Dharsh and Kaitlin: An Enchanting Tale of Modern Love
In an enchanting tale of modern love, Dharsh and Kaitlin, share their journey from online dating to an inseparable bond. Meeting on OK Cupid, their first encounter at The Everleigh set the stage for a whimsical romance. From this memorable first date to exchanging heartfelt vows amidst the challenges of COVID, their story reflects a modern romance rooted in authenticity and unwavering support for one another.
Photographer It’s Beautiful Here | Location Melbourne, AUS
“…I got settled in a booth right in front of the bar for the best experience and waited. For 40 minutes. I was 3 Sloe gin sours in and convinced I was being stood up. Kaitlin did arrive eventually, and I was slightly tipsy by then...”
How and when did you meet?
Dharsh: I met Kaitie on an online dating site named OK Cupid. I had come out of a long-term relationship and finally burrowed my way out of self-exile. I was signing myself up to everything, so that I could play the field. Kaitie was the first and only person I started chatting up. Lol
Kaitlin: It took me a good few years after a break up with a long-term partner to jump onto online dating. I was feeling brave and bold and tipsy one boring night at home, so I set up a dating profile on OK Cupid and began chatting with Dharsh almost immediately. We met up on the Friday of the same week for drinks, saw each other again on Sunday and have been inseparable ever since!
Tell us a little about the first time you met?
Dharsh: We started chatting on Monday night and did so every night after work for hours, whilst cooking dinner, eating dinner and getting ready for work the next day. The companionship and conversation seemed effortless. During our conversations, I had mentioned my love for a Sloe Gin Sour from The Everleigh. On Friday morning I woke up getting ready to go to work and felt really confident. I felt well placed and asked Kaitlin if she would like to meet me that evening to sample this drink at The Everleigh and she said yes! I was living in Collingwood at that time and so walked up to The Everleigh a little before when we had to meet. I had been there enough to know the space and the team on at the time. I got settled in a booth right in front of the bar for the best experience and waited. For 40 minutes. I was 3 Sloe gin sours in and convinced I was being stood up. Kaitlin did arrive eventually and I was slightly tipsy by then. In her defence, she did say she was running late. I just didn’t believe she would ever arrive.
Kaitlin: I had just moved to Preston and was still figuring out public transport options to get to Fitzroy. I’m not well known for my punctuality anyway, so I was already quite late in leaving the house but I didn’t realise the tram was going to take another 40 minutes!
What was the first thing you noticed about each other?
Dharsh: As I was sitting in an area of high traffic, every time someone turned up I looked up to see if they were familiar. After a while, I had stopped looking. Then this person approached the booth and I looked up. As she was standing against the light I remember seeing a glow around her silhouette. I was doing somersaults on the inside when I realised I hadn’t been stood up. I got up from my seat almost immediately and got a hug and kiss on my cheek. She smelt amazing, and had the kindest eyes and the warmest smile. The sort of smile that also made her eyes twinkle. And she also looked like her profile photo!
Kaitlin: There were a couple of things that I thought when I met Dharsh. The first was an appreciation of how forgiving she was of my late arrival and the second was that she was quite obviously tipsy and I had some catching up to do!
Any standout moments in your relationship?
Dharsh: We have had a few life milestones together. Kaitie is the first partner I introduced to all my extended family. Together we bought a house and made it our home through the lockdowns– we are very proud of this. I lost my Dad almost 4 years ago. I could not have gotten through the years that followed without Kaitie.
Kaitlin: We bought our beautiful puppy, Margot together a few months after Dharsh’s dad passed away. Margot’s excitement and curiosity in all the small things really did help Dharsh to find the joy in life again and she continues to be the best decision we have made thus far. We love her so much!
Have you ever faced any issues of non-acceptance?
Dharsh: Interestingly, it was at the time of our wedding. Growing up Hindu and still practising aspects of Hinduism, I thought it would be nice to have a Hindu wedding ceremony. I rang multiple priests and no one was willing to marry us. I finally did get one who said he would, but there was some hesitation that made me feel uncomfortable. I suppose, in some ways, a Hindu ceremony is a right of passage in my family. We decided to skip it in the end because it felt forced for us.
What does Marriage mean to you?
Dharsh: By the time we met, Kaitie and I had had our fair share of past relationship experiences that made us weary of being with someone else yet again. But when I met Kaitie, and the more time I spent with her, I felt the comfort I have only ever felt with my family. I knew I had someone I could trust. But we are not ‘perfect’ together. We still squabble over whose turn it is to change the cat litter. I don’t think we expect perfection through our day-to-day living.
It is comforting to know that when everything else is stripped away, on the most simplest plane, I’ve got Kaitie. And she can always expect the same from me.
This journey I am on with Kaitie, experiencing life together with all its ups and downs, whilst considering her well-being and looking out for her is what marriage is to me.
I am continually learning and evolving as a person and so is Kaitlin. I believe our value system and priorities are aligned and allow us to support each other in our growth.
In summary, I’ve got her back, and I know she has mine.
Kaitlin: What D said.
Who proposed and how?
Kaitlin: We had been stalking a jeweller in LA for a year who specialises in art deco design, not because we were looking for an engagement ring, but because her jewellery is just so beautiful.
When Dharsh decided that she wanted to propose, she went to the effort of sourcing a Ceylon sapphire from Melbourne and placed her trust in this jeweller she had never met or spoken to on the phone by sending it overseas along with a hefty deposit to design and make the ring. Dharsh spent a lot of time in those early days freaking out that she had fallen victim to an elaborate scam artist but of course, had to freak out alone so as not to give away the surprise.
