Lovebirds Romita Chand and Navneet Singh knew each other for 14 years before they made the biggest decision of their lives to tie the knot.
Their wedding took place last month. Romita is from Votualevu, Nadi and comes from a family of four, while Navneet hails from Lautoka and has an older sister.
The couple’s birthdays are only a month apart and they both attended the same school in 2003. Romita said she used to find Navneet annoying in school.
But destiny had a mind of its own and brought the pair together.
“Little did I know I would marry him someday,” Romita said.
The two had their first date over a high school lunch break. It wasn’t really serious until much later when they got to understand each other more.
“We had what people would call a puppy love.”
“We even parted ways and met again in 2009. After high school the pair got separated when Navneet left for New Zealand to pursue further education while Romita moved to Suva. They had to make do with long distance romancing and all the challenges that came with it.
“Long distance relationships are quite challenging but we fought the odds,” Romita said.
“Like any other relationship, we had our ups and downs but we both had strong belief in each other and knew that whatever happened, happened for the best.”
To the bride, Navneet was someone who made her feel more complete, confident and happy.
She knew that together they would make a loving couple and accomplish anything.
“Eventually I wouldn’t go through a day without talking to him,” Romita said.
“He would always put up with all my nonsense and dramas. That’s how I knew he was the one.”
Navneet asked Romita’s hand in marriage in January this year, an incident she would never forget.
The scenery at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant made the proposal magical and extraordinary.
The ball began rolling once a date suitable for both of them was confirmed after the proposal. Next, they made plans around guest numbers, vendors and a myriad of detailed wedding requirements.
“Planning required a lot of patience and of course it was very stressful. We had to work on a budget to avoid hitting a financial crisis.”
Their three-day Indian wedding began with a mendhi (pre-wedding ceremony where the bride has mendhi designed on her palms and feet) night, followed by the telwaan (oil is placed on the feet of bride and groom) and haldi (pre-wedding ceremony where the bride and groom are smeared with tumeric paste) day.
The big day arrived on April 8 and events were held at the Seascape Hotel in the Jetset Town of Nadi.
“We wore traditional Indian outfits. Mine was a red lehenga (ankle length skirt and top) whereas my husband wore white to contrast my outfit,” Romita said.
“My pre-wedding functions were held at the same venue whereas the groom’s were held at Blue Light Village hotel, Nadi.
“Prior to this we had our legal ceremony done at Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa in the presence of our parents and siblings.”
After the wedding, the couple flew to the Maldives for their honeymoon and enjoyed their very first vacation together as husband and wife.
The Singhs look forward to spending the rest of their lives together and have a piece of advice for young lovers thinking of marriage.
“Set aside time to connect as often as possible,” they said.
” Never give up on each other and enjoy every adventure together while you can.”
