Sixteen years ago this day, I picked up the phone to make conversation with a stranger for the first time. He sounded genuinely nice and completely honest. Within minutes of starting the conversation, he confessed to me how he was too broke to make a trip home to have this conversation in person. He shared with me what his meagre paycheck was and what he was doing in a country far away from home. He talked a little bit about himself and asked a lot of questions. He requested me to think long and hard if I was comfortable with the information he was giving me & the conversation we had shared since it would have a long-term impact on our lives.
I didn’t think much or for too long. His honesty touched my heart and I agreed to share the journey of life with him after a 15 minute conversation that was preceded by a quick glance at his photo. A couple of months later we were engaged. He couldn’t make it to the engagement. He was saving every dollar towards the trip he had to make for the wedding.
We were engaged for nine long months. We emailed each other occasionally, he called about once a month and we wrote letters frequently. That was the only time he wrote letters to me and I still have them saved along with a few other pieces of memorabilia. The months flew by. Wedding preparations were in full frenzy. My mom was busy with all tasks that needed to be complete except for one single key activity. She had the invitations back from the press but her heart would not give her the permission to hand it out to friends and family till she had seen the groom in person. That in her mind was the final irreversible step.
Not a single person we knew prior to my wedding had agreed to get married to someone without meeting each other in person. Everyone we spoke to was amazed and a tad weary about the decision. Mom had done everything she could but all we really could go by was sheer luck and pure intuition. Even my closest friend was scared for me and was silently praying for things to go well.
Finally the day dawned on us when the groom landed home for the wedding. Most of the family went to the airport to welcome him home and to catch a glimpse of him before completing the one final task. The OH landed and everyone in my family heaved a collective sigh of relief when they finally got to see him. We had twenty days before the actual wedding day to meet, spend time, get to know each other and be mentally and physically prepared.
After all the preparations, excitement, and anxious moments, here is a sneak peek at the bride on her wedding day.
Many a folks have asked us since how things worked out and we met a host of other couples who made their decisions without meeting each other in person. To every single one who asked us for feedback, the OH & I have had just one this to say and that was to go with their gut & instinct.
Fifteen years, some fun memories and two lovely kids later, I can safely say it worked just fine for the two of us. The beginning of forever indeed…
In addition to this being a special day from our lives, this post is also a response to Terri’s mom, who tagged me to post a blog-friendly photo of me as a bride 
Great post! I remember those days and I am so glad it all worked well!
Sand: Thanks Sole. Just was weird when I thought of the date. Should quiz the OH today. That will be a good recipe to start a fight
omigosh! You look so pretty! Those eyes, such lovely hazel
15 years eh? Me too, This June will be 16!
I so am not doing this tag, my only jewelry is a kilo of kumkum on my forehead
Sand: Thanks. Just be glad you didn’t have to see the parrot beak nose. Ironically, I share Terri’s mom and her features there.
You are just a 6 months ahead of me there. Today was 16 yrs since I first talked to him though
Oh c’mon! You need to do the tag. We already know you have gorgeous eyes from your profile picture
heh, if you want the jewelry, I can do that pic, just that it won’t be my wedding pic!
Sand: Well how about we settle for two pictures. One for the jewelry and one to see the real wedding picture. That way both you and me are happy
Happy anniversary Sand! That’s a beautiful pic! And there are as many ways of coming together as there are people, eh? So glad you guys are at this milestone. Definitely something to be celebrated!
Sand: Thanks Suj! Here’s an idea. Pick up this tag and put up a blog friendly picture of you as a bride. Looking forward to seeing that
The pics are from so long ago, don’t think i have any that can be put up. For some reason the angles are all funny. I’ll look again when I come back.
Sand: Cool. Will be looking for it once you are back. Have a fantastic trip!
Wow, Sands! You haven’t changed at all from your wedding photo. You look lovely! Thanks for taking up the tag.
Sand: Thanks Terri’s mom. Well I guess the face part hasn’t changed much. The rest of the body parts is a whole different story
Man you have the most beutiful eyes ever. I used to kow a girl name Anju with eyes the color of your eyes and I wished I could exchange eye color with her.
What a touching story too. I wish I had such a romantic wedding story.
Priya.
Sand: Priya, thanks. I am a freak in my family:) No one else I know of have the same eyes. Heresay goes that some greatgrandmom had light eyes. Since my kids didn’t get it, I am thinking it truly does skip generations. The one feature the OH hoped the kids would inherit
Romantic? Really? I think it was the most lame and mundane arranged marriage ever!
What beautiful eyes!!! And happy (belated) anniversary. That is one lovely story of trust and faith!!
Sand: Thanks Cee Kay! It’s a good thing no one is seeing the rest of the anatomy
Am glad it was a story of trust & faith with a happy ending! You should take this up too. Would love to see blog friendly pictures of your special day. I think I am going to make this a tag and ask all visitors to take this up and leave a comment here when they have done it.
Okie! Will try and find pictures of my wedding. If I have to scan them then you can forget about seeing them EVER! I am one lazy bum.
Sand: Cool! The one thing I do know from following your blog is that you are anything but a lazy bum!