Shweta and Ravi, Negombo, Sri Lanka
At Shweta and Ravi's wedding in Sri Lanka, rains and romance were seen in equal measure!
If you think you knew what the saying “Expect the unexpected” stood for, wait until you read Shweta and Ravi’s story. With many surprises on the path to fixing and planning their wedding and on the biggest day of their life, their journey to wedlock was nothing short of a roller coaster. The one thing that remained unchanged through it all, however, was the choice of their wedding photographer. The duo knew they had to have WeddingSutra Favorite Navin Varma to shoot their wedding, and stuck to that till the very end despite him being booked for another event. The bride shares with us the details of the various celebrations at her wedding.
How We Met
“Ravi is from telecom field, and I am into software programming. We met through a common friend four years back and hit it off first as friends. Gradually things changed, and we found ourselves falling in love with each other. After a year of knowing one another, we went on our first date which turned out to be momentous for two reasons – first, because it officially marked the beginning of our love story, and second, it was the day when I discovered that Ravi was from Sri Lanka!”
Proposal
“Ravi would propose to me every year on my birthday since the time we met. However, during my birthday party in 2015, he went down on his knee and slipped a ring on my finger. It was simple but heartfelt and gave his annual tradition a sweet finale.”
Wedding Venue
“The wedding took place at The AURIC Grand Ballroom in Negombo, Sri Lanka. The venue is close to the airport, has English speaking staff and a beautiful beach. This is a property that I will recommend to anyone who is planning to get married in Sri Lanka.”
Wedding Planning
“When we decided to get married, we had expected our families to be unenthusiastic since Ravi and I are from different countries and cultures. Soon they came around, and the unexpected started taking place. Every time we finalized our wedding dates, either Ravi’s or my work commitment came up as a priority. Due to this, we postponed our nuptials thrice in two years! The first person we booked for our wedding was Navin Varma. I knew he was the one who was going to shoot my wedding even before I had met him! He and his team allow you be at ease, and he was so patient with us through the postponing and canceling our wedding dates. When November 29 was finally decided as our marriage date, Navin was been booked for another shoot in India. So, for the first time, we preponed our wedding to the second of November so that we could have him in Sri Lanka for our big day.”
“When it came to getting ready for the functions I handed over myself to Dee’s Hair Beauty & Bridal Salon; Dilukshi and her team are true magicians. Right from the pre-wedding beauty counseling, dress, and jewellery trials to my wedding and mehndi, they were by my side showing full support. They made sure that I looked like the best version of myself and I was truly in awe of their work.”
Wedding Functions
Wedding
“Only two days before our wedding it started to rain incessantly, and the weather forecast predicted thunderstorms. At the very last minute, when we didn’t’ see the conditions changing in our favor, we decided to shift our functions indoors. Our wedding was to take place by the beach, but we decided to host it in the hotel’s banquet hall which had been decorated in white and beige with hints of vermillion. We got married as per Sri Lankan traditions which turned out to be quite a unique experience for my side of the family. I wore a champagne saree, and Ravi wore a brown and golden dhoti kurta.”
Mehndi
“We held our mehndi after our wedding. The decor for this function was very colorful and exuded a fun vibe. Outside the venue, we had lots of paper lanterns, a chalkboard signage welcoming our guests to the event and even a rustic shack. The indoor spaces were decorated with white and yellow hues. We even had a small stage with a floral backdrop for Ravi and me to sit on. For this function, I wore a green, and orange lehenga and Ravi opted for a black kurta which he paired with a golden dupatta.”
Advice To Couples
“No matter how much you plan, your final day will always be full of surprises and unexpected events which you won’t be able to control. Instead of stressing out about those things and letting them rain all over your big day (which in our case, was the case, quite literally!) focus on having a blast. This way when you look at your wedding album, you will be reminded of what your wedding truly stood for. It is the day that brings you two together, and it should be associated only with happy memories!”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: The AURIC Grand Ballroom, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Makeup: Dee’s Hair Beauty & Bridal
Photography: Navin Varma
