Our first Nepali wedding...
...but definitely not our last! Having a history of photographing Indian weddings gave us a great foundation to capture Deepak and Prakriti's special day, but we loved seeing the subtle differences and beautiful traditions of Nepali culture!
Deepak and Prakriti are both PhD students in South Dakota, and they decided on a Twin Cities wedding as a central location for their friends from all over the country to congregate. These two are both so sweet and soft-spoken, and it was amazing to see them come alive with their friends as the day went on!
The day started with the entire wedding party getting ready at an adorable Airbnb in South Minneapolis. It was so sweet to see all of Prakriti's closest friends flitting around and ensuring every pleat on her saree was just right. They graciously helped arrange items as we photographed all of Prakriti's stunning details, and they continually asked if we needed anything. The men were just as welcoming, inviting us into conversation and making us feel at home.
Deepak and Prakriti scheduled their wedding day timeline down to the minute, and we were sure that the schedule would fly off the rails at some point, as often they do. But we were shocked and beyond pleasantly surprised that these two were ready EARLY and we were able to grab some adorable couple photos in the front yard of their Airbnb! Amazingly, everyone managed to keep the momentum going and we were actually AHEAD of schedule the entire day!
The ceremony took place at a local temple, and was filled with more rituals and special items than we could count. We especially loved the way Deepak applied Prakriti's sindoor in a long trail from the floor, up a white cloth, and finally to her hair - it was truly beautiful!
After a short break, the couple had an outfit change and made their way to the reception venue: Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. This was our first time at this particular venue, and we fell in love with the beautiful vignettes around the property - a photographer's dream!! It was a joy to capture Deepak and Prakriti with all of their friends and colleagues as they gathered together after years apart to celebrate their love. The festivities included stunning dances by most of the wedding party, with the bride herself even joining in on a few! In addition to the gaiety of the evening, there were also touching speeches and beautiful songs by close colleagues that didn't leave a dry eye in the building.
Being a mid-summer wedding, the late sunset allowed us to capture some gorgeous Golden Hour portraits of the bride and groom towards the end of the night. It was the perfect bookend to a beautiful day - one that we feel lucky to have been a part of and one this special couple will never forget.
Thank you to Deepak and Prakriti for trusting us to capture your special day - we'll never forget it!
Ceremony Venue - Sri Venkateswara Temple | Reception Venue - Earle Brown Heritage Center | Hair and Makeup Artist - Kaitlyn Rodriguez | Mehendi - Gracious Henna | Caterer - Earle Brown Heritage Center and Himalayan Restaurant | Rings - Riddle's Jewelry | Bride's Reception Attire - Seema Gujral from KYNAH | Groom's Reception Attire - David Jones Fashions
