Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/185541
Shades of pink added pops of colour to Harpreet's bouquet for the Ismaili ceremony. The spacious Law Courts hall was decorated in rich blue and gold (above); the couple's traditional ceremony was held at Akali Singh Sikh Temple (left); Rahim added a fun touch with boldly striped socks (below left). For their Sikh wedding, the couple chose traditional costumes in red, white and gold. next step — it was just a matter of telling everyone else." Under the guise of a birthday party, Harpreet and Rahim invited friends and family over to announce their engagement. Arrangements for a May wedding were soon underway, with just over six months in which to plan the entire affair. "It was a whirlwind," says Harpreet, who, simultaneously pursuing her master's degree, hired Milestone Events to help with the planning. Her beau, too, lent a hand. "Rahim was really involved, sometimes too involved," she jokes. "He's so thoughtful and big on details. His main concern is that everyone else is taken care of." With Harpreet's style tending toward "an ethnic, vibrant, colourful" kind 30 The groom outfitted his men in smart Indochino suits, complete with custom embroidery. of vintage, she and Rahim set about planning a two-day wedding extravaganza featuring two religious ceremonies and a reception. "Most weddings I've attended have been Sikh," says Harpreet. "The colours, the customs — that's what I always pictured my wedding to be. But it was really important to do the Ismaili side, too, to celebrate the richness of both cultures." "It was a bit difficult logistically," Rahim recalls. "We had a lot of traditions we wanted to incorporate, and that can make for a really long wedding. But once we started pinning things down, everything came together perfectly." The "wedding marathon," as Harpreet calls it, kicked off with a Sikh ceremony on Friday, May 10. Preparations, however, had begun two days earlier with a henna artist who covered the bride's skin in intricate patterns. real weddings fall/winter 2013 p28-33_Harpreet & Rahim.indd 30 13-09-23 11:03 AM