When a British Sikh woman and a Romanian man fall crazy in love, with a relationship origin story that is truly worthy of a film adaptation, you know their wedding ceremony is going to be truly special. Garav and Cosmin’s romantic outdoor wedding ceremony at Somerset’s Elmhay Park, where I am the recommended celebrant, was exactly that.
This wedding day was so joyful. Both Sikh and Romanian wedding traditions have their roots in respect, fun and romantic playfulness, so it was wonderful to blend them together and bring all our guests in on the ceremony. We even translated it into Romanian for Cosmin’s family so that they could read along with us.
Both Garav and Cosmin were enveloped by their siblings and close friends right from the start, and the moment they met under the sweetest of pagodas, covered in bright pinks, was so emotional. Both of them chose traditional cultural dress for our celebrant wedding ceremony, and I also wore something very special, which meant a lot to me to be able to do. Garav looked breathtakingly beautiful, all of us were holding back tears, and watching them hold hands and smile at each other throughout the ceremony was so emotionally nourishing. They truly are a perfect match for each other.
It was important to them that we acknowledged their cultures and that their pride in the partnership they have created shone through their ceremony. So we began with this:
“Love knows no boundaries—no race, no background, no differences that cannot be embraced. Today, as Garav and Cosmin stand before us, they remind us that love is a force that unites, not divides. It is a bond that brings two souls together in harmony and understanding.
“Jithai jaaye bahai mera satguru, so than suhava ram raje.”
“Wherever my true love sits, that place becomes beautiful.”
They fell in love (for Cosmin, at first sight) on a crowded train station platform in London. His proposal saw them sneaking into a Royal Park by moonlight for a magical moment together. They adventure the world together finding the most pleasing of ways to enjoy nature and each other’s company – living their lives to the full. They are unstoppably fun to spend time with, everybody needs friends like them! It was such a huge privilege to marry them and meet all their special people.
This video by Kien (who is so, so good) of KB Weddings, features the Registrar ceremony first, and then the celebrant celebrations and amazing party!
what i loved about this wedding ceremony
- The ten minutes I spent with Garav’s wonderful boys as they tried to give me a crash course in better Punjabi pronunciation. Possibly one of the most humbling and hilarious few moments of my career so far.
- Watching Cosmin watch Garav. There is a man who truly loves every tiny thing about his wife, I thought.
- Garav’s sisters and general cheerleading squad. Not only looking delicious, but the hype-team every woman needs on their wedding day
- The dress. The dress. The dress.
Thank you to G&C for the pictures, all taken by Lee Hatherall.
