The Wedding

Finally, the long-awaited posting of photos from D's sister N's wedding in CO! Sorry it took so long, Mom, there were just so many photos to wade through!

Auntie N has lived in various countries around the world since college, and two years ago felt led to India, where she has been living and working as a counselor, and training Indian counselors. Last year she met a wonderful man, S, and they were married this past Aug. in Colorado Springs, which is why we ended up road-tripping there for a second time this summer.

Uncle S's two sisters and their families live in the States, and his parents and many other friends flew from India for the wedding. The entire event was beautiful, exotic in all the best ways, full of significance, and a whole lot of fun. I won't begin to explain everything, but will just try to let the photos and videos speak for themselves!

Auntie N, Uncle S, and the four flower girls--my three and S's niece from Minnesota

Showing off their hennaed hands--all the female relations on both sides indulged in this traditional wedding festivity at a party a few nights before the wedding. I absolutely love wearing henna--my second time, the first time while visiting N when she lived in Morocco.

Flower girl G leading the way down the aisle

M and B following G, all three girls taking their petal distribution job quite seriously

The old church was very colorful--orange, maroon, green--and was perfectly suited for this colorful wedding. That is D's cousin-in-law performing the ceremony, here where D's dad is about to symbolically give his daughter to S.

Signing the wedding certificate. I just loved this photo for its color and composition--and N looks so beautiful.

The reception was held at the officer's club at Peterson Air Force Base, since D's dad is retired Air Force. The two videos I have posted well highlight the differences between the two cultures now coming together, and how everyone was game to leave their comfort zones and celebrate together.

In the video on the top, N and her dad have their dance, while D dances with his mom, until others joined them on the floor. In the video on the bottom, S dances with his mom and then the party really gets started.

After the reception, the wedding party and family members went to Garden of the Gods for more photos--gorgeous setting for it. Here are the newly married couple with both sets of parents and Sumeet's sisters. The garlands the parents are wearing they gave to each other as part of the wedding ceremony.

Sumedha and Suparna and me. They were such lovely women, inside and out, and they treated me like a new sister.

The Indian princesses