Airports are very emotional places – it’s where we bid farewell to loved ones, or embrace them after a long flight. But for Vinay and Laura, a chance encounter at the airport was the gateway to a romantic journey of a lifetime. At the beginning, the pair were just good friends; both were in relationships with other people. But when those relationships ended and they found themselves single, the tender petals of love began to blossom between the two. After four years of dating, Laura and Vinay found themselves back at the airport preparing to board a flight east for an incredible holiday in India. And it was on the last night; under a glittering Goan sky with the sea breeze kissing their faces as they lay swinging in a beach hammock that Vinay turned to Laura and popped the question. “Would you like to become Mrs Taggar?” he asked as tears of pure joy welled up in Laura’s eyes. “It was one of the most magical days of my life,” Laura remembers “Of course I said yes!” They set about arranging their wedding on their return from India, with Vinay doing most of the organising. “He was constantly on phone talking to suppliers, negotiating and problem solving,” Laura says.
Vinay’s family also played a crucial role in organising the ceremony, particularly his older sister Annuradha. The pair spent their weekends at wedding exhibitions meeting potential suppliers, going for consultations, having dress fitting and sampling delicious cakes, while spending their evenings scouring the internet for unique wedding ideas and concepts. They found their gorgeous venue, Duffield House, online and for the second time in her life, Laura knew she had found The One. The venue’s helpful team worked with the couple to ensure they had the most amazing day of their lives, dressing the outdoor space in black and silver for the civil ceremony. The couple included their pet dog Puggy in the celebrations; he was given the essential role of accompanying the bride down the aisle towards her waiting groom. Afterwards the guests were served canapés before sitting down to a meal of Indian dishes, catered by Delhilicious food. Their striking monochrome cake matched the colour theme, and offered a modern twist on the wedding cake. However, they kept some traditional elements for the Hindu ceremony, held at the Grade I-listed Baylis House. Keen to include his second love in the day, Vinay arrived to the Hindu ceremony in a Ferrari followed by his own GT86, Audi R8 and two purple Nissan GTRs. Unfortunately, this amazing entrance is the one thing Laura missed witnessing for herself, as she was tucked away from the groom’s eyes in a hotel room. However, her own arrival was something of a first for her side of the family – she was carried in on a palkhi by her father, brothers and cousin. “I remember seeing this entrance when Vinay and I were researching ideas for the wedding, and definitely knew it was something I wanted!” The couple arranged for a photo booth to be set up at their Hindu ceremony, allowing the constant stream of guests to get involved in the fun themselves. Golds, reds and oranges played a predominant part in the décor, while the Mandap was dressed in cream to ensure the neutral tones emphasised their wedding outfits. Guests dined on traditional Indian cuisine before being served a slice of Laura and Vinay’s Indian wedding cake, orange with gold borders and finished with elephants.
Capturing the many magical moments of the day was photographer Jay Pankhania, who the couple met at a wedding show. After booking a consultation and looking through his extensive portfolio, the couple hired his services for their Big Day. “He was exceptionally professional and relaxed, which made him incredibly easy to work with. We cannot thank him enough for these great images from both weddings and pre-wedding photo shoot, which we will treasure forever.” Although sad that the wedding day is over, Laura is thrilled to finally have Vinay as her husband. The couple are immigrating to Singapore in the next few months and plan to spend their honeymoon visiting the exotic countries of South East Asia over several weekends. But before she steps on that flight, Laura is keen to impart some words of wisdom to couples planning their own wonderful weddings. “Firstly, make sure you have a list of every tiny detail you need to cover for the wedding. Start planning well in advance of the Big Day, and do not leave anything for the last two weeks before the wedding! Make sure you get every little detail in writing and check every contract thoroughly. Above all, try not to stress and just enjoy every second of your wedding day.”
Photography: Jay Pankhania, jaypankhania.co.uk, +44 (0)7984 542 471