London – Sonal Dave, a renowned public speaking expert and celebrity Toastmaster, is set to host a special vow renewal ceremony this Friday, 6 February, celebrating love and commitment in a way rarely seen within the British Asian community.
Sonal, who has been a child performer since the age of 12 and has lived with a disability all her life, spent over two decades working in the civil service before launching her own business at 50. She has since gained recognition for her work as a celebrant and public speaking coach, appearing on television and radio and winning numerous awards.
Inspired by her passion to break barriers and challenge societal expectations, especially for Asian women, Sonal has long wished to create a platform that celebrates love beyond traditional milestones. “We often wait 25, 50, or even 75 years to renew vows, particularly in the Asian community. I wanted to show that any couple can celebrate their love at any time,” she explained.
The event follows a competition Sonal launched, which attracted 85 entries from couples across the UK. Applicants were invited to share their stories and reasons for wanting a vow renewal ceremony. The responses revealed a wide range of experiences, including couples who faced family disapproval, multicultural marriages, and those who had limited or no wedding celebrations due to illness or social pressures.
To select the winners, Sonal enlisted the help of four expert judges. Two couples were chosen to be honoured with bespoke vow renewal ceremonies:
Binita Mehta-Parmar and Hemant Parmar have been married for just under ten years. Their journey has been marked by significant challenges, including bereavements in their families and struggles at work. Despite always dreaming of hosting a party to celebrate their anniversary, life’s ups and downs meant the right time never came. With so many other priorities taking precedence, their celebration was continually postponed.
They entered the competition hoping for a chance to finally mark their commitment, and the judges selected them as one of the couples to be celebrated. Sonal expressed excitement about working with Binita and Hemant to create a memorable ceremony that honours their resilience and love.
Beena Patel and Bharat, affectionately known as Baz, have been married for 30 years. Their wedding day was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. The night before their wedding, Baz was rushed to hospital.
To ensure they could marry the next day, he signed himself out of hospital to attend the civil ceremony, returning to hospital immediately afterwards. Meanwhile, their guests attended all the wedding functions without the couple actually being present. Imagine celebrating your wedding day while still in hospital — a truly unique experience that left their original plans unfulfilled. Because of this extraordinary story and their enduring love, the judges chose Bina and Baz to receive the second vow renewal ceremony, giving them the celebration they never had.
Both couples will enjoy bespoke ceremonies filled with unique rituals and live music, including performances by Sonal’s husband, guitarist Dhani. The ceremonies will be intimate, with up to 50 guests expected, including family, friends, judges, and supportive suppliers who have generously donated their services free of charge.
Sonal emphasises the importance of celebrating love in all its forms. “Many couples face challenges — whether cultural, religious, or societal — but love transcends those barriers. This event is about honouring that love and the journeys people have taken.”
The vow renewals will take place in February, chosen to coincide with the month of love and Valentine’s Day, adding a special significance to the celebrations.
For more information about Sonal Dave and her work as a celebrant and public speaking expert, visit her website or follow her on social media.
https://www.sonaldaveevents.com
