Dani and Priya set out in their invitations their intention for what their intimate wedding would be – a queer, multicultural wedding that celebrated love.
We met eight years ago at our University Women’s Football Team, both barely out of our teens and barely ‘out.’ We felt strongly drawn to each other, and after several months of an intense will they/won’t they build-up, we finally got together officially in January 2014. Since then, we’ve built a life, a home and a love together. We’ve grown together as individuals as we have moved through the world over the years.
Tell us about the proposal.
Deciding to get married was like any other big decision we’ve made together. Through mutual discussion and knowing deeply that we wanted to be together forever – the exciting moment was when we looked around what was to be our beautiful wedding venue, and it just felt right!
Tell us about difficult coversations you had around expectations.
We had to have a few difficult conversations with family members who had certain expectations of their own, which didn’t match the reality of what we ourselves wanted and were planning for our day. For example, we felt no connection to the symbolism of a father walking his daughter down the aisle, instead choosing to walk together, hand in hand (behind our beautiful grandmothers, who were our flower girls).
It was really important to us to have the beautiful queer wedding of our dreams, and we made sure to honor and include our friends and family in ways that felt right to us.
How was the wedding day?
The majority of our thirty guests were our beautiful friends (or, more accurately, ‘chosen family’), many of whom are queer and all of whom are gorgeous human beings. The sun shined, we laughed, we danced, we made our commitments in a room absolutely bursting with love and community. It was the most glorious day of our lives.
Our wedding invitation had stated: “This is our queer, multicultural wedding, where we celebrate all styles, genders, and presentations. Please wear whatever you feel comfortable in so that you can join us as we bring our whole selves to an inclusive space full of joy and free from judgment”. This was as much for the two of us as it was for our guests. As we built a world designed for ourselves and our community, even if just for one magical day.
Advice for other couples planning a smaller wedding?
Our biggest tips would be:
- Try to resist any feelings of pressure and obligation from outside. It’s your day. Make sure you set and maintain boundaries with family where you need to.
- Allow yourselves to be absolutely showered in love. You deserve it!
- Trust your suppliers, and once the day arrives, just soak it all up and try not to stress about the little things.
What does the future hold for you both?
Mutual growth and healing, joy, community, chosen family, and hopefully children within the next few years.
Photography by Howarth Miller Weddings
Dress Designer Giuliva Heritage, Reiss
Dress Tailoring Mr. Tailor
Florist Artisan Dried Flowers
Invites Rosie Thompson
Shoes Dr Martens
Signage & Stationery Emily K Weddings
Venue The Venue, Bowers Mill, Halifax
Wedding Favours Mind Charity
Wedding Rings The Ethical Jeweller
