Your Kent Wedding - May/June 2020 (Issue 90)

REAL WEDDINGS 37  S unita and Simon met online in 2015. “When we started talking, Simon seemed very sweet and kind, showering me with lots of attention. Even though we’d only been messaging back and forth for a week, when we met up for our first date, it was as though we’d known each other for years,” Sunita remembers. Leeds is a city the pair hold close to their hearts, as it’s here that Sunita completed her postgraduate studies, where she was living when they met, and where they went on their first date. Life had moved on after three years as a couple, and they decided they’d like to return for a day out together. After lunch, they went for a romantic walk in a nearby park and Simon produced the most beautiful emerald cut diamond ring Sunita had ever seen, as he got down on one knee to propose. “I simply couldn’t say no to that,” she says. While Simon’s family hails from Yorkshire, Sunita’s live in Kent, so it was important for the bride to have the wedding close to them. She explains, “We’re an intercultural couple it was of utmost importance to me that I have a Buddhist priest bless our union.” So, once ceremony arrangements were settled, the venue search was next on the agenda. The bride says, “I absolutely fell in love with Chilham Village Hall. It’s a listed building with a black and white interior, which really appealed to me. What’s more, we could hire the entire premises from Friday for my Mehendi, through to Sunday for the wedding.” We were excited to find out more and caught up with Sunita for all the details of the big day… LOOKING THE PART The bride wore a stunning red and gold saree purchased at the bazaar in Kathmandu, Nepal, for the ceremony. This was paired with a tailor-made green blouse, and accessorised with a red embroidered velvet belt, also from Nepal. For the reception she changed into a white Lehenga Choli with a red velvet shawl to symbolise the fusion of Nepali and English tradition. Simon also had a change of looks from the ceremony to the celebrations. For the “I dos” he wore a traditional Nepali Daura- Suruwal, with a tweed jacket, green and yellow belt, and a black hat with a Khukuri knife pin to symbolise the father-of-the-bride’s service in the British army. For the reception he wore a navy suit with burgundy tie. The bridesmaids looked beautiful in coral sarees complemented by potli bags in a matching hue. Following the vows, they were given the option to change into a more comfortable cream gharara suit, lest their dance moves be impeded later on in the evening! SETTING THE SCENE Red is an auspicious colour in Nepal, so it was important for Sunita that it should be included in their wedding palette. The bride describes their theme as, “bright and colourful with red and green accents.” The altar was put together according to tradition, with a beautifully decorated arch of voile, flowers and greenery. “I absolutely loved planning the wedding and the DIY projects inspired by Pinterest,” Sunita says. She even attended a modern calligraphy course by Sally Jane Calligraphy, so that she could self-scribe the invitations. The pair chose luxury bouquets, arranged in carafes for the centrepieces. Both Simon and Sunita’s father are whisky and