For Her Traditional Wedding, A Choice Of Modern Natural Diamonds

Who knows you better than your family? In the case of Mumbai based designer Amreen Sandhu and founder of label Antithesis her sibling played cupid and set her up on a casual date with friend and entrepreneur Karan Sud. It began with a low-key dinner, but the banter was fervent and the connection was instant 

 “Karan and I met in a way that felt very organic, without any expectations. What began as easy conversation slowly turned into a friendship, and then something much deeper. Our courtship was unhurried and grounded – built on shared values, mutual respect, and a genuine enjoyment of each other’s company. Over time, that comfort grew into a quiet certainty. It never felt rushed or performative, it just felt right.”  

The Sparkling Proposal

Authenticity and a deep understanding of each other has been the crux of Amreen and Karan’s wedding, so, for the proposal a templatised setting of red roses and cheesy ‘Will you Marry me?’ signs wouldn’t do. After months of research Karan swept Amreen away on a surprise trip, 3 flights later they arrived at Nihi Sumba, a remote island on the South-West coast of Indonesia. The rare equine retreat allows guests to connect with the indigenous horses on an emotional level – a special treat for Sandhu who is a bonafide animal lover and took horse-riding lessons as a child. After spending sun-soaked days amidst turquoise waters immersing themselves in cooking classes and leisurely swims, Sud popped the question in the most cinematic manner, on the beach at sunset with wild horses galloping against the sunset.  

“The proposal was incredibly thoughtful and quite unconventional, very true to who we are as a couple. When I envisioned an engagement ring, I always gravitated towards something timeless – clean lines, a single strong stone, and a sense of permanence. The ring Karan chose reflects that perfectly. It’s a round-cut natural diamond solitaire – no additional elements. It’s the most radiant and lustrous diamond I own, partly because of the round cut, but also because of the quality of the stone itself. The size feels just right for me –  elegant, comfortable, and effortless to wear every day,” she shares.  

Sud went the extra mile, adding a cherry on the top by gifting Sandhu something special at dinner after the proposal – a pair of bands, one set with emerald-cut diamonds and the other a delicately studded band. “Most people add these over time, but leave it to Karan to plan it all at once. It felt intentional and considered” 

A Golden City Wedding

“My vision for the wedding was always for it to feel immersive but not overwhelming, celebratory yet intimate. My moodboard leaned towards layered neutrals, candlelight, natural textures, and moments that felt personal rather than staged. It was less about spectacle and more about emotion – creating an atmosphere that lingered quietly, the way meaningful memories do.” The couple chose to have their nuptials within the palatial sandstone interiors of Suryagarh in Jaisalmer over a three-day affair.

With many joyous customs and traditions leading upto the Anand Karaj ceremony, Sandhu chose a classic all diamond look for the main wedding day. “ I didn’t want the jewellery to overpower the outfit. With a petite frame, I was conscious of not drowning myself in jewellery or subscribing to dated ideas of bridal excess.All the pieces were customised by me, created in collaboration with a family jeweller whose craftsmanship I deeply trust. They weren’t chosen for a single moment, but with longevity in mind.”  

The star of her look was a glimmering diamond necklace: a sculptural, three-dimensional drop silhouette that sat close to the neck. She worked closely on the wax model, refining it through multiple iterations until it felt just right, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece. Set with a mix of cushion, princess, pear, and round-cut natural diamonds, framed by three-dimensional baguette detailing, the necklace anchored her outfit. Each of the complementing pieces had a role to play – the delicate diamond drop earrings added movement while a dainty diamond maang tikka  offered a quiet nod to tradition without feeling heavy or performative.For the wedding haathphool,Sandhu chose to design modular pieces that could evolve long after the ceremony. The oval diamond ring has since been transformed into a pair of hoop earrings, while the strands of pear-shaped diamonds were reimagined as a delicate necklace – pieces that could continue to move with her through everyday life. 

“On my hands, I carried two deeply meaningful pieces –  the ring that Karan gave me; on the other, an antique emerald-cut diamond ring gifted by my father. Wearing both felt quietly symbolic – a meeting of past and present, of where I come from and the life I’m stepping into. It was one of the most sentimental details of the day.”  

It was a no-brainer that Sandhu would design her own wedding ensemble. Embellished by glittering natural diamonds she wore a dove grey outfit inspired by traditional Pakistani silhouettes – equal parts modest and graceful. The silver zardozi embroidery mirrored the understated glimmer of her diamond jewels in a soothing colour palette that transitioned effortlessly from sunset to a night of slow-dancing.  

Diamonds Designed For A Lifetime

To compliment her timeless wedding look, Sandhu ensured Sud was kitted out in diamonds too, albeit in a tasteful manner. To elevate his Ivory sherwani, Sud sported a majestic sarpech alluding to the royal feel of the wedding celebrations. “Karan’s sarpech was designed to feel regal but understated. The idea was to mark the occasion without making it feel overdone.”  

Diamonds were used with restraint, bringing in a quiet elegance. Keeping her husband’s affinity for minimalism in mind she softened the design with an engraved emerald stone, framed by diamonds, arranged almost like a bouquet- it completed his look without feeling ornamental. 

Sandhu, a self-confessed jewellery connoisseur travelled the breadth of the country to seek out rare pieces to accessorise her other looks. For the exuberant Dholki night she paid homage to her Sikh heritage by wearing a vintage passa discovered in a store in Delhi, the maximalist Sabyasachi lehenga decorated with uncut diamond jhumkas and assorted polki kadas and rings from Jaipur. For the Phoolon ki Haldi, she introduced colour through emeralds paired with uncut diamonds. As the day moved into the welcome lunch, she transitioned the look by switching to a statement pair of  diamond earrings. 

A consistent theme of diamonds sparked through her wedding celebrations, Sandhu is cognisant of choosing jewellery that feels relevant beyond the bridal era, “Natural diamond jewellery holds deep emotional value for me. Each piece marks a moment, a milestone, or a relationship. I invest in jewellery the way I invest in design – with meaning.These are pieces meant to evolve with me, to be worn differently over time, and eventually passed down. To me, natural diamonds aren’t just beautiful – they’re enduring, just like the stories they carry.” 

A consistent theme of diamonds sparked through her wedding celebrations, Sandhu is cognisant of choosing jewellery that feels relevant beyond the bridal era, “Natural diamond jewellery holds deep emotional value for me. Each piece marks a moment, a milestone, or a relationship. I invest in jewellery the way I invest in design – with meaning.These are pieces meant to evolve with me, to be worn differently over time, and eventually passed down. To me, natural diamonds aren’t just beautiful – they’re enduring, just like the stories they carry.” 

All images courtesy The House On The Clouds @thehouseontheclouds