With over 500 guests, Nita and Aaron’s Indian Wedding Sangeet was a party not to be missed!  Family and friends gathered at Fisher Pavilion (Seattle Center) for a celebration of music, singing, dancing, and mendhi (henna).  There was even a belly dance performance!

An Indian Wedding Sangeet is an evening of celebration prior to the marriage.  During the Sangeet, women sing traditional folk songs, joke around with the bride, apply mendhi (henna) to their hands, and do a lot of dancing!

I wanted these photographs to capture the spirit of the evening. Many guests traveled from Canada, Portland, and other cities around the United States.  Kristina and I had a fun time photographing all the happy faces that evening.  Everyone was dressed so nicely, and Fisher Pavilion was filled with bright, beautiful colors.

There are a lot of photos for this blog post…but I really wanted to show the fun memories of the night. I hope that by looking through these photos, viewers are able to experience the energy, joy, and excitement of the Sangeet.

Kristina and I had a fun time taking portraits with the soon-to-be bride and groom, Nita and Aaron.

Fisher Pavilion was an awesome venue. It was large enough to hold all the guests, and once decorated, it looked beautiful!

Guests had a fun time mingling during the cocktail hour. We were able to get a bunch of great photos of all the happy faces!

It was super cool to see friends from past weddings.  Above:  Runeet, Mayank & Family,  and Mick, Karen & Family

Prior the wedding, the women apply artistic mendhi to their hands as decoration for the upcoming wedding.

The photographs below show the beginning of the Jaggo.  Traditionally in India, the Jaggo is started by the mother’s side of the family, on the night before the wedding.  A decorated brass pot (gaggar) is decorated with oil-lit candles and placed on top of the head.  The ladies dress up in colorful outfits and begin walking through the streets of the village.  While walking through the village, they carry long sticks with bells, which lets everybody know about the upcoming wedding.   The Guggar is passed from one person to another as they sing and dance.

Although Nita and Aaron’s Jaggo did not occur on the streets of Seattle, we had a very fun time in side the Pavilion.  In the photo’s below, you can see how the decorated pot is passed from one person to another.   It’s a very loud and energetic ceremony, and sets the tone for the upcoming wedding festivities.

After the Jaggo, the dance floor opened up and everyone had a blast!

Thank you Nita and Aaron, and your families, for giving me the opportunity to photograph your amazing wedding Sangeet. It was such a pleasure to celebrate this evening with you, and I wish you both the very best!

 

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