DEVIKA + SAMEER | MISSISSAUGA

from The Annual Issue 2024

NIVA + VISHAL | TEXAS

It t started with a swipe. Sameer came across my profile on The League in 2018, however, the dating app only showed five profiles to each user per day, so he was informed there was a waitlist before I would see his profile.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, he noticed that my Instagram was linked and messaged me there directly. Texts quickly turned into hour-long phone calls. We bonded over immigrating to Canada as kids, being vegetarians and foodies, loving live music, exploring new places, our professional ambitions, and even our birthdays (they’re just a day apart)!

Three years later, Sameer proposed on a trip to New York City on the 100th floor of The Edge, a rooftop with a magical view of the entire city, and I spent the next year and a half meticulously planning our fairytale wedding.

I always knew I wanted to have an outdoor ceremony given our love of nature, and so the hunt for the perfect outdoor venue began. Harding Waterfront Estate was only the second place we visited, but we instantly fell in love. With expansive property grounds backing onto Lake Ontario and housing a classic 1930s era mansion, the venue also provided full in-house Indian catering. For such big foodies, good food was of utmost importance. We had all our favourite breakfast foods - poha, pakoras, croissants, and pastries, and a full Indian buffet with the most delicious kheer for lunch.

On a trip to India the year before, my mom and I found my elegant bridal lehenga at Sudhir Bhai Saree Wala, featuring a woodland scene with peacocks, flowers, and doves on the skirt (another nod to our outdoor ceremony), and had it custom-made in the perfect shade of red with detailed pastel and pearl embroidery. We chose an ivory sherwani with similar embroidery for Sameer, with our parents and the bridal party complementing in shades of mint green and baby pink pastels.

Tanzy’s Decor set up the most beautiful mandap in the back of the mansion which overlooked the pond, decorated with green foliage and flowers in shades of red, pink, and white (matching exquisitely with my lehenga), with the pièce de résistance being the floral canopy under which we exchanged our vows and took our pheras.

Sameer arrived in style with the baraat in a convertible, dancing his way down the long driveway to the mansion and our bridal party, made up of our dearest friends, followed suit. Since my grandmother was the only grandparent physically present at our wedding, we wanted her to play an important role, so she was our ring bearer. I then made my way down the stairs and to Sameer, led by my younger brother. I walked down the aisle to ‘Ishq Bina’, a song so sentimental to Sameer that it brought him to tears. The entire scene was something out of my dreams - I will never forget it. And thanks to Strokes Photography, I’ll always have our candid, timeless photos to look back upon.

For the grand finale, we hosted our reception the next day, centered on a French garden theme. Sameer chose a classic 3-piece black suit from Suit Supply, while I complimented him in a lavender gown with pearl embroidery from Seema Gujral. Walking into our reception together, surrounded by all our friends and family, was a surreal feeling. We shared our first dance amidst dry ice and glitter sparklers, after which our guests lit the dance floor on fire, with the best beats from Empire Entertainment. It was truly a night to remember!

Looking back, I now realize our love story didn’t start with a swipe. It started long before either of us were born, a testament to how the stars aligned, how two people who grew up in different cities, speaking different languages, with no mutual connections, happened to meet and fall in love. Our love is a reflection of the generations of love and sacrifice that came before us - our parents, who moved across the world to give their children a better life and taught us how to love, so that we could find our way to each other. A more poetic person than I might say, ‘Isn’t it just so pretty to think, all along there was some invisible string, tying you to me?’

