Toronto Wedding at the Windsor Arms Hotel | Kristen + Amrithal

Sometimes, chance brings you and your person together. For Kristen and Amrithal, that moment was while they were both in France. Paris, to be exact. At the time, Amrithal was there while studying abroad. Meanwhile, Kristen was there to visit a friend. “My friend knew his roommate well and we all agreed to meet up under the Eiffel Tower. I forgot my wallet and Amrithal bought me a drink while we sat along the Seine talking. When we got back from studying abroad, I walked into my first class, and he was assigned to my group project. I have never looked forward to group meetings more!”

Fast-forward seven years, and Kristen and Amrithal got engaged (with some help from their Golden Retriever friend, Lucie). Together, they planned a Sikh ceremony and a Christian ceremony to honor both of their families’ traditions, and then it was on to the Windsor Arms Hotel to celebrate!

Get all the details about their day (including how Lucie helped!), Bali honeymoon, and how Kristen found her wedding dress from our sweet bride below.

How did you two get engaged?

“Amrithal and I dogsit a golden retriever, Lucie, who we love dearly. It was our seven-year anniversary, and we took Lucie for a walk by the water. Amrithal completely surprised me by getting down on one knee and proposing.”

Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?

“I tried on so many dresses, but nothing felt right. When I walked into the Toronto Flagship Store, Vanessa had an amazing talent at sensing what I’d like. She listened and she showed me different options. She helped me combine the top of one style and the skirt of another to make a dress that was perfect for me. The fabric and cut of the dress were beautiful, and the little touches made it one of a kind, including the addition of lace from my mother’s gown on the back of the dress. It was my something borrowed.”

What was your first dance song?

“Our first dance song was ‘The Best’ by Tina Turner. I heard the acoustic version playing in a TV show before we were engaged, and the lyrics reminded me so much of how I felt about Amrithal. It still makes us smile whenever we hear it.”

Where did you honeymoon?

“We went to Bali for our honeymoon based on a recommendation from our neighbours who got married a few months before us. We are so glad we listened to them—we learned how to surf, hiked a volcano, swam with turtles and recharged by the beach. It is amazing having time to reflect on your big day and relationship and makes us even more excited for a lifetime of adventures together.”

Tell us about your day!

“It was important to us that our wedding reflected and brought together our different backgrounds. We had both a Sikh ceremony and a Christian ceremony, and it was amazing to see our friends and family so willing to learn about each other’s traditions. The energy was incredible at our reception, with much love and warmth shared in the
speeches and the dance floor packed the whole night. We are very grateful for the people in our lives.”

Any tips for couples getting married?

“Have fun with your wedding and remember when the planning gets stressful that the wedding is one day (or days in our case) and the marriage is a lifetime.”