We're getting married

Swathi & Varun

August 14 – 16, 2026 · Hyderabad, India

Three days of music, turmeric, sacred fire, and dancing under the stars — and we want you there for all of it.

#VarunFoundHisPall

See the 3-Day Celebration Venue & Travel

Our Story

It Started in New York

Some love stories need a stage. Ours got the city that never sleeps.

Swathi and Varun met in New York City, and the city has been a character in their story ever since — one neighborhood, one late night, one season at a time, until somewhere along the way it stopped being dates and started being them. This August, they'll be married in Hyderabad, India, over three days of tradition, music, and celebration.

Oh — and about the hashtag. Swathi's last name is Palla, which means that when Varun met her, he quite literally found his Pall(a). We couldn't not use it. Tag your photos all weekend with #VarunFoundHisPall.

The Two of Us

Swathi and Varun at their engagement ceremony
Swathi and Varun on a New York street
Swathi and Varun with the New York skyline at night
Swathi and Varun in traditional dress at a Diwali celebration

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Your guide to three days of celebration

The Celebration

August 14 – 16  ·  A Traditional Telugu Wedding

Swathi and Varun's wedding isn't a single event — it's a joyful, colorful three-day journey of Telugu Hindu ceremonies, each with its own meaning, mood, and dress code. This guide walks you through all three days so you always know what's happening, why it matters, and what to wear.

The Weekend at a Glance

Three days, three moods — here's the short version.

Friday · Aug 14

The celebration begins with an evening of music & dancing at the Sangeet (open bar).

Dress: Starry Night — dark & dreamy

Saturday · Aug 15

Morning ceremonies — Snatakam & Haldi — then Varapuja & Edurukolu into the evening Reception (open bar).

AM: Yellow · PM: Formal

Sunday · Aug 16

The main event: the traditional Hindu wedding ceremony, 9am–2pm, with lunch served during.

Traditional — please no red
Day One

Friday, August 14

Kick-off & Sangeet Night
We'll be arriving at the venue after lunch — Varun and Swathi will make sure anyone traveling is well fed before arrival.
Evening · Open Bar

Sangeet

"sun-GEET" — literally, "music"

The Sangeet is the party of the weekend — a night of song, dance, and celebration where both families come together before the wedding. Expect choreographed dance performances by family and friends, plenty of Bollywood and Telugu hits, and a dance floor that's open to everyone. No experience required; enthusiasm strongly encouraged.

What to wear · Theme: Starry Night Think dark and dreamy — midnight blues, deep purples, blacks, emeralds. Shimmer, sequins, and metallic accents are perfect. Indian attire (lehengas, sarees, kurtas, sherwanis) or Western cocktail attire both work beautifully — just keep it night-sky.

Good to know: comfortable shoes are your friend — you will be pulled onto the dance floor.

Day Two

Saturday, August 15

Ceremonies by Day, Reception by Night
Breakfast served in the morning · Lunch served around noon
10:00 AM · Religious Ceremony

Snatakam

"SNAH-tha-kam" — the graduation ceremony

A beautiful Vedic ritual performed for the groom. In ancient tradition, the Snatakam marked the end of a young man's student life and his readiness to enter the next stage — married life as a householder. The groom performs sacred rites with a priest and dons a silk thread, symbolically "graduating" into adulthood and responsibility. It's a calm, meaningful ceremony — guests are welcome to watch, take it in, and quietly chat over coffee.

What to wear Yellow! Since Haldi follows right after, you're welcome to come dressed for both — or, if you'd like to change, come in something traditional for the Snatakam and switch into yellow for the Haldi.
11:00 AM · The Fun One

Haldi

"HUHL-dee" — turmeric

Get ready to laugh. During Haldi, a paste made of turmeric is lovingly (and liberally) applied to the couple by family and friends. Turmeric is believed to bless, purify, and give the couple a radiant glow before the wedding — and it's also just an excuse for everyone to get delightfully messy. There's music, laughter, and yes, some turmeric inevitably ends up on the guests too.

What to wear Yellow, in any shade or style — kurtas, sundresses, casual Indian or Western wear all work. Wear something you won't mind getting a little turmeric on. Turmeric stains, so this is not the day for your favorite outfit.

Good to know: you'll have the afternoon free after lunch to clean up and transform for the evening.

5:00 PM

Varapuja & Edurukolu

the welcoming of the groom

As evening begins, the bride's family formally welcomes the groom and his family. In the Edurukolu, both families come out to greet each other, and in the Varapuja, the bride's parents honor the groom with a traditional welcome ceremony. It's a short, sweet, and meaningful set of rituals that flows right into the reception.

What to wear Traditional wear, or a suit works great too. Whatever you wear here carries straight into the reception — no outfit change needed.
6:00 PM · Open Bar

Reception & Meet-and-Greet

An elegant evening to celebrate the couple, mingle with both families, and enjoy dinner, drinks, and toasts. This is the night to meet everyone — grandparents, cousins, college friends — and offer your congratulations. Expect photos, speeches, great food, and a relaxed, festive atmosphere.

