A Telugu-Punjabi wedding in Melbourne where the rain only added to the celebrations
Tanvir Bhatti and Amulya Manchukonda’s journey from chance encounters to heartfelt vows blossomed in a North-South celebration
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Tanvir Bhatti and Amulya Manchukonda moved through the same Melbourne suburb before they ever met. Manchukonda noticed Bhatti first, a Melbourne-born emergency veterinarian whose Punjabi roots shaped much of his world. Their first real conversation came a year later at their local gym, when Manchukonda—born in Hyderabad and raised between New Zealand and Melbourne—finally introduced herself. Now a Talent Acquisition Specialist in the corporate medical space, she remembers approaching it with little expectation.
“At the very least, I thought I’d make a new friend,” she says. After a month of gym banter and casual hellos, Bhatti asked her out to brunch. “He figured out by then that the way to my heart was sugar,” she laughs. They spoke for hours; from the very beginning, it felt like they’d always known each other.
By their second date—a failed hike turned café stop—it was clear they were wired the same way. “We were only 20 steps in when I admitted I’d rather go straight to the café, and he had already turned around before I finished,” Manchukonda remembers. Six months into their relationship, they were speaking openly about marriage. “We found no reason to hold back,” Manchukonda says, “and every reason to tie the knot and let the adventure begin.”
Bhatti's proposal reflected the same thoughtfulness. “I spent months planning a proposal for Manchukonda, making sure to include everything that was meaningful or special to her,” he shares. From designing a custom ring to organising a week-long scavenger hunt of handwritten clues, every detail was considered. Knowing Manchukonda would adore this, he finally got down on one knee, and she collapsed into the moment.
Their wedding in Melbourne carried the same energy: full of emotion, thoughtful details and a perfect balance of both their worlds. “Being from two different cultures, honouring both was extremely important to us,” they share. “We wanted to give the same level of respect, and so we decided on two weddings.”
The celebrations began with a high-energy Sangeet, themed ‘Two States: North Meets South’. Manchukonda wore a chocolate-and-gold Banarasi blend lehenga designed by her mother and created by Tejaswini Reddy, while Bhatti complemented her in royal blue, pairing a kurta from Jalandhar with a custom overcoat from Hyderabad. “Despite four layers and a huge A-line ghera, I managed all 10 performances,” she laughs, crediting her Air Force sneakers. The venue was styled with South Indian ornaments and bright Punjabi colours, with North-South snacks.
At the Haldi at Bhatti's family estate, guests dressed in yellow under a ‘Be My Sunflower’ theme. “We promised to always look for the light,” they say. Manchukonda wore outfits customised by her mother, while Bhatti opted for a kurta from Ustaad Men’s Fashion. Marigold garlands and a sunflower backdrop incorporated both traditions. The evening flowed into a Jaggo night that brought Punjab to Melbourne streets. “Dancing in the rain at our Jaggo felt like a blessing,” Bhatti says. “The sky couldn’t hold back, and neither could we.” Fresh jalebi, pakoras and a fully stocked bar kept guests fuelled for Bhangra battles led by Sartaj Singh Dholi.
The Mehendi at Manchukonda's family home was whimsical and intimate. “I received really good feedback about the outfit mood boards,” Manchukonda shares, explaining how she created Canva guides to help guests feel confident in their looks. She wore a light green Indo-western anarkali designed by her mum, while Bhatti wore a green coat and kurta set tailored in Jalandhar. Live Indo-Western food stations and a bubble machine enhanced the garden décor.
The Sikh Anand Karaj took place at Sri Guru Singh Sabha, where Bhatti grew up visiting. “That was the moment everything became real,” he says. “She was the epitome of regalness and grace.” Manchukonda wore a Rajwadi-style multicolour lehenga sourced from Charminar Bazaar, while Bhatti wore an off-white sherwani from Studio Gravity, finished with a sage green pagh. Entrance and stairway florals were in light earthy tones by The Wedding Factor.
Their Hindu Kalyanam at Warrawong Estate was held in the rain. “It poured on the day of our Hindu wedding,” Manchukonda recalls, “but Tanvir danced through the rain on his white horse.” She wore a blush pink Kanjeevaram sari chosen over a five-minute video call with her mother, while Bhatti opted for a biscuit-toned sherwani and groom pagadhi. The floral décor highlighted natural elements, with bespoke arrangements along the aisle and mandap by G-Luxe Events.
“The reception was the night we’d been waiting for—glamour, laughter and a little chaos all at once,” they share, honouring the people who shaped their journey. Bhatti wore a star-embellished tuxedo by a Turkish tailor, while Manchukonda wore a custom red lehenga he helped design. “It was a very uncharted look for me,” she says, “but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.” The hall featured black canvas, rich red florals, silver chandeliers and two grand silver frames along the walkway. DJ Ash provided music and CO2 cannons, while Prism Cinema captured the best moments of their wedding in Melbourne. Guests enjoyed a gold, black, silver, white and grey dress code with curated catering.
