Three days, Two families, One incredible wedding- we can think of no celebration more fitting for Divya and Niru’s journey into marriage! Probably one of our most epic weddings to date, this Hindu wedding had it all! Breathtaking decor, heart-wrenching speeches, amazing choreographed dancing, and incredibly immersive Hindu traditions. With majority of the wedding celebrated at the stunning Hayes Mansion in beautiful San Jose California, the many pre-wedding ceremonies leading to the big day set the upbeat tone for this unforgettable Hindu wedding.

The first day of wedding festivities started with the Haldi and Mehndi ceremonies. As with Hindu tradition, the Haldi ceremony is an intimate ritual in which family and loved ones gather together to apply a paste all over the bride and groom as an act of blessing them before the wedding day. Following the Haldi ceremony is the Mehndi night in which the bride and the other women receive their henna. A day filled with colorful pastes and incredibly detailed artistry, these pre-wedding ceremonies brought out genuine emotion and love that both families shared for the bride and groom- emotions that we made an effort to highlight throughout this Hindu wedding film. As wedding cinematographers, we are truly lucky to be able to witness and participate in the union of so many different cultures and traditions.

The second day consisted of Niru and Divya’s Sangeet. The Sangeet took place at the stunning Hayes Mansion, a historical landmark transformed into a luxurious hotel fitting the grand celebrations that awaited the bride and groom. A day dedicated to song and celebration, the Sangeet is a pre-wedding ceremony where both families come together to eat, sing, and dance. One aspect that was incredibly unique for Divya and Niru’s Sangeet was the fact that every detail was entirely personalized. Featuring personalized “food trucks” serving the bride and groom’s favorite foods and “Team Niru” vs “Team Divya” signs for guests to waive around during the family’s choreographed performances, it was evidently clear how intentional each detail was planned and catered to the bride and groom. 

With this in mind, it is important to be intentional with the vendors you pick for your wedding day. One of the main reasons we felt so confident and at ease with Niru and Divya was because of their complete trust in our filming process. Allowing your wedding videographer free reign in the flow and creative process of filming not only helps us gather the many details we need to incorporate into your wedding film, but also allows us to visually and perfectly tell your love story through our lens. We know that every couple is different and every couple has a unique story of how their love came to be, which is why it is always our goal to tell your story in the most beautiful and timeless way possible so that we can create lasting memories for you and your family for years to come!

The wedding ceremony and reception took place on the third and final day. Also hosted at the lovely Hayes Mansion, the outdoor ceremony was completely transformed with new colors, an aisle lined with gorgeous, full florals and a beautifully decorated Mandap ready to welcome the bride and groom. The arrival of the groom and his party was celebrated with a Baraat, a wedding precession for the groom involving live music and dancing. The groom is led on a white horse while his family members dance and cheer around him as they walk to join with the bride’s family. This pre-ceremony tradition is an absolute favorite as it usually involves a lot of energy, drumming, and sometimes even colorful smoke bombs such as in this wedding! Following the Baraat was a traditional Hindu Ceremony, incorporating many of the traditional aspects of Indian weddings such as hymns, the exchanging of floral garlands, rice offerings into a kindled fire at the center of the mandap, and the seven circles around the fire. Another unique touch the Niru and Divya added to their day was hiring an artist to paint their wedding ceremony live! This was such an incredible talent to witness and one we highly recommend for couples to look into as a unique keepsake from their special day!

Following the ceremony was the cocktail hour and reception. Unlike any the events leading up to the wedding day, the reception was indoors in a stunning banquet hall, exquisitely decorated by the talented flowers by Edgar. The decor for the reception was in fact so grand, we actually found it somewhat challenging to fully capture on camera! Enough to take your breath away, everything from the florals to the hanging crystal balls over the dance floor to the jaw dropping hanging greenery, looked as though we had walked into another world. A night filled with heart-wrenching speeches, toasts, and lots of dancing, it was the perfect end to the perfect wedding! We were so incredibly grateful to have been a part of Divya and Niru’s epic Hindu wedding at Hayes Mansion and we hope this Hindu wedding film immerses you into the emotion, culture and joy shared during this incredible three day wedding celebration!