Most people look back and fondly remember their high school sweethearts as a blast from the past, but for Nirupa Varatharasan and Mike Hart-Maytas, it’s the present and future, too. Originally from Toronto, the two first met in their high school English class. Both decided separately to move to Nova Scotia to study at Dalhousie, and thus sparked their love interest to officially go steady. When Mike took an impromptu trip to Toronto last year to visit home, Nirupa decided she wanted to do the same and joined him. What she didn’t know was that he had been secretly designing her engagement ring, crafting each element to resemble her beauty, style and characteristics. Mike thought now was the perfect time to propose. “I got to this venue where I was supposed to be meeting my friends and I open the door and everyone screams ‘Surprise!’” says Nirupa. “All my friends and family, people who couldn’t be there were Skyped in. Then he got down on his knee and asked me. It was an amazing surprise.” They spent the evening enjoying their favourite things, eating, dancing and sipping cocktails alongside their loved ones. The couple will wed this summer and enjoy two weddings—one in Markham, Ontario, and the other in PEI to accommodate all family members and their traditions.
Photography by Topher & Rae Studios. See the entire set here.