Some love stories are written in the stars. Others are woven through invisible strings that stretch across continents and decades before finally pulling two people together. When Rubab Riaz and Darren Sebastian sat across from each other at The Ivy in Manchester for what should have been a nerve-wracking first date, the conversation flowed so naturally it felt as though they’d known each other for years. Then came the revelation that both had been born in Saudi Arabia, their families living there during the exact same years, their childhood paths running parallel in a country thousands of miles from where they’d eventually meet. For Rubab, a Punjabi accountant with family roots in Lahore, and Darren, a Malayali pharmacist originally from Kerala, that moment of recognition became the foundation for something far greater than a wedding. It became a month-long celebration spanning ten events, two distinct cultural traditions and one vision of love, heritage and family that would bring guests from Singapore, Texas, India and Dubai to Manchester in May 2025.
The Journey To “I Do”
Despite their different cultural backgrounds, their shared values around family and faith created a strong connection. Within months, Darren faced the traditional “locked-door interview” with Rubab’s parents. “Needless to say, he came out alive, and from that moment on, our bond only grew stronger,” she laughs. The proposal came in April 2024, thoughtfully orchestrated with Rubab’s sisters who helped Darren design a bespoke engagement ring through a London jeweller. Set in a charming white wooden pavilion overlooking peaceful countryside, their siblings and close friends watched discreetly from a nearby bar as the moment unfolded. The couple knew they didn’t want a long engagement, deciding to marry the following May.
A Cultural Archive
“Our vision was never about choosing scale for the sake of it. It was about responsibility to our roots,: Rubab explains. As the eldest children in both families, they felt a profound duty to honour traditions that shaped them. “We approached the wedding as a cultural archive of sorts—a way to preserve and showcase both our Punjabi and Malayali identities through celebration.” Remarkably, all 10 events were orchestrated without a wedding planner. “My sisters were my greatest force. They poured themselves into every detail. They carried the weight of the wedding alongside me without hesitation,” Rubab shares. Her bridesmaids dedicated one evening each week for nearly a year to rehearsing dances, while Darren’s groomsmen drove hours for last-minute essentials and helped with set-ups behind the scenes.
The Jaggo
The Jaggo on April 26, 2025 kickstarted the festivities in Rubab’s family garden, transformed with custom road signs inspired by Lahore’s streets. Two dhol players set the tone for the festivities. “What began as a celebration soon became an unforgettable marathon of joy, laughter and music, continuing until 3am and only ending when the dhol players themselves begged to go home,” Rubab remembers. She wore a pink sharara suit, the delicate threadwork reflecting Punjabi vibrancy.
The Qawwali Night
On May 3, the couple’s friends hosted a Qawwali Night in their garden as a wedding gift. Under a star-filled sky, a live Qawwali band filled the air with devotional Sufi music. Guests shared samosas and karak chai served in custom-printed cups. Rubab chose a deep red Hussain Rehar anarkali, while Darren wore a traditional suit layered under a jacket sourced from Lahore.
The Mayoun Mela
May 10 brought colour and nostalgia together. Inspired by a traditional mela, the celebration featured childhood treats like Kurkure and Parle-G biscuits, with bangles and fragrant gajre in customised gift bags. “My mum helping me with the fresh-flower jewellery, the smell of the roses, the softness of the whole morning, it felt like stepping into a memory I’d imagined since childhood,” Rubab reflects. She wore a modern draped sari paired with a multicoloured blouse from Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop.
The Bridal Shower
The Bridal Shower on the next day provided a pause. It an afternoon tea gathering where bridesmaids presented handwritten letters and gifts. “No rituals, no pressure; just my closest girls, good food and that feeling of being held by the people who know you best,” says Rubab, who wore a strapless white maxi dress with coordinating neck scarf.
The Keralite Engagement
The Engagement a week later honoured Darren’s heritage, beginning with a church blessing before moving to the main celebration. Traditional chenda drummers transported everyone to Kerala. The large arch-shaped prints from the couple’s Paris pre-wedding shoot became focal points. “Seeing our Paris photos blown up into huge arches made me emotional in a way I didn’t expect. It was like watching two chapters of our story overlap,” Rubab remembers.
She wore a pale pink and pistachio green embellished lehenga and Darren complemented her in a pink prince coat. The evening saw lots of good food and dancing.
