To celebrate the month of love, TC and myTamilDate are thrilled to kick off our 'Tamil Love Stories' series.
Thakshi, a nurse and operations manager, and Nehal, a realtor and business owner, both 30, are a Tamil-Gujarati couple who bonded over a playful meme and shared values. Embracing each other’s cultures, they live with spontaneity, believing everyone has their own timeline. With open communication and mutual respect, they blend their roots and cultures beautifully. Their passion for food and adventure inspired them to create a Food and Travel page that encourages others to explore the world at their doorstep and beyond!
How did you both meet and what were your first impressions of each other?
Nehal: We actually met through a mutual friend. I messaged her, and before I knew it, she replied. My first message was a meme—memes were huge on Instagram back then, and I thought it was funny.
Thakshi: I remember thinking, What is this? But it was cute and funny. For our first date, he picked me up, but didn’t really have a plan. I was living in Scarborough at the time, and since he was from Vaughan, he wasn’t familiar with the area. So, we ended up just driving around, trying to figure out where to go. After all that driving, we landed at Scaddabush at Scarborough Town Centre, and it became our first date spot. I immediately fell in love with his smile and positive energy. His warmth just drew me in.
Nehal: During the date, she filled my glass with water. It seemed like such a small gesture, but it really meant a lot to me. Those little things reveal so much about a person’s character. That’s when I knew—this wasn’t just a one date, there was something special here.
Were you aware that you were culturally from different backgrounds when you started to date, if so what role did it play?
Thakshi: We knew from the start that we had something special, but we didn’t expect it to lead us here—married for about a year and a half now.
Nehal: (Pulls out his phone) Actually, I know the exact number of days! It's been 527 days!
Thakshi: As for our cultures, there were some differences, but nothing drastic. We both follow the same religion, though our food was definitely different. He absolutely loves Tamil food, and I’m a fan of Gujarati cuisine. We embraced each other’s cultures, especially through food, and quickly fell in love with what the other had to offer. What really made the difference was that we were both open-minded. Initially, neither of us expected to meet someone from a different culture, but when it happened, we didn’t hesitate. There was no pushback from either of our families. They were open as long as the person was good hearted. That was what truly mattered.
Nehal: In fact, our families hit it off right away. Beyond the cultural differences, it was all about the person—and that made everything fall into place. Society, though, can be a different story. There’s always that initial reaction—Oh, they’re marrying outside their culture? It’s a common sentiment. But once people met us, in both our families and social circles, they saw why we work so well together.
Thakshi: I still remember how my family’s friends would say, Oh my God, you found such an amazing guy! He’s so nice and respectful. My family loves him, and the same goes for his side. His parents often hear from their friends, You probably wouldn’t find a girl like her within our own culture. That’s such a huge compliment.
Thakshi: When it comes to Tamil traditions or celebrations, he makes sure to be involved, and I do the same for his family. Some traditions are similar, but others are different. We make it a priority to be active in each other’s cultures and ensure our families feel valued.
Nehal: Honestly, it just gives us more to celebrate—more traditions, more festivities, more reasons to come together. We love it.
Did you have your dream wedding? Can you share some details and how you worked together to create your day.
Nehal: On August 27th, I showed up, fully present and ready for the big day!
Thakshi: (laughs) Those are the words of a groom! He actually proposed to me in Paris, and it was such a surprise. I still remember shopping with my mom for this dress that turned out to be my proposal dress. It wasn't the traditional red dress so I definitely wouldn't have guessed it. (It was a blue dress)
Here’s how it went down: I was in Germany for my cousin’s engagement, and then my family took me to Paris, supposedly for a family photo shoot. Suddenly, there he was, standing with flowers and a ring. It was completely unexpected.
Nehal: I got the ring the day before I was leaving to Paris, so yeah, we’re definitely a spontaneous couple!
Thakshi: Our wedding was like a dream come true—it felt like a movie. And about our wedding date—I wanted it to be extra special! We chose to get married on the exact same date as our engagement, just one year later. Our engagement was on August 27, 2022, and exactly a year later, on August 27, 2023, we celebrated our wedding day. It made the occasion even more meaningful and unforgettable!
It was especially meaningful because my mom was deeply involved in every detail behind the scenes, ensuring everything came together beautifully.
We had a fusion wedding that blended both of our cultures. In Tamil tradition, there’s no Sangeet, Mehndi, or Haldi, while in Gujarati culture, there’s no Ponnurukku. So, we decided to combine everything. We had a Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, and Ponnurukku ceremony, making sure to honor both traditions and celebrate them in a way that was meaningful to us. That’s what made our wedding so special—and why everyone loved it as much as we did.
Nehal: We’re both from the same religion, so we had a Hindu-style wedding. The traditions were similar, but there were small differences. Some rituals were in a slightly different sequence, but we balanced it all perfectly.
Thakshi: We found a middle ground that respected both our cultures, and our families were fully supportive of how we wanted the wedding to be. When we proposed the idea of blending traditions, they were thrilled. They loved that we made it a priority to honor and celebrate both sides of our heritage.
From dating to marriage to living together – did you discover new things about each other? What tips have you picked up for navigating each stage of your life together?
Nehal: Before we lived together, we’d only see each other for a couple of hours at a time. But once we were living together, we saw each other every day—and that’s really the best part.
Living together is a big shift from dating, but in a positive way. We spent so much time together while dating that we already knew each other’s habits and quirks, even before living under the same roof. So when we did move in together, it felt natural—it wasn’t a huge transition. Nothing felt forced.
Sure, there are little pet peeves—like where I choose to place certain items.. But for us, it’s more about understanding each other’s way of doing things. If something bothers us, we talk about it, find a middle ground, and go with that. Communication and compromise are key.
