Real Ceremonies by Sonal Dave
Tom and Sumi wanted their ceremony to be joyous, fun, meaningful and unique. They wanted a ceremony with traditional elements as a mark of respect for the older generations, an acknowledgement of Sumi’s Hindu Bengali heritage with spirituality, and a feeling of inclusivity with the congregation.
Tom shared that Sumi is his loving equal and that together, they enjoy so much, from the silly to the academic. Sumi is youthful, intelligent, strong, and caring, and she is always there to laugh at his jokes (even when they are awful) and show interest in the odd things he does. Tom shared that they both have a love of language and history, enjoying nothing more than wandering around new places and getting lost while taking in architecture and design. They also share a love of music and film and can spend hours listening and discussing these. Sumi is thoughtful and will remember what he has said, sometimes surprising him with a relevant gift.
Sumi shared that Tom makes her strive to be a better person. He is kind, super clever, fun and tidy. He is straight-talking and courageous. He can be as silly as she is, and they share lots of laughs together. He is a person of integrity and loves her family, which is very important to her. He gives her strength when she needs support and makes her feel strong and beautiful when she feels otherwise. Tom complements her emotional nature with his pragmatism, and they always find a way to communicate with each other.
I opened the ceremony with an Indian and English welcome and ensured all guests understood what would happen, including their roles.
The first ritual was the Bor Boron, a Bengali tradition in which the bride’s mother welcomes the bridegroom Tom. He walked down the aisle with his mum, and when he got to the front of the aisle, Sumi’s mum and other female elders from the family welcomed him with a pitch sound known as an ululation to celebrate and give joy to the wedding.
Sumi’s mum held a tray. On the tray was a Diya (t-light), along with some Indian sweets, water and other items for the ritual. Sumi’s mum completed the ritual, led Tom to his standing place and then everyone sat down. Then followed the Bridal entrance and the Mala Bodal, where they exchanged garlands. There were some beautiful readings from friends, including a reading acted out in front of guests. So different and so powerful.
I then shared how the couple described each other, which was emotional for all the guests. Then, I followed my creation of a seven-candle ritual incorporating the seven spiritual Phera and Saptapadi (seven promises). This led to the ring exchange, the sindhoor dhan and my final words and blessings.
St. Ethelburga’s, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG
The venue is situated near Liverpool Street and provides a fantastic combination of intimacy and grandeur. Original 14th-century arches provide the backdrop to the main space. It was destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1993 and has been rebuilt with modern features and offers a unique and memorable space for any event. The venue is separated into two spaces, which can be hired individually or together.
Tom and Sumi Multicultural Celebrant Wedding Ceremony
Testimonial from Dana Acharya – Friend of the Bride
Sonal was a fantastic celebrant and conducted a beautiful ceremony for my good friends that was clearly everything they wanted and a true celebration of their love for one another & union. It was then to a T! They shone so brightly.
It was so personalised with the elements they wanted to bring from their respective cultures & you could see how much work & care went into it. She had a great command, and I really enjoyed how much she gave very meaningful explanations for everything.
I did a reading & forgot my lines at one point, but she had been following along & keeping an eye on my piece, so was quickly able to give me a prompt, which saved me & was much appreciated. A really lovely ceremony that had my friends all over it 🙂 Thank you 🙏🏽
Venue – @st_ethelburgas
Celebrant – @sonaldave68
Music & PA – @D26music
Florals – @freshflowerscent
