I got a call from Ankur's brother a few weeks before their wedding date inquiring about my services. The referral came from a past Indian Wedding bride who's wedding I'd shot about a year prior. Fortunately I was available that weekend, because their wedding took place over both Saturday and Sunday...
Saturday started at the Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, CA. near Santa Barbara. It is a beautiful resort nestled in the mountains of Southern California about an hour east of the coast. Ankur & Yuka had two ceremonies that day, one a traditional "Western" Ceremony, officiated by Ankur's brother, and the other a traditional Hindu Indian Ceremony that followed shortly thereafter....
But I'm getting ahead of myself... The day started early with a luncheon where guests arrived to a delicious looking array of eastern and western food. It was fun for me to capture all the warm smiling faces as the guests greeted each other. What a nice way to start the day...
Need I say of course things ran late and the time line was out the window from the get go... I learned that there is such a thing as "Indian Standard Time" which is generally a little late (to put it nicely... :). We moved from the luncheon spot up to Ankur & Yuka's room where they got ready, together, in the same room... It was fun and full of laughter and joking around and great light...
The traditional Western Ceremony took place under a huge old oak tree overlooking the Topa Topa Mountains. The weather was perfect for a colorful and emotional wedding ceremony performed by Ankur's brother....
A brief intermission to change into outfits and take some pictures together... I had all of 10 minutes with the two of them but they were accommodating and very fun....
After that brief intermission/ clothing change, the Indian Wedding Ceremony commenced. It was barely truncated, which to me was nice, because it too was full of laughter, smiles, games, and all of the intricate aspects of a Hindu Wedding Ceremony. It is certainly festive and fun to witness, not to mention amazing to photograph...
After the ceremony there was a brief Reception, followed by a much larger reception on Sunday at Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Huntington Beach...