Prachi & Brandon ~ An Indian Wedding at The Barn at Wight Farm in Sturbridge, MA
I have photographed a variety of weddings over the years and have seen different traditions during ceremonies and receptions but never an Indian celebration until now. I was a little nervous for this one for that reason but also because I had never shot at The Barn at Wight Farm before. I had also never met the bride and groom! Brandon and I had hashed out the details for the day and I felt I was as prepared as I could be going in to wedding day. I certainly made sure to get there early to get my bearings and explore the venue.
The Barn at Wight Farm is in Sturbridge, MA so a little bit of a hike for me. I had visited Sturbridge Village many years ago but rarely get to that neck of the woods otherwise. When I arrived I made sure to walk around the grounds and pick some nice areas for pictures. The main wedding barn and adjoining ceremony area are really nice with wood beams and vaulted ceilings. It is barn-like but modern at the same time. I got married at Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, NH and that has a similar vibe.
It was a beautiful summer day for a wedding. Once situated I found the bridal suite on the lower level and waited for Brandon and Prachi to arrive. The two of them had been together all morning so once they arrived they got dressed together. There was no bridal party and the typical day a wedding goes wasn't going to be the case with these two but I love when things are a little different from the norm. In true Indian style Prachi had amazing henna work done. It was truly awesome to see and a photographer's dream I do have to say. The detail and texture of not only the henna but also the outfits was great. I was excited for the formal photos!
Once dressed we headed out for some photos prior to the ceremony. Brandon and Prachi were really natural together and we made sure to use the surroundings to our advantage. There is a little gazebo and some historic buildings on the property so I had some areas to work with for sure.
Before ceremony time formal photos were done and it was time to see how the ceremony would play out. As I'm sure you can imagine things weren't like a typical western ceremony. The parents sat with them, fire was involved along with the pouring of water through the hands known as a kamandalu. As Brandon was not Indian the ceremony was sort of a hybrid as he changed into a traditional suite and they finished the ceremony with western vows and, of course, the first kiss as man and wife.
We took a few more photos after the ceremony with Brandon in his suite and then it was time for the reception. Their wedding cake was spectacular and the party soon got under way after several toasts and a beautifully choreographed first dance that took place later in the evening before the dance floor opened.
It was quite the wedding experience for me and I hope to be a part of more culturally diverse wedding celebrations in the future. I hope you enjoy some photos from their day at The Barn at Wight Farm!
