Sara and Sai's Reception

The final night of Sara and Sai’s ceremonies was Friday. Their reception was held at the Marriot at Legacy in Plano, and many family and friends gathered for the final night of revelry.

Inside, the cake watched over the empty ballroom, which sat waiting for its inhabitants:



Outside in the lobby, guests mingled and awaited the opening of the doors:



Just inside the doors, guests placed their gifts for the newlyweds. Decorative ribbons and handwritten envelopes soon covered the table:



Upstairs, Sara and Sai were busy getting ready. I had a brief opportunity to shoot them before they joined their guests:



Here Sara peeks through a curtain with a look of muted anticipation:



By Friday, Sara’s henna darkened to a beautiful chestnut color. The henna combined with jewelry and brilliant clothing created quite an image:



All the guests were now inside the ballroom, while Sara and Sai stalled outside the elevators, making sure all systems were go:



Just beyond the door, Sara looks at all the names in the guest book, while Sai takes a deep breath before entering the crowded room:



The doors open and what seems like hundreds of camera flashes go off, and for a few moments as they work the room, Sara and Sai are documented like Hollywood stars:



Once the couple seated themselves on the stage, guests had the opportunity to greet and bestow their blessings:



At one point, the parents adorned Sara and Sai with purple and yellow flowers:



Sara’s eyes twinkled as she shared a hug with her new mother-in-law:



Then it was time for the ring ceremony:



After the greetings and group photo opportunities, the shiny covers came off the food, and the line for the third night of feasting began:



After the meal and some brief downtime, one of Sara’s brothers-in-law retrieved her from the hall and carried her in for the toasts, causing the quip “her brother-in-law may have carried her in, but Sai will have to carry her out!”:



After some heartfelt toasting, the couple cut the elaborate cake:



After the cake was devoured, Sara and Sai took to the dance floor for their first dance:



Before long, the chairs thinned out, and the wooden floor became crowded with intense dancing:



At several times, conga lines formed, and the bride and groom were swept up into the circle with their friends and family:







We had a blast at Sara and Sai’s wedding celebrations, and we wish them the best in their future together! Everyone was so nice, and we’d love the opportunity to work with the families and guests again.

Rasy Ran Photography
www.rasyran.com

Sara's Mehendhi Pt. 2

After Sara's henna that afternoon, the real festivities began. Families and friends came in by the dozen, or so it seemed.

Many came and engaged in conversation, congratulating the parents of the couple and catching up on each others lives:



There were children everywhere, and this boy took a moment to stop playing and gaze at me, while another continues in the background:



Another henna artist came for the evening crowd and made pretty designs on the hands of many of the guests. Afterwords, the decorated women compared their hands with one another:



The wine glasses started to disappear as more guests arrived:



Finally, the crowd turned towards the door as the groom, Sai, made his jubilant entrance and wholeheartedly greeted all the family and friends:



Throughout the night, we saw group photos being taken left and right, and captured our own candid versions:



Sara took a break on the stairs while the whirlwind continued around her:



Children (and adults!) donning colorful clothes could be seen scattered throughout the night. Here is Sara's niece, in a particularly charming outfit:



Fighting the crowd wasn't an easy task, as the halls quickly filled with an abundance of guests:



After appetizers, the guests made their way over to the buffet table and had their first of the three days of feasting that was to come:



Later, after everyone had their fill, the dancing began, and there were various special preformances:




Soon, everyone was on the floor, even Sai's parents:







The dancing continued well into the evening, and I think everyone considered the first night of the celebrations a success. Soon to come: day two, the Gaye Holud!

Rasy Ran Photography
www.rasyran.com

Sara's Mehendhi

This past week I photographed 3 days of wedding ceremonies for a lovely couple, Sara and Sai. Though I'm still in the process of selection and editing, I thought I'd give everyone a preview of day one.

Wednesday afternoon, we went to the home of Sara's sister before the guests arrived to photograph Sara getting her henna.

Here is our bride, Sara:



With a little help from her two older sisters, she picks a design, and the henna artisan quickly goes to work:





In no time, one hand is covered, and then Sara pauses to admire the intricate patterns:





Then it was time to take some portraits. Here is the behind-the-scenes look at the process:



And here are a couple of the resulting images:





As the time until her guests arrive grows shorter, Sara receives a few phone calls, and resorts to some creative measures, as her hands are out of commission.



That's all for now, but check back in a couple days for more updates and sneak peaks!

Rasy Ran Photography