Indian Wedding Photography in Seattle
While growing up, I always noticed the same style of Indian weddings photos, and I felt like they never fully captured the cultural essence or traditions the way I saw and experienced them. While they may have done a great job of making the couple look like Bollywood stars, everything felt too ‘posed’ for me. One of the greatest joys during my photography experience has been the chance to develop relationships with my couples, and to photograph them in a unique way that brings out and captures real emotion. Real emotion has power. It makes you feel.
I love the emotion and feelings at multicultural weddings. (It’s truly an honor to photograph them) These are opportunities to share Indian culture, and at the same time, welcome new traditions into our lives. After all, we learn and grow through open hearts.
Preetma & Brian (two incredible friends) celebrated their modern Indian wedding at the Renton Gurdwara. After the ceremony, we drove into the majestic Cascade Mountains to create some beautiful photos where Preetma wore her red lehenga, and Brian wore a groom’s achkan sherwani with a red turban. Their traditional Indian outfits gave these photos a special (magical) feeling, especially when the fog and misty rain rolled in…
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A huge thanks to Brian and Preetma for the opportunity to photograph their beautiful Indian wedding!
Seattle Wedding by Lake Washington
Some of you may have seen Surina and Aman’s engagement photos here. Ever since we wrapped up that session, I’d been looking forward to their wedding weekend. Every wedding, like every couple, tells a unique story. In this case, the story is one of love, dedication and so much joy! I had the chance to spend several days not only with Surina and Aman but with their wonderful families too. As Surina mentioned in her speech during the reception, “…a marriage is not between two people, but between two families.” This wedding was certainly proof of this beautiful idea.
Surina and Aman have been living a long distance relationship for a while now and I’m just so happy that they finally get to be together! Congratulations to them and their families. Cheers to their happy marriage!
Groom’s Maiyaan
Baraat and Milni at the Sikh Gurdwara
Sikh Wedding Ceremony (Anand Karaj) at Gurdwara
Dholi Ceremony at Bride’s house
Reception
To follow my work on Facebook, please follow this link to my Facebook page. Thanks everyone, and thanks to Surina, Aman, and their friend’s & family 🙂
It was an honor to photograph Kruti and Pritesh’s beautiful Gujarati wedding. Their traditional Hindu ceremony took place at the Westin Hotel, in Bellevue, and came to life with bright colors, loving family, and happy friends.
Throughout the wedding festivities, it was evident that Kruti and Pritesh had developed a deep, meaningful, relationship with each other, their friends, and most importantly with their families. The love & joy in the air was invigorating and it created such a happy and celebratory feeling. Many of Pritesh and Kruti’s guests travelled from all over the country, and the world, to attend their special day. New Jersey, Texas, Canada, London, and India, are just a few of the places.
I hope these photographs show the love, friendship, and joy that we felt from everybody. They are just a small glimpse into some of the traditions of a Gujarati-Hindu Wedding ceremony. Kruti and Pritesh were such a fun bride and groom. They were so relaxed, happy, and stress-free. They just enjoyed their special day, and I think that really added to the overall positive vibe. I’m so thankful to have them as friends, and can’t wait to see them again!
Their Hindu wedding ceremony and reception took place at the wonderful Westin hotel in Bellevue, WA, and the Westin did an excellent job of hosting this special wedding. I also want to thank Parm for second-shooting with me. He has such a happy and fun spirit, and it was truly a pleasure to work with him. Thanks for all your help, and look forward to next time.
Thank you to all the friends and family, who helped to make this evening so special! And a huge congratulations to Kruti and Pritesh!!
Baraat: In traditional times, the Gujaratis’s did not marry within their own town; therefore, the groom’s family had to travel to the bride’s town. The baraat is a processional of the groom and his family making the journey to the wedding. It’s been so awesome to see this same tradition occur in Sikh Weddings, and even Cambodian-Khmer weddings!
During this baraat, Pritesh, his friends, and family, walked around the Westin Hotel, in downtown Bellevue. They gathered in the front of the hotel, where they danced and celebrated.
The photo below shows the “Hasta Milap,” where the groom’s scarf is tied to the bride’s lehenga. This is to symbolize the union of their souls as the pundit (priest) prays to Goddess Parvati and Goddess Lakshmi to bless the couple. At the same time, friends shower the couple with grains of rice and rose petals.
During the “Mangal Pheras,” the bride and groom circle the sacred fire four times. Each circle signifies one of the four human goals: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. (Natural Law, Purpose, Love, Liberation)
Congratulations Kruti and Pritesh!! You guys are awesome! Wish you both so much love and happiness!
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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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