Inside Aashna Hegde’s and Aditya Kumar’s real-life 2 states wedding

If you’ve followed Aashna Hegde for even a minute, you know she’s never been about excess for the sake of it. Her aesthetic sweet spot has always lived somewhere between restraint and romance with a strong allergy to anything that feels forced or try-hard. So when the images of her wedding to Aditya Kumar, fondly known as Addy, began surfacing, our collective reaction was ‘of course.’ Of course it looked like this. Of course it felt intentional. Of course nothing felt done just to be done. Here’s how she made this happen.

Choose less and mean it

If there’s one thought that defined their wedding, it was selectivity. Not in a gatekeep-y way, but more thoughtfully considered. The kind that comes from understanding what actually matters to you and having the confidence to filter everything else out.

From the guest list to the rituals, nothing was done out of obligation. Aashna and Addy knew early on that a large, sprawling wedding would dilute the experience they actually wanted. “We’re both kind of private people,” she shares. “We loved the idea of just being surrounded by people that love us and are happy for us.” An intimate destination wedding wasn’t about downsizing, it was about creating space. Space to be present and feel things fully.

That same philosophy extended to tradition. “I’m not a very traditional person,” Hegde says matter-of-factly. “There were a few traditions that I completely skipped because it just didn’t resonate with me.” Instead, the couple chose to reinterpret rituals in ways that aligned with their values, keeping what felt grounding, letting go of what felt performative. The result? A celebration that was lived in fully.

Dressing like yourself is the real wedding wardrobe hack

Hegde’s wedding wardrobe didn’t start with Pinterest boards or fixed silhouettes. It started with a feeling and the growing realisation that most bridal wear simply didn’t reflect who she was. “From scouting designer stores to exploring the small lanes of Delhi’s boutiques, we saw it all,” she recalls. “And somewhere along the way, I realised I didn’t see myself in most of these ready-made outfits. Everything started to feel repetitive.”

Her personal style has always leaned towards personal and instinctive. Never loud, never bling-heavy just for effect. Translating that into bridal wear required patience, edits, and a lot of trust. Central to that process was her stylist Dolla Baruah, whose expertise shaped the entire wardrobe journey. “What really brought this vision to life was how in sync Dolla and I were,” she says. “That alignment is what ultimately led to my version of the perfect bridal look.”

Don’t mistake it for her rejecting bridal codes entirely. Think of it as rewriting them to fit her. Each look was built slowly, collaboratively, and with clarity. Even when it came to dressing as a couple, the approach was “coordinated and cohesive,” the content creator explains. “Once I had figured out my silhouettes and colours, we started working on Addy’s looks.” And yes, mood-matching over mirror-imaging was the approach.

The cocktail: all about sculpted drama

Designed in collaboration with Ankita Jain, the outfit leaned modern, sculpted, and sexy without drifting into anything overtly bridal. The couple wore white, while guests were dressed in black, creating a striking visual contrast against a décor palette of purples, lavenders, and lush greens. As for Hegde’s outfit, the details did the talking: subtle sparkly elements, bridal silk and lace, and experimental lace ruching that added texture without heaviness.

But, the most gorgeous detail? A short face veil resting at the chin embellished with crystals that made it the chicest cocktail look ever.

The mehendi: red, but make it mischievous

If tradition says red is reserved for the wedding day, Hegde’s mehendi politely disagreed. Designed by Anushka Khanna and inspired by a gharara once worn by Alia Bhatt, this look flipped bridal colour codes on their head. Red arrived early, and it arrived playful.

The ensemble featured extensive mirror work and fully embroidered pants, but what really set it apart was the styling. Instead of gold, everything—from the maang tikka to the bangles and hair accessories—was custom-made in silver. “We wanted a fresh, unexpected take,” Hegde shares, and it shows. And in place of a dupatta, the look incorporated three stoles, styled within the same colour palette. The result was fun, experimental, and unfussy.

The South Indian ceremony: of firsts, faith, and sisterhood

For the South Indian ceremony, Hegde did something she’d never done before, she wore a Kanjivaram sari. Designed by Jigar Mali, the piece was chosen with trust and instinct (the fabric was selected over WhatsApp before she ever saw it in person!).

The sari featured intricate zardozi handwork and a dhoop-chaau effect that shifted between gold and silver depending on the light. Styled with traditional gold temple jewellery and pearls, the look felt timeless and grounded.

But what made it the most emotionally resonant look was what lay embroidered into it. “I wanted a panel of embroidery featuring the names of all the women in my family who have raised me and stood by me,” Hegde says. Her nani, masi, mother, and sisters. Every name stitched into the sari as she stepped into a new phase of life. One panel was left blank, reserved for future generations. A true heirloom-in-making.

The Punjabi wedding: embracing the unexpected

The final look, designed by Rimple & Harpreet, was the most surprising of all. What began as a plan for minimal, monotone dressing shifted the moment Hegde saw a vibrant, heavily worked lehenga in their store. The final ensemble was a curated mix of three different pieces—a blouse, lehenga, and dupatta—from separate sets. An exception rarely made, the designers personally stepped in to create a cohesive, head-to-toe look, even designing the jewellery themselves. And well, it paid off.

Details matter: drunk uncle included

Ask Hegde what she’ll remember most, and she doesn’t talk about the big moments first. “I’ve always believed that it’s the little details that leave the biggest impact,” she says. And yes, that includes the chaos. “I guess we all have at least one drunk member,” she laughs, “who seems like a nuisance at the time but then gives everyone so much to laugh about.” Because no matter how curated the mood, some things remain delightfully universal.

Her advice to future brides and grooms is simple. “Weddings have become so performative,” she reflects. “It’s okay to not be available to everyone. Protect your energy. This day is ultimately about you and your partner.”