This time of year, we’re fielding tons of inquiries, cleaning up the blog, receiving happy emails from couples with links to their summer wedding photos. I was just going through some photo files and couldn’t believe I’d overlooked blogging Mindy and Ashish’s garba (Gujarati-style dance party) and wedding weekend from a few years ago.
The garba was held at the downtown Hilton Portland and catered by East India Company. I worked with Royce’s Prop Shop and the bride, who had brought back a ton of gorgeous sari fabric that she wanted to use around the room. Royce and I came up with the idea of draping the saris over T-bar posts, and using uplighting for a festive effect:
Before (Typical Hotel Ballroom):
After (Garba dance party in effect!):
DJ Prashant led us in the traditional dandiya dance and Silk ‘N’ Stone adorned everyone with henna designs.
All of the guests stayed at the Hilton, and the next day we bused them by EcoShuttle to the wedding location at Bridal Veil Lakes, where Food In Bloom provided the catering; as well as the mini-pies and brown-sugar wedding cupcakes. This was a fun “fusion-style” ceremony – instead of a traditional mandap, we used the existing arbor at the venue.
Jacqueline Mandell with Exquisite Weddings presided over the solemnities and flowers came from a family friend’s farm, which my staff arranged into blue mason jars that the bride stained herself. More of the sari fabric found its way to the reception, this time as table runners.
The brother of the groom got everyone pumped up with a boombox and led us into the baraat – the groom’s processional into the wedding ceremony. Mindy’s parents met the groom and his entourage and exchanged symbolic gifts, accepting him into the family. They all then walked to the ceremony site along the lake, where everyone was seated for the bride’s processional.
I always love the part in a Hindu wedding ceremony where the bride and groom circle the sacred fire four times; then take seven symbolic steps together.
There were so many great wedding reception details. After the ceremony, guests mingled lakeside, played lawn games, and even took canoe rides. I loved how the bride decided to assign seats using a custom designed soda bottle escort card display:
Ashish is the brother-in-law of Roopal Shah with 1st Comes Love, a Portland-area custom invitation designer. We thank Roopal for sending the couple our way! This was definitely one of the most fun and laid-back weddings ever, just look at the bride!
Photos were taken by Don Frank Photography and a friend of the family, Sarah835 on Flickr.
If you enjoyed this blog post on an Indian wedding in Portland, you might also enjoy these:
A Lake Oswego, Indian wedding at The Foundry
Maronite (Lebanese/Arabic Catholic Wedding) in Portland, Oregon