The mood was royal and traditional, with soft pastel colours and curated details.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
I’m a videographer and editor for a New Zealand menswear brand called I Love Ugly. My wife is an early childhood teacher based in Royal Oak. We share a love for dance, design and the quiet comforts of home. Our time together is often spent with family, tucked into movies, or slowly building a space that reflects us. We’re both homebodies at heart, happiest when the music is on, the lighting’s soft, and we’re deciding which corner of the house to bring to life next.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met during Diwali in 2018, through mutual friends and a shared love of dance. We were part of a group performance, and the girls had to draw names from a hat to pick their partners. Tanisha drew mine twice. She let out a scream the first time, and though she might deny it now, I think she was secretly hoping for my name. I was hoping for hers, too. From the moment we began choreographing together, something just clicked, and the rest is history.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
For me, it was early on, one of those moments where we laughed so hard our stomachs ached. Nothing profound was said, but the way we held joy together just felt right. I remember thinking, I could do life like this. For her, it was seeing me hold a baby for the first time. She told me later that in that moment, something just made sense, like she could suddenly see the life we might build together.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).
We wanted the day to feel like an extension of us, warm, intentional and grounded in simplicity. The mood was royal and traditional, with soft pastel colours and curated details. Florals were loose and natural, nothing too structured. With Tanisha’s love for classic Indian cinema, the mandap to the music was inspired by that era, something that felt timeless, not trendy.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
We wanted the styling to feel like an extension of the space, something that complemented the landscape and beautiful Indian architecture of the Swaminarayan Temple. When we couldn’t find a mandap that felt right for the venue, Tanisha’s dad stepped in and brought her vision to life, building one from scratch. It became one of the most meaningful elements of the day. Alini Goundar (Florist) then softened the structure with beautiful florals and draping, and it all felt grounded in tradition.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
We really enjoyed watching the vision unfold slowly; there’s something special about seeing all the small details begin to align with what you’d imagined. If we had one piece of advice, it would be to always come back to why you’re doing this and who it’s for (hint: yourselves). It’s easy to get caught up in the noise, but staying centred in that reminder keeps things meaningful, whether you’ve got six months or a full year, trust that it all comes together.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
We travelled to India, to Anish’s parents’ village in Gujarat, where a few of his close family members guided us through the streets of Navsari and Surat in search of our wedding outfits. After days of weaving through markets and boutiques, we both ended up finding our pieces in the same store – Rajwadi. Throughout the fitting process, we kept our outfits hidden from one another, wanting to hold on to at least one surprise for the day. It made that first moment even more special.
What was one, or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
We didn’t spend more on one thing; we wanted to put a balanced effort into all things. One vendor we did choose, whom we didn’t give a second thought, was our photographer, The HP Collective. We loved her work before we even got engaged.
Rather than focusing on one standout element, we wanted to give care and attention to everything, creating a day that felt cohesive and considered from start to finish. That said, one decision we made without hesitation was choosing our photographer, HP Collective. We’d admired her work long before we were even engaged and knew she was the one we wanted to document the day, she captured it all beautifully.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
There was a moment that still makes us laugh. As Tanisha reached the end of the aisle, she suddenly realised she needed to take off her buckle heels before stepping into the mandap. With Anish holding her hand from inside the mandap, her maid of honour, Maziya, was frantically crouched down, trying to unbuckle the shoes while the whole crowd waited in silence. All the while, we were looking at each other, trying not to burst out laughing. It was perfectly imperfect, a small pause in the ceremony that made the moment feel even more real.
BRIDE Tanisha, @tanishachetty GROOM Anish, @anishpate1 VENUE Swaminarayan Temple, Papatoetoe, Auckland, @swaminarayan.complex PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER Harshpreet Kaur – The HP Collective, @thehpcollective PLANNER Anjali Rattan, @anju_15; Kajal Patel, @thatssokaj FLORIST Alini Goundar, @cr8_mystical_moments CELEBRANT Pandit Nityanand ENTERTAINMENT Prashant Datt, @datt_dholguy; Arun Kaka HIRE & CATERING Swaminarayan Temple, @swaminarayan.complex SIGNAGE Alini Goundar, @cr8_mystical_moments RINGS Four Words, @fourwords BRIDE’S OUTFIT Rajwadi, @rajwadionline BRIDE’S SHOES Novo Shoes, @novoshoes BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Sia Art Jewellery, @sia_art_jewellery_nz HAIR & MAKEUP Sadaf James, @sadafjamesmakeup_ BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Georgio Armani Si GROOM’S OUTFIT, SHOES & ACCESSORIES Rajwadi, @rajwadionline GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Frank Black, I Love Ugly BRIDESMAIDS OUTFITS Sourced individually GROOMSMENS’ OUTFITS Tailor made by a local tailor in Navsari, Gujarat
