Timeshare ‘date’ stirs couple’s love
Strangers click among strangers
AS Uvisha Rajpal walked down the aisle, she beamed with joy when she saw her handsome husband-to-be, Suraj Singh.
Suraj, 27, a chemical engineer, and Uvisha, 26, a teacher, were introduced to each other in December 2012 by Suraj’s brother and a mutual friend.
But their first meeting was “very awkward”, Uvisha admitted.
She had agreed to go to a timeshare presentation and then meet up with Suraj afterwards.
“Suraj arrived early, so I felt bad leaving him to wait for me and decided to take him to the presentation.
“Imagine meeting someone for the first time and sitting through a presentation — also by strangers. However, all went well and Suraj and I got to chat and get to know each other,” said Uvisha.
Last year, in the presence of their immediate families, Suraj surprised Uvisha after tea when he went down on one knee and proposed to her.
The couple wanted to have their wedding in a garden, but had to settle for the Kendra Hall in Durban, because most of the venues they considered for May 18, were booked.
Each family had different invitations for their guests, although both sets were pink with a picture of Lord Ganesh on the front cover.
For their wedding day, Suraj wore a red and beige sherwani with silver stones and gold detail. He had not seen his bride for a week, and was in awe as he watched Uvisha, who looked radiant in a red bridal outfit adorned with gold and silver Swarovski stones and touches of green sequins, make her way into the hall.
The couple took their places on stage in front of a lotus flower, which was illuminated in pink.
On either side were water features and statues of deities. Four hundred guests attended, and each table alternated with green or red organza cloths and crystal stands.
At each place setting, guests received tot glasses with thank-you stickers, a chocolate, and betel nut in a gold and silver organza bag.
After the traditional north-Indian ceremony, the couple were showered with bubbles as they cut a threetier cake which was covered in white and had red roses with bright green leaves. Each layer had a different flavour: fruit cake, carrot and chocolate.
Guests had samoosas and patha rolls for starters followed by vegetable biryani, dhal and salad. Dessert was soji topped with almonds and cream.
The couple honeymooned in Mauritius, and then settled in Suraj’s family home in Clairwood.
How he describes her: Uvisha is absolutely stunning. I really admire her as she is hard working, a career woman who prioritises her studies and balances her family life easily. She is truly a gem and I look forward to spending a lifetime with her.
How she describes him: Handsome, charming and very strong headed. What she thought when she saw him on their
wedding day: I looked at him as I walked down the aisle and he looked
handsome and smart. He looked like a real rajah. I had a huge smile on my face because I was excited and happy. What he thought when he saw her on their wedding
day: Uvisha looked simply stunning and gorgeous. I couldn’t wait to marry her and be her husband. I could not take my eyes off her. She was so graceful and radiant.