Groom: Robin Bride: Shelly
Photography by (for picture credits): Foto Heart Studio
City of Residence: Vancouver
Q1: How did you two meet, and what was your first impression of each other?
Shelly: We were set up by mutual friends on a blind date at Milestones in Tsawwassen Mills. We both felt a good connection and decided to extend the date a little longer. My first impression of Robin was that he was very kind and easy to talk to.
Robin: When I first met her, I was struck by how genuine and warm she was. She has this way of making everyone feel comfortable, and her smile just melted my heart. What stood out to me, though, was her intelligence and her approach to life.
Q2: Can you share the story of your proposal/engagement?
Robin: I planned to surprise Shelly at Queen Elizabeth Park, one of her favorite parks in Vancouver that she would often visit as a child. I told her we would be meeting for a picnic date and that she should dress up because we would be taking pictures. I prepared a picnic-themed proposal for her, which included a ‘Marry Me’ sign, a picnic blanket surrounded by candles and flowers, a large cardboard heart cut-out covered in hundreds of rose petals, and an intricately designed arch covered in flowers. When Shelly arrived at the park, I took her hand and walked her right in front of the arch. Before she could process it all, I went down on one knee and asked her to be my wife, and she said yes.
Q3: Describe your wedding day for us. Did you have a favorite part of the wedding?
Shelly: We were so happy to have all our loved ones join us on our special day. My favorite moment was when Robin and I exchanged Jai Malas in an intimate ceremony at my family home, and I remember my heart feeling so full of happiness.
Robin: I looked at Shelly after putting the Jai Mala. Her eyes widened, sparkling with pure excitement, as a huge grin spread across her face. You could just see the joy radiating from her.
Q4: How did you choose your wedding attire for the both of you? Were there any special considerations or sentimental elements?
Shelly: I tried on so many bridal lehengas, probably from ten different shops. The funny thing was that I went with the very first one I tried! It was a beautiful deep-red lehenga from Surrey Bridal. My choora and kaleera were sentimental for me as they were gifted from my mamus, who I am very close with.
Robin: I wore an off-white achkan that I found at Wellgroomed Designs and a matching off-white turban. I added the deep red scarf to match Shelly’s outfit. I wore a gold kada that my sister gave me, which was special to me.
Q5: Tell us more about your reception.
Shelly: Our reception was at the Taj Banquet Hall in Surrey. I wore a white lehenga from Surrey Bridal, and Robin wore a black tuxedo from Urban Studio Menswear. We entered the hall dancing while everyone else was cheering us on and waving the white-blue towelettes. It was an amazing night as we were able to celebrate the start of our new journey with all our family and friends.
Q6: Were any traditions or customs particularly important to include in your wedding?
Shelly: I loved singing and dancing growing up, especially watching dance performances at Indian weddings. Therefore, it was very important to me to include a big family and friends mashup Sangeet performance. I hired a choreographer (Jashn Dance Works) to help me with that. It turned out amazing. I also love singing, and I wanted to express my love for Robin through song, so as part of our Next Day Edit, there is a video clip of him and me walking through the Elgin Heritage Park and me singing to him. It was a cute moment!
Q7: What do you love the most about one another?
Robin: I love how kind and caring Shelly is. She is always thinking about others, and is very considerate of their feelings. Her love and compassion make me feel incredibly lucky to have her as my partner.
Shelly: I love how caring and affectionate Robin is. Quality time is both of our love languages, and one of the things that bonds us is that we love to spend time together.
Q8: How does it feel to be married, and what are you most looking forward to in this new chapter together?
I feel incredibly fortunate to be married to my best friend—the one person with whom I can share every thought, every emotion, and every part of my heart. Our connection runs deep, and it’s a true blessing to have found someone who understands me on such a profound level. I’m looking forward to building our own family and creating meaningful traditions that will carry through generations.
Q9: If you could give one piece of advice to couples planning their wedding, what would it be?
The most valuable part of our lives is time. We advise everyone to slow things down, delegate as many tasks as you can, and spend time enjoying the special moments. You will cherish these memories forever, so don’t miss out on them.