The proposal itself was low-key. It was my birthday, we were in lockdown, in our PJs in bed when Dharsh popped the question. It was perfect.
When did you get married?
Dharsh: 20th November 2021. We didn’t have to reschedule – our badge of Covid victory.
Kaitlin: We thought that if we set our date far away enough into the future, all things covid would hopefully be over by then. Yup.
Dharsh and Kaitlin’s story continues below ↓
What was the main influence behind your wedding day?
D and K: We wanted a party. Yes, we were getting married but we didn’t necessarily want a formal affair. We wanted good booze, food, laughter and dancing with our closest and dearest. We got part of it but did not get to have all our dearest with us due to Covid travel restrictions.
The other thing we also considered was trying to get most of our things locally and support small businesses. Barring a couple of items that were quite specific, most of our wedding needs were fulfilled in the inner north.
We wanted to get married in Fitzroy/Collingwood as far as possible as we spent most of our early time in the area and feel really connected to it. The extra bonus was to have our first look photos at the venue where we had our first date and to also take photos in the area.
What was the most important thing to you surrounding your wedding?
Dharsh: Timing and Run Sheet– no delays or as minimal as possible. We did not want guests waiting on us – Thanks Agi
We also wanted a venue where our families mingled with each other and met someone new that day – Rupert was perfect for this
We achieved a relaxed atmosphere, styled to perfection, with the best fresh flowers on display and most importantly flowing champagne and plenty of food to the most inviting tunes. Our vendors nailed the brief on all levels.
Everyone raved about how natural, welcoming and relatable Megan was (celebrant). She is born to do this I reckon. She absolutely set the tone for the night.
Where did you find the bulk of your inspiration?
Dharsh: I found all our inspiration on Instagram. I narrowed down options for things and presented them to Kaitie to select. If it was blue, it was pretty much 5 different shades of blue. To which Kaitie often said they were all the same colour. Lol. We got there in the end.
How did you choose your suppliers?
Dharsh: Instagram was amazing for that. I also did look through bridal websites – such as THEODORE, to select LGBTQI-friendly vendors when I was stuck. Often through one vendor’s profile, you would find someone else etc.
Any standout suppliers?
Dharsh: I’m really hard-pressed to make a selection here. Each and every one of them delivered beyond our expectations. However, there were 3 vendors we relied on heavily for planning and helped us outside their designated roles. This was mainly due to the challenging landscape of COVID.
They are It’s Beautiful Here (Scout and Kat), Marry Me Megan (Megan Watson) and Whole Lotta Love Creative (Agi). I think I contacted them so many times in the lead-up to the wedding, it feels like a void now that the wedding is over. They are just outstanding human beings, who had very honest suggestions to assist us in running the day and navigating Covid restrictions.
Any surprises on your wedding day? Or anything that didn’t go to plan?
Dharsh: Yes, we were expecting rain in the lead-up to it. But pleasantly surprised by a sunny 24 degrees. Also, the day before the wedding, restrictions were lifted and we no longer needed to wear masks plus could have a dance floor. Also, travel restrictions had eased enough for my Mum to be able to come from Singapore and for my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins to join us from Sydney.
What was the most difficult thing about planning your wedding?
Dharsh: The unknown territory of Covid. They were twofold. The ever-changing restrictions but also the social and moral obligation of not putting our guests at risk.
Kaitie and I had hand-selected our vendors. Each and every one of them, highly experienced in what they do. The day honestly ran beautifully. We could not have chosen better.
Any family sentiment or traditions incorporated?
When we had our first look, we gave each other handwritten cards to read before we went to our ceremony.
Our puppy Margot joined us at the first look. She was also our ring bearer.
Dharshinee’s Mum had arrived from Singapore in time to walk her down the aisle and Kaitlin’s Dad walked her.
Kaitlin wore D’s Mum’s anklets and D’s paternal Grandmother’s ring and D wore her Dad’s ring her paternal Grandmother had given him.
Kaitlin also wore a charm pinned to her dress that her Mum and Aunt had worn on their wedding dresses.
We had a photo up of D’s Dad (Raj) with his siblings and a lit neon sign at the bar in his honour.
D’s sister and brother and close family could not attend the wedding as they live overseas but joined us via live streaming.
D’s Mum, K’s Dad and D’s friend (Andrea) gave speeches at the reception.
Kat and Scout drove us both to the venue in their cars! No wedding cars.
Any advice for other couples planning their day and finding it difficult to navigate the journey?
Dharsh: It is worthwhile spending the time to select the best vendors. And in order to get in, you would need to select them early. We chose our celebrant and photographers a year and a half out. If you choose the best guys, they are highly experienced and navigate difficult situations with ease.
I would also suggest to some extent, throwing caution to the wind once you’ve got all your vendors. These guys truly know what they are doing. This mindset also let us relax and stay present on the day. It goes so quickly.
Given the number of vendors that will need coordinating on the day, I strongly recommend a wedding coordinator to ease your load on the day.
Dharsh and Kaitlin’s Team
Photographer It’s Beautiful Here
Video Nathan Kaso
Venue Rupert on Rupert
Wedding Planner Whole Lotta Creative
Florist Babylon
Kaitlin's Dress Moonstruck Bride
Dharshinee's Suit Oscar Hunt
Wedding Day Stationery Paper Fusion
Cake Torte By Mirjana
Celebrant Marry Me Megan
Live Stream Bottlebrush Films
Ceremony Music Simon Paparo
Kaitlin's Engagement Ring Heidi Gibson Designs
Wedding Rings Black Finch Jewellery
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