One of the most beautiful weekends I’ve ever photographed – Kartik & Ruchi’s Indian Engagement Ceremony.
Last year, Kartik reached out to me because he wanted a photographer to document his proposal to Ruchi. One day in late September, just a few minutes after sunrise, I photographed Kartik as he dropped to his knee and asked for her hand in marriage. Kartik is friends with my Laura & Mitch, one of my couples from November last year. (I feel like I need to add a #ItsAllAboutTheU reference here!)
Fast forward a few months, and I was asked to photograph their engagement weekend in Sarasota/Bradenton. The engagement weekend started with a ceremony at Kartik’s family home.
The ceremony is a formal announcement of the future marriage and the official start of the wedding planning. While waiting for guests to arrive, Ruchi showed me her Mehndi, and explained that she hid Kartik’s name in the intricate design and Kartik was to find it… except she didn’t actually add his name and thought it was hilarious watching him sweat over it (it was, though!) After some group shots in front of their home, the ceremony was about to begin.
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know exactly what was happening during the ceremony, but maybe it’s better that way. Like photographing a wedding without a “walk-thru”, it let me have fresh eyes, and a lesson in “anticipatience” (a term stolen from Davina & Daniel Kudish).
I’m so grateful to document such an incredible event with vibrant colors, people and traditions. Kartik and Ruchi’s families were so welcoming, and I’d love to have the honor of documenting more celebrations for this family. And more carrot cake, too – ha!
Here’s Part One of Kartik and Ruchi’s engagement weekend in Sarasota, Florida – the engagement Vidhi. Part Two will be posted next week – the PARTY! Hope you love the images as much as I do!
Big thanks to my assistant Danielle and second-shooter/associate Brandi for their help that weekend (and for the fun we had off-the-clock exploring Sarasota neighborhoods and staying up past our bedtimes drinking wine and telling stories)
Are you planning a celebration in Florida? I’d love to document it! Reach out by clicking the button below and filling out the contact form.
