Dana & Eric’s Wedding
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010Dana and Eric were married this past weekend in Dickson, TN at the First Baptist Church, with a reception at the Dickson County Saddle & Bridle Club. Dana spelled the name “Saddle & Bridal” club on my worksheet, which I thought was cute. Dana got her hair and makeup done at Gordon & Company salon over on Music Row here in Nashville, and we dodged the women’s marathon to get there.
Some of the most important things I look for as I photograph a wedding are characteristic gestures from the key participants. I think you can learn a lot about people by paying attention to the little quirks that make them unique. In the 12th shot in this series, Dana and Eric were enjoying a brief second alone right after the ceremony, before their friends and family rounded the corner to catch up with them. Dana’s gesture in that photo is one that she repeated 3-4 times during the course of the day, and I think the combination of their wonderful expressions and that characteristic movement says a lot about them.
I was thrilled that Dana and Eric were game to hop a fence to get some of the cool portraits we shot between the wedding and reception (IE with the hay bales). Particular thanks go to our intrepid Maid of Honor, who sacrificed her bad back to the cause of hopping that fence. We couldn’t have gotten those images without you!
You can register to see the complete set of photos on Pictage once I have finished editing them! Click on the link here:
Dana & Eric’s Pictage Gallery.
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
Cristen & Jared’s Wedding
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010Cristen & Jared were married this past weekend up in Bowling Green Kentucky at Rich Pond Baptist Church, with the reception on Cristen’s family farm nearby. As with the engagement session, Labold Classics provided a killer car to enable the couple to travel in style. This time it was a choice 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which you will see featured in some of the shots later in the set. Both of the driving shots were taken with me hanging out the open lift-gate of my wife’s Mazda station wagon as we traveled from the portrait-site to the reception.
One unique part of this wedding is that Cristen is a cosmetologist, so all of the getting ready pictures were taken at Off Broadway Hair Studio, where she works, and all of the stylists are her friends and coworkers. This lead to a really cool and fun atmosphere during the getting ready portion of the day. Probably the best part of the morning occurred when one of Cristen’s colleagues put in some hair extensions and put on a novelty ring to imitate Cristen, but wound up with a most excellent mullet in the process.
If you can’t tell by the custom Converse they both wore, this was an eclectic and interesting wedding with a definite style of its own. Credit for the invitations and programs goes to my former client Megan Wright, who is a talented designer up in Bowling Green!
If you would like to register to view Cristen & Jared’s photos when they are finished being edited, you can sign up at the following link:
Cristen & Jared’s Pictage Gallery
images by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
image by Daniel Shaw
Brittney & Rhett’s Engagement Session
Sunday, September 19th, 2010Brittney & Rhett both work in Knoxville as music teachers, but Brittney grew up here in Nashville, and this is where they will be getting married. Rhett was a real trooper, as he was getting over a cold… but that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm and spontaneity. Thanks so much for a great session guys!
Anita & Ankit’s Wedding
Friday, September 10th, 2010One of the best parts of being a wedding photographer is the opportunity to learn about different cultures and to experience different traditions. I was so thrilled and honored when Anita & Ankit contacted me after being referred by my friend: Desi Wedding Photographer Saad Syed. Anita and Ankit were married at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly VA in a Hindu wedding ceremony as prescribed in Vedic scripture. I provided coverage for the Sangeet at the amazing Washington DC Cosmos Club on Saturday, and then the incomparable Chuck Anerino helped me to document the wedding day ceremonies in Chantilly on Sunday. The celebration was planned and coordinated by Courtney from A Sweet Soiree, and it was a pleasure to work with her.
For those of my blog readers who are not as familiar with Hindu tradition, I am going to caption and explain this set a little more than I usually do. As is typical for my site, more than 80% of these images are un-posed and un-manipulated documentary.
Sangeet can be literally translated into English as “sung together.” It is a celebration that brings together the families of the bride and groom, and features much singing, dancing, and food. Anita and Ankit’s Sangeet featured a number of ceremonial dances and traditional Indian songs, as well as toasts from some of the couple’s relations.
The Sangeet began with the Garba, a circular Indian folk dance.
The Garba was followed by the Dandiya Raas, which is a traditional dance in which the sticks represent the sword of Durga in her battle with the demon lord Mahishasura.
Anita’s aunt Radha performs with Anita, Ankit, and their family looking on. Radha is the name of the supreme beloved of Krishna, and theirs is the great love story of the Hindu faith… how appropriate!
Anita’s brother Navin on the dance floor
Navin giving his heartfelt toast.
One of the key parts of the Sangeet is the Dholki singing. The Dholki is a two sided drum, seen here in the foreground. Traditional songs and dances are performed, which are light-hearted and even humorous. You can see Anita and Ankit in the background laughing in this photo.
The Wedding Day
The wedding day began for me at the home of Anita’s parents, for the Puja ceremony. The Puja involved a series of offerings, and preparation of the bride for the day with some of her ceremonial ornamentation.
In this image, auspicious saffron powder is marked on Anita’s forehead as a sign of devotion
Anita’s grandmother ties on the Kaleerey.
Grandmother traveled all the way from India to be here for this wedding.
Here you can see the Mehndi (henna art), the Chura (bracelets), and the Kaleerey (bells)
image by Chuck Anerino
The necklace in this image belonged to Anita’s great grandmother.
image by Chuck Anerino
image by Chuck Anerino
image by Chuck Anerino
The Baraat Swagat is the procession of the grooms family to the venue, and receiving of the groom’s party by the bride’s family.
image by Chuck Anerino
Ankit riding a decorated horse as part of the Baraat ceremony.
Anita’s mother greets Ankit and applies the Tilak, a red mark on the forehead signifying welcome and luck
The Milni is a special greeting between pairs of the family members from each side.
Anita enters the wedding and processes toward the Mandup (altar) with her father
The Varmala is the greeting between the bride and groom. Var means to accept as your own.
The couple make one of seven circles around the sacred fire. This is the most important part of the ceremony, symbolizing the beginning of their journey through life together. Notice that their scarves are tied together: this is the origin of the expression “tying the knot,” and part of the ceremony.
With each circle, the couple seek the blessing of God to enable them to fulfill their seven vows. Image by Chuck Anerino
Circling the sacred fire
The exchange of rings
Aashirvaad: after having received the blessings of their parents and relatives, the couple walks from the Mandap together and are showered with flower petals to symbolize blessings from the guests.
image by Chuck Anerino
Detail of the Mehndi (henna) on Anita’s hand. One tradition is that Ankit needs to find his name in the Mehndi during the course of the day. You can see it here, appropriately located right under Anita’s thumb.
image by Chuck Anerino
image by Chuck Anerino
After Ankit’s toast, he is embraced by his father
image by Chuck Anerino
The Vidai is considered to be the most emotional ritual, when the bride leaves her parents’ home and makes her way to her husband’s.
