“Our wedding consisted of a total of five events spread across several days. The first two events – the Haldi and Mehndi – were held separately as the bride and groom prepared for the wedding with the respective families. In the Haldi, the bride and groom each have turmeric paste applied to their bodies to exfoliate their skin in preparation for their big day. The Mehndi is where the women of both families have henna designs drawn on their hands and feet. The groom also has a small design drawn on his hand. As the first joint event for the bride and groom along with their families, the Sangeet is a fun filled night of dancing and celebration. The following morning is the wedding ceremony, led off by the groom arriving in a grand parade called Baraat. The ceremony begins with the groom and family performing some rituals before the bride arrives in her own grand entrance. The two are shielded from each other on stage until a holy time called Murhurtham where they are to be officially married and see each other for the first time as husband and wife. The reception later that evening is the final event as a celebration of the weekend and conclusion to the wedding week.

“Each event has their own flavor and unique theme, as evidenced by the decor and outfits worn during each. As you will see in the pictures, the Haldi had a fully yellow theme to match the turmeric in the ceremony. The Mehendi was a casual, teepee style decor. The Sangeet is traditionally a very vibrant event full of bright colors and music. The theme is built around dancing and fun! The ceremony is a very traditional event celebrating Hindu culture and religion. Our wedding had a color pallet and decorations consisting of cherry blossoms and pastels. These flowers and light theme were kept throughout the wedding and reception.

“We were looking for a unique exit for the wedding ceremony, so we surprised our guests by departing in a helicopter! The only thing we would change was to slow down time, so it didn’t go by so fast!” ~ Rashmitha