Vendors

Wedding Ceremony

Photography: Strokes Photography | @strokesphotography

Videography: A Touch of Light | @touchoflightvisuals

Henna: Henna By Divya | @hennabydivya

Makeup: Rhea Mussai | @rmmakeupstudio

Bridesmaids Saree Draping: Touch of Vithu | @touchofvithu

Hair: Faces By Manu | @facesbymanu

Decor & Florals: Tanzeela Khurram | @tanzysdecor

Coordinator: Mehek Kay Events | @mehek.kay.events

Venue: Harding Waterfront Estate | @hardingwaterfrontestate

DJ: Empire Entertainment | @empire_djs

Hair Florals and Varmalas: Just Floral Décor | @just.floral.decor

Bridal Outfit: Sudhir Bhai Saree Wala | @sudhibhaisareewala

Bride Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | @manoloblahnik

Groom Outfit: Steel Lifestyle | @steellifestyle

Bridal Jewelry: Much More Art Jewelry | @muchmore_art_jewellery

Reception

Photography: Strokes Photography | @strokesphotography

Videography: A Touch of Light | @touchoflightvisuals

Makeup: Mina Yousufzai | @minaabeautyy

Hair: Hairlicious By Maria | @hairlicioustyles

Decor: Tanzeela Khurram | @tanzysdecor

Venue: Grand Empire Banquet Hall | @grand_empire

DJ: Empire Entertainment | @empire_djs

Floor Wrap: Toronto Floor Wraps | @torontofloorwraps

Photo Booth: FotoZi Studio | @fotozistudio

Ice Cream Sandwich Bar: Golden Crumb Cookies | @goldencrumbbiscuit

Bridal Outfit: Seema Gujral Design | @seemagujraldesign

Bride Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | @stuartweitzman

Groom Outfit: Suit Supply | @suitsupply

Groom Shoes: Steve Madden | @stevemadden

Groom Bow-Tie: Holt Renfrew | @holtrenfrew

Cake & Desserts: Krispy Kreme donuts, styled by Gouda

Thyme @gouda.thyme

NARMATHA + NICOLAS | ITALY

Walking down the aisle to greet my future husband, surrounded by the stunning beauty of Lake Como, I knew this would be the best day of my life. Nicolas and I met at university while studying Dentistry, and our relationship blossomed from a close friendship. From the moment we started dating, I knew he was the one I wanted to marry.

Our wedding was a true reflection of our journey together. With Nicolas being French, our five years in Spain, and our current life in London, a European wedding felt like the perfect fit. Lake Como had always been my dream wedding destination—its serene beauty and majestic mountains provided an idyllic backdrop for our vows. As a British-Tamil Sri Lankan, I cherished the idea of blending my cultural heritage with Nicolas’s European roots in this picturesque location.

We instantly fell in love with our venue, Villa Pizzo. It encapsulated quintessential Italian charm, with manicured gardens, a stunning forest walk, and a terrace overlooking the lake. It was our dream venue, and we were thrilled to welcome guests from 21 countries to celebrate with us. It was important that every guest experienced something truly special.

For our welcome party, we created a fusion of a traditional Mendhi night, a French pre-wedding soirée, and an Italian lakeside aperitivo. Set right on the lake, the party was vibrant with Mendhi elements like floral arches and colorful throws, paired with Italian finger foods, pizza, French cheeses, and of course, wine.

For the wedding ceremony, I envisioned a traditional Sri Lankan Hindu wedding on the shores of Lake Como. We embraced rich colors, elegant sarees, regal jewelry, and sophisticated makeup. The reception was a timeless yet glamorous Franco-Italian affair, complete with speedboats and chandeliers in a glasshouse.

Every detail was thoughtfully considered. We wanted to ensure our diverse guests understood the ceremony, so we provided flowers for their hair, wedding programs in English and French, and personalized wooden fans. Our bespoke wedding logo featured on all signage, Photo Booth images, and even on non-spill straw cups for the dance floor. The table settings were elegant, incorporating textures and materials like vellum menus, embossed cards, and matte yardstick table numbers.

As style enthusiasts, we took great pleasure in designing our wedding attire. For the welcome party, I chose an Indo-Western outfit in seafoam green, lilac, and orange, with hand-stitched floral embellishments. My vision for the Hindu wedding was a modern entrance look and a traditional second saree, which I found at Ranya Sarees. My first saree was a princess-like mauve-pink, while the second was a unique yellow-green that complemented Lake Como’s greenery. Red Dot Jewels in London created bespoke jewelry, including personalized Jimmiki earrings for my second look. My reception outfit, designed by Ekta Solanki, was a peachypink ensemble with hand-stitched iridescent stone and thread work, topped with a feather cape.

Nico’s outfits were equally tailored to perfection. His welcome party suit and reception tuxedo were bespoke, crafted by Suit Supply. The teal green blazer matched my outfit, and his off-white reception tuxedo channeled James Bond vibes. Both featured our wedding date stitched into the collar. For the wedding ceremony, Nico wore an ivory sherwani with elegant threadwork, designed by Mave in Toronto. We incorporated two shawls—one sage green with mauve pink floral embellishments for the first look, and an ivory shawl with gold details for the second—to create distinct looks for different moments of the ceremony. Nico’s groomsmen and my bridesmaids were dressed to match our outfits, creating a perfectly coordinated wedding party.

