Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:
I am Fijian Indian but born and raised in New Zealand and Gayan was born in Sri Lanka and moved to New Zealand at a young age- our relationship from the start has really been a mix of three beautiful cultures!
We first met while studying at University and reconnected a few years later after being offered graduate roles at the same organisation, and as they say, the rest was history.
Gayan and I bring our own passions and interests to the relationship which we’ve each grown to love and enjoy through our years together. We’re our own little dream team, making up for what the other person lacks.
Outside of work you will find us either out and about exploring new eateries, spending time with our loved ones, or having a quiet night in watching telly.
Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details:
I come from a Christian family and Gayan comes from a Sri Lankan buddhist family so our wedding was a fusion of many traditions. We started the day off at St Matthews in the city with the Christian ceremony, followed by a traditional Sri Lankan poruwa ceremony and reception at the Kelliher estate. We were absolutely in awe of our wedding venues and couldn’t have dreamt of more perfect places to celebrate our day.
Given the natural beauty of both locations, we decided to keep the decor quite subtle by adding small touches of florals, natural woods, candles, and our favourite part- an outdoor dance floor (the weather was absolutely perfect for it!).
Tell us about your main outfits:
We had three outfit changes, each of which represented a different aspect of cultural backgrounds. We started with a classic white dress and suit for the church ceremony, a traditional Kandyan saree and suit for the Sri Lankan poruwa and an Indian lehenga and sherwani for the reception. Gayan and I custom made each of our outfits and we couldn’t have been happier with how they turned out.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:
I think the most memorable moments for us were the traditional ceremonies. It felt really special being able to celebrate our wedding by paying homage to our traditions and watching everything piece together so perfectly.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:
In all of life’s journeys there will always be ups and downs, but remember to treat each other with respect and kindness, and always hold the love that you have at the centre of your relationship.
Photography: @danellebohane | Videography: @thewhitetree | Ceremony location: St Matthews | Reception location: @puketutuislandestate | Celebrant: Pastor Vithal Patel | Bride’s gown: @trishpeng , @waliajones and @houseofindi.lk | Groom’s outfit: @rembrandt1946, @imtiazdesigners and @waliajones | Rings: @naveyaandsloanejewellery | Bride’s shoes: @badgleymischka | Groom’s shoes: @florsheimnz | Makeup: @beautybyblairgamblin | Hair: @hairbyhannahnz | Fragrance: @chanelofficial | Bridesmaid’s attire: @chancerythelabel and @houseofindi.lk | Groomsmen’s attire: @rembrandt1946 and @imtiazdesigners | Entertainment: @djavbaby | Hire: @twelve_tables | Flora: @leafandhoney | Catering and Beverages: @dawsonscatering | Cake: @jennamareecakes
