🍍 When Canada Meets Mauritius – A Tropical Love Affair

Two continents. Two families. One tropical island.

When Isabelle from Toronto met Rishi from Quatre Bornes, neither of them imagined that their love story would lead to a wedding filled with coconuts, creole songs, and two very emotional grandmothers dancing together under palm trees.

This is a story of crossing oceans for love, blending cultures, and choosing a wedding that felt like a true reflection of them — joyful, inclusive, and deeply rooted in both their worlds.

✈️ How It All Began

Isabelle, a French-speaking Canadian with a passion for island travel, met Rishi during a work conference in Johannesburg. He was there representing a Mauritian tourism company. She was scouting eco-tourism trends for a Canadian travel mag.

“We sat next to each other at a panel talk about sustainable travel. He offered me a litchi, and I said something sarcastic in French. He responded in perfect French Creole… and I swear the rest of the room disappeared.”

After a year of cross-continental video calls, WhatsApp memes, and two meet-ups (one in Cape Town, one in Quebec City), Rishi proposed with a handcrafted ring using Mauritian sea glass set in gold.

🌴 The Decision to Marry in Mauritius

Both loved the idea of Mauritius — not just because it was Rishi’s home, but because it offered the perfect blend of celebration and connection. His grandparents could attend. Her Canadian family had never been to Africa. It would be the ultimate wedding-meets-holiday.

“We didn’t want to just throw a party. We wanted to create an experience — something that gave our guests a reason to fall in love with Mauritius the way I did,” said Isabelle.

💒 The Wedding Week

Instead of a single-day affair, the couple planned a 4-day wedding week based at a beachfront eco-resort near Flic en Flac:

Day 1: A welcome braai with Mauritian street food stations, sega music, and barefoot dancing on the beach.

Day 2: A cultural immersion day — including temple visits, a creole cooking class, and sunset drinks on a catamaran.

Day 3: The Ceremony — a fusion Hindu-Catholic celebration held at a heritage estate with tropical gardens and ocean views.

Day 4: A beach brunch with hangover kits, coffee bar, and sea kayaking adventures.

👗 The Details

Isabelle wore two outfits: a lace-trimmed ivory gown for the Catholic blessing and a golden embroidered lehenga for the reception — gifted by Rishi’s mother.

Rishi swapped his sherwani for a navy linen suit midway through the night, dancing with both moms during the couple’s “dual family dance” set to a custom creole-soca playlist.

Their vows included lines in French, English, and Mauritian Creole — honouring their roots and their journey. And yes, there were tears. From everyone.

🥥 The Menu & Decor

The decor was tropical minimalist: banana leaves, coconut husk lanterns, and vibrant florals like frangipani and anthurium. Every table had handwritten notes from the couple thanking guests for travelling across the world for their day.

Dinner was a Mauritian-Creole feast:

Rougaille, dholl puri, vindaye, and gateau piment as starters

Coconut curry with fresh fish and saffron rice

Vanilla rum crème brûlée for dessert

🎥 The Moments That Stole the Show

Rishi’s grandma gave a surprise speech in French to Isabelle’s parents (she’d been practicing for weeks with a neighbour).

Isabelle’s dad learned a few sega dance moves for the father-daughter dance. “He was awful, but he gave it everything he had,” she laughed.

The wedding ended with a sparkler tunnel that led the couple straight into the sea — yes, they actually jumped in, fully dressed.

💬 Advice from the Couple

Isabelle’s biggest takeaway?

“Let your wedding reflect who you are — not what Pinterest says it should be. Blend your families, blend your cultures. The best weddings aren’t perfect, they’re real.”

Rishi added:

“Don’t underestimate the power of a great local planner, a few translators… and mosquito repellent.”

💛 Why We’re Obsessed

This wasn’t just a wedding — it was a full-body love story across cultures and continents. It reminded us that your wedding isn’t about perfection. It’s about people. About heritage. About dancing with the people you love on an island you’ll never forget.