Dilara and Kavinga, Galle Face Hotel, Colombo

Dilara and Kavinga found each other after years of knowing each other. With a sister in law who is a bridal designer, best friends who are make up and hair gurus and a whole bunch of people-in-the-know, Dilara tells us how she created the truly perfect wedding.

How We Met
My aunt is married to Kavi’s uncle so we’ve been distant acquaintances forever. He left for London with his sister to study further and it was only several years later, that destiny brought up back in each other’s orbit. We were both attending an almsgiving organized by my aunt in Matara, Sri Lanka.

We’ve been inseparable since.

Proposal
On the 3rd of February, 2017 we completed 5 years of dating and he asked me to marry him right before our anniversary dinner. It was a very private and intimate moment and of course, I said yes. We decided to get married in May (it’s the same month my parents got married) the following year and we began planning immediately.

Wedding Venue
You must start with the venue – it sets the mood, especially at a wedding. Kavi and I thought long and hard about where we wanted to celebrate our big day. Since our wedding was going to create a Grecian/Tuscan atmosphere, we realized that history Galle Face Hotel with its exquisite European architecture was perfect. The quality of their menus also played a major role in finalizing the property.

Wedding Planning
lEventz N Trendz were our wedding planners. Uzi & Iyanthie were no strangers to us. They planned our sister’s wedding. But while planning our own wedding, we finally understood why they’re so sought after. Both committed, talented, super friendly they complement each other. Iyanthie has a keen eye for detail which helped us with many decisions. Uzman kept us sane throughout the wedding planning and was behind us every step of the way during the ceremony and reception.

Viran Jose Peter and Shane Perera, two of my really close friends, took care of my makeup and hair. Viran is hands down the best makeup artist in Colombo – so whom else would I trust with my makeup? He made me look effortlessly beautiful. Shane, on the other hand, was brilliant with the hairstyle he created for me on this special occasion.

We’ve been closely following the work of Poru Weddings and they left us fascinated. They took care of all our floral arrangements. The Galle Face Grand Ballroom is a unique, heritage space and they wanted to maintain this classical elegance. They incorporated the most breathtaking floral centerpieces made of white roses with a flurry of candles. They created a stage platform and the most beautiful backdrop from scratch to match our theme. We believed our decor was in safe hands and they proved us right! The ambience they created was intimate and timeless.

Soleil, a close family friend is without a doubt the best in the business. With bundles of creativity, she had us covered when it came to wedding stationery.

Doctor by Lanthra Perera tore the ballroom roof open with a night of high-energy music that had everyone out of their seats the entire time.

Amarante Lifestyle by Anu and Adrian Dharmaratne were our wedding photographers. We’ve both been long-time admirers of their work, so there was no question of who would capture our big day. It could only be them! Not only do they capture all the moments most important to couples, but also moments that are natural, raw and unique!

We chose The Wedding Diary by Ruwan Fernando as our videographers. There was something so romantic and rich about the way he captured all of his weddings, and that’s how we wanted to remember our wedding. After going through many sample videos, we found something unique about his work which is hard to explain.

Wedding Functions

Ceremony
When trying to describe this special day, I can’t seem to find a better word than ‘perfect’. It’s a day I’d pictured forever, marrying the man of my dreams.

Our Grecian/Tuscan theme included a color palate tinged with shades of olive. Everything else was monochrome with a touch of gold.

Not a thing about our wedding day could have been more magical. When Kavi and I saw each other just before the ceremony, it was as if we froze in time. I was so nervous about Kavi seeing me as a bride. Being able to see the happiness on his face when he saw me was something I cannot put in words.

Our first dance as husband and wife surrounded by all of our loved ones will be a moment that we will relive for the rest of our lives. Our first dance was ‘You’re Just Too Good to be True’ by Franki Valli, a timeless classic with an upbeat ending.

My wedding saree was designed by iBride by Indi Yapa Abeywardena.

It’s not everyday that the bride’s trousseau is designed by the groom’s sister but she is possibly the best bridal designer in Colombo. I think our relationship may have been extra pressure on her but she designed my saree and my reception gown. She wanted them to be the best she has ever done. We combed the streets of Mumbai months before and it was amazing to see her come up with the design on the spot after finding the perfect fabric.

For her to complete the design, a custom order had to be placed with the thread work she drew on a piece of paper in less than five minutes. It stunned everyone in the shop. I gave her complete freedom to enable her magic. The saree was designed to be a traditional drape with a twist of sophistication. It was simple yet elegant. Seven bridesmaids and one flower girl all complemented my bridal attire seamlessly.

Kavinga’s suit was created by Fouzul Hameed; a big shout out to Fouzul for personally looking into the design, material selection & fittings.

Reception

Advice To Couples
Right when we started planning our wedding, Kavi and I had a frank conversation on the kind of celebration we wanted. We believe when it comes to Lankan weddings, there’s a misconception that the more money you spend, the better it will be. Kavi and I had a clear understanding of how we were going have the perfect wedding without breaking the bank. We knew this would mean both of us putting in more time and effort as well as cutting down on irrelevant shenanigans. Therefore, our advice would be to – have a clear-cut budget, give priority to the essentials; there is no need to include everything you see on Pinterest for your wedding.

Wedding Makers
Venue: Galle Face Hotel
Wedding Planner: Eventz N Trendz
Décor: Poru Weddings
Bride’s Outfits: iBride by Indi Yapa Abeywardena
Groom’s Outfits: Fouzul Hameed
Makeup: Viran Jose Peter
Hairstylist: Shane Perera
Entertainment: Doctor by Lanthra Perera
Invitations: Soleil
Photography: Amarante Lifestyle

Videography: The Wedding Diary

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