Nita & Justin | Milwaukee Sikh Wedding at Pier Wisconsin

Nita & Justin’s wedding weekend was an event long dreamed about and diligently planned for – one for which Nita traveled across the world to select just the right wedding clothes for and one in which two families truly joined together to celebrate love and tradition. Nita ardently wanted a traditional punjabi wedding and Justin wanted Nita to be happy so their families conspired to make it happen in every way. No Sikh wedding is complete in a day and in fact theirs was really a wedding weekend that included an at-home Mehndi and a downtown Sangeet, a sunrise Chura ceremony, a Milni and Anand Karaj at the Sikh Temple, a luncheon and first offerings of food between a new husband and wife, a colorful and festive reception and dance party at the Pilot House, and oh yes, a few dress changes and more food than anyone could ask for. It was, in a word, Amazing. And on our end, 38 hours of photography over two days between three photographers means that there are so many, many images to share, each one more emotional, colorful and beautiful than the next. And so I know no better place to start than in the morning of the Sangeet as the sun broke coral and lemon yellow over the horizon. It begins:

On the day of the wedding the October sky stays blue and cloudless while Nita and Justin prepare for a day that starts before sunrise and will end well after midnight. Nita’s preparations begin with an emotional chura ceremony performed by her uncle with the help of her parents and close relatives. The traditional red, cream and gold bangles set on her arms mark her as one to be married today. Across town Justin’s father and uncle work together to wrap his unfamiliar turban, an outward sign that he too, is to be married today. Bejeweled and adorned they will celebrate together to the sound of drums and marvel how lucky they are to be together, to be the reason for all this happiness, to be husband and wife.