Subiksha Subramani and Tina Das, Miththam, Chennai

Little did Alberta-based CPA and Finance professional Subiksha know when she playfully quipped “Aami tomake bhalo bashi” (the only Bengali phrase she knew) to Tina, the charming Medical Care Professional she swiped right on, that she had met the one person she would say it to for the rest of her life! Watch the stunning moments of their quaint destination wedding unfold!

How they met
Crossing paths on the dating app HER, the two went out for a coffee date and sparked a connection for life. As South Asian women hailing from different cultures, getting to their happily ever after was not an easy road, but their perseverance and love for each other prevailed, and after two heartwarming proposals the two tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in India.

The proposal
Unbeknownst to each other, Subiksha and Tina had both planned to pop the question to each other, but after receiving subtle hints from their friends, Subiksha decided to sneak in her proposal before her planned date. An elaborate day of surprises that included getting their parents’ blessing, a visit to the temple, a spa experience, the unveiling of a specially commissioned portrait, and more ended in a beautiful proposal in their home covered with rose petals. After celebrating with their friends and family, they ended the day with a moment of love and gratitude.

Tina on the other hand planned a spectacular garden surprise for which she handmade all the details and decorations. Replete with a ‘Marry Me’ sign and beautiful video messages from their overseas friends and family, her proposal was as beautiful as it was emotional, as she knelt on one knee and asked Subiksha to marry her.

Wedding Planning
Being deeply rooted in their traditions and shared Hindu faith, the couple wanted to have a traditional Hindu wedding besides their civil ceremony in Canada and chose the quaint venue of Miththam for their celebrations. Located outside Chennai in a lush, earthy property, the minimalistic yet traditional home-style setting made for a charming backdrop to their intimate festivities. They entrusted the team of Krishna Bezawada Events to orchestrate the details of their wedding, while the team captured their special moments. Finding the right priest to honor and celebrate their love and identity was an uphill battle, and after much effort they found Mumbai-based Saurabh Bondre to officiate their nuptials.

“As proud members of the LGBTQ+ community, we strongly believe that everyone deserves the right to marry their partner surrounded by the love of their family and friends. As South Asian queer women, the reality however doesn’t always match this expectation. We wanted our wedding to be a celebration of all the things that we are grateful for – our love, heritage, traditions, and family. Our ceremonies combined our Tamil and Bangladeshi customs with tenets of our identity, and were as full of joy as our life together has been.”

Wedding Functions
Gaye Holud
Celebrating the ceremony of Gaye Holud with flavors of Bangladeshi culture, the day included folk dance and simple earthy decor in hues of white and yellow that filled the property’s traditional aangaan with colors and joy. In contrast with the delicate decor palette, Tina wore a blue kurta while Subiksha wore a sea green and blue saree.

Muhurtham
The simple yet stunning setting of the aangaan was amped up for the nuptials with traditional blooms cascading and crisscrossing overhead, interspersed with lounge lights. Strings of flowers made up the backdrop for the minimalist mandap, while the guest chairs were also festooned with flowers and foliage for a beautiful touch. The ceremony fused rituals from Tamil Brahmin wedding traditions with Bangladeshi customs to celebrate the heritage of both brides. In keeping with Tamil wedding customs, Subiksha first wore a lilac saree which she swapped for a rich silk drape in green and red. Tina on the other hand wore a classic white kurta for the occasion. A wholesome lunch wrapped up the festivities.

Reception
Revving up the energy for the cocktail reception, the aangaan was transformed once again into a tropical paradise as a unique way to pay homage to their LGBTQ+ community. Exotic foliage in bright pride colors covered the stage backdrop, dance floor, tablecloths, and more, while vibrant floral arrangements added an extra punch of color. Dancing and DJ music took over the night as they enjoyed themselves with their loved ones. The newlyweds wore coordinated midnight blue outfits with colorful embroidery in styles that matched their persona, with Tina flaunting a Jodhpuri jacket and kurta set and Subiksha dazzling in a lehenga.

The Wedding Makers
Venue: Miththam, Chennai
Wedding Planner: Krishna Bezawada Events
Outfits: Ashwin Thiyagarajan
Makeup: Prakruthi Ananth
Invites: The Personalizing Studio
DJ: DJ Sunny Deepak (Reception)
Photography and Videography: Picturemakers Photography and Films

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