The Ladies’ Sangeet
May 18 was the Ladies Sangeet, which created an intimate women-only space where generations came together. The most moving moments came when each woman offered advice for the chapter ahead, before Bollywood classics took over the dancefloor. “I’ll never forget the moment the music started and our friends, from all over the world, took the stage. Knowing they had rehearsed for weeks just for us was overwhelming in the best way.” Rubab wore a lime-green backless lehenga with sparkly eyes and green liner.
The Glasshouse Mehndi
The Mehndi on May 24 at The Glass Marquee in Blackburn served as the perfect start to the wedding weekend. Guests participated in a blessing ritual, placing leaves and henna on the couple’s hands. Darren made his entrance with groomsmen breaking into bhangra, while Rubab’s entrance featured her bridesmaids lining the aisle as her brother held a chaddar above her head.
The chaddar held particular significance. “When my father walked in holding the gold tinsel chaddar he had made by hand, inspired by my parents’ wedding nearly 30 years ago, I felt something shift. It was the first time I truly felt the weight of the journey we were stepping into.” Rubab wore a green Sabyasachi lehenga from the couturier’s Heritage Collection, styled with a large gold paranda and jewellery from The Jewellery Trunk. Darren complemented her in a deep green velvet embellished jacket.
The Khara & Choora
The ceremonies on the next day brought raw emotion. Held at home, Rubab’s parents placed the chunni over her head, while her uncles adorned her with the choora. “That was the first time I cried, feeling the bittersweet pain that I was not going to be sleeping in my childhood bedroom from tomorrow.” She wore a classic red Punjabi suit with a small parranda for the ceremony.
The Church Wedding
The white wedding at the Church of Our Lady and the Apostles in Stockport was deeply personal. “This was a non-negotiable choice for me; it is the church that shaped my faith,” Rubab explains. A violinist played handpicked processional music; ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ from Jodhaa Akbar and ‘Ve Kamlaya’ from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani. The service was enriched by readings from Rubab’s brother and uncle, with vows exchanged featuring the Bible verse from their invitation cards.
“When I saw Darren, calm, steady and waiting for me, it was as if the noise of the world faded and it was just the two of us in that moment.” Rubab wore an embellished tulle gown from Istanbul with delicate beadwork and a pearl-scattered veil, her hair in Hollywood waves. Darren wore an off-white tuxedo from Aristocracy in London with black trousers.
The Wedding Reception
Post the church wedding on May 26 was the reception at Balmayna in Bolton. It was the grand finale. The venue was transformed with ornate staging, dramatic lighting, tall floral installations and rich textures. The evening flowed seamlessly from formal welcome through dinner and speeches, ending with traditional Punjabi rituals of the Joota Chupai and Rail Gaddi dance.
Rubab chose a red Sabyasachi lehenga paired with maroon jadau kundan jewellery in a regal Mughal aesthetic, completed with choora and kaleerey. Her makeup shifted to bold smoky eyes, defined contour and deep red lips with a structured bun. Darren wore a traditional beige sherwani with subtle embroidery.
The Heart of It All
Planning 10 events brought real challenges. “One of the biggest challenges was the sheer scale of planning ten events,” Rubab admits. Work commitments meant her sister and mother travelled to Lahore to source authentic pieces for ceremonies, designing wedding cards over FaceTime while Rubab was at the office. “It was 24/7 project for one whole year.”
Through it all, Rubab found peace. “I reminded myself that the wedding was ultimately about family, faith and togetherness and not perfection. Letting go of the need to control every outcome allowed me to stay present and grounded.” Looking back, it’s the small moments that linger. “When I think of the month now, it’s not the décor or the outfits that come to mind first. But it’s the laughter, the nerves, the rehearsals, the hugs, the handmade chaddar, the chai cups, the Paris arches, and the feeling of being surrounded by love at every turn.”
The Bride’s Checklist
Wedding Venues: Imperial Suite Oldham, The Glass Marquee Blackburn, The Balmayna Bolton
Photographer: Mirage Photos
Videographer: Orion Cine
Wedding Décor: Kaka Events and The Balmayna Bolton
Bride’s Outfits: Pernia’s Pop Up Shop and Sabyasachi
Groom’s Outfits: Monga’s and Diya’s Birmingham
Bride’s Jewellery: The Jewellery Trunk
Bride’s Accessories: Jimmy Choo
Mehndi Artist: Leeds Mehendi Henna Stickers
Makeup & Hair: Hmake.shop and HairbyUmmax
