I'm not the one who tears up at weddings. Don't get me wrong, when I say it's an honor to be your photographer I mean it, truly. Tears just don't come along with that usually. But this day, there was something about watching Elaine get ready on this day that really choked me up. In a shadowy room at The Boulderado Elaine was surrounded by the family of the man she was about to marry. Her future family. She was allowing their traditions to enter into her life in such a beautiful and colorful way. To stand off to the side and watch this. I mean. When her future mothers, and aunts, and cousins finished draping the sari on her, when they were done stacking the bracelets, and ended with placing the bindi between her eyes Elaine stood back for all of us to see. Her future mother clasped her mouth with her henna'd hands and you could tell she was smiling. Her bridesmaids tinkered in all beaming. And, I choked up, there were tears! Elaine was stunning.

The before parts of the wedding day. I have always regarded these as ceremonial but in this hybrid hindu wedding the ceremony was celebrated very specifically, for days! Elaine's transformation began when she dressed her hands and arms with henna and it didn't end. It was such a sincere thing to watch unfold.

This wedding was maybe the most fun, most colorful, and most celebratory wedding ever. Elaine and Vikas took part in the tradition baraat and Vikas rode a decorated horse to the ceremony with all of his loved ones and future wife dancing around him. It was all smiles. I think all weddings should include a parade of some sort.

Thank you Elaine and Vikas for trusting me with this amazing event!