Wedding Documentary Photography and Videography Blog

Parijat and Sonil had their beautiful Mehndi Night at the India Culture Center in Milpitas California on May 13, 2010. This was the start of their beautiful three day celebration that brought their two families together. This is one of the cutest couples don’t you think?

What is Mehndi?

Mehndi is the event, which is a casual social gathering where the two families mingle and get to know one another. It is also the time, the bride receives the good luck “henna” also known as Mehndi. The Mehndi makes her beautiful, as well as, signifies she is becoming a married woman. The myth is the darker the Mehndi, the deeper her love for her future husband. The bride will then leave on the Mehndi, adding lemon juice to it repeatedly to darken the effect until it crusts off and the beautiful tattoo design is left behind. By the day of the wedding, usually two days later, the Mehndi is much darker than the prior day, and it adds to her beauty the day of the ceremony.

The Mehndi evening may also include speeches from family, performances such as dances, songs, playing of musical instruments and poems. All the woman usually get a simple Mehndi design on their hands as well. Food is usually chaat style, basically less formal than the dinner that will be at the wedding.

How to Photograph a Mehndi or Indian Wedding?

Observe, Observe, Observe and learn! Ask questions before hand regarding the time line and find out what part of India the families are from and what customs they will be performing on what days. Know when to be a fly on the wall and when to do posed pictures by talking to the bride and groom about the style of photography they are looking for. Take lots of candids and prepare to do formals at a moments notice and be clear and direct when you want posed shots and when you don’t. Once a bride and groom, and their families learn your “photographic rhythm”, that is, how you take photos and how you pose them, they will easily understand what you are doing at the next day’s event called either a Sangeet or Garba.

Parijat and Sonil’s Mehndi was perfect in every way! We hope you enjoy these photos and learning a little bit about Mehndi.

What an amazing birthday/wedding weekend! I turned 31 years old and had a blast with Parijat and Sonil all weekend! They are so fun to photograph and I can’t believe how easy it was working with these two. Everything was so organized, especially the wedding day that was carefully choreographed by Denise Fattal at Silver Creek Country Club in San Jose.

The Raas was a blast at the Milan Restaurant in Milpitas and that was my birthday night. Parijat and Sonil and their entire wedding sang happy birthday to me and brought me cake and gifts including an Indian outfit and mango pickle, my favorite Indian condiment! I had never seen such generosity from a couple before. It was so thoughtful and greatly appreciated.

The Mehndi was held at the India Community Center in Milpitas. I loved it because the lighting was excellent and backdrop for Parijat getting her Mehndi was extraordinary!

Sit back and relax and watch this slideshow that Sonil’s family will present at their reception coming up this weekend in Minnesota.

Maria and Daniel go way back! These two have been together for years and they share many common interests! One of them I share with them and that is West African Drum and Dance.

I met Daniel a few years back at an annual drum and dance camp that we both go to. Now that I have become an established wedding photographer, those from my circle of  friends who are getting married come to me, because lets face it, we like to keep it in the family!

Maria and Daniel are just down to earth and cool people. Daniel can drum for Maria as she dances and they love the arts, their friends, and music. Being very cultured people, they have a lot of experience with the world and makes them all the better people because of it. How beautiful it is to see two people like this get married.

The wedding was at their home in Mendocino, so this was a destination wedding for me. I got to room with my African drum and dance friends and have a little getaway relaxing on the gorgeous Pacific Coast.

The best part was I came away with some amazing photos that Maria and Daniel will cherish for years to come. Enjoy some of our favorites!

What an amazing destination wedding this was! Sonia and Saj flew me down for a beautiful three day wedding celebration. Here is the final day of their gorgeous party!

The first location is a gorgeous home located in the hills with the most spectacular furniture and front door. I felt like I was in paradise! Then we headed to the Diamond Bar Center for their reception that had amazing lighting and decor. Of course, the dance party was off the hook and Sunil rocked it as the DJ for the weekend’s events. Check them out below!