"I Do..."

Shanthini and Praveen are now happily married :)



They danced the whole night through... :)

View our twitter bars at the side for a more detailed scoop of the wedding day festivities.

Photographs of the Afternoon preperations before the Wedding Dinner

Photographs of the Day Ceremonial Rites

Big Day

12pm: The traditional engagement ceremony was really something. Shan looked exquisite, albeit she was a little nervous and giggly throughout. There’s something about a traditional ceremony that suddenly hails any event proper and solemn. The thing is, I wish I could have some sort of solemn ceremony with my partner. Sure, we have been together for eight years and I think that the both of us are quite ‘settled’ with each other and we know our commitments. It would still be nice if both of us can validate our relationship and our vows to family and friends, a celebration of our love. Oh well, still it’s nice to be able to share in someone else’s joyous occasion.

Our Vows

WEDDING VOWS (Prav to Shan)

I don’t believe in love at first sight
I don’t believe in candle-lit dinners
I don’t believe in romance

But
I do believe our first meeting at Tamil class was a head-turner
I do believe that our first meeting was the start of something good
I do believe in this special bond that we share

That night, in my candle-lit room and I went down on my knees, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you; getting to know you; loving you.

I cannot promise the world to you but I do promise never to let you go. Love you.

(Shan to Prav)

Prav always spoils market! Erm…well I just wanna say I am…no I’m gonna sing… (like she means every single word)

Madi meethu saayum inneram, mazhai kaala aasai thondrum (x2)
Uyirukkul erikira neruppu
Athai anaipathu ini unthan poruppu

Hen night :)

had a fun time wif the girls!!!! It was awesome!! Talked more than we partied but it was goood!!! Sharon;s idea of getting facials done was super therapeutic!! And the hot tea and curry puffs that were served was just divine!!

Hahahaha!!! And den geri sashayed in wif my salmon!!! Love it!! Together with the champagne it was heaven on earth… J den wif mild drinks, we jus HAD to get more hard-core….so out came the shot glasses!!

Geri’s iPod application Truth or Dare was hilarious!!! Sharon was so drunk that she was convinced that the beer glass shouted at her!!! Trust Sharon to do stuff like tat…OMG!! Tomolo is creeping up!! Need to get some black coffee to undo the hangover….

Hen night

Haha! Omg I just got up from a mini-hangover from Shan's hen party last night :) You won't believe what sort of things we came up with...

The girls got a little crazy, and when Shan suggested that we feed Cheer Bear some of our Champagne during the 'Truth or Dare', Sharon actually went ahead to do it! LoL.


Shan LOVED the Salmon tapas that we prepared (it took us 2 and a half hours to prepare lah!) but it's worth it. :) Hooray!
They look gorgeous don't they?


After we were satiated with the Champagne and curry puffs, we then started playing around with the balloons, as if we were kids again :) And came up with weird balloon animals like this balloon sheep. LoL.


By the way, don't you just love how the platter of roses and tealights look? ;) My idea!

We'll always treasure the memories Shan... Hope you like the gerrberra :) And also the whole lot of balloons. :)


Would like to blog more...but wedding day stuff calls :P Maybe we can put a proper scrapbook together after the wedding Shan.

Bachelor’s night

Bachelor’s night
I can’t believe they dragged me to the stupid party despite me not drinking! Indians can really drink huh! Loud and Raaaaad! I still have so many things to settle and the big day is Tomorrow! Just because I don’t drink doesn’t mean I don’t have to sleep.
Thank goodness no one puked in my car!
I really hope everything goes well tomorrow. I’ve double checked everything despite it being a Sunday! *pats self on back*
I’m so excited for Shanthini!!

Last night...

