Wow – it has been a crazy spring already! I ran straight into wedding season after getting back from Paris so it has pretty much been non-stop! I am excited for a little break from weddings for a few weeks so I can get caught up on all the the amazing shoots in my editing queue, share them with you & enjoy a little bit of summer in the Pacific Northwest!! This past weekend I celebrated my *golden birthday* – that’s turning the age of your birthdate – and had an epic weekend watching the Sounders beat the Timbers, kayaking on a lake in Anacortes where Kevin used to go growing up, and doing a little hike at Franklin Falls with Erica & Ryan! I got right back to editing yesterday morning & am so excited to share day 1 of Sindhu & Madhur’s Indian wedding weekend with you!
I arrived at about 7:15am to Madhur quietly waiting in his room for his dad to tie his turban. He sipped his coffee, and told me about how he and Sindhu had met at medical school in Grenada. They had been in different anatomy study groups until midterms when half the class dropped out (yikes!). It took a while for him to get past the friend zone, but eventually he won over her heart!
I have shot a few Indian weddings now & the energy of the day(s) never cease to amaze me. There is constantly some amazing ritual happening – all of the family is involved and contributing to some aspect of a ceremony. The first day of Sindhu & Madhur’s wedding was the Sikh ceremony. This day was mostly focused on Madhur’s family and faith so I loved getting to capture each of his getting-ready rituals. Weddings often have a large emphasis on the bride preparing, so it was amazing to get to watch Madhur’s dad carefully tie his turban for him and his sister and cousins place the jewel on it. There were moments of quiet prayer and then dancing in the street for the Baraat! One of my favorite parts of the day was when the family members exchanged garlands as they welcomed each other into the ceremony space – the Milni ceremony. Some of them got really into it, playing around avoiding getting the garland and then picking each other up – it was hilarious! I definitely got some elbows to the face but everyone (including me) was having a blast. Make sure to scroll through the post & read more about each part of the day!
While there may have been more rituals on this day for Madhur getting ready, Sindhu was an absolutely gleaming beauty in her sari and jewels. I loved watching her sister put on her bangles and Sindhu’s hennaed hands put on her elaborate earrings. Everything was so ornate – not to mention heavy!! Sindhu’s head scarf was pinned both to her head as well as her shoulders so she had to be quite careful walking, kneeling and bowing. I was able to take Sindhu and Madhur over to Marymoor Park for a few portraits while they were still wearing their ceremony garlands (also very heavy and full of beautiful flowers) and it was an absolute dream. I left them to eat some delicious smelling food with their family and friends & went home to rest up for day two! Stay tuned for even more celebration!
This is the Baraat ceremony – the groom’s procession with his family & friends into the ceremony space.
The Milni ceremony – Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers & mother’s exchanged garlands to welcome each other.
This was the absolute best when Madhur’s mom picked up Sindhu’s mom!!!
Guests we welcomed into the ceremony space – without shoes & head covered. They had extra headscarfs for me & the guests to wear and everyone was seated on the floor in front of the elaborate alter space.
Sindhu’s father places one end of Madhur’s scarf in his daughter’s hands symbolizing that she is leaving his care and joining her husband’s. Madhur then leads Sindhu around the alter space four times in accordance with the readings.
Finally, Karah Prashad – or sacred pudding – is given to everyone & people are welcomed to congratulate the newlyweds! 
Finally able to have a quiet moment to themselves I snuck Sindhu & Madhur over to Marymoor Park for a few portraits. The sun was hot & bright but they were absolutely stunning. Congratulations Sindhu and Madhur!! Stay tuned for day 2! xx
Venue: Redmond Marriott // Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Sisters // Video: Cabfare Productions // Photography: Meredith McKee Photography
