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Early days…
Amy and Bal met in 2005 when Amy did a three-month secondment at the law firm where Bal was working. Their first date was at the Momo bar and restaurant in London. "We had dinner, drinks, good conversation and a bit of chemistry," says Amy.
The proposal…
"We didn't really have a traditional proposal as such, but more a meeting of minds. We often talked about getting married, usually while we were in the kitchen doing the washing up, so the proposal wasn't a surprise at all, because there were lots of negotiations leading up to the four magic words. It couldn't have been less romantic, but the wedding more than made up for it."
It wasn't just a meeting of minds, but a marriage of two cultures. "In keeping with Bal's religious traditions, he wanted to get married in a Sikh temple, and although I'm not Sikh, I was keen to embrace the spirit of the religion," says Amy, who takes us through the memorable events of their colourful day.
The venues…
For our reception we chose West Wycombe Park because of its breathtaking beauty. It is a stunning outdoor venue with a grand house for champagne receptions and also has gorgeous grounds and a lake - perfect for marquee celebrations.
The dress…
I wore two Indian outfits one for the ceremony and one for the reception. The ceremony dress was in traditional red, but with modern embroidery using Swarovski crystals and an elegant A-line skirt. My two-piece reception dress was in off-white and made of Georgette fabric decorated with diamantés and beads. The full-length skirt had a small train and I wore a traditional Indian shawl to complement the outfit.
My bridesmaids were my three sisters Annabel, Caroline and Eloise. They were free to wear dresses they were happy and comfortable with, but they all chose Indian outfits as these are irresistibly beautiful and much more colourful than traditional bridesmaids' gowns. They all felt and looked like princesses.
Balkar and his best man and close friend Arun Saili chose their own traditional Indian outfits. Balkar wore two outfits one for the ceremony and another for the reception, and the colours matched the bride?s dresses.
The decorative touches…
The running theme was fuchsia pink and lime green, but we also used vibrant-coloured flowers to go with the Indian wedding theme gerbera, delphinium, larkspur, rosemary, alchemilla molls and stock for the tables, and giant arrangements of stocks for the marquee entrance. Our table centrepieces were tall cylindrical vases topped with multi-coloured blooms. Even the sofas were decorated with pink and lime green cushions.
The best bits…
The two very different cultures, Indian and English, coming together on the day created this amazingly happy and loving atmosphere and everyone was on a real high.
Also, by incorporating aspects of two very different traditional ceremonies meant it was a new experience for everyone.
West Wycombe Park was also a dream venue. TopHat Marquees was amazing, and the entertainment was beyond everyone's expectations.
Top tips…
Don't let stress get in the way on the day. Let it all go and just concentrate on enjoying yourself and treasuring every moment. Make sure you check in with your new husband throughout the day, as it's easy to lose each other with so many guests to speak to. Try and enjoy it together so you share the same memories.
Useful Contacts:
Cake
Tracey's Cakes
www.traceyscakes.co.uk |
Marquee
Top Hat Marquees
www.tophat-marquees.co.uk |
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Photographer
Source Images
www.sourceimages.co.uk |
Reception venue
West Wycombe Park
www.west-wycombe-estate.co.uk |
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