The E: Emily & Seth
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Emily and Seth will be married in October. I really enjoyed getting to know them both better during our shoot at UCLA (Seth's alma mater). After I showed him the fourth image below on the back of my camera, Seth promptly named it "sweet eyes." Fun fact: When checking to ensure that "mater" had only one "t," I found out that "alma mater" means "nourishing mother" in Latin (though it now refers to the unversity that someone attends). For those of you who aren't already aware, I'm a total spelling and words geek. Sad, but true.
Labels: Engagements
Posted by Dina Douglass [+]
The E: Tina & Neel
Tina and Neel are getting married next weekend. Rain resulted in two reschedules, so we did our engagement session a bit closer to their date than usual. Can't wait until this fun couple's wedding.
Labels: Engagements
Posted by Dina Douglass [+]
Tara & Raj - Udaipur, India (Part 2)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Now that I've gotten through all the images from Tara & Raj's wedding, it's clear that I'll need three posts to properly share this spectacular set of events. Behold Part 2 -- The Wedding & Reception.
Tara and Raj began their wedding day preparations at the world-famous
Lake Palace Hotel -- a floating palace on beautiful Lake Pichola in Udaipur, India. Considered by many to be the most romantic hotel in the world, this exclusive property is only accessible by private boat, and you cannot even visit this hotel if you are not staying there. Thankfully, Tara was able to get special permission for my team and I to visit the hotel and shoot on its grounds. (We actually arrived just as the President of the Maldives was preparing to leave by boat.)
The baraat -- featuring camels and an elephant -- took place on the Promenade just oustide the City Palace, and Raj and his family then took boats over to stunning Jag Mandir Palace Island, where the wedding took place. Built sometime around 1622, with structures made of sandstone, Jag Mandir has served as a home for royalty as well as a place of refuge for those in exile. Raj's entrance was welcomed by fire blowers and an extensive fireworks display, much to the delight of the guests. Despite the unseasonably freezing weather, everyone loved the beautiful and heartfelt ceremony, which concluded with champagne for everyone and yet another dazzling fireworks display. Tara was carried out in a doli, and then she and Raj took some time alone on a boat out on the dark, quiet water.
The reception was fabulous, and everyone braved the cold to dance into the evening. Tara's outfit was stunning,
DJ Amlan rocked the house, Rajasthani dancers entertained the crowd, and a light-up dance floor added a fun shock of color to the peacock-themed reception. (For a complete list of vendors, see my first post upon return from India.)
Be sure to check back soon for the third and final installment: Portraits at the Udaivilas, the No. 1 hotel in the world.
Labels: Destinations, IndianWeddings, Weddings
Posted by Dina Douglass [+]
Tara & Raj - Udaipur, India (Part I)
Monday, March 10, 2008
The wedding of Tara and Raj was breathtaking, with four events spread over three very cold days in beautiful Udaipur, located in the state of Rajasthan, India. Known for its Rajput-era palaces and nicknamed "The City of Lakes," Udaipur was made famous in the James Bond film "Octopussy." It also boasts some of the most lavish hotels and event venues in the world.
The talented
Christine Marie photographed the events with me, and I will forever be grateful for her willingness to travel halfway around the world to contribute her artistry to this stylish couple's wedding. She's one of the most talented photographers I know, and a good friend. So to Christine, Thank You, from the bottom of my heart.
I can't seem to find a way to blog this unique wedding with just one post, so I'll start with the Menhdi and Sangeet. The Menhdi took place at Shiv Niwas, and featured a traditional Indian bazaar theme, complete with hundreds of puppets hanging from silk fabric panels. As the women got their menhdi done (and Tara's menhdi was the best I've ever seen -- courtesty Sangeeta Shah out of Mumbai), I couldn't help but laugh as Raj spent nearly an hour attempting to fly a small kite just outside the gates of the Maharana of Udaipur's palace. A snake charmer -- complete with two cobras -- added to the event's charm.
The evening's Sangeet was a masquerade ball featuring an amazing performance by
Prem Joshua, the top-selling world musician in India. Born in Germany, this talented multi-instrumentalist and vocalist has released 14 albums, and everyone found themselves in awe while he and his band played. The party took place at the Zanana Mehal in the City Palace Complex, where Tara and Raj were greeted by torches, a 20-piece band (complete with bagpipes), girls throwing rose petals, and horn blowers on horseback. The banquet featured so many different dishes that people had to make four trips just to sample everything. Once Prem Joshua finished his set,
DJ Amlan spun the crowd into a dancing frenzy.
Next up: The Wedding. Be sure to check back in a day or two.
Labels: Destinations, IndianWeddings, Weddings
Posted by Dina Douglass [+]
