Milwaukee Wisconsin Wedding & Family Photographer

Part II in a II part post // The Celebration

After the bright and beautiful flower-filled ceremony in the Pilot House, Asha & Kyle took a deep breath. Many deep breaths, actually. I had loved watching Asha’s aunts lovingly and expertly drape her veil and sari earlier in the day and they got to do it all again in the evening, ensuring that everything was just so, that Asha felt as beautiful as she looked. And Kyle had to make do without a boat or a grand entrance this time, but he cut a dashing figure, no less, when he held Asha close under a willow tree, and on the rocks by their reception venue. They shared just a few quiet moments alone and then let the tide of happiness, love and giddy celebration sweep them into the evening. There was dancing and more dancing and even more dancing, and a even a speech or two punctuated by fireworks from another celebration across the bay. There was exquisite food and deep friendship, real laughter and hugs held a moment longer than usual. And in the middle of it all was Asha & Kyle, two people who believe more and more everyday that Love Will Find A Way.

Venue: Pier Wisconsin at Discovery World with Bartolotta’s

Hotel: Milwaukee Hilton City Center

Makeup: PJ Xiong

Cake: Simma’s Bakery

Flowers: Impressions By Esther Fleming

Catering: Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine, Chicago

DJ: DJ Sunny, Chicago

Lighting: Sound By Design

Henna: Avani Kumbhani

Hair: Neroli Third Ward

Part I in a II part post // The Ceremony

All Wedding days are an incredible mix of emotion, celebration and tradition no matter how big or small the invite list may be, how religious or non-religious the ceremony is, or how low-key or over the top the details and styling of the day turns out to be. Wedding days are just extra-ordinary days. For me, however, Asha & Kyle’s wedding was just a bit more colorful, more intense, more emotional, maybe because there was simply so much more to document and witness as their day started before sunrise and ended well after moonrise, including enough ceremonies to fill a week of days in another time and place. As the Hindu officiant so deftly explained from the flower covered mandap, Asha & Kyle’s wedding ceremony would really be a collection of many ceremonies that traditionally would be experienced over the course of many days, in many locations, and involving many hosts and main players. But on this day in Milwaukee we would get to witness and experience them all together, all in one place – from the groom’s spectacular arrival by boat to the reveal of the bride to the groom, from a variety of rituals meant to secure good fortune and happiness to ones meant to bind the bride & groom together, and even one to exchange their very souls.

So, sit back and relax and move slooowly through this post ~ it is full of too many moments to be savored and revisited and so much detail that I don’t want you to miss a moment. And then, come back later for the second half of this amazing day: the Celebration.