How We Met
We were in Grenada, the sun was out, the breeze was perfect and the ocean played its beautiful melody. I was a lost puppy and she was the brave soul who showed me around the new campus I found myself in. Just like the island, she greeted me with nothing but warmth and smiles. I saw the promise of a good friendship but we were soon dragged down into the depths of our books and we didn’t see much of each other for quite a while.
The only time we really saw each other was when she brought me a batch of parippuvadda, homemade mango pickle or some other fantastic dish or whenever I whipped up a dish. Coincidentally I started cooking a lot more often. Apart from this we saw each other every week at church which I subsequently also started visiting very regularly. However it happened, the more time I spent with her the more I found myself becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be. She understood my life, shared my passions and actually laughed at all my jokes. The more time I spent with her the more I started to believe in soul mates, fate and divine intervention or perhaps dumb luck. The more time I spent with her, the more I realized that she’s the one that I need in my life. That’s where we started, on our little island. Each day was a new adventure that brought us closer and closer, and the rest is history.
how they asked
When we were planning our Europe trip earlier this year, we knew Venice had to be one of the stops as we have always talked about going there someday. We decided to do an engagement shoot there since we already had a wedding date picked out by this time. Robby suggested that it be the last leg of our 2 week trip and I said sure. Little did I know he was saving the best for last! Finally after 4 countries, 6 cities, we arrived at Venice. Cobblestone streets, foreign back alleys, arched wooden brides, graceful gondolas floating lazily down the Grand Canal… just like in those paintings I have fallen in love with, except this time it was real. I was standing right in front of it with the love of my life! It was magical! We spend the day getting lost exploring the charming streets of Venice filled with beautiful Venetian Palazzos, museums, and open air markets, with a gelato in hand (of course!).
We got lunch at this cozy Pasticceria in Cannaregio over looking the Grand Canal. We followed the winding alleyways past the hustle and bustle of tourists and crossed little bridges that lead to the heart of Venice, St. Marks Square that boasts magnificent St. Marks Basilica and Dodge’s Palace. Robby left no detail of our proposal untouched, including a photographer who greeted us and led us to our gondola, a rose for me before we boarded the ride and an accordion player serenading us with a sweet melody in the distant corner. We glided past the reflections of bridges and Venetian palazzos on the water, all made extra special sharing it with my best friend. Meanwhile, the photographer snapped away capturing our precious moments and half way through, he asked me to step up to the front of the Gondola to take some solo pictures of me. That’s when it hit me.
I could barely hold my smile for the camera. I couldn’t hold my tears in. I knew it was happening any minute now. I turn around and there he stood with the most nervous smile on his face! He took my hand and began saying sweet nothings to me. As I struggled to form sentences, he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him! That moment was such a blur of emotions but I remember screaming yes more than once! I heard people cheering us on from every corner, from the neighboring gondolas, across the canal and over the bridges. Its like the universe came together to make this perfect moment come to life.
When I finally thought all the surprises were over, he surprised me again with a video collage of my parents, and cousins and friends congratulating us! It was truly a night to remember, our favorite one to be exact… at least thus far!