Thakshi: Before living with Nehal, I never really cooked. My parents always did the cooking. But once I started living with him, I discovered a love for cooking—for him and with him. I started making both traditional Gujarati and Tamil dishes, and I really enjoyed it.
What surprised me even more was how supportive and helpful he is in the kitchen—and just in general. He’s always there for me. Living together really opened my eyes to how much he’s there for me. You don’t fully realize that until you share a space.
Nehal: Cooking is a huge passion in my family. My parents love cooking together. It’s not just about the food—it’s the experience of being in the kitchen, bumping heads with each other while preparing, and still laughing and enjoying the meal afterward.
One way I’ve evolved in this relationship is learning to compromise. I’m naturally stubborn about the things I want to do, but when you’re living with someone, you realize you have to give in at times. I’ve learned to adjust based on what Thakshi needs, and she does the same for me. Once you find your soulmate, you start making those adjustments and compromises—it’s really important.
We started living on our own right away—we didn’t live with our families. It was just the two of us, and that made everything feel real. Whether we fought or laughed, we were doing it together. Living together and being married brings a lot of changes. I can’t pinpoint just one thing, but it’s all part of the journey. We adjust, we compromise, and we do it together.
What do you observe in relationships today that you think people should do more or less of?
Nehal: We’ve talked about this even when we were dating: when we disagree, the issue at hand won’t matter in a year or two. I truly believe that. What seems like a huge problem now will feel much smaller with time. The key is how you handle it and how you navigate through it together.
Thakshi: My advice to couples, especially those from different cultural backgrounds, is that love goes beyond emotions. It’s about accepting and respecting each other’s cultures and understanding how these differences impact your relationship—whether during dating, introducing each other to family, getting married, or thinking about children.
Communication is essential. Many couples don’t communicate enough, and that’s where things fall apart. It’s not just about talking; it’s about how you communicate. When you're upset, your tone and words will differ from when you’re calm and rational. How you handle communication during tough times makes all the difference in resolving issues effectively.
Nehal: When you're angry or stressed, it's easy to bring up things that aren't really part of the problem. That's why it’s crucial to communicate when you're calm. This way, you can listen to each other and work through the issue without letting emotions get in the way.
Thakshi: Another piece of advice—don’t rush. Life doesn’t follow a set timeline. Take time to figure yourself out first—who you are, what you want, and what you expect from a partner. Once you're clear on that, then move forward.
We knew we were going to get married, but we didn’t rush it. There was no pressure. I wanted to focus on my career and education, and Nehal was doing the same. Things unfolded naturally.
For us, we’re also taking our time before having children. We’ve been to nine different countries together! People often ask, “When are you having kids?” and we tell them, “Looking back, what would you have done differently?” Most say, “I wish I traveled more” or “I wish I spent more time with my partner before having kids.” And that’s exactly what we are doing.
Nehal: And we took that advice to heart. We’re enjoying life together, traveling as much as we can. Just this December, for Thakshi’s birthday, we went to Thailand—booked the tickets just a week and a half before.
Thakshi: I love last-minute trips. For Nehal’s birthday, I booked a flight to Vegas the night before, and the next day, we were there—no hotel, no plans, just pure spontaneity. We had an amazing time.
Tell us about your Food and Travel page, tneats_? How did it come about and what are you hoping to do with it?
Thakshi: A couple of months into our relationship, we started exploring new food spots together. Nehal never took me to McDonald’s because he always wanted me to experience better-quality food. We were constantly trying out new places. One day, I thought, “Let’s start making videos about this,” and Nehal suggested we treat it like a personal diary of the places we visited. What began as just a fun diary quickly evolved into something much bigger, and before we knew it, we were content creators.
Nehal: I’ve always been drawn to the camera. I’d watch a lot of YouTube vlogs, and when we started dating, we ended up visiting so many food spots together. Becoming content creators wasn’t something we planned—it was just for fun, driven by our love for trying new things. But when COVID hit, we had to pause our content.
Thakshi: After we got married, we took a break for about six months, but eventually, we decided to pick the page back up. Now, we’re coming up on a year since we restarted. It’s been so motivating for us. We love it—it's become both a hobby and a passion. It keeps us excited to explore new places and dive into different cuisines. We’ve even started doing activities that we might not have considered if it weren’t for the page. We’re out exploring at least three or four times a week, and people often ask for our recommendations. It’s great to be able to share our experiences.
Nehal: It keeps us connected. In a relationship, you need things that strengthen your bond, right? Every time we visit a new place, it’s a fresh experience, and we never tire of it. We truly enjoy doing it together, and I wouldn’t go to any spot without Thakshi.
We’re focused on growing the page organically. Our goal is for people to visit our page when they need recommendations on where to eat, what to do, or where to go. We want to inspire others—not for fame, but just to share our experiences and passions.
Thakshi: It’s all about spreading positivity. We want to share the amazing places we discover and give honest reviews to help others. We’re having a blast doing it, and we can’t wait to continue sharing our adventures with the world.
Are there any other thoughts you would like to share with our readers?
Nehal: In any relationship, the key to making it work and keeping it healthy is communication. It’s about being able to talk openly, work through challenges together, and being willing to compromise when needed. Even small gestures like saying "thank you" and showing appreciation for each other can go a long way.
Thakshi: When you're from different cultural backgrounds, it’s crucial to make an effort to understand and embrace each other’s cultures. It shouldn’t be one-sided; it needs to go both ways. You have to respect both cultures and families. For example, Nehal watches Tamil movies with me and I watch Hindi movies and subtitles have become our best friends. We make these small efforts for each other, and that’s really important.
Also, a relationship has both its highs and lows, and staying together through it all is something I learned from my parents. Watching how they navigated different situations, especially after raising children together, has been a huge source of learning for me. Their experience is something we can apply to our own relationship.
