Our story began on June 19th, 2021. It was Juneteenth and the first day NYC re-opened after lockdown. Mary, out with her best friend, and Shanak, with his friends, both landed at Café Erzulie, but the long line led them to a tiny bar instead. There, amidst the excitement of a Brooklyn Nets playoff game, the two groups instantly connected, bonding over their Commonwealth roots: Australian, British, Canadian, and Trinidadian. A stranger even remarked on Shanak and Marys undeniable connection.

​

Numbers were exchanged, friendships blossomed, and despite busy post-COVID lives, almost a year later, Shanak finally called Mary for a beach date. It was her last summer in New York before returning to Australia, and they spent it exploring the city — beaches, parks, bike rides, concerts, and countless meals with friends. A deep friendship blossomed into something more, and as fall arrived, they realized they were falling in love. Mary postponed her departure, deepening their bond. They couldn't bear to be apart.

​

Mary stayed in NYC and they began building a life together. They grew close with each other’s families, traveled the world (Australia and Orangeburg included!), and embraced each other's cultures — Bengali food and Vegemite became new favorites. Then, one ordinary Saturday, in the Garden of Hope in Bed-Stuy, a place holding special memories, Shanak told Mary, “The most powerful person in the world is a happy person, and nothing makes me happier than you.” He proposed, she said "Yes!", and a surprise dinner with the friends from that very first night in 2021 sealed the deal. Having both lived in many countries and cities in their lifetime, they’ve finally found home in each other; a gift they’ll treasure forever.

 

Our friends and family are in nearly every corner of the world and as we both celebrate 10 years in New York this year, it's not lost on us that our wedding may be the only day we're able to gather everyone we love in one room. You will never truly know how much it means that you'll be joining us.

 

We are grounded in friends and family and most importantly, we’ve never stopped laughing since the day we met.

​

​

​