Category Archives: – Weddings

Part II of Sejal’s marriage to Kunch begins with preparations of Kunch’s Baraat , which took place outside in front of the Hilton in Short Pump.  The Baraat is the groom’s procession to the ceremony.  It is customary that he arrives to the ceremony on a mare.  Both the groom and the horse are adorned with flowers and finery, and the groom generally carries either a sword or a dagger.  He’s accompanied by his family and a band who dance all around him.   Usually, the bride secretly watches the festivities, and in this event, Sejal looked on from a window inside the hotel.

Once the procession arrives to the ceremony site, they are met by the bride’s waiting family.  Equivalent family members on each side greet each other, normally beginning with the fathers, then mothers, followed by siblings, then extended family.  This ceremony is called the Milni, which symbolizes the unification of the two clans.

Le Reve Creation’s custom built plexi-glass mandap adorned with hanging garlands was a vision of modern elegance!

A four hour interlude, then Sejal began getting ready for the 650 person reception.

Congratulations Sejal and Kunch on your marriage!!!  We wish you the best in your lives together!!!

  • Monica Shah - To Whom It May Concern:

    I hope you are doing well. I am getting married on August 23, 2015 in Red Oak, NC and will be having the following events in a Hindu (Indian) ceremony:

    I am interested in a photographer and videographer for these events.

    Events #1,2,3 will be at my house in Red Oak, NC
    Events #4,5,6 will be at Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, NC.
    1. Mehndi
    2. Mandap Murat
    3. Pithi
    4. Garba
    5. Wedding
    6. Reception

    Events #1 will be August 21, 2015
    Events # 2,3,4 will be August 22, 2015
    Events # 5,6 will be August 23, 2015

    1. What are the prices and packages and what is included?
    2. Do you have samples of your work? Specifically Indian weddings if possible

    I appreciate all of your consideration and efforts.

    Sincerely,

    Monica Shah2014/10/02 – 15:04ReplyCancel

    • Tammy Keefer - Hi Monica,
      Please view our rates and Indian weddings on our website. Please call us anytime to talk about your wedding.
      http://www.jasonkeefer.com

      Thx!
      Jason2014/10/14 – 15:37

  • HollandPhotoArts - Gorgeous work, you two!! LOVE the modern chic feel of this wedding and you captured some fantastic moments between the bride and groom! xoxo…anne&bill2010/10/08 – 17:53ReplyCancel

  • Keri - This wedding is insanely beautiful…that bride is quite an knock-out!

    I love the detail pics and the dancing pics…you can feel the party atmosphere!2010/10/06 – 11:06ReplyCancel

  • Dr. Dolly - After seeing these photos (and Bend It Like Beckham), I REALLY want to attend an Indian wedding celebration!!2010/10/06 – 10:15ReplyCancel

Kunch and Sejal were married in a two day traditional Indian ceremony at the new Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump.   Most of the family from Sejal’s side are Virginia residents,  but there were still folks who traveled far and wide to attend the celebration.  Kunch’s party arrived by two charter buses that drove all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina.  You should have seen the parking lot of the Hilton… for a few moments I marveled over how much the hotel parking lot looked a lot like the luggage area at an airport runway.  Jason and I were so excited to photograph this wedding!  Aside from knowing that this wedding weekend was going to be colorful, full of tasty food, fantastic music and eye popping aesthetics, we were really excited to be around Kunch and Sejal.  A month before their wedding, Jason and I spent an afternoon with this stylish couple at Maymont Park.  Living in two different states, you could see how much they missed each other and completely enjoyed being together.  AND wouldn’t you agree that Sejal has the most beautiful, most magnetic smile?  She’s going to be a fantastic dentist!

Jason and I worked with an AMAZING, AMAZING team of professionals.  First of all, Amy McGrath and the entire staff at the Hilton did an incredible job accommodating approximately 650 guests (myself and Jason included).  The event coordination, Mehndi/henna party and hair/makeup design were all the fantastic work of two talented ladies, Nirjary Desai and Snehal Vara of Atlanta based Kis3 Event Planning.   It was such a treat working together with cinematographers Anoli Patel, Darshan Kapadia and Edison Lee of The Shaadi Story.  If you get a chance, check these guys out!  I know that Sejal and Kunch are going to just absolutely love their movie!  The custom mandap, modern set designs and luxurious ballroom decor were the work of Le Reve Creations.  AND holy cow!!  DJ Ravi B. of Premier Entertainment was incredible!!  He kept the party going non-stop the entire time.  I think it was also the first time that I heard the ‘Shots’ song at a wedding.  I can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed working with this team!!

With the number of ceremonies that were performed and the visual variety, there is no way that I could cover this wedding with just one blog post.  This feature includes images from the Vidhi and Sangeet.   Stay tuned for part II of Kunch and Sejal’s fantabulous wedding weekend!  Part II will feature a few images from the early morning marriage ceremony starting with the Baraat and ending with the evening reception.

Fondly,

-Tammy

The Vidhi is a religious ceremony that takes place before the wedding where the bride’s parents pray to the Gods to keep the evil spirits away from the wedding and to protect the bride and groom in their married lives together.

There was a break for a few hours, and then preparations for the Sangeet began.

The Sangeet is one of my favorite Indian wedding traditions.  Normally held a day or two before the marriage ceremony, the Sangeet is a joyous occasion where family and friends of the bride and groom perform songs and dances.

I’m not entirely sure what is going on in this photo, but it sure looks like everyone was having fun!

Stay tuned for Part II!

  • Nick Strocchia - Love it! Great images, great story, stoked to see the rest of ’em!2010/10/01 – 10:02ReplyCancel