"The show is what allowed us to meet"
Harpreet Kaur and Akshay Thakrar opened up on their upcoming wedding, revealing they are planning three days of ceremonies.
The couple, who achieved fame on BBC’s The Apprentice, said their time on the show will be referenced at their nuptials.
Their wedding, believed to be taking place in June 2024, will include a white wedding followed by a traditional Indian ceremony and then a “big fat reception party”.
Harpreet also revealed some of the high-profile people on her invite list.
She said Lord Alan Sugar and his advisors Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell have all been invited.
Their fellow contestants Kathryn Burn, Brittany Carter, Akeem Bundu-Kamara and Nick Showering are also set to attend.
Having become close friends on the show, Kathryn will be one of Harpreet’s bridesmaids.
Harpreet said: “We’re really excited and are hoping Lord Sugar, Karren and Tim can make it.
“The show is what allowed us to meet and it’s been a big part of our lives.
“It depends on their schedules but they’ve all been invited to the traditional Indian wedding ceremony in Watford and the reception in Windsor.
“We’ve tried to keep the whole thing as intimate as possible because otherwise, it can all get really out of hand.
“When you’re Indian your close family equals about 150 people.”
The couple said they are planning to honeymoon somewhere in Africa, with their options being Mauritius, Kenya and South Africa.
Harpreet and Akshay’s relationship began after the show ended when the latter invited her for lunch in Shepherd’s Bush.
Harpreet, who won the 2022 series, explained:
“It all escalated very quickly and within three months we got quite serious.”
In May 2023, Akshay proposed on the rooftop of a penthouse overlooking The Shard after tricking Harpreet into thinking she was attending a friend’s 30th birthday party.
Akshay recalled: “It was like a movie set, it was beautiful, and she said, ‘Yes’.
“I was so nervous, worrying the ring was there every 10 minutes. As soon as I gave her it, I felt relief.”
Harpreet Kaur added: “All of his friends were in on it and helped him lie about this supposed James Bond 30th birthday party, so I fully believed him. It was magical.
“I couldn’t have asked for anymore. He’s a true gent.”
The couple hope to start a family one day but are not in any rush because they want to travel and enjoy married life first.
Harpreet added: “It’ll be nice for us to move on to the next chapter in our relationship.
“We plan to have children but I think we’ve got a couple of years before we tie ourselves down.
“We’d like to do some travelling and just enjoy married life as a couple because once we have children they’re going to take over.”
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