Love in the carpark
Rose-red Aum forms backdrop to nuptial rituals
A THREE- minute meeting between optometrist Sudir Bhagirathi and attorney Merosha Dasarath was long enough for Sudir to realise he had met his bride-to-be. DATE NIGHT: The couple were introduced to each other in March 2012 by one of Sudir’s cousins, Anil Baijoo, who is also a friend of Merosha’s family. Merosha’s father and Anil had arranged for a surprise meeting at her cousin’s wedding. Merosha and Sudir met in the parking lot of the Tongaat Town Hall, and the three minutes they spent together were enough for Sudir to fall in love. In the weeks that followed, the two began chatting by phone. After much persuasion, Merosha finally agreed to meet Sudir for coffee — and it was then that their courtship really began. SAY YES: Sudir did not propose to Merosha, but instead asked the permission of her parents and her only brother to marry her. “But he made up for the non-proposal when he bought my dream wedding ring,” said Merosha. “On the day that he collected it from the jeweller, he visited me and only then asked me to marry him.” THE DATE: June 23 — two days after Merosha’s birthday. The guest list was getting longer and longer, so the couple settled on the main hall at Durban’s Kendra religious and community centre, which, they say, “turned out to be a venue with character and grandeur”. THE INVITE: Although Sudir and Merosha opted for different invitations, both chose a combination of purple and gold. Sudir’s had a Ganesha in the middle and Merosha’s resembled a fancy book with a purple border and also with a central Ganesha. Inside, the wedding details were printed on a purple card. Guests received a miniature murti in an organza bag with their invitation. FIT FOR A KING: Sudir wore a Swarovski crystal-encrusted cream sherwani. Merosha was dressed in a wine-red and silver lehenga embellished with Swarovski crystals. Her handbag, shaped like a silver leaf, and Cinderella slippers were ordered from India. CENTRE STAGE: The couple wanted décor that would create a fairytale setting. The mandap was transformed into a gigantic crown surrounded by white horses, fountains and beautiful flowers. The couple exchanged vows in front of a huge Aum symbol made of more than 1 700 diamantécovered red roses, and then the stage was lit up by fireworks. The overall colour scheme was cream and gold, accentuated by purple lighting. The centrepieces on the tables were filigreed gold stands. GIVE AND TAKE: North-Indian ceremony.
GUESTS: 650. TASTY TREATS: For starters, guests were served Punjabi-style potato samoosas, paneer pastries, patha pastries, and spinach and feta parcels accompanied by chilli sauce. This was followed by the main course of vegetable biryani, dhal, salad and pickle. The dessert was soji and vermicelli. LET THEM EAT CAKE: A four-tier chocolate ganache cake with purple roses. Fabric in purple and gold was draped down one side of the cake, which was topped with miniature figures of a bridal couple.
HONEYMOON: Seychelles.
EVER AFTER: Westville, Durban.
TREASURED MEMORY: The preparations for the wedding were a “family affair”, with input from all members of both families. But their parents and Merosha’s brother and elder sister, under the guidance of their wedding coordinator, Eresh Bhagwan, were especially busy.