Covid-19 restrictions in New Zealand have created a lot of barriers for people doing normal outdoor work including shopping, recreational activities, holidaying, let alone a wedding, but a Kiwi Indian couple took the liberty to think creatively and conduct the wedding abiding by all these restrictions in their own backyard.
Vipul Wadhwa and Shreya Kant of Auckland got engaged in January this year and had earlier planned an extensive cultural Indian wedding in New Delhi in October this year, but the global restrictions due to Covid-19 almost washed away all their plans.
“We have a beautiful backyard, why don’t we have our wedding here,” said Vipul excitedly while having the wedding discussion with his to-be bride.
The couple has planned their wedding on Tuesday, May 12 at their Three Kings house-backyard in the presence of ten people including Shreya’s parents, Pastors who will officiate the wedding, a photographer, the couple’s friends and a person who will stream the wedding Live on Zoom and Facebook.
On May 12, the government will decide whether the country will remain in Alert Level 3 or move to Alert Level 2, with relatively lesser travel and gathering restrictions.
Under Alert Level 2, Government’s Covid-19 website says public venues can open but gatherings must be less than 100 and people have to maintain one-metre distance with each other.
“My parents live in New Delhi and since the wedding cannot happen the way we planned earlier, we thought we could decorate our backyard, have a small ceremony, and broadcast to it family and friends from all around the world via Zoom and Facebook,” Vipul Wadhwa told the Indian Weekender.
Vipul and Shreya met at a church in Hillsborough, where Shreya’s father, Anil Kant, is a pastor and became friends. Vipul, a chef by profession, tried to impress Shreya by cooking her favourite meals in their Friday church service where everyone shares food together.
Early in their friendship, Vipul proposed to Shreya telling her, “I know you are the one for me. I want to see you as my life partner.” Shreya rejected the proposal saying, “I don’t think this will ever happen.” Despite Shreya’s family really liking Vipul, she was not convinced of him and insisted that they just remain good friends.
Last Christmas, while having a conversation with Shreya, Vipul brought up the subject of marriage again.
“I’m waiting for the right guy” to which Vipul replied that the right guy is right in front of you. Why are you still waiting? Why can’t you give me a chance,” Shreya Kant told The Indian Weekender.
Vipul asked Shreya to give him just six days to spend some time with each other doing everyday things to know each other better. During these six days, the couple dined out, took long walks and drives, had long conversations, and on the seventh day, Shreya said ‘yes’.
The couple will be joined by 800 people from all over the world including, US, Australia, Europe, Canada, India, and Indonesia via Facebook Live, and immediate family on Zoom.
“Our wedding ceremony will have a beautifully decorated backyard, the blessings of our family and friends in person and digitally, and most importantly, us together tying the knot in the presence of God,” says bride Shreya Kant.
The couple added that they could have had a lavish Indian wedding as planned earlier, but this was unconventional, something different and an opportunity to venture into a new phase of life with a small but beautiful start.
All photos supplied
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