From the dreamy, floral-filled ceremony to the moody reception, Amol and David’s celebration was anything but ordinary. What began as an idea to have a ceremony which felt like “a bougie lunch in the garden” turned into a two day extravaganza which was filled with personality. The couple worked with wedding planner Joy by Joelle, who truly understood their vision, and pulled it off flawlessly.

A true departure from traditional East Indian weddings, Amol and David chose to prioritise their personalities over family expectations. While they kept the Mehndi ceremony, they opted to skip many of the other rituals. Amol made the unconventional choice to walk down the aisle alone, “It felt so special, looking at David, focusing on each other, just the two of us”, she said. But her favourite part? David learned how to say “I love you” in Punjabi as part of his vows. Then, after the vows, they had brunch, “because its the best meal of the day”, she said.

For the reception two days later, they shifted gears. The goal was to create a different experience for their guests in contrast to the ceremony. They wanted a dynamic, upscale vibe that felt like an exciting night out. They used jewel tones, had a bakery pop up named after them, and an audio guest book. They even had an aerial silks performance. “We wanted something for everyone,” Amol explained, “and with Joelle’s help, we made sure there were no boring moments.”

“We wish more people had the confidence and capacity to just GO FOR IT!” Amol continued. “We feel so grateful for the budget that we had but a non-traditional wedding does not need to be expensive or grand. We would like to believe that we could get married in our living room, surrounded by the same people, and it would not feel any less special. We are all different, each couple has their own quirks and inside jokes and experiences and what better way to showcase your special bond than your wedding day. Make it about you two, you are also allowed to be selfish so be selfish!”

“This magazine is so fricken rad”, she concluded. “I’m just so grateful that someone looked at our wedding and thought it was as special as we do. All the credit goes to our vendors – we couldn’t have done it without them!”