Stag night, last night. Got up with a bloody hangover. Lost count 7 shots. Pravin drank most of us under the table. And then, there were some of us his who left half their stomach contents at the Zouk. What a night. Hmm… we started at Prav’s place. Drinks and finger food to start us going on and then WHAM! A surprise for Prav for his last jaunt as a single man. VA-Va VOOM it was. I did say in a previous video that Brian and I wanted to get Ms Ris Low for the party but of course cannot lah. Havign said that, I don't think we did too badly for the party. Prav seemed pretty chuffed with the night when we left… actually, to be fair, Prav just had a silly grin on his face at the end. Maybe he was too off his face to feel anything. Poor Caleb, though, he was one of the designated drivers for the night. Ok, so we will have to make it up to him and he gets stupid drunk at the dinner…

Oh help am really ill. Luckily the wines and alcohol have been arranged to be delivered to The Pod tomorrow. Just have to make sure we have enough of it.

Now, back to nursing my hangover. Black coffee… or maybe Bloody Mary as chaser…?

Stag/Hen Night

Bring out the leopard prints everyone! It’s time to get Shan and Prav drunk on their stag and hen night!

Something borrowed, something blue?

So today I reminded Shan that we should get her
Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Something Old and Something New,
for good luck in her marriage. :)
It's an old tradition that brides should always wear one of each item. So...
we went shopping, and got her something blue ;)

It's a blue garter. Heehee! For her to wear on her wedding day/night ;) and for Praveen to take off.

Something Borrowed, she says she'd like to borrow my dark blue sapphire earrings. And ofcourse I can't refuse my best friend :) It's an honour to be asked by the bride.
Here they are... they'll look stunning on her when she wears her black gown :)


Something New:
will be her gown lah. haha.

Something Old:
Shan wants to wear old lingerie :P because they're more comfortable... right Shan?

Performing out wedding vows?

So anyway today I was having tea with Shan, trying to relax from the hustle and bustle of planning for the wedding, when I decided to tell her about this really sweet video of Lea Salonga singing her wedding vows out to her husband. Yup, the video made me cry. :P I showed Shan the video and Shan was very taken to the idea of personalized vows, and decided that YES she WOULD perform out her unique wedding vows! I suggested she do what she does best, Bharatanatyam dance out her vows! :P but we realized it would be impractical because of her gown. So... she's just going to write a very sweet version of her vows, and Praveen will write a set of vows to her too; Afterall personalized vows come from the heart, and that is special regardless of whether they are "performed" or not :).
Anyway here's the video that made us both cry! :)



In a while, in a word,
Every moment now returns.
For a while, seen or heard,
How each memory softly burns.
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows,
I thank God for yesterdays,
How they led me to this very hour,
How they led me to this place...

Every touch, every smile,
You have given me in care.
Keep in heart, always I'll,
Now be treasuring everywhere.
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I hold this moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness...
'I DO...'

(instrumental)

Now a song that speaks of now and ever,
Beckons me to someone new,
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen,
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word,
You and I forever change,
Love so clear, never blurred,
Has me feeling wondrous, strange,
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness, always with gladness,
'I DO...'

Never with sadness...
Always with gladness...
'I...DO....'

door gifts!

forgot about door gifts!!!!! Cannot believe it at all…was close to tears!! Next few days I cannot even go out properly cos need to rush ISM….lucky brian has an extension! Phew….he said he will help me settle it….caleb promised to look around as well….geri and I spent most of today getting the ring bears, ang pow boxes and flute glasses going….geri is soooo patient!!! Bead by bead…red red black red black…so meticulous….but def an art of labour!!!


Our very unique bear-y pretty box :P

ROM stuff

Omg guys!!!! This is awesome!!! Lalalalalala….prav and I finally collected the official marriage document from ROM office!!!! Woooooohoooooot!!! Hahahaha….love is in e air!!! Count down has started!! Need to make sure I sleep well…if not with the traditional marriage in the morning and then the dinner at night, I must make sure I don’t look too tired for the camera…. Need to get eye drops….

Appa and Velu Uncle will be our witnesses and the Registrar will be.....drums roll......

THATHA!!! hurray!!

feeling so happy that my grandpa will be the one who is going to solemnize our marriage...how many people have the luxury of such an option?? :P love it a lot!! it’s gonna be a really special day for us, for our familiesa and for our dearest friends... better buzz geri first!!!

Geraldine the bridesmaid describes a bit of what the Hen Night might be like...

How Ngean describes the raunchy plans laid bare for Stag Night