What to wear · Formal, no theme Dress to impress: suits, cocktail dresses, gowns, sarees, lehengas, sherwanis — Indian or Western formal wear are equally welcome. Any color you like tonight.
Day Three

Sunday, August 16

The Wedding Day
Breakfast served in the morning · Lunch served during the ceremony
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Hindu Ceremony

The Wedding — Pelli

"PEL-lee" — Telugu for wedding

The heart of the weekend: Swathi and Varun will be married in a traditional Telugu Hindu ceremony under a decorated canopy called the mandapam, with a priest guiding them through sacred rituals in Sanskrit and Telugu, around a holy fire. Telugu weddings are famously joyful and interactive — this is not a sit-in-silence ceremony. Guests chat, come and go, eat lunch while it's happening, and cheer at the big moments. Settle in, relax, and enjoy the show.

What to wear · Traditional, no red Bring out your brightest and most beautiful — sarees, lehengas, anarkalis, kurtas, and sherwanis are perfect, and guests in Western attire are welcome in festive, colorful outfits. The one rule: please avoid red, as Swathi will be wearing red.

Moments to watch for

Ganesh Puja

The ceremony opens with a prayer to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, to bless the marriage.

Kanyadanam

The bride's parents "give away" their daughter — one of the most emotional and sacred moments of the ceremony.

Jeelakarra Bellam

At the exact auspicious moment (the muhurtham), the couple places a paste of cumin and jaggery on each other's heads — a uniquely Telugu ritual symbolizing an unbreakable bond. The curtain between them drops, and cheers erupt!

Mangalya Dharanam

The groom ties the mangalsutram, a sacred gold necklace, around the bride's neck with three knots — the moment they are officially married.

Talambralu

The fan favorite: the couple showers each other with pearl-and-turmeric-coated rice, which quickly turns into a playful, competitive rice fight. Cameras ready.

Saptapadi

The couple takes seven steps together around the sacred fire, each step a vow for their life ahead.

Good to know: the ceremony is long by design — around five hours — but wonderfully informal for guests. Eat, chat, step out, come back. Just don't miss the Jeelakarra Bellam and Talambralu!

The Venue

Serene Resort & Convention

All three days of the celebration take place at Serene Resort & Convention — a private luxury retreat tucked into lush green landscapes on the outskirts of Hyderabad, in Shamshabad. True to its name, it's a world away from the pace of the city: quiet, green, and built for exactly this kind of multi-day celebration, with the ceremonies, meals, and festivities all happening in one beautiful place.

And here's the best part for anyone flying in: the resort sits in the same area as Hyderabad's international airport, so once you land, you're nearly there — no long haul across the city after a long flight.

Swimming pool Rain dance Bird sanctuary Cycling trails Indoor & outdoor games Multi-cuisine dining On-site rooms & suites
Peek at the resort's own photo gallery →

Getting There

Planes, Cabs & Auto-Rickshaws

Fly into HYD

Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) is your destination, with direct and one-stop connections from most major international hubs. The resort is in Shamshabad — the same area as the airport — so the transfer is a short, easy drive.

Coming from the US? Book early — August is a popular travel month for India.

Airport to resort

We're arranging airport pickups for our guests — just send us your flight details once they're booked and we'll take care of the rest. And if plans change on the fly, prepaid taxis, Uber, and Ola all run from the airport too.

Address: Shamshabad, Peddashapur, Hyderabad, Telangana 509325

Staying at the venue

Good news: your room is on us. We've reserved rooms at the resort for everyone coming, so you'll be staying right on the property, steps from all three days of festivities — no hotel hunting needed.

Before you fly

Most foreign nationals need a visa to visit India — the e-Visa is a straightforward online application, but apply well ahead of travel. Check the official Indian e-Visa site for current requirements for your passport.

The City

About Hyderabad

Hyderabad is one of India's great cities — a 400-year-old City of Pearls where the palaces of the Nizams share a skyline with a booming tech metropolis. It's a place where centuries-old bazaars around the iconic Charminar hum a few miles from gleaming towers, and where the local obsession is, rightfully, food.

Which brings us to the important part: you are coming to the biryani capital of the world. Hyderabadi biryani is a matter of civic pride here, and it alone is worth the trip — along with haleem, Irani chai and Osmania biscuits at old cafés, and kebabs that will ruin you for all other kebabs. Come hungry; between the wedding feasts and the city, you will not go underfed. One planning note: all meals at the wedding itself are vegetarian — a delicious spread of it, promise — so save the biryani pilgrimage for your time out in the city.

If you're padding your trip with a day or two, the classics are the Charminar and its surrounding bazaars, the majestic Golconda Fort, the Chowmahalla Palace, and Hussain Sagar lake. We're happy to point you to our favorites — just ask.

Questions about travel?

We know an international trip is a big ask, and we want to make it as easy as possible. If you need help with flights, visas, where to stay, or anything else — reach out to Swathi or Varun directly and we'll get you sorted.