Overall, our wedding was a beautiful blend of cultures, styles, and personal touches, making it an unforgettable celebration of our love.

Vendors

Venue: Villa Pizzo, Lake Como, Italy

Wedding planner: Giorgia Verdi - Boutique Weddings

Flowers: Figli Dei Fiori

Cake: AFM Banqueting

Makeup + Hair: The Studio Como

Music: Resonance Sounds DJ, Chris Williams Saxophone

Rings: Taylor & Hart

Invitations: Paper and Inc Studio

Bride’s Wardrobe: Blu, Jewellery by Avari, Ranya Sarees, Red Dot Jewels, Ekta Solanki

Groom’s Wardrobe: Suit Supply, Mave

SUNAINA + UMAR | TURKEY

Our story began in March 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland, during cherry blossom season. We first noticed each other at an engagement party, connecting over a shared love for dancing. Both living in New York City, our bond deepened from our first date at a bowling alley to making it official over a game of pool. We quickly discovered our common interests—travel, coffee, and board games (with Sunaina being the more competitive one).

Coming from different backgrounds and religions, we faced challenges with our families, but our strong connection made it worth the effort. With my Dadi’s blessings, Umar proposed to me in October 2022 in Central Park, in a rustic gazebo known as “a treehouse for dreaming.” I said yes.

In April 2024, we celebrated our love with a threeday, seven-event Hindu-Muslim wedding in Bodrum, Turkey, bringing together family from India, Pakistan, England, and the U.S.

The weekend began with my mehndi, where I incorporated elements that symbolized our journey— NYC’s skyline, peacocks representing my Indian heritage, cherry blossoms from when we met, and a bracelet with my Nani and Dadi’s names. Of course, I hid Umar’s name, writing it in Hindi and Urdu along the branches.

That evening, we welcomed our guests with games on the hotel terrace. We played musical chairs with dares, inviting seven representatives from each side, with challenges like taking selfies with the bride or groom’s mom. The bride’s side won, although we might have cheated a little! The night continued with singing and dancing, a perfect start to the weekend.

The next morning began with the traditional choora ceremony, where I wore a lehnga made from my mom’s wedding sari, and she also wore a sari made from hers. It was a full-circle mother-daughter moment. Afterward, we had our Haldi, where my cousins playfully attacked Umar, and my mom got me back. Bride vs. groom games followed, with a competitive tug of war and an all-out water balloon fight that ended with us being thrown into the pool.

That night, we celebrated our Sangeet with performances from friends, family, and colleagues. My Masi’s tribute to my Nani, dancing to “Sheila Ki Jawani,” was particularly special. The theme was jungle meets Morocco, with shisha, Indo-house music, and a lively atmosphere. We got everyone on the dance floor with a rail gadi, pulling everyone into a train that ended in a dance-off. The night was filled with laughter, limbo (even Dadi joined in), mini golf, Turkish coffee, and the famous Turkish ice-cream trickster. My sisters seized the opportunity to steal my husband’s shoes while he was crowd-surfing—a Sangeet tradition on his side.

On the morning of our wedding, my youngest Masi surprised me with an emotional first look, and meanwhile, our moms shared a special moment in their personalized dressing gowns. For the Hindu ceremony, I walked down the aisle to my Nani’s voice singing “Lathe Di Chadar,” with my Dadi as my flower girl. For the Nikkah, Umar’s Dadis came down the aisle with bubble guns, and we ended the ceremony with confetti cannons.

After the ceremonies, Umar and I took a quiet moment together on our balcony, soaking in the significance of the day. It was a beautiful way to honor both of our upbringings.

We began our reception with a shadow dance and entered the lit-up pool deck alongside fire dancers. My dad’s speech started with a letter he wrote to me when I was born, and our father-daughter dance to a song he wrote brought tears to everyone’s eyes. My father-in-law’s light-hearted stories and our siblings’ speeches had everyone laughing and crying, with a touch of magic.

Cutting the cake on the dance floor, we watched the fireworks light up the Aegean Sea, a perfect backdrop to our celebration. We danced the night away under the stars, locking eyes on the dance floor just like we did six years ago—only now, with the joy of beginning our new chapter as husband and wife.