At Allu Sirish and Nayanika Reddy’s wedding in Hyderabad, the bride was stopped at the gates moments before the ceremony.

The wedding ceremony itself leaned closely towards tradition. “This culture is more than 2,000 years old, which means it has survived perhaps 100 or even 200 generations. The least we can do is be custodians of it and pass it on to one more generation,” shares Allu. Once again dressed by Anamika Khanna, Allu wore a dhoti and a khanduva, while Reddy wore a Kanjeevaram saree, and Khanna added delicate design touches to the blouse and finishing details. She paired it with a vaddanam, the traditional golden belt worn by South Indian brides and a vintage diamond necklace with antique cut stones by L. Bajrang Pershad.

The ceremony took place at a farm called Aina, where the team recreated the atmosphere of a temple through decoration. Among the many rituals planned was the Jeelakarra Bellam, “That is the time when marriage is considered official in our tradition,” says Reddy. The couple places a mixture of herbs and jaggery on each other’s heads while making their vows. “The belief is that when placed on the forehead, the Agnya Chakra is activated and the vows taken at that time become sacred,” adds Allu.

The most memorable moment, however, occurred before the ceremony even began. “The police had cordoned off the entire premises for security reasons and were not letting any car in,” Allu recalls. “Nayanika was late and they stopped her car. She kept saying, ‘I’m the bride,’ but they didn’t let her through until some people inside came looking for her.” Once they realized who it was, security quickly cleared the way, allowing him to rush in for what Allu describes as “a very quick bridal entry.” “Honestly, it looked like a scene from a movie,” he adds.

Looking back, Allu says the most important thing about the celebrations was the support that surrounded them throughout the process. His brother and sister-in-law, Allu Arjun and Sneha Reddy, were the first to arrive at each event during the five-day celebration. “He made it a point to personally welcome and spend time with everyone who came. He really went above and beyond.” Along with them, Reddy’s sister and brother-in-law “planned everything meticulously and never let us feel the stress,” says Allu. “In a few years, Nayanika’s sister could get married, and then my niece,” he adds. “Seeing how they stepped in and took on the role of hosts made us realize that one day we will be on that side too, hosting weddings for the next generation.”