After our epic
engagement session together (which is still in the blog lineup!), I was pumped for Megan & Pritpal's wedding. Set on a hill overlooking the Lincoln and Washington memorials, their ceremony took place under the
Netherlands Carillon on a gorgeous fall day. Megan was simply stunning in her London-bought sari. Pritpal I didn't even
recognize right away with the beard!
This "getting ready" was really quite spectacular. After the lovely ladies at
Platform hair and makeup finished their work, Megan's friends helped put on all of her clothing and jewelry, bought special in England. Megan stood in this incredible window light and we all just keep sighing about how beautiful she looked.
Love this frame of the moms getting dolled up together.
One of the amazing things about being a wedding photographer is that I get to see all kinds of different cultural celebrations of marriage. This was my first Sikh wedding - attending or photographing. I loved that everybody got to sit on the ground for the whole thing.
Seriously, I didn't recognize Pritpal
at all. My thought was "oh that's his brother" and I was looking all over for him. It really took me a few minutes to realize.
Halfway through a Sikh ceremony (I learned), the bride and groom will circle the holy book four times. On the fourth time around, friends and family throw flowers and once they complete the fourth turn, they are official.
Love this shot of Pritpal helping Megan with her shoe.
After the ceremony, Pritpal and Megan scooted back to their place for Megan to change. I thought she might have a smaller or less elaborate ensemble but instead busted out an entire new wedding dress. She said she couldn't pick, so she got both. Brilliant!
Megan and Pritpal hired Indian dancer
Jai-Jagdeesh to perform three dances during their reception at the
Bombay Club in Washington, DC. This lady was really cool and it was definitely a treat to see the performance.
One of my favorites - Pritpal and his mom greeting their guests.
The Bombay Club did a "cobra coffee demonstration" after dinner. He lit that orange on fire and poured an alcohol-coffee mixture through it, making the "serpent dance." Yeah, it's true, I get to see all the neat stuff.
First dance.
It was such a pleasure to be at and document this wedding. Congratulations to Megan and Pritpal!
Details:
Photography - little old me
Videography -
East West Productions
Ceremony venue -
Netherlands Carillon
Music at ceremony - Amarjit Kaur and family
Catering, reception venue -
Bombay Club, Washington, DC
DJ -
DCVibez
Indian dancer -
Jai-Jagdeesh
Hair & Makeup -
Platform
The whole week before the wedding, there were a lot of anxious brides and vendors watching the storm move. I grabbed a screen shot just in case we'd all forget that yes, this was seriously crashing peoples' weddings. I was very happy for Katie & Josh that their wedding was inland. Some couples who planned events on the beach were not so fortunate.
Wedding day rain boots!
I didn't realize you could get married at Nationals Stadium before Cassidy called me up about their day - what a cool venue! Teddy came out before the ceremony to warm up the crowd.
Their slideshow played in the main screen over the field. Everybody watched from inside, so there was plenty of cool reflection action going on for a photographer willing to brave the wind and rain.
Little vendor secret: we love when brides and grooms have cupcakes. Then we can steal one to take to our loving spouses, who patiently wait for us to come home every Saturday night. I normally don't like cakes of any sort, but these cupcakes really were divine.
Congratulations Katie & Josh! I certainly won't forget this wedding!
Everybody got ready and Lauren and Shaun held their reception at the 
Now normally I quadtych these dancing-type shots to death, but this wedding deserves full-size versions. What a great party!
Brides and grooms, a wedding band is such a good idea. They get the crowd moving, they make all the people sitting down want to get up and be part of the action, they make it gooooood. This band rocked my socks off. And I wasn't even wearing socks to begin with.
Lauren was incredibly cute for the garter-removal. Yes, cute enough for two photos.
Congratulations! And thanks to you and Cassidy for having me out.