Couple’s Midlands wedding fantasy

UNABLE to whisk his girlfriend to her dream destination, Marvin Moodley simulated a Venetian scene when he proposed to her last year; but he vowed to make her dream wedding a reality one day.

And when fiancée Oriel Seeram told Moodley about the Daily News Win a Wedding competition, he knew their dream was within reach.

“I’d love to give Oriel the wedding of her dreams – she deserves it – but I know that I can’t afford it; that’s why this wedding would be perfect,” said the 26-year-old technician.

A spiritual Seeram said the Midlands would be the perfect location for their wedding because its tranquillity resembles Eden.

“For me it all started in the Garden of Eden and this setting in the Midlands encapsulates heaven perfectly. There is no better place to pledge our love for each other,” she said.

The pair met in 2004 when Seeram holidayed at her aunt’s house in Mayville.

Moodley, a neighbour who was friends with her cousin, frequented the house.

A friendship developed, and before long, she said, Moodley became the main reason for her visits to Mayville.

“We spent a lot of time together and he eventually told me he had feelings for me; luckily for him, the feelings were mutual,” she quipped.

While Moodley said he was drawn to his future wife’s personality and kindness, Seeram said that it was Moodley’s eyes that caught her attention, but his heart that won her love.

After three years of dating, the couple discussed their intention to get married with their parents.

Engaged

“We told out parents that we wanted to get married and while we were engaged, there wasn’t a ring or an official proposal,” she said.

However, two years later Moodley had saved enough money to buy a ring and officially pop the question.

Moodley chose Seeram’s 24th birthday as the perfect occasion to surprise her with the proposal. He booked a gondola ride at uShaka Marine World to set the Venetian scene that his girlfriend had been dreaming about.

“He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket – the ticket for the gondola ride – and said he had a surprise for me, pointing to the gondolas,” she said.

As the gondola meandered through the canal Moodley surprised her once more by dropping to his knee and proposing.

“I was so shocked that I didn’t even answer, and he eventually asked me to please say something; I, of course, said yes,” she gushed.