Louise and Hemanta’s Real Life St Georges, Bermuda Wedding

When was your wedding?

14th November 2007

How and when did you meet?

We met in the crew bar whilst working on‐board the QE2 Cruise Ship. It was only my first week on‐board and I went to the bar to make friends and the first person I ended up meeting was my future husband! The ship looks very much the same as Titanic, so when people ask we say we met on the Titanic!

How old are you both?

I am 23 and Hemanta is 30

Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?

He kept saying he wanted to marry me on the ship but I never really took it seriously!!! Then we started living together on land and everything just kind of fell into place.

Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?

We both went out with friends in Bermuda two days before the wedding.

How did your groom help with the wedding planning?

He is in charge of the Indian Hindu blessing that will take place in Mumbai, India in October.

Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?

I plan to use it for the English blessing in September. The wedding in Bermuda was very small and because most of our family couldn’t make it. We plan to have two blessings this year to celebrate ‐ one in India and one in my garden in England

Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it

Well, it was GREEN!!!! I designed my own dress, went to material markets and got it made in India before we had even set a date. For the blessings I will wear traditional Assamese Sari in India and have set my heart on a gold American wedding gown for the English Blessing.

Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?

He chose his colleague Bungi as Best Man. The Groom, Best Man, and my Dad wore matching cream shirts, gold ties, and gold hankerchiefs.

Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?

A religious ceremony

Where did you hold your ceremony?

We got married in St Peters Church in St Georges, Bermuda. It is the oldest church in the western hemisphere and St Georges is a world heritage sight.

Where did you hold your reception?

We went to Ariel Sands Hotel ‐ it is part owned by Micheal Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones.

Did you have any special wedding transport?

I was planning to walk to the church because it was just down the road but in the end I ended up going in a friends taxi!

How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?

It was a small personal affair. The blessings will be bigger!

Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?

We had a meal at Aqua in Ariel Sands. I wanted the food and beverages to be the main focus of the reception.

Did you give your guests favours?

No but that is all to come!

Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?

I went to a local florist right next to my workplace. I had a bouquet with creamy white flowers and green tropical foliage .

What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?

We had the main Aqua menu. Which had a lot of fusion cuisine.

What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?

I had a traditional Bermuda wedding cake. The bride and groom both have different cakes.

Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?

No, unless you count all the Americans from the NCL cruise ship standing outside the church clicking pictures when I came out!!!!!

Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?

Ariel Sands

What was your most memorable moment of the day?

Leaving the church

Did you experience any “nightmare” moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?

I ended up going back to the hairdressers to have my hair redone and the veil re‐attached because it all got caught as I was putting my dress over my head!!! I couldn’t step into it.

Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?

Plan well in advance and be prepared for at least one thing to go wrong!!!