Multi-Cultural Pre-Wedding Ceremony

Renuka and Brenden celebrated ahead of time with their families before the day of their wedding, as is standard tradition for Renuka’s family. While their ceremony would be a blend of Western and Indian cultures, the typically long ceremony was shortened to better fit the needs of both families. However, the pre-wedding ceremonies went on as normal. This was my first time documenting a multi-day wedding celebration and it was so fun learning about the cultural differences. While I did my own research on their traditions to the best of my ability, Renuka was so helpful and explained the significances of the different parts of the ceremony she wanted documented. I’m so grateful for everyone being so welcoming during this whole process.

I met them at their home in the afternoon and documented every detail down to the snacks provided. I normally don’t take photos of people while they’re eating, but this was an important detail her family wanted documented. In basic terms, the haldi, mehndi, and sangeet ceremonies are held before the wedding day in order to bring blessings to the couple and ward off any negative energy. It also provides a perfect time for both families to get together before the wedding to relax and celebrate.

It was a lovely afternoon filled with amazing food, lively music, and dancing! Here are some highlights from that celebration; I hope you enjoy!