HERNOOR GREWAL

30, Personal assistant to the Head Gardener at Hampton Court Palace, England, UK

Breaking the rules and ditching conventional norms sets this bride apart

HERNOOR GREWAL MET

Navjit Surdhar at Heathrow Airport where they both worked part time jobs during their university days. Their wedding was divided into two parts— a civil ceremony ( registry) on a beach in Jamaica and the Anand Karaj two months later in London, followed by an intimate post- wedding dinner and dance at the Houses of Parliament. But Grewal’s wedding was glorious for more reasons than just the stunning festivities. Since her father left the family long ago, Grewal’s mother Jasbir Kaur took care of the rituals. When did you decide that your mother would perform the rituals? My mother had performed the palla ceremony for my eldest sister’s wedding and it was only natural for her to perform the same at my wedding. But I decided to take that a step further by having my sisters walk me into the darbar of the gurdwara as well as have my mother perform the milni. When are some rituals that are holding us back? My husband’s mother passed away 20 years ago. When I entered my in- laws’ home, it was my husband’s aunt who welcomed me. Why did my father- in- law not step in for that ritual? This is where I feel we can update traditions.

I designed my own outfit as well as my husband’s. We were not concerned about big brands, but cared about portraying historical looks as we both love and read history at the university.