Groom: Gurtej Sandhu
Bride: Raman Dulay
Photography by (for picture credits): A Master Media
Q: How did you two meet, and what was your first impression of each other?
We originally met online but had lost touch with one another. After a few months, we managed to reconnect, and the rest is history. We thought one another was quiet at first but have learned we’re both sarcastic and share the same sense of humor.
Q: Can you share the story of your proposal/engagement? Was it a grand surprise or a quiet, intimate moment?
In classic Gurtej fashion, we had an intimate proposal at the first spot we met. I was pleasantly surprised when Gurtej sprung the question on me at the Quay on a quiet evening walk, as we always do, just before I was about to go home.
Q: Describe your wedding day for us. Did you have a favorite part of the wedding?
We had a traditional Sikh ceremony, which was held at the Ross Street Sikh Temple. I had a quiet morning getting ready and the best makeup artist, Allure by Arsh, to work with, who ensured I was calm during the process. Other than a few hiccups, everything went smoothly. We both felt nervous until the laavan were finished, and then it was a sigh of relief. We couldn’t have asked for a better fall day to get married, as the sun was shining and all our closest family and friends were there. Our favorite part of the wedding day was being on our own on the way to take our photos. It was so nice to talk about our mornings and spend some one-on-one time with each other for a little while in the middle of a long wedding day.
Q: Tell us more about your reception.
Our reception was amazing. Evergreen Decor did an amazing job collaborating with us and making our vision of a chic black-and-white theme come true. Celebrating with close family and friends into the late-night hours was the best hurrah we could've imagined. A Master Media captured our most intimate moments with friends and family during the week, and seeing the final product was beyond our imagination. This was one of our favorite moments of the night - seeing photos and videos collected throughout the week.
Q: How did you choose your wedding attire for the both of you?
Since we were having a fall wedding, we wanted to incorporate those colors into our wedding day. Both of our wedding outfits were by Made In India; my lehenga embodied the traditional fall colors and theme that we wanted. The sherwani was made to complement my beautiful lehenga in a cream color, and we opted to go with a red paagh so it stands out.
Q: Were any traditions or customs particularly important to include in your wedding?
It was important to both of us to have our grandparents there, and that was a priority for us. We considered a destination wedding in Mexico, but Raman quickly shot that down. Thankfully, having everyone close to us, old and young, to celebrate with us ultimately was the deciding factor, and we were thankful for everyone who came.
Q: Where did you honeymoon?
Originally, we had planned a quick getaway to Cancun for a few days after the reception. Unfortunately, hurricane Milton derailed those plans 5 hours before our flight. With all our plans up in the air, we woke up the next morning thinking of an alternative plan. We instead booked a trip to Puerto Vallarta within a few hours and caught the first flight out that evening. Nevertheless, we had a great time once we finally reached our destination.
Q: Looking back, is there anything you would’ve done differently?
We wouldn’t change anything! Everything went smoothly, thanks to all the help from our families. Overall, we were very happy with how things turned out amongst the chaos of a Punjabi wedding. One thing we will always cherish most is all our extended and close family being together and the quality family time we spent.
Q: What do you love the most about one another?
Gurtej: That's a tough question. Raman is one of the most caring and thoughtful people I've met. She values family above all and holds traditional values, which are hard to come by these days.
Raman: The thing I admire most about Gurtej is his work ethic. He is one the most hard-working individuals I know, and he finds a solution to everything.
Q: How does it feel to be married, and what are you most looking forward to together?
Aside from transitioning into a new household, not much has changed between us. We've slowly developed a routine and continue to grow with one another. We're excited to continue our lives together and work together to achieve our dreams in life and family.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to couples planning their wedding, what would it be?
Enjoy the moment! After all the planning and preparation, some things don't go to plan, but the most important thing is to remember the fundamental meaning of the wedding and enjoy that aspect, as it passes by so quickly in a blur.
