Akshay and Christine’s traditional Indian wedding was at the beautiful Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove. This wedding was just one of two weddings the couple will have. They plan to have a big western wedding at the Bavaria Downs in Chaska, Minnesota, at the end of this week. However, they wanted to highlight Akshay’s culture and have a traditional Hindu wedding for this wedding. Friends and family attended the wedding dressed in traditional garb. Before the ceremony, we took time to get portraits of all the guests. There are many steps to a Hindu wedding ceremony. The first stage is to pray to Ganesha, the god of beginnings and good fortune, and the remover of obstacles. The tradition similar to the West’s first kiss is when the bride and groom exchange an Ai Mala or a garland of flowers placed on the neck. After that, a ritual fire is lit, and the couple’s clothes are tied together. The couple then walks around the fire seven times to signify their friendship. Saptapadi is the next and most important rite of a Hindu wedding. They walk together feet-on-feet across seven stones to become husband and wife officially. Once married, the groom gives his wife a beautiful necklace called the Mangala Sutra, which signifies the Goddess Lakshmi of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. With this necklace, she is thought to receive blessings throughout her marriage. In celebration, the newlyweds throw rice in the air as a happiness ritual. Lastly, red powder is applied to the bride’s hair to signify that she is a married woman. We wanted to highlight the actual traditions and the bride and groom as well. So, we focused on capturing them while having fun and being themselves for more candid portraits. After the ceremony, we snuck outside in the freezing November evening and took in the stunning sunset above the Temple, and it couldn’t have been a more picturesque backdrop. Congratulations Akshay and Christine! Looking forward to the seeing you this weekend at Bavaria!
Venue: Hindu Temple of Minnesota | Photographer: Jeannine Marie Photography
