Gurpreet and Shiv, Punjab
From poetry that made guests emotional to drum beats that led to dancing, this couple hosted a truly memorable Punjabi wedding.
Gurpreet and Shiv met at a family gathering, and their story started when he dropped her home. They hosted a fun, festive wedding with trademark Punjabi cheer and spirits. Bride Gurpreet shares some highlights of the celebrations here.
How They Met
Gurpreet shares, “Our first meeting was an unplanned encounter at a dinner hosted by Shiv’s cousin. The entire family had come together to celebrate his aunt’s 90th birthday in Australia. Both of us spoke briefly at the end of the dinner and Shiv’s cousin suggested that he drop me home. On our way back, we engaged in light-hearted banter and exchanged numbers. But, both of us got caught up in life and it was only when Shiv returned from his Hawaii trip that we reconnected and sparks flew. Our first date was at an idyllic beach in Sydney and was supposed to be a lunch meeting. However, we ended up talking for several hours!”
The Proposal
“I was at work when Shiv sent me a ticket to New York and suggested we go on a holiday there. I happily agreed since I have a couple of friends there. On the day of the proposal, he feigned being ill and asked me to make the trip Downtown with our friends while reassuring me that he would join us later. Little did I know that my friends and Shiv had conspired together! My friends cunningly took the longest route possible and when we reached the rooftop bar, I saw Shiv standing there with my sister who had flown in from Canada, my best friend from Australia, and his close friends who had made the trip all the way from New Zealand. As I made my way towards him, live music started playing and he popped the question. It was a magical moment!”
Wedding Venue
Gurpreet shares, “We wanted to have a grand yet close-knit wedding, so we booked the Golden Tulip Chandigarh Panchkula which has a distinctly homely feel to it and is surrounded by beautiful peaks and majestic peacocks. Also, their venue was large enough to accommodate all our functions and their staff members were impeccable when it came to hospitality.”
Weddings Functions
Sangeet
“We wanted this function to be full of fun and dancing which is why we even arranged games and poetry narrations that got everyone emotional. The red and gold theme also included lights that added a glow everywhere. I wanted my sangeet look to be glamorous and have always loved the way Manish Malhotra does glamour. I fell in love with his outfit at the first trial itself. And even though we did go to other stores, my mind was stuck on the first outfit only. The next morning, I went back and finalized the same outfit!
On the other hand, Shiv chose to wear a long coat with white pants. The coat was fairly simple so the designer customized the embroidery to match my outfit.”
Haldi
“The haldi function was held right after breakfast and it was a close-knit function. I wanted my haldi look to be fresh and colorful, so I chose a lemon yellow skirt that was paired with a top gesturing colorful floral motifs and a net cape. Shiv complimented me in a plain yellow kurta.”
Mehndi
“Following a ‘Punjabi’ theme, the mehndi was one of my favorite functions with its loud and vibrant colors. We used as many Punjabi elements as possible and organized folk singers to entertain the guests. For this event, I chose a red Sabyasachi Mukherjee sharara because no one does red like him. Also, I really wanted to wear red for one of my functions and wanted to show off my Punjabi side. Keeping in mind our plans to match our outfit colors, we found a beautiful Nehru jacket and a plain silk kurta for Shiv.”
Jaggo and Chura
“Owing to the fact that we already had many functions on this day, we chose to keep it light for the jaggo function with dhol walas and songs sung by family members. The glowing bonfires exuded a cozy and comfortable vibe that put everyone at ease.”
Anand Karaj & Reception
“Our big day followed a ‘pink and beige’ theme, with our close family and friends in attendance. Shiv made a stylish entry on a vintage car and I entered holding hands with my dad.”
“For the reception, we both made a bold entry on an open-top vintage car and I’ll always cherish those moments we spent together right after the wedding. The reception venue was surrounded by plenty of natural beauty and the spaciousness allowed us to mingle freely with everyone. To keep everyone entertained, we had a live jazz band and a DJ.”
Describing her wedding lehenga, Gurpreet adds, “Rose pink has been my favorite hue. I started my hunt at the Sabyasachi Mukherjee store, however, none of the dresses I liked were available in that hue. So, I decided to visit other designers like Anita Dongre, Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, and Falguni & Shane. I found the perfect ensemble when I entered the Rimple and Harpreet Narula store! The work on the lehenga I chose was mesmerizing, and the designers agreed to customize a few elements to my needs. The blouse and the color of the outfit were also changed to the hue of my choice. As I live in Sydney, all the lengthy discussions and planning took place via Whatsapp or FaceTime. They even sent across swatches of my outfit and I was extremely pleased with the final results.
For my accessories, I kept it simple and traditional with natural makeup. Shiv also kept it simple in his mint blue outfit that he paired with a pastel pink turban.”
Advice For Couples
Gurpreet shares, “Choose your photographer wisely as they’ll be capturing one of the most important events of your life. I loved working with the Beginnings For You team as they made me feel extremely comfortable. Also, enjoy your wedding and step back from any planning a few days before the big day. Lastly, always carry a pair of comfortable heels that you can quickly change into mid-function.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Golden Tulip Chandigarh Panchkula, Haryana
Decor: Colors A Wedding Design Co.
Groom’s Outfits: Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Aza Fashions (Haldi), Anita Dongre (Mehndi, Jagoo and Chura), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Wedding)
Bride’s Outfits: Manish Malhotra (Sangeet), Sukriti and Aakriti (Haldi), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Mehndi, Jagoo and Chura), Rimple and Harpreet Narula (Wedding)
Jewellery: Jagdish Jewellers (Sangeet, Wedding), Curio Cottage (Mehndi, Jagoo and Chura), Purab Paschim (Mehndi, Jagoo and Chura)
Bride’s Shoes: Valentino (Sangeet), Needledust (Mehendi and Haldi)
Floral Jewellery: Prune
Accessories: Om Sons Bridal Store (Chura, Kaleerein), Outhouse Jewellery (Kalgi)
Makeup: Doll You Up by S
Hair: Ruchi Arya
Mehndi: Pramod Mehndi Arts
Wedding Stationery: Aneesha Bee, Pataaree
Wedding Favors: Rani Pink Gifts
Cake: Fete Patisserie
Photography & Videography: Beginnings For You
