There’s something about religious weddings that’s very moving. In the case of this lovely couple, they infused modern touches into what would have been a traditional Hindu wedding, making for a respectful and memorable balance of important traditions in a contemporary setting.

Surrounded by flowers and décor with rustic forest vibes, the celebrations began when the sun was high in the sky and lasted until the amber streaks of dusk had set in, with fairy lights lighting up the reception dinner. Thank you for seeing the beauty in simple things, VRP Photography!

The thing that struck us most about this wedding was the fact that it was the parents who officiated the ceremony. Instead of hiring a priest to recite the mantras, as is usually done at Hindu weddings, the parents of the bridal couple read self-written poetry on love, union and their children, moving guests to tears, including a Malay friend who did not even understand the Tamil words!

Rather than espouse a rigid colour theme, the couple simply desired an intimate ceremony, forgoing “rituals and customs, and celebrating the presence and blessings of their parents as the priority of the day”. Following the poetry reading by their parents, the couple read their wedding vows and exchanged wedding bands. “We wanted to keep it short, sweet and meaningful as we didn’t want our guests to be seated in the blazing sun for too long,” recalled the bride.

Having deliberately planned a destination wedding so that their families could enjoy a long-awaited vacation together, she added: “We were rather concerned about our two big families coming together, and if they would get along despite their differences. Thankfully they did and that was nice to witness.

“My husband and I were thrilled that the plan worked. It was amazing to have family members from across the globe come together for us. We saw an aunty that we hadn’t seen in twenty two years, all the way from Iceland. Siblings and cousins saved up for their flights – it was a truly intimate wedding with the people who mattered.”

SIVAGAMI & JEGAN {Malaysia}

Photography by VRP Photography / Videography by Neptune View Studio / Venue Swiss Garden Beach Resort, Damai Laut / Number of Guests 200 / Wedding Planning by Bawse Touch / Bridal Gown by BlouseSri Palasa / Bride’s Shoes by ALDO / Hair and Makeup by beaubinkabykreshenka /
Henna by @hennacraze by nadinepaul