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Organising your own wedding, sounds like fun right? But when you only have four months, a guest list of 800 that needs to be cut down to 250 and two different religious backgrounds, things start to get a bit challenging.

It all began one sunny Spring afternoon when I was asked to come over for lunch and an evening of leisure. After lunch, Anand thought it would be a nice idea to go for a walk up Mt Kau Kau. Knowing that this was quite a trek, I thought the perfect excuse would be “but I don’t have my sneakers”. But no, Anand had taken care of that - he had grabbed a few of my clothes from my house, so I had no excuse.

Reluctantly we began our walk - over looking Makara, I thought that I might be able to get away with only going half way but this was not what Anand had planned.

This wasn’t the first time we had climbed the mountain and like most others, we had left our mark by inscribing our names on the look-out bench. However when we got to the top, we found that the bench had been painted over. We decided to make a new inscription, but this time we each wrote our own message and took a photograph, so we didn’t actually see each others message.

After a long climb and a short break, we headed back down. Next on the agenda, Anand had planned for a day at the Spa, and we both were treated to a steam, massage and facial, which was exactly what I needed after the trek.

That evening we went out for dinner at The White House. After dinner Anand pulls out a miniature wooden chest. I opened it to find small mementoes from our time together so far. It contained a movie stub from the first movie we went to together, All Blacks Match tickets to the first rugby game we went to, and all the cards and notes that I had ever written him. By that time the tears were streaming and then he pulled out one more photograph, it was the picture of the inscription just made up on Mt Kaukau – the inscription read “Marry Me”.

Instead of the diamond ring that I always dreamed of – I got a dried up piece of grass made into a ring, that Anand had previously made for me on one of our walks along Island Bay beach. I was surprised he had kept it all this time.

So now we were engaged after a lengthy wait and our lives were about to be taken over by a wedding. No more relaxing weekends at the beach. It was all go as we set a date only four months away (which also happened to be my birthday). I began to put a scrap book together of flowers, cakes, invitations, table-settings, dresses, hair styles and decorations.

I wanted a dress, rather than a sari but I still wanted to have the Indian flavour and make it my own, so I took a traditional choli suit and began re-designing the outfit.

From the invitations, to the flowers and the decorations around the hall – we did it all.

Finding a unique venue that would fit 250 guests was one of our major challenges, as there are only a handful of options in Wellington.

The ceremony was to take place at Celebration Church and a more intimate reception at Brierly Theatre.

Surrounded by family & friends the week prior to the wedding was filled with traditional hindu customs for me as the bride. I was smeared with a mixture of tumeric & oil that is supposed to make you beautiful (back in India , you are not supposed to wash it of as they reapply the paste every day for 5 days) but no chance of that happening here.

I awoke that morning to the most beautiful sunny day (finally the day had arrived) I had been told to try and take it all in, but everything just happened in such a flash, before you know it, I was getting dressed and walking down the aisle and saying I do.

The Wedding

There was much to be done to prepare the church for the big day. We had to build a façade to cover the large stage, as we were unable to move the music equipment that had been setup. We used sides of a marquee to form a backdrop across the stage then draped chocolate and bronze material across the backdrop to dress it up and fit with our chocolate theme.

We wanted a Christian ceremony; but we still wanted to retain an Indian feel, as our culture is important to both of us. We incorporated an exchange of garlands into the service which signifies our love for one another. We also ensured that the service was translated into Gujurati (our native tongue) and that we used a blend of Hindi and English music so that the elders in our families would feel warm and familiar.

As I entered the church and the music began for the bridesmaids to enter, my heart began beating faster, I tried not to get too nervous, but with all those people looking at me, it was difficult to feel any other way. I was escorted down the aisle by me two uncles and later by my father as I floated over the rose petals that were sprinkled over the walkway and stairs.

The church was filled with close family and friends, who had all gathered to share the day with us.

Our rings were presented in a silver brief case that was handed over by our 2 year old nephew, who was bribed with a lollipop – you should have seen his face, as he retrieved his reward.

It was a sign of relief as we exited down the aisle. We had allowed for some time to get some pictures taken on location. We went to the boat shed (Oriental Parade), the old museum and Island Bay Beach – for the old times. We had fun with the photo’s along with our photographer whom was full of energy.

We then headed back to Brierly Theatre for the reception. We first had an exchange of gifts with the close family. I received a basket full of gifts, such as sari’s, sweets and jewellery from my In-laws symbolizing my welcoming into the family and I was given my first utensils from my mother (rolling pin) – so I can make Anand Roti!

It was then time for Anand and I to enter the hall as husband & wife – the room was lit up with a back drop curtain of fairly lights and candles on the tables. We strode down the hall to the applause of the guests. The MC of the night kept everyone entertained with his stories and quick wit, along with the speeches from family and friends.

I can only say that we were both driven by the adrenalin of the night as the days prior had us running around town – organizing last minute details.

Now that we are married, I still wouldn’t have done it any other way. It was a day of joy, laughter and tears and it was a day that we will never forget.