Maria & Manish Wedding/Reception Photos!

[mariaandmanish]

Well, here are a few. My brother-in-law uploaded them to a website while we were on our honeymoon and sent the link to family... so I got to see them while on my honeymoon!!! I hope I don't bore you with too many!!!! I will start with the Mehendhi (henna) from Friday night (Aug. 4)

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/mehendhi.jpg This is the upside of what my arms looked like. I was sitting for 3 hours total to get the henna done. Each arm/hand took one hour, and then it took another hour to do the legs. I was freezing! and really tired!
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/mehendhi2.jpg The underside of my arms.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Pre-Wedding/mehendhi3.jpgAnd my legs.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/momjenmeghan.jpgThis is my mom (in the orange sari), my older sister, Jen and my eldest neice Meghan getting ready for the wedding on Sat. morning. I thought they looked beautiful in their Indian suits, and was thrilled that they were all willing to wear them. They each got henna on Friday night as well. So supportive!

[mariaandmanish]

Sorry the pics are not bigger! I'm going to try to change that now before I post more!! I'm going to have to get the camera that m brother in law used and download the pics from there instead of his website! Will be back later with more pics!

[AngelinLove]

Thanks so much for sharing yoru pics Maria...I will definitely be checking back for more!!!

[ikkin510]

I don't see any pictures. It's telling me they have been moved of deleted!

[hummingbird521]

I don't see any pictures. It's telling me they have been moved of deleted!

Same here, I can't see anything. It says moved or deleted.

[mariaandmanish]

My fault! I am redoing them now. I made them a little bigger so that they can actually be seen!!
I'm starting with the same one's I already posted. Pics of my henna and the party on Friday night.... sorry for the mistake!
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Pre-Wedding/mehendhi1.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/mehendhi2.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Pre-Wedding/maniandlouatmehendhi.jpgMy husband is on the left, and a good friend of ours is on the right. This is from the party on friday night.

[mariaandmanish]

More pictures from the Mehendhi party...

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Pre-Wedding/maniandbiysatmehendhi.jpgManish is the one in the blue solid. Next to him on either side are my father and stepbrother. The other two are friends of the family.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Pre-Wedding/mekoopandariannaatmehendhi.jpgMe and Manish's college friend,with his brand new baby girl, arianna.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Pre-Wedding/meandmomatmehendhi.jpgThe woman in blue is my mother in law.

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/manionweddingday.jpgPre-Wedding Photos!! Most of these next pics will be of Manish and his family members the morning of our wedding. There were religious things that he had to do before the wedding. I had to do some as well, but those pics have not been sent to me yet.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/maniandtarun.jpgManish and his older brother, before the wedding.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/maniandkeil.jpgManish and his younger brother.

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/maniandfamimportant.jpgManish, his mom and his two brothers. http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/maniandfam1.jpgHis brothers, and his sister in law... who is married to the brother on the left. She was extremely helpful in planning this wedding.

[mariaandmanish]

Wedding pics!! As you can guess, I'm the one in the red!! LOL! The pics are in no real particular order, so please excuse the lack of sequence!
.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/mangalsutra.jpgMani and his sister in law putting on the mangal sutra (necklace) which is the traditional Indian way of showing that you're married.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/weddingme.jpgI'm looking at the punditji (priest) as he's explaining something or other!
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding18.jpgAt the end of the ceremony, before I get the mangal sutra.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding17.jpgWalking around the fire signifies a commitment. I walked around in front 4 times, then he was in front for 3 turns around. Part of it is also saying goodbye to my family and being welcomed by his.

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding14.jpgWe put oil on the fire during a prayer to make it flare up. I don't know the true meaning, but it's typical during any prayer service. Doing it together, shows unity.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding12.jpgThank goodness it was shaded! With the fire, it was really hot!
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding10.jpgOn our way outside for the fire part of the ceremony. The flower garlands are further proof of our marriage. First thing we do when I enter the temple.

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding9.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding7.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/wedding3.jpgThe mandap, I have some rice in my hands and am about to place it on the altar in front of us as an offering to the god.

