceremony, where close relatives bestowed blessings upon the couple by applying a paste of turmeric, oil, and water. Subsequently, the Chura ceremony saw Kesu's family adorn her with auspicious wedding bangles, symbolising good fortune. The evening culminated in the Jaggo ceremony, with the lighting of lamps to signify the couple's promising future.
For the traditional pre-wedding rituals, Kesu opted for a tangerine raw silk lehenga by Papa Don’t Preach and Estie Couture, complementing it with Gianvito Rossi wooden heels, a handbag from a Mumbai market, and Bhavya Ramesh earrings. Her newly blessed Churas replaced her Amrapali bangles and pink jade bracelet. Saturday began with the Milni, a private moment for both families to formally greet each other, followed by the Sikh Anand Karaj, a spiritual ceremony translating to “blissful union.” Despite neither being overtly religious, Kesu, identifying as British and Sikh culturally, found the Anand Karaj to be a meaningful and important aspect of their ceremony, a sentiment shared by Isaac and her parents. The venue was beautifully adorned by Les Fleures de Ninon with marigold garlands, evoking the feeling of a traditional Indian haveli.
Kesu's choice of attire for the Anand Karaj was a blush-pink silk saree by Rahul Mishra, a designer she admired for his storytelling through embroidery and his dedication to Indian craftsmanship. To honor her Amritsar and Punjabi roots, she accessorized with antique gold chains passed down through her family and vintage gold jhumkas worn by her mother on her own wedding day. Isaac complemented her in a bespoke zardosi thread Nehru suit from Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, paired with Kesu’s mother’s pearls.
Following the Anand Karaj, a swift costume change prepared Kesu for the 'Western wedding moment.' She walked down the aisle in the Orangery at Château de Beauregard, wearing a custom Wiederhoeft corset, a piece that had been in creation for 10 months in the New York atelier, and a matching silk skirt. Their friend Serena, who had first introduced them at Exeter, officiated the ceremony. The evening was a blend of heartfelt speeches, a delightful dinner featuring scallops and duck, enthusiastic dancing to ABBA (after Kesu changed into a mini-skirt), and a grand pavlova. Reflecting on the weekend, Kesu expressed a wish to relive it, remarking on how quickly it passed.