Mohini + Chander’s Wedding Part 2: 12/28/2010 – We officially kicked off Mohini and Chander’s wedding celebration last Tuesday with the Mehndi ceremony at Neemrana Fort Palace. In Indian culture, it’s a tradition to have the bride and all her female family/friends paint their hands and feet with a substance called Henna. It’s also traditional to have the bride’s Henna design include the groom’s name somewhere on her hands.
What started out as a rainy Tuesday morning quickly turned into a gorgeous sunny afternoon for the Mehndi ceremony. Before things got underway, a good portion of the guests went on a camel ride including yours truly. We even had a chance to stop by this magnificent well structure that was over seven stories deep! Afterward, I finally had a chance to spend a few minutes with Mohini and Chander and grabbed some portraits before the other photography/videography team showed up :P.
The entire day from roughly 10AM through 1AM was filled with literally non-stop action-packed fun. It was one event after another. From the camel ride and Mehndi ceremony to the reception dinner and theatrical/fireworks performance at the amphitheater, there was not one instance when my camera left my face. I’ve never experienced a wedding with so many things to photograph, and for that matter, so much dancing, celebration, and surprises.
So much for jet lag, getting acquainted with the Indian culture, or thinking about the life back home. I felt like being thrown in the sea of celebration and had to learn how to swim on the spot. Last Tuesday was definitely one of the most exciting, rewarding, and challenging days ever. I enjoyed every second of it. And what made it so memorable, like the past few days, were the individuals that made up these memories. Not only Mohini and Chander, but everyone from the wedding party, family members, and guests from all over the world made my experience beyond worthwhile.
We all danced into the night and celebrated like there was no tomorrow. The only thing more amazing than the Mehndi celebration was that it was only a prelude to the actual wedding day. I seriously can’t wait to share with you those photos. Until then, please enjoy these :).
Ceremony and reception locations: Neemrana Fort Palace in Rajasthan, India
