What does it take to make a commitment for a lifetime? Is it money, luck, circumstances? We’d say – just a right mindset and courage to face any challenges that may come your way. This beautiful intimate and socially-distant Indian wedding in Canada is a perfect example that defies all the odds and is the one that even a pandemic couldn’t stop.
Under a sunny sky in their backyard, Harneet and Sim tied the knot with an intimate, socially-distanced wedding. Even though their big day was downsized from a celebration with hundreds of their friends and family to a 34-person guest list, it was still absolutely breathtaking and the smaller ceremony ended up feeling even more personal and heartfelt. Harneet and Sim took health and safety precautions to minimize contact and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They had to reimagine their wedding and guest experience.
Currently, British Columbia has a 50-person limit on gatherings, but to ensure social distancing practices would be safely met, Harneet and Sim reduced their guest count to 34. Finesse Décor created family pods, in which only family members living in the same household were seated together. In addition to a reduced guest count, the couple also implemented safety precautions such as outdoor handwashing and sanitizing stations near the ceremony space and staffed food stations instead of a self-serve buffet.
Read on as the bride reveals how she managed to pull off a stunning backyard wedding amidst COVID-19 hysteria that has gorgeous boho-chic vibes; stunningly captured by the team of talented professionals at Vancouver-based photography firm – Amrit Photography.
How did you two meet?
“When Sim and I met, we instantly connected and felt like we’d known each other our whole lives. We spent our first date talking about our shared love for travel; particularly Bali, where we both hoped to spend more time in the future. We realized that we’d grown up in the same neighborhoods, attended the same high school, and numerous members of our families were friends. All these possible encounters and it wasn’t until we both went online that we finally met. After our first date, we spent most of our days with each other. We spent a lot of time outdoors, eating sushi, or searching for the best chocolate dessert. It wasn’t long before we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.” Tells Harneet
When and where was your wedding scheduled for and how did lockdown impact the date and venue?
Harmeet reveals – “Our original wedding date was set for Wednesday, July 1, 2020. When we first began planning our wedding, we wanted it to feel intimate, which isn’t always possible when you have huge families as we do. It had been a dream of mine to have a boho style summer wedding in my parents’ backyard, under a pergola adorned with fresh florals. We pondered the idea of having the wedding in my parents’ backyard, but it didn’t seem possible to be able to have all our family and friends attend, so this wasn’t an option at the time. We then booked and planned our ceremony in the Gurudwara that my family regularly attends. However, just as I was shopping for my outfits in India, COVID spread and introduced a lot of other challenges. I came home to find out the restrictions and safety precautions that needed to take place for us to be married.”
How did you change your plans for – outfits, theme, food, decor, guest list, photography?
“We knew we wanted to move forward with our lives in marriage, regardless of these challenges. However, it was important for us to plan a wedding that was safe, and was also a great experience for us and our families. While everyone was supportive of our wishes for a wedding this summer, it took some time to get people to feel comfortable breaking away from some traditions such as large indoor weddings and a week of festivities. We ultimately planned the intimate, boho-garden wedding in my parents’ backyard that I’d always dreamed of! Although we weren’t able to have all of our family and friends attend the ceremony, we got to share the experience with them through a live stream. Hundreds of our family and friends tuned in and watched our ceremony. Everyone was so pleased that they got to be a part of our day, wherever they were in the world. We enjoyed every bit of our intimate wedding, and couldn’t have dreamed of anything more magical! Now we’re looking forward to our future move to Bali post-Covid!” Tells the bride.
What safety measures did you take on and before the date?
“In order to ensure everyone’s safety, we didn’t have a week of festivities prior to the wedding. I got my mehendi done and limited my guest count to just my siblings and a few close cousins. On the wedding day, we had personalized hand sanitizers for every guest, a handwashing station near the ceremony, and designated seating for guests that was socially distant.” Emphasizes Harmeet.
Your most memorable/ funny moment at the wedding?
Harmeet recalls “I loved being able to watch my husband-to-be arrive at the house for the milni and walk down the aisle from my window. Only my family members knew I was watching from the window, so they waved and smiled as they were seated for the ceremony. It felt so special to watch everyone as they awaited my arrival. It was also a comforting thought that I could be married in my family home, where I have so many cherished memories. Now, when I visit my parents’ home, my husband and I are reminded of that special day.”
Was there anything unique that you did/planned for your wedding given the special circumstances?
“I wasn’t able to have a regular doli with all of my cousins, friends, and aunts waiting inside the front door to play games. Neither was I able to hug my family members goodbye. Instead, my husband, I decided to have a happy “send-off.” My sister organized a few games in the driveway so that everyone was social distancing. My mom and I sat by the door and watched my husband participate in the games. Then, when he cut the ribbon, I joined him and we sat on the back of my brother’s most prized possession, his 1965 Impala SS. My husband’s brother drove us off and I tossed my bouquet behind me. All my family cheered and it was a joyful moment for all of us.”
The most special thing your fiance did during the wedding?
“The day before the wedding, he sent me messages about how excited he was to spend his life with me. At that moment, I knew that I was the luckiest girl despite having a COVID wedding. In the end, I would get to marry my best friend, and I was so glad that we focused on beginning our life together instead of waiting to have a big wedding.” She smiles while sharing this.
What NOT should brides do at their lockdown wedding?
“Don’t be overwhelmed by all the changes. COVID has allowed couples to be creative with their weddings. It can be daunting to plan a wedding that isn’t typical or normal for families, but it can also be exciting and remind you to focus on the most important part- the couple getting married!” Emphasizes Harneet.
Top ideas that made your lockdown wedding a super hit!
* Pick a videographer who can stream your wedding for guests who can’t attend your wedding. Studio101Productions did an amazing job streaming our wedding!
* Work with your decorator to create a vision that speaks to you. (even if it’s different from what others are used to)
* Personalize hand sanitizer for your wedding guests.
* Your family can still drop off or send sweets to families that weren’t able to attend. They can still be a part of your special day even if they weren’t able to attend in person.
“Amrit Photography did an exceptional job of capturing our wedding day photos. They were creative in their shots and helped guide our family photos throughout the day. We are so glad we chose them to photograph our wedding,” admits Harmeet. And we couldn’t agree more!
While COVID-19 may cause the cancellation of your planned wedding ceremony, this doesn’t mean that you need to cancel your wedding entirely. Harneet and Sim’s intimate backyard Sikh wedding is proof that the ceremony is just as special and meaningful whether in front of 50 or 500. If you want to start the beautiful journey of married life now rather than waiting another year, you can have a simple wedding ceremony in the time frame that you wanted and enjoy a larger celebration at a later date. The party can wait, and it’ll be just as amazing when it finally comes around.
Vendors:
Venue: Bride’s Backyard in Vancouver, BC
Photography: Amrit Photography
Videography: Studio 101
Hair & Makeup: Aquarius Art
Design & Decor: Finesse Decor
Floral Design: Da Fiori Floral Design
Canopy: Natural Oasis Events
Ribbons: Cfleursdesign
Bride’s Attire: Vivah Collection
Mehndi: Jasmine’s Henna
