Erena and Shyam celebrated a beautiful Autumn wedding, with a focus on the stunning mountain backdrop, their treasured cultures, and heartfelt personal touches throughout the day.
Shyam shares more details…

***Photography by*** ***Rhea Rodrigues***

Our Canterbury wedding took place in the picturesque month of May, allowing the vibrant Autumn season to enhance our favourite colour choices, which were represented throughout the stunning backdrops, vibrant florals and decor.

Erena was born Kiwi/Māori, while I was born and raised in India, which means we each bring our own unique cultures and values to the relationship. Our wedding turned out to be the sweetest and most harmonious blend of two very different cultures and religions, creating a memorable celebration for our families and guests.

To make the most out of the vibrant colours of Autumn, Erena and I both decided to choose light coloured attire that would look striking against the colourful background of the season. Erena wore the most stunning blue, green, and teal feathered Korowai, a traditional garment that represents her Maori culture. Just a few days earlier, we had celebrated our union in an Indian-style ceremony, so my family embraced the their first New Zealand-style wedding, opting for indo-western clothing that complemented the theme.

Erena and I both chose to get ready at the bridal suite and accommodation at the Waipuna Estate. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and excitement as we toasted with Champagne and whiskey celebrating the day ahead with our bridal party. Erena and her bridesmaids looked beautiful in The Sleepover custom robes.

With her sister’s help, Erena slipped into her gown, and the excitement peaked as her bridesmaids gathered for the reveal, their faces lighting up with joy as they saw her in her beautiful dress. The sweetest moment as we look back at our gallery was Erena’s nephew, Isaac, helping her put on her wedding shoes.

We opted to have our wedding ceremony on the beautiful lawns of Waipuna Estate, with the landscape of Tai Tapu providing a picturesque backdrop overlooking the majestic mountains. A highlight was the delightful Alpacas that were happily running around loose during our ceremony. They made a charming appearance right behind us, capturing plenty of attention from our guests, yet they remained well behaved throughout!

Our celebrant Debbie Hawker did a brilliant job officiating our wedding, capturing all the heartfelt details of our love story, and she even made a wonderful introduction in both “Hindi" and “Maori", which added a meaningful touch to the ceremony.

We chose to incorporate a wine box ceremony, where Erena and I each wrote heartfelt letters to one another expressing what marriage means to us and outlining our commitments to each other. We plan to open this bottle of wine on our first wedding anniversary, read the heartfelt letters and enjoy sipping the wine!

Our talented photographer Rhea captured some amazing moments of us getting ready and did an exceptional job covering every intricate detail of our outfits, jewellery, and accessories. Plus, there were beautiful moments of us captured during the ceremony, as well as wonderful candid shots of our guests enjoying the celebration. The highlight of our day was the couple photos, which were taken in the picturesque farm at Waipuna Estate during golden hour. Since Erena and I are both very fond of animals, Rhea made sure to incorporate adorable Alpacas in our backdrop, adding a unique touch to our memories.

The reception began with the bridal party making a lively entrance to ACDC’s hit song, Thunderstruck. Our wonderful MC then officially introduced us as Mr and Mrs Kansagara, which drew cheers from our excited guests. We cut our stunning blue and teal two-tier cake, a centerpiece that reflected our theme and style. This was followed by a surprise performance from our best man and matron of honour, who also happen to be husband and wife. Instead of adhering to the traditional speech format, they chose to perform an original song that they had written, narrating our love story and revealing some of our lighthearted secrets! After their performance, more tear-jerking speeches were delivered by our family members. For dinner, we opted for flavourful Indian cuisine, which was perfect for the chilly Autumn evening, providing warmth and comfort to our guests. Everyone appreciated the variety of delicious options available, ensuring that all tastes were catered to.

Our table decorations and centerpiece were crafted as a DIY project. We sourced wooden rounds from a local seller in Christchurch, and the lovely eucalyptus vines adorned with delicate roses were purchased online. These were put together by our family members the day before the wedding, creating a beautiful atmosphere with blue bottles, twinkling fairy lights, and glowing candles arranged around them.

Our choice of the first song took our guests by surprise, featuring a mix of slow, romantic Western music intertwined with upbeat Indian pop! This moment became a highlight of our wedding celebration, as none of our family or guests anticipated such a unique musical selection. We had asked our guests to share three of their favorite songs, which meant that everyone stayed on the dance floor and enjoyed themselves throughout the night.