[mariaandmanish]

THis was a little event after the wedding when we made it home again. We had to drop our wedding rings in a bowl of milk and water. Then reach in at the same time to get them out first. (3 times). Supposedly, the person who gets them first will win in the future discussions in our marriage. We tied, as each of us each other's ring at the same time each time.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/ringgame.jpg
This is the untying of the knot. Each of us had string tied around our right ankles and wrists. After the wedding ring game, we had to untie each other's knots. The strings are supposed to capture any bad luck so that it doesn't reach us. Untying the knots, releases the bad luck away from us completely.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/untyingtheknot.jpg
And here's a pic of my mom (orange sari), my older sister (pinkish suit) and my eldest neice (red suit) on the morning of the wedding, while I was out with my younger sister at the salon.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Wedding/momjenandmegatweddingday.jpg

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/reception1.jpgRight when we entered... listening to the DJ.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/reception2.jpgUs with Mani's mom.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/reception4.jpgAt the end of the evening when we were almost ready to leave.

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/reception3.jpgWith close friends,

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/firstdance4.jpg
Our Firt dance as Husband and Wife
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/firstdance1.jpg

[mariaandmanish]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l71/mariachachra/Reception/cuttingthecake.jpg
This cake was the most frustrating part of the whole wedding. When we arrived at the reception location, our cake was not there. Apparently, the cake company put the wrong date on their paperwork, and even though we mentioned the right date 20 times, we didn't notice the mistake. It was the cause of my only small breakdown the whole day!! And given that half our guests kept getting lost, only one breakdown was good!! We did get the cake, thanks to the reception hall calling the cake place and making them make it for us and bring it. And, the cake was good, so it was all right in the end.

[AngelinLove]

Everything was absolutely BEAUTIFUL and colorful and fabulous. It looked like alot of pre-work..lol....but so wonderful!!! You looked fabulous Maria!!!

[LaceyinPgh]

What a beautiful wedding Maria! Thank you for sharing.

[blueeyedbride]

Very beautiful, thanks for sharing..

[MOB Karen]

OMG, you looked beautiful, Maria!!! The clothing was so colorful and shiny!! Thank you so much for sharing with us, I was really looking forward to seeing your wonderful wedding!!! :D

[rainbowtreat]

Thank yoru for sharing. You looked very beautiful.

[Jenn060306]

Maria thank you for posting your photos! You and Manish looked so great! The henna is so pretty!

[ikkin510]

Wow, you looked beautiful for the wedding! It looked like it was a wonderful event. I love your clothes! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us!

[WebLady]

Thanks for sharing your pics with us! You looked beautiful! I love the Mehendhi (henna) work, it is beautifully detailed. I've always wondered, what does it all mean?

[mariaandmanish]

The actual mehendhi patterns themselves don't really mean anything. I was shown a bunch of pics and chose the ones I liked. The reasoning behind the henna is to beautify the bride. Traditionally, the bride and groom had never even met before the wedding, so the henna was used as a way to make the bride seem even more delicate and beautiful, and it's a tradition that has stuck. It really does look nice when it is all done and you wash off the black henna itself, to reveal how the stain looks in the end. It just took a reallly long time. Also, to make it darker, you make a wash of lemon juice and sugar and pat it onto the henna after it has dried. The more you do that and the longer you leave it on, the darker it will become. Only issue with the lemon and sugar, is that you're reeeeaaallly sticky, and I actually had to have people get me my food and my drink.:bbredface:

Traditionally, the darker the henna is... it means that your mother in law and husband love you more. Directly related to the color of the henna, I guess. Mine was really dark the next morning, so everyone said that was good luck for me.

[WhiskeyGirl]

Thank you so much for sharing such beautiful pictures Maria!! You look so gorgeous and happy!! :D Congratulations again!!

[JennF]

Those pictures are stunning! It looks like you had a beautiful day. You both looked so happy! (Always my favorite thing about wedding pictures.) :)

[hummingbird521]

Maria your wedding was beautiful and thanks for sharing it.

[Kacie_bride]

Oh my gosh Maria your wedding was beautiful! I love it! You looked beautiful and so happy!

[Smile1Jen]

Congratulations again! Your wedding looks like it was wonderful!

[ladymelissa]

Wow! You were so stunning and exotic looking! Thanks for sharing! Congratulations!

[StaceyMc]

You looked beautiful! Thank you for sharing your day with us! I was looking forward to seeing your pictures. I'm sorry that your FiL didn't attend, but you have the right attitude - it was his loss.

[vanessabg]

your all pics were stunning and beautiful.
Thanks for sharing your pleasant weddings memory.