Santa Ana and Huntington Beach Pre-wedding events- siddhi + ashish
June 11, 2015
What I love most about Indian weddings is the sense of communion – how two families come together and become one. The welcoming, respect, love and joy that people show is incredible. And it was probably more distinctive during this wedding as it was five days of shooting more than ten events with family and friends that traveled from all over the world!
Once Siddhi and Ashish met, there was little to keep them away from each other even though one lived in Los Angeles and the other one in Chicago. Hours and hours of phone conversations and huge cell phone bills and a lot of flyer miles and it was obvious they wanted to make things work. Siddhi (the co-founder along with her twin sister Riddhi of a very successful online business) was ready to make the move to Chicago where Ashish has his medical practice.
Image during the beginning of festivities at Siddhi’s parents home
The ceremonies started at Siddi’s parent’s residence in Santa Ana with a very emotional Puja (prayers) and then Pithi (the covering of the bride/groom with turmeric to purify the skin). At the end of that ceremony the bride and everyone else jumped into the pool and danced! Later – an evening of Devotional Bhakti with singing and dancing at the Khara Residence followed by the Mehndi (henna) party on Wednesday night.
On Thursday we went towards the ocean for the Sangeet at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach with an Indian Bollywood theme with live music, dancing and delicious food put together by Smita Mohindra and her team. I was floored by the performances that both families put together several days in a row!
On Friday there were two parties: a Yacht Soiree created by Sheer Romance (can you say amazing?) and a fun ‘Parents Party’ at the Hyatt before the wedding day on Saturday.
At the end of all this wedding extravaganza I ended up with so many great pictures that I had a very, very hard task to pick just a few for a blog post so I have divided everything in three posts: The Pre-Wedding Events, The Ceremony and Reception.
I hope you love these images as much as I loved shooting them… l will be posting the rest of this amazing Bollywood Wedding over the next couple of days so keep an eye out!
Thank You so much to the amazing Idena Beach, Attila Iuhasz and Jennifer Lourie Tapp for all your hard work as second shooters. Some of the images in this blog post are shot by them!
Event management, coordination and decor:Â Ethnic Essence
The bride under a veilMandap setup for Siddhi’s puja
Puja for Siddhi and her familyThe bride’s reflection in one of the mirrors placed on tablesPuja for Siddhi and her familyPuja for Siddhi and her familyThe future bride showered with rose petals by her familyThe future bride showered with rose petals by her familySiddhi’s pujaa wedding guest has very intricate nailsPitthi for the future bridePitthi for the future brideThe groom’s family arrives at the pitthi for the future bridePitthi for the future bride!Groom, Bride their families and wedding guests are thrown in the poolThe Bride in the poolThe bride’s and groom’s families jump in the pool.The bride’s and groom’s families jump in the pool.The bride’s and groom’s families jump in the pool.An evening of Devotional Bhakti at the Khara ResidenceAn evening of Devotional Bhakti at the Khara ResidenceAn evening of Devotional Bhakti at the Khara ResidenceAn evening of Devotional Bhakti at the Khara Residence. Welcoming the guestsPortraits of the Bride and GroomIndian devotional Bhakti with singing and dancingIndian devotional Bhakti with singing and dancing at Siddhi and Ashish’s Pre Wedding eventsIndian devotional Bhakti with singing and dancing at Siddhi and Ashish’s Pre Wedding eventsIndian devotional Bhakti with singing and dancing at Siddhi and Ashish’s Pre Wedding events
Indian devotional Bhakti with singing and dancing at Siddhi and Ashish’s Pre Wedding eventsBride and groom during the Indian devotional Bhakti at the Pre Wedding eventsDancing during the Indian devotional BhaktiDancing during the Indian devotional BhaktiDancing during the Indian devotional BhaktiDancing during the Indian devotional Bhakti
Portrait of the bride with gorgeous mehndiA custom flower wall and a custom mend design.Exquisite custom mehndi design.Exquisite custom mehndi design. Santa Ana, CaliforniaMusic and Dance showMusic and Dance show during Mehendi eveningA little boy seems absorbed by the showGrandma gives a historic and very funny speechone way to get a girl off the stageDancing by the bride and her talented mothersanta_ana-pre-wedding-eventsSanta Ana pre wedding events
bride and groom portraits during pre wedding eventsbride and groom portraits during pre wedding eventsbride and groom portraits during pre wedding events
Ashish during his PitthiAshish during his PitthiThe Groom’s PitthiThe Groom’s Pitthi
The Groom’s PitthiThe Groom’s PitthiThe Groom’s PitthiThe Groom’s feet after PitthiHuntington Beach Hyatt HotelPortrait of the bride and groom during Sangeet at Huntington Beach Hyatt RegencyPortrait of the bride and groom during Sangeet at Huntington Beach Hyatt RegencyHuntington Beach Hyatt Regency SangeetHuntington Beach Hyatt Regency SangeetSpectacular entrance of bride and groom during SangeetSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beachdacing at the sangeetSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington BeachSangeet at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beachsangeet at the hyatt regency huntington beachsangeet at the hyatt regency huntington beachsangeet at the hyatt regency huntington beachsangeet at the hyatt regency huntington beachsangeet at the hyatt regency huntington beach
newport-beach-yacht-soiree
Siddhi adjusts her beautiful diamond necklace
Siddhi and Ashish embrace at sunset on the yacht
Last light in a tender embrace on the yachtSiddhi on the yachtnewport-beach-yacht-soireenewport-beach-yacht-soireenewport-beach-yacht-soireenewport-beach-yacht-soireenewport-beach-yacht-soireenewport-beach-yacht-soireeHuntington Beach Dinner PartyHuntington Beach Dinner PartyHuntington Beach Dinner PartyHuntington Beach Dinner PartyHuntington Beach Dinner Partynewport-beach-yacht-soiree