Weddings are often described as once-in-a-lifetime celebrations—a magical blend of joy, ritual, and revelry. But what if the magic could also extend to the Earth? What if a wedding could be not just a celebration of love between two people, but also a love letter to the planet?
That’s exactly what Dr. Poorvi Bhat and Shamanth set out to do. And they did it beautifully.
In the heart of Shivamogga, Karnataka—amid fields of areca palms, the rustle of coconut trees, and birdsong that needed no amplification—this couple rewrote the script on how to throw a wedding that’s big on heart but light on waste.
Rooted in the Past, Grown with Purpose
“We just need to look back a few years ago and draw inspiration from our ancestors,” Poorvi shares, radiating the calm conviction of someone who knows that the old ways still hold magic. “We didn’t innovate, we just followed what our parents have been doing.”
Indeed, there was no need for extravagance or imported opulence when the couple already had something far more precious—a family farm that had nurtured soil and souls for over 40 years.
This wasn’t just a venue. It was a legacy. A lush, living backdrop that needed no artificial dressing.
The Venue: Nature’s Own Mandapam
Poorvi’s family farm, with its canopy of coconut trees and serene patches of green, was a picture-perfect setting. The air itself seemed fresher, perhaps because the farm had always followed organic and sustainable practices.
The wedding pavilion—or mantapa—stood tall, not in glitzy grandeur but in rustic elegance, made entirely of sugarcane. “Reusable steel mantapas are available, but we chose sugarcane because it’s traditionally used in Shivamogga,” Poorvi says. “Plus, our cows love it!”
This wasn’t just thoughtful—it was circular living in its purest form. Decorated with mango and coconut leaves harvested right from the farm, every element could return to the Earth without a trace of guilt.
Zero-Waste, Full-Flavor Feasting
No Indian wedding is complete without a feast, and this one was no exception—except that it fed both bellies and conscience.
There were no disposable plates, cups, or cutlery in sight. Guests were served on banana leaves, a timeless tradition that’s compostable and elegant. Steel tumblers replaced plastic bottles. Water came from large, reusable cans, not a single-use bottle in sight.
Food was served thoughtfully—smaller portions encouraged guests to return for seconds rather than waste. What little remained was packed and shared with neighbors and farm workers in their own steel dabbas, creating a ripple of goodwill far beyond the wedding guest list.
Managing Waste Like a Pro
Waste wasn’t just minimized—it was meticulously managed. All organic waste, from leftover food to banana leaves and floral decorations, was composted in the farm’s vermicompost pits.
Even water was treated with care. The water used for hand washing? Redirected to nourish the farm’s mango trees. Now that’s what we call washing your hands of waste—in the best way possible.
The Outfit: Dressed in Memory
Poorvi walked down the aisle wearing not a brand-new designer saree, but a piece of family history—a stunning silk drape gifted to her grandmother’s best friend five decades ago, now gifted back to her.
“It felt so special,” she smiles. “I wasn’t just wearing a saree—I was wearing stories.”
Even the return gifts echoed this mindful spirit, wrapped in reusable jute bags and housed in boxes that were later recycled.
The Afterglow: A Wedding Without a Trace
When the last song was sung, and the final grains of rice scattered, the farm stood as it had before—clean, quiet, and untouched by the kind of waste weddings typically generate. No crumpled plastic, no wilting thermocol flowers, no landfill-bound leftovers.
Just footprints in the soil and hearts full of memories.
A Template for Tomorrow’s Weddings
Poorvi and Shamanth’s wedding wasn’t about sacrifice—it was about conscious choices. It was about proving that elegance and ethics can go hand-in-hand, that beauty doesn’t need to be synthetic, and that love—when rooted in respect for the planet—can blossom in the most unexpected ways.
In a time when weddings are often about “more,” this one quietly whispered the power of “less, but better.”
So if you’re dreaming of your big day, maybe take a leaf out of Poorvi and Shamanth’s book—preferably a biodegradable one.