Chaos and Utter Madness. That’s how the morning of the wedding felt like and yet I seemed to have been enveloped in a cocoon of peace. Not sure if it was because of Bivash who snuck me out in the wee hours of the morning or my goofy bridesmaids who have been swarming all around me like I was about to get cold feet and run away or my family who kept checking up on me. I didn’t think too much of it, just been relieved to not have had a meltdown like I dreaded.

Atypical to most Bengali weddings, ours was scheduled for late afternoon (thank God for small mercies) which left us with ample amount of time to get a bridal series and getting ready photo session done. And I was so glad that our photographer recommended that as it was just so much fun to get to unwind myself and forget about everything else for sometime.

It was easy for me to decide on my wedding look as I’ve always known deep down that on my wedding day, I wanted to be a Bengali (Bangladeshi more specifically) bride in traditional red. Red benarasi saree, flower bun, red lips and red tip with contrasting emerald jewelry and bangles, some of the pieces of which I inherited from my mom as my something blue. BUT, the ultimate challenge was to create that look that I’ve always envisioned and to say I wasn’t worried would be a huge understatement. Turns out all my concerns were misplaced and I was in more than capable hands. I probably had the best pair of artists doing my hair and makeup, they were like magicians who transformed my entire bridezilla self in a span of few hours and I don’t think I’ve ever felt as beautiful as I did on my wedding day. ALSO, they happened to be just as crazy as the rest of my clan😛.

My mom and aunts were busy decking the bridesmaids for most part and rest of the family was scrambling to get things ready in time for the wedding which is why they didn’t really get a glimpse of me while I was getting my makeup done or adorning my jewelry. The revelation of my first look as a bride will forever stay etched in my heart as it was just so precious and yet so heart breaking at the same time. I remember my mom avoiding to make direct eye contact fearing that she might start crying or jinx it somehow, my dad was too choked up to talk, my aunts’ eyes were glistening with tears and love and my uncles could only wonder when their little girl grew up so much to be someone’s wife. Scared that I might just give in to the flow of emotions that I was feeling at their response, I excused myself quickly to join my friends in the car waiting to take us to the venue.

As I waited patiently in the room adjacent to the wedding venue for Bivash to make his grand entry riding on a horse, I got a moment’s breath to just take everything in. All my bridesmaids were bustling to get everything ready to block the door prior to Bivash’s entry. It’s a highly comical, age old tradition where the groom has to haggle his way in and literally pay to score the bride :p. Makes for some great laughter with all the silly quizzes and games and not to mention all the cash that bride’s friends and family walk out with :D. Anyways, that left just me and my mom in the room, sitting in comfortable silence and peace as we watched Bivash arrive with his procession of family and friends through the glass window.

And before I knew it, I had to make my entrance. I found myself fidgeting, heart racing, palms sweating, losing some of that poise and composure I had earlier. As I took trembling steps toward the flower canopy (created by the husband as well, and yep I’m a lucky girl) and positioned myself below it with my bridesmaids holding it over me, my entry music to Latika’s theme soundtrack reverberated through the room, signal to finally make that walk down the aisle. Slowly but steadily I made my way into the hall where Bivash was sitting at the alter with my dad and as soon as I looked up, our eyes locked. I’ll never forget that look in his eyes, one of overwhelming love and admiration. And everyone and everything around me just disappeared, at that moment time stood still and it was just the two of us in there and that’s all that mattered.

My mom escorted me to the alter and I took my seat next to Bivash and we looked at each other and smiled. I felt like I was home and definitely not for the first time. Contrary to my fear, the wedding rituals didn’t seem to last very long at all. Everything happened so quick, I vaguely remember us chanting the mantras after the priest, taking seven steps around the fire pit, exchanging garlands and rings followed by the vermilion ceremony and just like that, in the blink of an eye, we became husband and wife. What a profound moment and yet to this day, all that remains is a blur.

It was a week filled with the sweetest sweets, the spiciest savouries, the warmest smiles, the happiest tears, and the kindest words strung together in perfect harmony. Despite feeling so much stress leading up to the day while trying to perfect all the things, we’re finding ourselves still lost in memories and urging to hang on a little longer to all the love and beauty from that week.

 

 

 

 

“Since we met it’s been you and I
A tear for a tear, baby eye for an eye
And you know that my heart gon’ cry
If you leave me lonely
Cuz you not just my love you my homie”
— – Lil Wayne, “Receipt”