Inside: An Exquisite Three Part Wedding

Sangeeta Ravi-Shankar, 32, is a GP and Joseph Michael Norris, 33 is a Surgeon. The two met at work, as junior doctors. Sangeeta was Joseph’s senior and initially didn’t like him very much as she thought he was full of himself. As it turns out he is a lovely guy and was just having anxieties over his first job. The two spread the wedding celebrations over three different venues. With a smaller civil wedding at the Ritz, a larger ceremony at Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College and the Hindu wedding at Pennyhill Park.

The best part from each day was….

At our civil wedding the best moment was when we actually exchanged vows and became husband and wife. At our bigger ceremony and symbolic wedding it was just SO lovely to see everyone after the lockdown. It was great to get on the dance floor. The Hindu wedding ceremony included some games, initially to get the couple to bond as in the past this was sometimes the first time the bride and groom met each other! My parents and their friends also organised a dance which went down very well!

Inside: An Exquisite Three Part Wedding — The Ritz – Photographer: Michael Newington Gray

Wedding dancing — Pennyhill Park photographer: Michael Newington Gray

We chose to get married at…

We initially planned to get legally married at the Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College. It made sense for us as we love living on the river and Joseph lived in Greenwich. I always found the hall so beautiful. For the Hindu wedding we had planned and booked for it to be in Goa. Unfortunately due to the pandemic we had to reschedule five times. We ended up having an intimate civil ceremony at the Ritz Hotel as we just didn’t know when it could happen. Then the restrictions lifted and we had a bigger celebration at the Painted Hall just two months later! It was still difficult to get everyone to Goa so we ended up having a lovely Hindu celebration at Pennyhill Park.

Pennyhill Park, Photographer: Michael Newington Gray

Hindu wedding — Pennyhill Park, Photographer: Michael Newington Gray

I knew I found ‘The One’ when…

I feel very lucky as I ended up buying the first dress I tried on. My family and I were on holiday in Madrid and walked into Pronovias to get out of the rain. They had availability to try on some dresses. My Mum really likes lace and I’m not such a fan but the sales associate managed to find a dress that had a simple front and lace back and train. When she started tearing up I knew it was the right one. For the civil wedding I wasn’t sure at all what to wear. I was in Alexander McQueen and saw a white gown. It wasn’t bridal but seemed perfect. For the Hindu wedding I went to Mumbai and fell in love with this design but it was pink and silver. I was keen to wear red and I was a bit anxious after choosing the colour based on a tiny swatch, but it turned out just right.

The Painted Hall, Photographer: Michael Newington Gray

The most enjoyable moments of planning were…

Cake testing, planning all the little details, and going to listen to bands!

Sangeeta & Joe – The Ritz – 21st May 2021 (c) Michael Newington Gray

wedding cake — The Ritz – Photographer: Michael Newington Gray

The hardest part of planning was…

Having our plans cancelled again and again due to Covid-19 restrictions. Each time was such a blow.

Wedding menu highlights…

Souffle at the Ritz, Lamb at the Painted Hall, and the duck at Pennyhill Park

wedding table decor — The Ritz – Photographer: Michael Newington Gray

My top three tips for any couple would be…

Try not to do everything, there is an overwhelming amount of things people feel they “need” to do, ignore this and only do what you want to do. Only invite people who you actually want to be there. And take time to take a step back and enjoy the day, it really does go so quickly.