Photography Debs Alexander Photography debsalexander.com Venue Boconnoc Estate boconnoc.com
Aardy and Kajal first met at university in 2014. “We met at the university’s Asian society induction, and I asked if I could take her out,” says Aardy. They later became engaged in Puglia, overlooking the night lights of Matera. "After proposing, we walked back into the local town, found a bar with live music, ordered a bottle of champagne and called our parents to share the news.”
Having grown up in Cornwall, Aardy “always wanted to get married at home,” he explains. “Luckily, over the years Kajal really fell in love with Cornwall too – and it meant the wedding felt like a holiday for our guests.” With extensive on-site accommodation, Boconnoc Estate provided the perfect setting. “It was really special to have our immediate family from both sides staying together,” says Kajal.
A three-day celebration saw the couple host a civil ceremony, Indian wedding and summer party across the long weekend, with a series of outfit changes for each event. Aardy’s custom-tailored suits, along with a green silk veshti and shirt, complemented Kajal’s stunning dresses and Anita Dongre saree, blending traditional attire with bespoke, fashion-forward style.
Festivities began with a light afternoon tea for Thursday’s civil ceremony, which opened with a mini joint Haldi ceremony and ended with drinks and a pizza night in the Stableyard. The following morning, guests gathered for a traditional Tamil breakfast including idli, sambar, mini dosas, medu vada and masala chai.
Then Aardy’s grand baraat entrance began. “I came down the long road at Boconnoc on the estate’s tractor, complete with a sound system,” he says. “Everyone danced their way to the house, where Kajal’s family were waiting and the celebrations continued.” Aardy then entered the mandap in the marquee before Kajal joined him to complete the Indian ceremony, which was followed by a traditional Gujurati lunch of bhajia, patra, daal, rice, amrat paak and rasmalai. Drinks at a local pub rounded off the day ahead of the final celebrations.
For the summer party, the couple subtly transformed the marquee. “We repurposed some of the flowers from Friday for Saturday, but added a new floral installation as a statement piece above the bar,” says Kajal. Otherwise, the styling remained natural and pared-back, with soft greens and pastel shades complementing the surroundings. “We wanted to keep it understated as we felt the venue spoke for itself,” she says.
A Camel Valley drinks reception set the tone for the festivities, accompanied by the first round of speeches, followed by a buffet-style Indian banquet featuring lamb chops, biryani, naans, chicken tikka, grilled mogo and vegetarian skewers. A second round of speeches provided another highlight before the couple took to the floor for their first dance to Yellow by Coldplay, celebrating late into the night with family and friends.
Reflecting on their wedding weekend, Aardy relishes the togetherness of the whole event. “It was very rare to have everyone close to us staying together for three days,” he says. “Over the course of the weekend we found out there were many mutual connections through friends on both sides of the families – small world!” Their advice to other couples? “Find time as a couple to not talk about the wedding so it doesn’t consume you,” he says. “And enjoy the process – things might get stressful, but it will always work out!”
Photography Debs Alexander Photography debsalexander.com
Venue Boconnoc Estate boconnoc.com
Marquee Sperry Tents sperrytents.co.uk
On-the-day coordination Rebel & Anchor rebelandanchor.co.uk
Dresses Reformation thereformation.com
Sau Lee sau-lee.com
Saree Anita Dongre anitadongre.com
Suits Suit Supply suitsupply.com
Hair Anna Ingram Hairstylist annaingramhairstylist.com
Make-up Sally Orchard Makeup orchardbridalartists.com
Flowers The Garden Gate Flower Company thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk
Catering Kernow Forno kernowforno.co.uk
SNK Foods snkfoods.co.uk
Etherington’s Bakery etherington-meats.co.uk
Chairs, tables, ceremony chairs Virginia’s Furniture Hire virginiasfurniturehire.co.uk
Entertainment DJ Amxn amxn.bandcamp.com
Lighting & AV JHAV
Videography Sean White Films seanwhiteweddingfilms.co.uk
.jpg)
.jpg)
