NeNeil and Jasmine at their Sangeet at the Birmingham Marriott.
We had an absolutely amazing Thanksgiving shooting three days of festivities for Neil and Jasmine’s wedding at the Birmingham Marriott on 280 and the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. We were so excited to capture their beautiful Indian wedding. This will go down as one of our favorite, favorite events, hands down.
* Be sure to check out highlights of Jasmine’s Indian wedding mehndi party.
You know you're at a good wedding when this is the pre-party! Birmingham Marriott. Daniel Taylor Photography
Jasmine's sexy shoes. Birmingham Marriott wedding. Daniel Taylor Photography
Classic Indian wedding portraits usually showcase the bride's Mehndi on her hands.
Last-minute primping at the Birmingham Marriott before heading over to the Cahaba Grand Conference Center for the wedding.
This is Neil's wedding day procession outside the Cahaba Grand Conference Center, before the first wedding ceremony. Daniel Taylor Photography
Jasmine and Neil during their Hindu ceremony, the second wedding ceremony of the day. Daniel Taylor Photography
Jasmine’s family is Sikh and Neil’s family is Punjabi Hindu, so the day including two gorgeous and very different wedding ceremonies.
The day began with photos of the bride and groom getting ready at the Birmingham Marriott Grandview on 280. On their wedding day, we took shuttles across the street for Neil’s Bharat (or baraat), the groom’s arrival celebration. This included a music-filled parade of friends and family. Neil and his family drove in a classic Rolls Royce from one of the coolest wedding vendors, Ron Marko of Vintage Auto.
Next was the Sikh ceremony, which was very formal and reverent.
After Neil and Jasmine changed clothes, she was carried in Cleopatra-style for the Hindu ceremony. Afterwards, we shared lunch, which was from another of our favorite vendors, Taj India.
Everyone took another break for a few hours, so we did a chilly after-shoot with the beautiful couple at Sibyl Temple gazebo in Vestavia. Then it was on to The Summit, outside Saks Fifth Avenue, for an old Hollywood-style set of pix, which Ron has helped us with before. Jasmine was such a trooper in the cold and images were just jaw-dropping. Don’t they look like movie stars?!
The reception was one of the most fun and energetic I’ve ever seen, with a red carpet for the family entrances, a smoke machine, Slumdog Millionaire-inspired skits and dancing like there was no tomorrow. And more great food from Taj India. I became acquainted with one of my new favorite dance songs,”Desi Girl” by Dostana, which got everyone on their feet and singing within a few bars. “Desi” is a nickname for Indian, and it’s a rollicking tribute to a man’s sexy soulmate. I can’t stop singing the three or four English lines!!! DJ Bally, an awesome music entertainer out of Atlanta, keep the perfect mix going and the party lasted well into the morning! The love of their family and friends was so extensive, even DJ Bally talked about it! We were honored to be welcomed so warmly into Neil and Jasmine’s wedding extravaganza. Thanks guys!!!