Manpreet and Bhavneet, Glenwood, Australia
A beautiful Sikh wedding unfolded at the Parklea Gurudwara in Glenwood, as Manpreet and Bhavneet exchanged vows in a traditional ceremony.
Manpreet and Bhavneet credit their wonderful vendors for making sure that their wedding was as close to their dream of a perfect wedding as they could have imagined. Here, the happy bride shares highlights of the event.
How we met
The couple met as youngsters at the same Sunday Language School where they’d learn Punjabi, the bride says, “We knew of each other, but many years later we reconnected through Facebook and bumped into each other at social gatherings. We starting talking and getting to know each other and here we are!”
Wedding Proposal
“Bhavneet had organized this amazing surprise proposal in his backyard,” Manpreet says, “He set up an aisle of lanterns, a path of rose petals and fairy lights which let to a wall of fresh flowers he’d made himself. He picked me up and we went to his house, through the back entrance and it was all set up. In the background he had one of our favorite songs playing ‘Tera Sang Yaara’ (by Atif Aslam), and he asked me to marry him. He had also organized a secret photographer.”
Wedding Venue
The couple decided on the Parklea Gurudwara Glenwood for the traditional Sikh wedding. Their reception was hosted at Pier One, Walsh Bay, the bride says, “Since it was an amazing venue/luxury hotel right on the water with uninterrupted views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Luna Park.”
Wedding Functions
Sangeet
Manpreet’s Sangeet was a colorful affair, “The stage was adorned with bright pink and orange swags intertwined with flowers, a perfect backdrop for my performances. A matching pink and orange gaddi area with cushions was set for the Ladies Sangeet below the stage. Decorations included straw manjis, phulkari chunnis, fresh sugar canes and colorful matkis to bring in the Punjabi Village vibe. In the foyer, I used a cut out of a truck that was a popular place for guests to take photos. The ceiling of the venue was covered in colorful umbrellas. The table decorations were kept simple with a single gold matki and scattered rose petals. We also had a lassi stall in the foyer area for guests to enjoy as a welcome gesture!”
Bhavneet’s side of Sangeet was as fun and colorful one, with lots of dancing, henna, delicious food and dholki fun. The highlights included amazing performances by Bhavneet’s cousins, a jalebi and lassi stand and a colorful decorated rickshaw which guests used as a photo booth.
Mehndi
Manpreet’s mehndi was an all-girls night. The bride says, “We had lots of henna, food and dholki fun! I chose a pastel floral theme with a pop of emerald. There was a wall of flowers as a backdrop with birdcages and pearls. There was an emerald green gaddi area with pastel peach cushions. A dessert table was set up which included chocolate strawberry tarts, dessert cups, knafeh and a henna-inspired cake. We also had a jalebi stand and personalized cute jam and honey jars as favors. Sitalisa Dasi was my henna artist, and she did an amazing job personalizing my henna. On my left arm she drew a stethoscope with a love heart and Bhavneet’s initials, as he is a doctor. On the right arm, I asked her to design a cupcake, as I run a cake business. I’d always wanted to personalize my mehndi and thought this was very special.”
Wedding
“This was a traditional and beautiful Sikh Anand Karaj ceremony,” the bride says. The highlights included a beautiful Kirtan performed by close family, a personalized brochure for all guests explaining the Anand Karaj and the meaning of the laavan which the family compiled together. A gorgeous floral log comprising cream and red roses was placed in front of the Golak inside the Gurudwara and beside the couple had matching floral arrangements in vases. In the Langar Hall, the family had hired Decor-A-Shaan who used traditional gold and red drapes to brighten up the space. The set up was complete with gold and cream chairs and a white backdrop with pink cherry blossoms, where everyone could take photos and the couple completed the signing of the wedding papers.
Reception
Modern décor and styling with lots of floral elements gave this function a wonderful ambiance. The bride says, “The venue (Pier One Sydney) organized hanging florals and lighting. This included burgundy blooms and lots of green foliage with hanging glass globes, lit up with candles. I picked burgundy as I thought it would contrast well with the waterfront scene and also work well with my outfit.
I wanted this to have the effect of being outside, surrounded by a lush forest or garden so we used matching 30x30cm floral arrangements created by Floral Expressions as our centerpieces on each table. We added white candles around the floral arrangements and placed chocolates as wedding bonbonnieres. We used extra wedding invitations for the placement cards, and hand wrote each guests name to give it a personal touch. There were lime-washed Tiffany chairs to add an elegant touch and to complement the florals.
I prepared the wedding cake myself; three tiers with fresh flowers as decoration. This matched the floral arrangements on each table and tied everything together. Lastly I used a gold mirror cake topper which I ordered online, and personalized with a “Happily ever after” as I believe this is my happy fairytale ending!”
Advice for Couples
Manpreet says, “Don’t Stress especially about the little things, instead focus on the bigger picture, and know that it’s a celebration of your relationship.
You don’t need to do everything on your own. Delegate things to your family, friends, bridesmaid, wedding planner or whoever it may be.
Organize! Use lists, diaries, pin boards or anything that helps you visualize or express ideas for your wedding.
When it comes to a venue, think outside of the box, do something different! If you have your heart set on a venue, book it well in advance. Keep in mind post marriage costs including honeymoon, house costs etc.”
The Wedding Makers
Venue: Parklea Gurudwara Glenwood (Wedding), Pier One Sydney Harbour (Reception)
Décor: Decor-A-Shaan, Floral Expressions
Caterers: Maya da Dhaba (Sangeet and Wedding), Chatkaaz Catering (Mehndi), Urban Tadka Catering (Reception)
Bride’s Outfits: Chhavvi Aggarwal (Mehndi), Sham Fashion Mall – Chandigarh (Wedding), Frontier Raas – Chandigarh (Reception)
Makeup Artist: Gather and Stitch (Sangeet and Mehndi), Fareha Bridal Studio (Wedding), Sana Kanwar (Reception)
Photography: Jagminder Singh Photography
Cinematography: Rolling Canvas
