Jeevan & Saify : Wedding Preview

Photographs from other functions : Nikah | Gurudwaara Wedding | Haldi, Mehendi, Engagement | Decor & Setup | Bride Getting Ready | Wedding Trousseau & Jewellery

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I’d said it earlier, this was probably one of my most-anticipated weddings of 2013. Not in the least because I adore both Jeevan and Saify but also because I knew the wedding would be a visual treat for my camera and the warmth exuded by their family and friends would stay in my bones for months to come. And boy was I wrong – it was that and so much more. Not only did I get time to document and capture their two-day celebrations, I also got to be part of their family and friends.

Here’s a short-story presentation of images from those two days. Getting married twice in one day is not for the faint-hearted and both Jeevan and Saify are fierce.

Day One started at The Woods Resort in Sector 46, Gurgaon where Jeevan and her family were staying for the duration of the celebrations. Kaajee Rai was doing Jeevan’s make up and their rapport was evident – them having worked together on various assignments earlier. I didn’t think possible for Jeevan to look any more beautiful than she already is but Kaajee really hit some top notes and I could not stop focusing on Jeevan.

With make-up done and Jeevan having donned the lovely Sahil Kochhar custom-made kurta and churidar, Saify meets her at the venue by the pool. He’s dressed in a simple kurta and churidar himself.

Saify gives company to his in-laws who relax prior to the ceremonies. There’s humidity in the air and rain is expected. Meanwhile, the bar is open.

They settle down for the ceremonies to begin – and it was a long list too. Haldi followed by Chunni and the ring ceremony, followed by the mehendi ceremony.

Family gathers around them for the chunni ceremony and exchange of gifts.

As Saify commented, there was lots of bling – not something the couple is used to donning in their day-to-day lives. The expressions I got were rather interesting.

The couple then proceeded to put rings on eachother as family and friends looked on and cheered.

Saify gets a bit of mehendi / henna on his palm before it’s Jeevan’s turn. Also helps that now the groom can be of service to the bride!

Jeevan’s brother-in-law is also of service and carries Jeevan out to the guests in the lawns where she gets to relax after the ceremonies have wound down. Best place to seat her too – on the bar counter! [ Which has been changed to something indoors because of the downpour previously. ]

The couple gets to relax a bit and get cosy at the end of Day One. Onwards to Day Two!

Kaajee Rai busy working on Jeevan as she gets ready for the Gurudwara wedding ceremonies. Jeevan is wearing another lovely lehenga custom-made for her by Sahil Kochhar. It’s a lovely ivory, dark red and gold. The roses in her hair add a lush touch to her ensemble.

Jeevan puts on the nose-ring by herself.

All dressed and good to go as the bride and her entourage head for the Gurudwara at DLF Phase I in Gurgaon. She looks stunning and Kaajee makes sure she has a hidden “kaala-tika”!

On reaching the Gurudwara, Jeevan is seated and waits for the groom to arrive.

Did not have to wait too long as Saify arrived in the full regalia of a sardaar. The red of the pagdi compliments his skin and it was quite endearing to see that he’d kept his beard – to be shaved once the Gurudwara ceremony was complete.

The couple during the ceremony, surrounded by friends and family. It was an intimate affair with no dearth of warmth and love.

Four quick pheras and the first wedding ceremony is complete. They’re married for one set of in-laws and now onto being married for the other set. Quite an endeavor – goes to show their love for family.

After a break for lunch and some rest, Jeevan reviews the pheras for the evening Nikah ceremony before it is time for her to get ready once more.

There’s beautiful blue light outside as dusk descends and there are flowers galore in the decorations for the evening.

The groom arrives for the nikah ceremony, dressed in a lovely, luscious and creamy sherwani – again custom-made by Sahil Kochhar. Saify shows off his mehendi long enough for me to squeeze in a photograph and someone hands him a rose.

The maulvi / quazi wrap a pink cloth around Saify’s head. The turban will help hold the heavy sehera of flowers.

Saify’s brother Bobby, brings in the sehera.

And both sisters-in-law carefully tie the sehera around Saify’s head after which he is seated in the “boys” area for the nikah ceremony.

The sisters-in-law then proceed to where Jeevan waits. With a sehera for her as well after which she is led to the room where the nikah will take place.

The maulvi / quazi first asks the bride and then proceeds to ask the groom and another quick wedding ceremony ensures they are wife and husband all over again.

Saify’s mother – Jeevan’s mother-in-law had written a lovely poem for the occasion that included names of the closest friends and family members who had helped during the wedding celebrations. A fitting, very warm and touching close to the two days of wedding ceremonies.

Saify helps Jeevan remove the sehera and they proceed to be mobbed by the “local paparazzi” before heading to meeting guests and friends.

Some time for posing by the pool after Jeevan changes into her evening-wear. Notice the clean-shaven Saify? [ In case you hadn’t noticed him before the sehera was tied. ]

Shaking a leg in the badminton court before being shooed off by the guard.

Two glorious days come to an end and Jeevan and Saify are back to the grind, setting up their home together. I wish them both lots of endeavors explored together and I hope Jeevan takes some time off to relax. She’s one of the most hard working people I know and she deserves a quiet week off – at least. A lot of credit for managing both the days goes to Jeevan – and I have enough photographs with her on her mobile phone to prove it.

I was happy to be a part of their friends and family and I was happier to have been able to document the special occasion for the two of them. As I said in the beginning, one of the most anticipated weddings for me this year.

Lots of love Jeevan and Saify! See you soon!

Photographs from other functions : Nikah | Gurudwaara Wedding | Haldi, Mehendi, Engagement | Decor & Setup | Bride Getting Ready | Wedding Trousseau & Jewellery

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( Email us on weddings@naina.co for hiring & commissioning enquiries for a wedding in your family! )