Purnima Singh, a retail expert from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh met Nathan Bourne, a Melbourne-based EY consultant when pursuing her master’s degree in Australia. On a serendipitous day, Purnima, who worked part-time in sales, walked into Nathan’s father’s office to sell a new electricity plan. “Nathan worked at the office 2-3 times a week, and coincidentally, happened to be in the office the same day. We started talking, exchanged Instagram handles, and caught up about a month later at a bar in Melbourne. We instantly vibed and soon after had their first date at a restaurant. Within a few weeks, we started dating, and the rest is history,” reveals the bride.
Nathan proposed to Purnima in Queensland when her parents and brother had come to meet Nathan and to visit Australia for the first time. “After a couple of weeks in Melbourne, we all travelled to visit Queensland. On my birthday, Nathan had a private dining room in a restaurant set up with decorations. He told me that we were going for a birthday dinner, and when they arrived at the restaurant, the waiter took us to a private room where he proposed. After the proposal, my family joined them 10 minutes later to celebrate,” she adds.
The Wedding Vision
Purnima Singh and Nathan Bourn’s vision for the big day was to have a small and intimate affair that blended both their traditions with a Sikh Anand Karaj and a white Christian wedding. “We began by discussing our individual traditions and identifying the essential elements from each culture that we wanted to honour. We wanted our wedding to be personal and meaningful, shared with our closest family and friends. We aimed to honour each other’s backgrounds, keeping the ceremony heartfelt and close-knit. This meant we could pay attention to every little detail. Our families were deeply involved, offering invaluable advice and support, particularly in coordinating the different rituals, attire, and customs,” shares Purnima. Their vision came to life with multi-cultural celebrations and wedding wardrobes that reflected and respected their respective roots.
The Venue
“Finding the perfect venues was a challenge, but we managed to secure beautiful locations that felt right for us.” The paradisical Jehan Numa Retreat was the backdrop for the pre-wedding ceremonies and Anand Karaj, while the palatial, marbled corridors of Jehan Numa Palace was the venue for the vow exchange. “We carefully selected a menu that included both traditional Christian and Punjabi dishes, ensuring our guests experienced a culinary blend of our heritages.”
The Experts
“Our photographers, Plush Affairs™ did an amazing job. Their ability to blend into the background and capture the essence of our day made our memories truly special. Their approach was very interactive. They also asked about any specific moments or family members we wanted highlighted. On the wedding day, they were everywhere capturing candid moments of joy and emotion. During the Sikh Anand Karaj, they focused on vibrant traditions and intimate family moments. For the Christian ceremony, they highlighted the solemnity and our love during the vows.”
“We got BigWish Events & Experiences as our wedding planners. Throughout the planning process, they were attentive to our needs and preferences, always keeping the atmosphere warm and personal. Their expertise and dedication made it possible for us to have a wedding day that was not only beautiful but also a true reflection of our unique love story and cultural heritage. The brief we shared with them was that every element, from rituals to décor, equally represented Sikh and Christian traditions,” the couple reveals.
The Pre-Wedding
The celebrations began with the bride’s Haldi and Mehndi ceremony. The event, held at the poolside of the heritage-grade property, was decked up with bright yellow flowers. Purnima opted for a multi-coloured palazzo set by Payal Singhal, which featured a vibrant print and came with an embroidered blouse. A Live singer entertained the guests for the poolside pre-wedding ceremony.
She slipped into a Liz Paul ‘N’ Satya Mishra look for the Mehndi later, held at the Begum’s Lawns in Jehanuma Palace.
Anand Karaj
The Anand Karaj was a beautiful tribute to the bride’s Sikh roots. As with Hindu traditions, Nathan and his party kicked off the ceremony with a vibrant baraat. Purnima made her way to the venue under a beautiful pholon ki chaddar, while Nathan waited for her.
It was a heartfelt ceremony at the poolside of Jehan Numa Retreat. The stunning setup included tonnes of pastel flowers. The Granthi [Sikh priest] recited sacred hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib and offered guidance to the couple throughout the ceremony. As the couple solidified their commitment and devotion to each other, there wasn’t a single dry eye in the room.
The bride dressed the part in a gorgeous red Sabyasachi lehenga and amped it up with statement jewellery by Motiwala & Sons. Makeup artist Mehak Dawar kept her look classic with a dewy base, light contours, soft smoky eyes and caramel lips. The groom matched his bride in an ivory sherwani by Shyamal & Bhumika.
The White Wedding & Cocktail Night
After the couple exchanged vows, they hosted a cocktail night at Begum’s Hall & Lawns at Jehan Numa Palace as a nod to the groom’s heritage. “We did our ring ceremony and cake cutting this evening. We had specially written vows for each other that we read out in front of our friends and families,” says Purnima.
The theme for the glamorous event was white and gold. The bride walked down the aisle in a Raffaele Ciuca Bridal followed by Seema Gujral mirror work lehenga for the cocktail night. Nathan wore Arjan Dugal for the event.
The Wedding Reception
For the extended friends and family who couldn’t be part of the wedding were part of the wedding reception hosted at Taj Lakefront, Bhopal. The bride wore a Seema Gujral creation for the last leg of the evening.
Popular singer Harshdeep Kaur entertained and swooned the guests with her melodious voice. Taking cues from their heritage and personal journeys, Nathan and Purnima blended flair and familial love, making their multi-cultural wedding a memorable celebration for them and their wedding party.
The Bride’s Checklist
The Bride: Purnima Singh
The Groom: Nathan Bourn
Photographer: Plush Affairs™
Venues: Jehan Numa Palace and Jehan Numa Retreat Bhopal
Wedding Planner: BigWish Events & Experiences
Makeup: Mehak Dawar
Bride’s Outfits: Seema Gujral, Sabyasachi, Raffaele Ciuca Bridal, Liz Paul ‘N’ Satya Mishra, Payal Singhal
Groom’s Outfits: Arjan Dugal, Shyamal & Bhumika
Jewellery: Motiwal and Son’s
Entertainment: Harshdeep Kaur
