“When Binny sat beside me at the Gurudwara, I realized that the wait is finally over. I get to live the rest of my life with this amazing woman that I have been in love with for years.ˮ - Avi
Q: How did you meet?
Avi: We met through the UBC Bhangra Club. Binny was on the Bhangra and Gidha teams and I performed as a singer. We crossed paths before but the first time we interacted was after the 2009 Culture Show. Her car died and I jump-started it. After that, we became friends and never looked back!
Q: What do you love most about one another?
Avi: I love her because she has a very pure heart. Binny can see the best in everyone and has a very positive outlook on life. She also makes pretty good food, which is a bonus.
Binny: I love that he is very family-oriented. He helps his parents with everyday tasks and chats with his bibi daily. His cousins are his best friends. It’s rare to find someone so connected to their family in this day and age.
Q: Could you share your proposal story?
Avi: I proposed to Binny on her birthday. I spent the day with her, going to places that were memorable to us in Vancouver while her parents and friends prepared a surprise party at her house. Later I dropped her off at the house and snuck out to the backyard. After a mini scavenger hunt, she found me and I proposed in the presence of all our family and friends.
Binny: Avi knew that family is the most important thing in my life. So, he proposed to me at my home in front of all my family and friends. I know it was nerve-wracking for him to do that, but it meant the world to me. It showed that he makes my priorities his priorities too. It was a perfect surprise. I was laughing and crying at the same time.
Q: Describe your wedding day. What was your favourite moment?
Avi: When Binny sat beside me at the Gurudwara, I realized that the wait is finally over. I get to live the rest of my life with this amazing woman that I have been in love with for years.
Binny: I wasn’t nervous at all. I was excited to marry the most perfect guy for me. Avi was late coming to the Gurudwara. While waiting for him, I was in a room with my bridesmaids and we ate every item on the menu. Then my little cousin came running to me and said, “He is here and he is on a tractor.” I was the happiest I had ever been.
Q: Could you tell us about your reception?
Avi: It was my dad’s dream to host my reception outdoors on our orchard. Once our wedding date was decided, we started figuring out whether or not it was realistic to host an event that large outdoors. There were challenges that we could have avoided if we had booked a hall for our reception such as unpredictable weather, summer heat, parking, tents, power, and lighting. Despite the extra work, it translated into the most perfect party, way better than we could have ever imagined.
Binny: Avi and I decided that for our reception we were going to do whatever we thought was fun instead of doing everything that is typically supposed to happen. In the beginning we greeted our guests in traditional outfits as they entered. Later, for our formal entrance, Avi said a few lines and appeared from behind the stage. He played a beautiful Bollywood song on the piano while singing live. I made my grand entrance onto the stage dancing to his words. We had some pretty unconventional things happening as well, such as the Mayweather fight playing live on an LED wall, a slurpee machine, Avi’s rap performance, and finally the cops shutting us down at 1 am because we were having way too much fun. We have no regrets. Our guests didn’t leave until about 3 am because no one wanted to stop.
Q: What are your goals as a couple?
Our goal is to succeed in our respective careers while also pursuing our passions – singing and dancing. We don’t have any concrete plans but we know whatever we do, we will always make room for that. Our love for singing and dancing brought us together and performing makes us both feel alive. We will also be contributing to our family businesses.
Q: What are the strengths of your marriage?
Avi: We have a very strong relationship because of our willingness to accommodate and compromise.
Binny: We speak our minds to each other. We don’t have to wonder why someone is upset or what his or her expectations are. It takes the guesswork out of the equation. We waste less time arguing and spend more time enjoying our lives together.
After the wedding, moving into in-law’s house can be stressful, but I am blessed to have the most amazing in-laws one could ever ask for. They make me feel so loved and welcomed, which makes transition into married life a breeze.
Q: If you could provide any advice to other married couples, what would it be?
Avi: Make sure that the person you marry is not only the love of your life but also your best friend.
Binny: Don’t get caught up in all the things life throws at you and forget what’s truly important. Treat your spouse as the most important aspect of your life because that is the commitment you are making to each other when you get married. Focus on each other; focus on what made you fall in love.
Photo Credit: Sunshine Movies - Hardeep Shergill + Jarnail Singh
