Arjun + Aayami | Indian Wedding at Mt. Hood Resort
The thing that drew me to photography some 16 years ago was the storytelling. I have never been great at the written word, (reading or writing for that matter), and so I have always been interested by amazing images and movies that tell great stories. There were a couple of photographers on the East Coast that I followed in my early years as a wedding photographer who were able to capture truly authentic moments that made you feel like you were there at the wedding. Sadly, the wedding industry is becoming more and more all show with little real substance. I live for weddings like this three-day long event. To be able to truly just focus on the storytelling and show all the love and support of the two families coming together. This is the last set of images from Aayami’s and Arjuns three-day wedding celebration. If you missed the Thursday Mahndi or the Sangeet on Friday, those are also on the blog. So many images were taken, and it's taken a long time to get through everything, but I hope you enjoy!
A huge thank you to all the people who helped make this wedding happen!
Wedding Planner - Jodie (@aislereadyevents)
• Makeup & Hair - Poojasri (@makeup_by_poojasri)
• DJ - DJ Anjali (@anjaliandthekid)
• Mehndi (Henna) - Rashmi (@sharp_henna)
• Floral - Wendy Warner (@lushfloraldesignspdx)
• Venue - Mt Hood Oregon Resort (@mthoodresort)
• Lighting - Twinkle Trees (@twinkle_trees)
• Dholi - @harmendholi
• Friday Sangeet:
◦ El Mas Chingon - Sangeet Taco truck (@el_mas_chingon.or)
◦ Bombay Chaat House - Sangeet Chaat truck (@bombaychaathouse)
◦ Ash Wood Fired Pizza - Sangeet Pizza truck (@ashwoodfired)
◦ The Mini Donut Company - Sangeet dessert (@getminidonuts)
◦ The Mobile Scoop Shop - Sangeet dessert (@themobilescoop_icecreamcaterer)
• Saturday Lunch and Reception:
◦ Chennai Masala - All Saturday food (chennaimasala.net)
◦ Kulfi PDX - Reception dessert (@kulfipdx)
Photography and videography @petermaharphotography
Everyone stayed on site for the three day wedding celebration—here the bride’s family is preparing to get ready at 6:30am. She got up closer to 3am!
Over at the groom’s side, he is getting his finishing touches. His uncle is directing to move the head piece slightly to the right to make it center.
It’s not just a bride and groom getting married, it’s two families becoming one. Groom’s side on the left, and bride’s side on the right.
Still early in the morning, 9am, family and friends gather as the groom arrives in style during the joyful Baraat ceremony. It’s basically an amazing dance party/parade with friends and relatives as the groom heads to the ceremony. Every wedding should do this! It’s so much fun and really helps everyone get in the celebratory mood.
Swords, cars, dancing, getting thrown in the air, what’s not to love about a baraat!?
The proud fathers exchange flower garlands and hugs.
The rest of the family exchanges garlands and hugs with the brothers naturally getting competitive (who can lift the other one higher).
After the families exchanged flower garlands with each other, the bride and groom do so at the start of their ceremony.
The end of the first ceremony—the couple leave for some quick photos with their car while the ceremony is prepared for the Jain ceremony.
After the second ceremon,y all the guests get a photo with the bride and groom, then everyone eats lunch and head back to their rooms for naps and some outfit changes before finishing the weekend with one last reception party.
The bride's brother on bottle duty for their daughter. They flew all the way in from Charlotte, North Carolina.
This is the only time I saw Aayami yawn the entire weekend, and she is operating on very very little sleep. She always had a smile and was just stunning all day!
One of the kids was complaining about his tooth, lucky for him, there was a dentist in the house that checked it out.
The amazing DJ Anjali (@anjaliandthekid).
